when i look at the stats on my blog, i wonder why people stop by and what they think of what they see.
mind you, i’m not here for tons of comments or feedback—i started this to keep track of everything i’m doing while i write my book. it just sounded like a good idea to start this the week i started my book.
it took me a while to realize i should actually post or else the blog is pointless, so i began posting at least once a day about 2 1/2 wks ago.
in that short amount of time, i’ve received over 600 views, and, unlike blogspot, wordpress doesn’t count your own page views. so i know others are looking at my page.
but really, i wonder what they think….
on saturday alone, i had over 70 page views, yet only two people commented (one person left four comments, as she’s a doll) and the other person (i think) was just trying to get traffic over to his own blog…
so, out of, say 60 views (if i assume the ppl who commented looked a few times each), no one had anything to say…
now, i’m curious as to whether anyone will comment on this post and give me an answer—or at least their take—as to what’s going on…
1) do you, as blog readers, usually just peruse and not comment,
2) do you, as blog owners, care if ppl leave a note to say they stopped by and to tell you what they think of what you’re offering, &
3) again, as blog readers, do you find that you are attracted to sites that don’t live up to what you think they might be?
—i’m just trying to understand.
i know that i don’t always leave comments. i haven’t the time. but the blogs i truly love, i spend too much time leaving comments…
i suppose it’s good that b/w my 3 blogs i average at least one hundred views per day—heck, what unpublished writer would complain about that? i’m not even complaining at all… i love that anything i write is being read. i’m just wondering….
feel free to comment…lmk your thoughts *non subtle hint*
k, i’m off to write. well, nap first so i have some energy, but then write.
ttyl
xx
want email updates?
I’ve only started looking at blogs this month, Eden. There are quite a lot out there but I’ve been following yours because it’s quite instructive.
I’ve looked at a lot of the sites and blogs you’ve referenced and found them interesting but also a little depressing.
It seems if you’ve written a novel these days then there all kinds of people who want to offer you business advice, crush your creativity and browbeat you into cranking up your online presence.
Personally I don’t want to run a business and I’ve just quit moderating an online arts forum so I can spend more time writing something that I’ve been working on since January. But I find it very interesting to see what kind of things other writers are doing and I think having a blog (and commenting) are great ways to establish a community of writers who can offer each other support.
Publishing is changing and the way people read novels is changing. Look at all your photos of your books. So much clutter! I’ve recently thrown away a lot of books because I can get most of them online now if I need to refer to them again. But the industry is changing a lot slower than I expected and the pace of change is still very unpredictable. Six months ago I thought I wouldn’t buy another book but since then I’ve bought dozens and there are still more that I’m planning to buy at the weekend.
I think a community of blogging writers is an attractive proposition but it would depend on those writers making regular, unselfish comments on each other’s blogs. Obviously, you are going to get some people doing that just to get something back. That’s life, isn’t it? Even my employer, a global company that makes record profits every year, is constantly nagging me to buy more of its products. Still, I’ve got to earn money somehow, I suppose.
Thanks for the great response!!!
One thing–’so much clutter’ Oh my, no! I could never get rid of my books. My mom claims I’ll get over it at some point, but I don’t believe so. And heck, those pictures aren’t even all I own–they’re just the ones that are organized enough to have taken pictures of!! :p
It’s nice to know that you follow whether you comment or not.
I truly appreiate it.
And it can be depressing realizing that this is a business, but unfortunately, if writers don’t treat it as such, they may not get ahead unless they have great contacts. And I have none so I have to do it the hard way.
I have to do this whole ‘platform’ thing, which thankfully, I enjoy… but still. I could be using all this time to write my book. I’d be well into my next one by now if I wasn’t doing this other stuff. But, I’m learning and I’ve made great friends, so I’m thankful.
Trust me, though. I do see your viewpoint…
Some days I just choose to ignore it all.
Like this weekend–on Saturday, I chose to turn off the internet and only use my word processor. ‘Twas nice =)
Please keep stopping by and feel free to let me know what you think. Also, the links I tend to send you to, well, I participate on those sites as well. So if you comment there, I’ll most likely see it.
I don’t know if I’ve checked out your page or not. Even if I have, I’ll have another look and keep up with what you’re doing. I’m interested to know!!
ttyl!
=)
same thing goes for my site Eden, and yours is not the first post I have read about this. I think some people just read, and other times who knows how they ended there….
I can always count on you =)
I need to head to your blog…I’ve actually been busy reading books rather than blogs & writing YAY!!
Be there soon, and thank you!!! =)
btw, this is another 70+ view day.
and, i’m at 665 view.. i reallyreally hope i don’t see the next one.
i just won’t pay attention for a bit and hope it passes without me seeing
-e*
Hey Eden, as a blog owner myself, it is definately hard to get comments. I try not to worry about views, though I do find myself checking and wondering what people are thinking. It’s a hard business, on one hand I really want people to read my stuff and enjoy it and on the other hand, I really did just start the blog for myself, so it is a hard balance.
I definately think the majority of readers just like to browse and not comment. I think it is rare and hard to find people that truly understand how helpful it is to see even a short sentence fragment of a comment when as writers we are taking such a big step by making our thoughts and, more importantly, our words available for public scrutiny.
Time certainly is an issue. I try really hard to get out and spend time reading other peoples blogs and to provide useful comments, because I know how much they mean to me when I see them, but it is something that is difficult for all of us to do I am sure.
I think I may be rambling, and I lost my train of thought, so I’ll retire for the night, but I’ll be visiting again. ;-P
Speaking only for myself, I used to click on blogs from commenters of agent blogs only to find they didn’t write in my genre. I would then browse then leave w/o comment. As I have blog-matured (I made that up), I realize that fantasy and MG and whathaveyou are all still writers and we are all still after the same goal: to get published. My blog regulars are gems that I’m glad I got to know by not being exclusive. FYI. I write adult character-driven mainstream. A sci/fi writer would not seek my blog, nor me theirs, but I find more and more that if we are all talking about day to day writing, we have more in common than we may think.
Interesting—a different viewpoint.
And I enjoy your blog and any exchanges I’ve had with you, so genre obviously doesn’t matter =)
As for now, I’m writing fantasy, but I have a memoir in the works as well as an almost chick-lit but not quite cause it’s not my thing going on (lol).
Point is, I write a lot of different things.
Real point is—I write!! As do you.
So there we go.
Thanks for the comment!!!
[...] Publishing CoachShattering Publishing Myths: A Bad Agent Is Better Than No Agent | Between the LinesThe Legend of the Literary Echo – Believe It! – Writing and Reading A Southern Writer Never Kisses and Tells. Or Does She? — WordHustlerInkStudy Hacks » Blog Archive » How to Get a Book Deal: Lessons From My Adventures in the World of Non-Fiction PublishingAwkward Elevator Moments: Literary Agent Edition « distraction no. 99Court Order Against J K Rowling, Bloomsbury Sued | Lucrezia Blog’tis quite interesting. « the whole shebang… [...]