Balancing the Blog Life with MY Life.....

Balancing the Blog Life with MY Life…..

I started Along Comes Mary nearly one year ago (woo hoo! Cupcakes & gifts of Congrats will be welcome…j/k!) & really didn’t know where a blog of my own would take me; at the time it was more of a test for myself as I had not returned to school yet but wanted something that gave me a sense of deadlines, researching, writing. Mainly, an excuse to have to stay on top of & organizing a project of my own. I also am on-line alot of the time, anyway, & figured, why not do more than just Facebook stalk my friends & watch YouTube videos? I have had a passion for writing for as long as I can remember; I have written many poems over the years (still planning to publish them eventually) & was an avid journal-keeper for quite afew years.

Fast forward to now, I take my blog very seriously. I feel bad if I don’t get a post up at-least every other day (everyday being ideal), I tweet with potential artists/venues/brands that I would like to feature on ACM, I have begun to gather up all my contacts I had the pleasure of meeting with at ExpoWest to start getting in-touch with them, I think about the balance I want on my blog of personal posts that mean alot to me & regard my life (like this one), the recaps of fun adventures I have had or shows/galleries I have been to & then, the reviews of products I have been offered to try. I did launch this blog with an emphasis on Gluten Free Living, I just have so much more I love & want to share, that I have indeed expanded that niche.

So, that’s the balance I think about for ACM….but, what about balancing THIS blog with MY life? Not every single fun thing I do is necessarily going to be a feature, yet, I do find myself thinking with quite afew things I have done lately, “What a great blog post this can be!” There are also the times I just am too drained or needing to focus on other things in my life (work, school, family, health) that this needs to be put on the back burner, yet I feel bad when there are those times. Anyone with a passion knows that it’s not always your source of an income, you just cannot stay away from doing what you love.

For my blogger readers, what do you do to balance a blog & your life? A goal of mine is to ‘pile up’ more draft posts to have at the ready to publish, for when life gets crazy. How often do you feel is necessary to post for a good blog? Do you feel it hurts your readership if you do vanish for afew days? Is it better to post less & have your content be really good, or have those days that are more to just say you posted? Would love your thoughts:) xo

Susan Cooper/findingourwaynow.com
March 20, 2013 at 4:25 am

Aw… The challenge of a blog and blogging. What I know is whatever the schedule keep consistent. Write the very best you can in your own authentic voice. It takes time but you will build up a nice set of posts that you can draw from when you need to. Last, ask someone to guest post when you need a break with the intent to do the same in return. 🙂
1. Along Comes Mary
  March 24, 2013 at 12:59 am
  
  Yes! Guest posts are a must-do…you’re welcome anytime;)
krugthethinker
March 20, 2013 at 5:41 am

First of all, I love that top image! And congratulations on blog anniversary! These are such tricky ones, and really important ones to ask, I think, every couple of months or so. I don’t know that I have any answers, but I often do wonder the same thing. In my experience, I am always happy to see posts on the blogs that I love, whether it’s every day or every week. I get bummed when someone disappears for three weeks or so, but life does happen sometimes. I blog Monday through FRiday, and I am always asking myself if I should. I really enjoy writing and the process of putting together posts, but some days it’s just a quick thought or picture. I like the idea of being in touch with the people I love every day, even if it’s just a short post. But I don’t know! I wonder the same things that you are asking! This is already the world’s longest comment, but what I do to schedule my posts is this: I have a big desk calendar (a few bucks from Office Max), and I write posts and post ideas on post-its. I move them around as needed, and that way a quick glance lets me know what I’ve got planned and ready for the week and the weeks ahead. Sometimes I have tons of posts, and sometimes I wonder what I will write about. That just seems to be part of the practice for me, but I am definitely still learning! Would love to hear more about what works for you!
1. Along Comes Mary
  March 24, 2013 at 1:01 am
  
  I am really loving your blog, Cameron, so all this advice & tips from you is awesome!:) Like you, I enjoy doing a small, fun post like your recent glittery shoe one;) I have so much to plan out, & lok for more from me this week!
  1. krugthethinker
    March 25, 2013 at 5:11 am
    
    Oh, I’m so glad you liked that! I felt kind of silly posting it, but I am kind of silly too, so I guess it’s fitting! I love your blog too and am looking forward to having you as a closer neighbor!
krugthethinker
March 20, 2013 at 5:43 am

Oh my gosh, I am kind of tired and just realized there a bunch of words missing from that comment: ack! “Ones” should be “questions.” Sorry for the brain-dead typing!
Kristyn
March 20, 2013 at 12:13 pm

i am still learning how to balance my blog life with the family life. I was spending to much time blogging and away from the family at night so we decided to go on family walks to the park every night which has helped us out alot 🙂
1. Along Comes Mary
  March 24, 2013 at 1:02 am
  
  How fun! A problem for me is rather silly….I am not wireless at the moment soooo, when I want to watch Netflix OR use the net & blog….the choice I am making is the one it should not be 😉 (Dawson’s CReek Season 3 must wait, LOL)….
  1. krugthethinker
    March 25, 2013 at 5:12 am
    
    Haha! I never watched Dawson’s when it was on the air, but I watched a season and a half or so last fall while knitting. You are way ahead of me!
    1. Along Comes Mary
      March 26, 2013 at 4:18 am
      
      Long lost siblings, break ups, Jacks first boy interest….Season 3 gets gooood;) hehe!!
Kathleen Kennedy-Leon
March 20, 2013 at 12:38 pm

Congrats on your anniversary! I find it relaxing to blog–I can write about whatever moves me–some days I do feel like its a chore now that I have a following as well–want to keep people coming back hence the pressure of keeping up with the content–thanks for sharing–great post!
1. Along Comes Mary
  March 24, 2013 at 1:03 am
  
  Exactly! & thank you!!:)
cinnybbs
March 20, 2013 at 2:59 pm

Congrats…and I love the top image too…too true right…too often does the SO remind me…or he says it just to make me feel good. LOL!
1. Along Comes Mary
  March 24, 2013 at 1:03 am
  
  LOL!;) Thanks for stopping by!!
NYC Single Mom
March 20, 2013 at 4:55 pm

I have no balance, it’s nuts and I need to figure this out!! But congrats on your anniversary!
1. Along Comes Mary
  March 24, 2013 at 1:03 am
  
  I so hear ya sista!;)
Teresa
March 20, 2013 at 6:10 pm

I have several blogs on different topics that I love. Some I post on once or twice a week, and on my party blog I try to post once a day. The party blog involves baking, a craft or even creating printables so it takes up most of my day. My husband is the official photographer which is helpful – unless we disagree on how a photo shoot should go! LOL
1. Along Comes Mary
  March 24, 2013 at 1:04 am
  
  How fun. Pictures are definitely a huge part of my blogging, too!
2Wired2Tired (@2Wired2Tired)
March 20, 2013 at 10:18 pm

I’m still looking for the perfect balance. I’m not sure there is one but I won’t give up trying and if I do find the answer I’ll be sure to share it with you.
1. Along Comes Mary
  March 24, 2013 at 1:04 am
  
  Please do! Thanks for stopping by!!
MizMeliz
March 21, 2013 at 2:28 am

In the first year that I dedicated myself to blogging I participated in a weekly challenge that included prompts that had to do with my niche. It really helped because the prompts were designed to fill a whole year of topics and came full circle. I sometimes ignored the prompts and blogged about other topics that came up and I also filled in with other ideas I had and events I attended. So I have conistently logged in 2-3 posts per week since I started. What happened to the prompts I ignored? I saved them in my drafts to use at a later time.

This year, I spent the month of December thinking of topics that I wanted to explore and write about. I shared my list in my first post of the year and stated my intention. Now, when I don’t have an idea of what I should write all I have to do is check the list and pick one of the topics. I am always saving pictures and quotes and links to related information that I can use to build a post or add to one. I try to keep the same format in most of my topical posts, quotes, pictures, links, and orginal content.

Once I had been doing it long enough, I noticed that I get the most hits on Tuesdays. So, since then I always try to post something on Tuesdays. I feel like if I at least post something once a week, I will satisfy anyone who looks forward to reading my blog on that day. On days that I really can’t or donlt feel like writing something, I reblog an old post or one that I really like from another blogger.

Now you have all my secrets! So far it has worked for me! Just do what works for you! You are a Total Rock Star Mary!!!
1. Along Comes Mary
  March 24, 2013 at 1:05 am
  
  Awww, you always make me feel good, Melissa!:) I love knowing your tips ‘n secrets. Your blog is so fab & shows off your personailty, which I try to do on mine, too!:)
purplemary54
March 25, 2013 at 4:26 pm

Big congratulations on your first Blog-iversary! I forgot mine, but I forget lots of things that aren’t music or TV trivia. I know it helped me a lot to have a plan for the jukebox right from the beginning, which I’ve modified once or twice since. It helps give me direction. I don’t know if you need direction; you seem to be doing just fine to me. 🙂 But I’ll look forward to anything you might get up to.
1. Along Comes Mary
  March 26, 2013 at 4:17 am
  
  Thank you so much, Mary! All the awesome feedback I have gotten from this post definitely has inspired me to do a part 2 with my tips as well as all of yours, stay tuned!;) xo