Blog

Blogging is an inspired form of communication. Bloggers who ply their craft for the education and entertainment of audiences large and small do so because they have an idea that speaks to others as well as a passion for writing, informing, analyzing, and connecting with readers who share their interests. It is a pursuit that some people plan for while others find that it simply falls in their lap. It can be both fun and frustrating. And if you’re really involved, it can also be a heck of a lot of work. While you probably entered into blogging with only the faintest idea of what the operations would entail, you have no doubt come to the conclusion that it is beginning to consume your life. Or perhaps you’ve discovered that you’re simply not as motivated as you thought and your penchant for infrequent posting has left you with little or no following. Whatever your blogging woes, you are sure to benefit from setting up a blogging schedule and maintaining it accordingly. Here’s how to do it.

• Get a calendar. Whether you have to write it to remember it or copy-and-paste better suits your sensibilities, the first step to scheduling is having a calendar to plan out events. You may also want to look into a to-do list manager as a way to scribble down details about specific projects rather than trying to squeeze an ungodly amount of information into your datebook.
• Break down your blogging activities. It’s going to be hard to budget your time if you’re not really sure about which tasks need your attention and how long they take to complete. So start by tracking what you do in a week and then fill in your schedule to match your needs to a timeline.
• Start small, scale up. The worst mistake you can make is to set yourself up for failure. Of course you want to blaze a trail, but try to be realistic about your limitations and manage your own expectations when it comes to output. Sure you can work ten or twelve hours a day, but after a few hours of non-stop brain activity, you’re bound to get tired, your output will slow to a crawl, and you’ll begin to get frustrated and make mistakes. So make sure to keep the schedule light and insert frequent breaks until you get a better handle on what you can reasonable accomplish in a day.
• Go to plan B. You are going to suffer from interruptions. That’s just life. You can’t always predict when they’re coming, so make sure you have a back-up plan in place with contingencies to cover for those times when life happens (like if the water main bursts and you have to move out of your apartment, or when the cute neighbor down the hall offers to take you out for coffee).
• Be flexible. The surest way to scrap your schedule is to wind it so tight that not even a breath of air can sneak in. It just isn’t realistic to assume that you can have an ironclad, minute-by-minute rendering of your planned daily activities without ever experiencing a hitch. Instead of hitting your maximum frustration level, remember that there will be bad days (migraine equals no work) and distractions (sunny days that are too good to spend indoors). Just go with the flow, stay on track as much as possible, and adjust when necessary.

Sarah is a writer for Norman’s Rare Guitars where you can find the best selection of vintage guitars and a large collection of Fender guitars.