Wednesday, March 23, 2011

A to Z Challenge: How to Blog Like It's Not a Chore

One very important bit of information before I launch into my post: tomorrow is my BIRTHDAY! Yes, I'll be turning the big 3-7. Yes, I'm getting old(er). No, I don't care!

As much as I love blogging, sometimes it can be a bit of a chore. I'm not in the mood; I've got nothing to say; I just want to have that glass of wine at the end of the day (although let's be honest -- I'm going to have it anyway, blogging or not).

With the A to Z Challenge coming up starting April 1, here are some of my tips to lighten the blogging load.

1. Keep it short, keep it short, keep it short! You don't need to write an essay.

2. Stick to one point. Blog posts that address one issue are easiest for people to read and comment.

3. If you can't think of anything to say - just have fun! You don't always need to be serious, and your readers will likely appreciate a little bit of levity.

3. Don't over think it. It's a blog post, not a peace treaty.

4. Drink some wine. Or eat some chocolate. That will make anything fun!

5. If you really don't feel like blogging - don't. No kittens will die. The world won't end. Take a break if you need it and get recharged.

There you have it! Want to sign up for the A-Z Challenge and have some fun? Visit Arlee's blog to give it a go - we're over 550 people now, I do believe.

I'm off to start the birthday festivities! See you on the other side.

83 comments:

Cherie Reich said...

Phew! I was worried about kittens dying if I didn't post. ;)

I hope you have a fantastic birthday!

Michael Di Gesu said...

HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, TALLI!

Wow, there are some amazing Aries people in our blogging world. Mine is next month... At the end, I'm a bull.... that's why I'm a writer.lol.

HERE'S TOASTING YOU, TALLI! I wish I could clink glasses with you in person.

ENJOY!

Michael

LindyLouMac in Italy said...

Some great tips Talli. I will not be joining the challenge as although it sounds fun it really does not fit with the theme behind either of my blogs.
Bruge looked lovely, somewhere I fancy taking a trip to sometime. Happy Birthday for tomorrow, I hope you are having a day off. xx

Jhon Baker said...

On the other hand - if you put too much time into your blogging - your kittens may die.
Always sound advice, thank you Talli.

Lynn said...

Happy Birthday! Hope you start celebrating today. Great tips on over-all blogging. And I love #3! So true!

Alexandra Shostak said...

Happy early birthday, Talli! :)

Great advice for blog posts; I am guilty of having left blogs before because the posts were all too long and I didn't have time/energy/desire to read what would amount to a four page essay to be able to leave a thoughtful comment.

Gabriela Lessa said...

So, it's a thing then? Writers and bloggers are supposed to be born in March or something? Huh. You live you learn.

Now, what about puppies? Do puppies die if I don't blog? And is there anything sugar-free, fat-free, alcohol-free that makes blogging fun? (Ok, scratch that.)

Nicole Zoltack said...

Happy early Birthday!!!

And I'm a huge fan of short blog posts. :)

Summer Ross said...

Happy Birthday Talli! I'm already signed up for the challenge.

Bossy Betty said...

Happy Birthday Talli!!!!!! Hope you have a great one!

(Are you SURE no kittens will die? Promise?)

Angela Felsted said...

I like number 1 the best.

welcome to my world of poetry said...

Have a wonderful birthday Talli, you still got along way to catch up to me....lol

Have a good day.
Yvonne,

Choices said...

I loved your post. Your words are so very true, keep it short, keep it short and yes, blogging should be fun while drinking wine and eating chocolate. Now that is my kind of blogging. lol
Happy Birthday. Have a great day celebrating!
Smiles.

Angelina Rain said...

Happy Birthday girl.

Thanks for all the advice on the A-Z Challenge. I signed up a while ago but I have no idea what I’ll blog about.

Bish Denham said...

Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful day. Great tips by the way.

Neurotic Workaholic said...

Happy Birthday! Take the day to do something fun. By the way, I ordered the paperback of your book The Hating Game and it just arrived a few days ago; I finished reading it in two days! I loved it!

T C Mckee said...

Happy Birthday. I've found that we too are like wine. I think we get better with age. Trust me, I have pictures from back in the day. You do not want to see those.

Glynis said...

Oh to be 37 again, it would give me more writing years! ;0

Enjoy your day. I have learned to ease up on my blog writing. It started to frazzle my brain every day. I am enjoying the relaxed style I have adopted.

Candyland said...

Oh geez. I'm glad no kittens have died in the 3 weeks I've taken off blogging!!!

Matthew MacNish said...

Happy Birthday tomorrow Talli! I just turned 34, so I'm not far behind ya.

I love the idea of being a little drunk. That's how I would write all my posts if I could.

Elle Strauss said...

Happy Birthday, Talli! No matter how old you get, there's always someone older than you! (In this case, me :)

Arlee Bird said...

I do believe we are now nearly at 600!

Great tips here. I used to blog like it was a job, until I realized I can have fun on the job. I'll take brandy with some amoretto, thank you.

Happy Birthday! You're still just a kid.

Lee
Tossing It Out
Twitter hashtag: #atozchallenge

Joanna St. James said...

you do the red I'll have a glass of champers for you. Happy birthday and I really like the last rule.

Debs Carr said...

This looks like fun.

Hope you have a fabulous birthday tomorrow.x

Catherine Lavoie said...

Thanks for the tips! :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Hope you have an amazing day!! *birthday hug*

Heather said...

Happy birthday Talli! I hope you have an excellent day surounded by the people you love.

KarenG said...

Happy birthday! I hope you indulge in 37 cupcakes, maybe not all today but soon! Tomorrow is my husband's birthday, we are going to party like it's 1999.

Karen Lange said...

Great advice! Happy Birthday! :)

Pk Hrezo said...

I love it. Short and to the point. Thanks for bringing it up. WIth all those blogs to read, long posts just ain't gonna cut it.

Have a fantastic birthday!! I turn 38 later this year, so for a few moths we will be the same age. Cheers!

Cynthia said...

Happy Birthday! Cool list.

Brigid said...

Happy Birthday, Talli!!
Good luck to everyone doing the blog challenge, I admire you all.

Stephanie said...

Happy Birthday!!!! My hubby turns 36 on Monday!! I am doing the A-Z Challenge too....my approach is to write about whatever word pops into my head first that starts with the designated letter!!

girl dreaming said...

Ooooo happy birthday!!

Jane Lovering said...

Happy birthday Talli - prepare yourself for the Flannel of a Lifetime (although it may need to wait until we can afford it, times is hard...)

Janice Horton said...

Happy birthday Talli - you are still soooo young!

Myne Whitman said...

Thanks for the tips, and the comments about my book. I need more help, please check my blog. Thanks!

Pat Tillett said...

Great tips!
Happy Birthday!!! (in advance)

Jules said...

Happy birthday Oh young one. And thank you for okaying my wine consumption but I think for the A-Z I am switching to martini's :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Jai Joshi said...

Great tips, Talli!

Jai

li said...

Happy birthday! 37, you're just hitting the prime years.

Suzie F. said...

Happy birthday, Talli! Have fun celebrating!

Ranae Rose said...

Happy birthday, Talli! :)

Brigita said...

I agree on all the points, particularly number 4.

By the way, you're not getting older, only wiser. ;)

M Pax said...

I'd hate for kittens to die. I got up to J done and X. I need to get cracking on the rest. Took me until this past weekend to come up with a theme.

M Pax said...

Oh, and Happy Birthday!

Michelle in a shell said...

Happy birthday! And thanks for the tips!

Carol Riggs said...

Happy, happy HAPPEEEE Birthday tomorrow, Talli! Have a great one, and may this year be the best ever (and how could it not, with your book doing so well??)

Amanda Sablan said...

Happy birthday! 37 years young!

I love taking time off from blogging to get other things done but I always feel guilty about it, like it's my absolute duty to blog. But I get over it.

Bob Sanchez said...

Happy birthday! You're on my A-Z list, so I guess I'm practicing now. Thanks for the good blogging tips.

Nahno McLein said...

Best advice ever.
No kittens will die, how true. Your advice is really refreshing for a change.
Oh, and have a wonderful birthday celebrations. You earned it.
Nahno ∗ McLein

Alleged Author said...

But the kittens WILL die! Won't someone think of the kittens??

I totes agree with you. When I don't feel like blogging at all, I try to reward myself for doing it. Wine usually plays a part. :P

Alleged Author said...

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY EARLY!

Old Kitty said...

Happy birthday for tomorrow!
You are cute as a marshmallow!
You make such lovely points here!
Happy birthday for tomorrow!!

Hip hip hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take care
x

Lynda R Young said...

#4 and #1 in that order are my favourites. My A-Z posts will be mega short. And some are a little silly ;) I'm looking forward to it :)

Nas Dean said...

Happy Birthday! Thanks for the tips regarding the challenge. Or take it as blogging in general.

Lydia K said...

Happy birthday, and I love your pointers. Totally agree!

The Words Crafter said...

Whew. I'm glad no kitties will be at risk!

Mine are going to be short, light, and hopefully fun.

Happy Birthday :)

notesfromnadir said...

Happy Birthday from 1 Aries to another! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Yay for the kittens & yay for your birthday! Enjoy and have fun!! :)

Meredith said...

"It's a blog post, not a peace treaty." SO true. And Happy Birthday! Hope you get to celebrate all day. :)

Kari Marie said...

Oooo...I need to practice #3. Actually I should practice all of them more. Thanks! Good tips.

India Drummond said...

You say that about the kittens, but you don't have the best record when it comes to protecting our furry friends. In fact, I know you've set some of them up to be punched in the face.

!!!!!

Laura said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! have an amazing day. Great tips too!
Lx

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Happy Birthday .. as it is today .. hope you're being right royally treated - have lots of levity and joy .. and yes - A:Z will be fun ..

Cheers Hilary

Susan Fields said...

Since it's already Thursday, I can say this now...happy birthday!

I really love your tips, Talli. There are definitely times when my brain just won't come up with a topic. Have fun with the A-Z Challenge!

Manzanita said...

Happy Birthday you Gorgeous Aries Writer,
Great tips. Writers often get too verbose, long after their point is made and readers will be scurrying around trying to read as many posts as possible.
Enyoy that glass (or perhaps more on your B/D) of wine.

Kristine Asselin said...

Great tips. I'm in! And Happy Birthday!

Michelle said...

Happy Birthday!!!!!! happy A-Z!

Karen Walker said...

Happy Birthday, Talli. And no, of course you're not old at 37. Just enjoy every moment of every day.
Blessings,
karen

Carol Kilgore said...

Happy Birthday!
Have a wonderful year :)

Hart Johnson said...

Great reminders, Talli, and...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope it's fabulous! This means Astrologically, you're a Tiger, eh? I have two Tigers in my family and am very fond of them.

Susanne Drazic said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Talli!

Angela Ackerman said...

Woot, glad I caught your birthday--hope you have a wonderful one! :)

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

K.D.Storm said...

Thanks for the advice and HAPPY B-DAY!!!! BTW as someone who hit the big 37 about four months ago...it isn't all that bad LMAO! Hope you are living it up :)

D.J.Kirkby said...

I don't have a problem with writing the blog posts but I do struggle to fit in time to go around and read other people's blogs which is a shame because I enjoy reading what other people have to say. I wished you happy bithday on the day on Facebook and Twitter but happy belated birthday from me on here :)

Sand Castles and Snow Forts said...

Since I haven't been asleep yet........ Happy Birthday!!

Rosalind Adam said...

Hope you had a fabulous birthday and looking forward to the A to Z challenge ;-)

Flowerpot said...

hope you had a great day - I'm sure you did!

Rebecca Bradley said...

Thanks for this Talli. As an A-Z hopeful it's good to read these things. I'm happy that no kittens will die should I fail to blog and also to read the reiterated -Keep it short!

See you there :)

Jamie (Mithril Wisdom) said...

Good tips :D I'm looking forward to the A-Z challenge this year :D It's gonna be awesome!

William Kendall said...

A belated happy birthday!

I've decided to cut back my blogging to three or four times a week.

Brianna said...

These are great tips!
I especially need reminding that it's a blog post and not a peace treaty as I tend to overthink!

Happy belated birthday!

Soooz said...

Hi, It's already April 1st here in OZ and I'm stopping by as part of the A-Z challenge! I didn't know quite where to leave a comment so I do hope you have a chance to see this one. I love the look of your blog and am now following.

My day 1 post is here;
http://sooozsaysstuff.blogspot.com/2011/04/az-challengeday-1april-1st-2011-for.html