So what do you do when the Internet exposes you to too many new ideas, becomes too much hard work to keep up with and steals time from your creativity rather than adding to it? The answers to those questions have been keeping me pondering over the last six months. At the end of last year, I put down my blogging and social networking activities and worked out whether or not I personally felt they were worthwhile. My answer: it’s a mixed one.

In the midst of my rest time, I was watching a documentary about the new digital era in which they gave an interesting balance to a few old cliched questions. Is quick communication ruining concentration levels in our youth? Do we no longer learn things properly as we can just Google an answer? Is it all just shallow? As a creative person in both a traditional bookish and new geekish way, I am very interested in the answers: but the answers that are right for me. They won’t be the same for everyone.

Yes, our attention span is dwindling, so studies say. However, we now can access ideas and people and connect and change the world for good in ways we never could before. How we live is evolving. It is a new form of industrial revolution that will come with good and bad aspects. Using more cliches, it appears to me to be all things in moderation and it’s how you use it.

For example, I have an ambivalent relationship with the almighty Twitter. I hate communicating in 140 characters. I hate so many people complaining that they have many subscribers but no one even comments on their posts. It smacks of us using each other and having lost our humanity! It can be seen as attention seeking, fame grabbing, faceless and badly aimed marketing. However, Twitter can also be seen as a quick way for busy people to look into what they would otherwise, never have the time to even consider. I find it alerts me to local news when I am in work mode and I have made a few real, valuable friendships through it. Maybe it is just not the perfect medium for me, but I can use it to reach and encourage people, so I will continue to do so… but on a limited basis.

I have found that making discerning choices about what to do and who to follow and not being afraid to cut things out of my feeds is probably the best choice for conserving and feeding my creative energy. I run a creatively based business. In the same way getting buried under piles of accounting, red tape and paper work zaps my work and idea generating time, so does keeping up with the digital fads.

So be brave. Have a good look at a variety of interesting web sites, social networkers and other Internet goodies and see what you like. Try them for awhile, then cull what is too much, doesn’t feed you or just drags you into a negative mindset. People take me off their Twitter feeds all the time. I see my stats run all over the place. I have learnt to let it not bully me into staying connected where I don’t need to be.

Someone suggested that one day a week you should have a ‘digital sabbath’ and stay away from anything computerised and mobile phone orientated. I think it is a great idea. It is the same old argument we had with television. There comes a time when you have to switch off it’s mesmerising force and go out and actually DO something active. Go pick up your pen, instrument, paint brush or craft project. Switching off and balancing, may save your creative soul.

This article and photos are Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2011. Rework Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2012. It may only be reproduced, with my permission, for non commercial purposes only. My name and Copyright must remain intact. For permission, please email me at: cate@virtual-desk.com.au

Before I began teaching, I became a social worker. One of our lecturers gave us a sound piece of counselling advice that is also a brilliant tool in writing about fictional or real characters. ‘People behave in patterns. Look for the patterns, then you can start to understand what drives them.’ Identifying patterns helps you see their weaknesses, strengths and what genuinely makes them tick.

Characters appear not just in works of fiction. If you are writing an autobiographical or family history piece, describing people you know using characterisation techniques will make them come alive in the reader’s mind, assisting the reader in relating to the person you’re talking about, even if that person is you!

People are at least four dimensional. We have our three dimensional physical form, which you can describe in terms of:

• How people look: hair, eye colour, height, preferred clothing.
• Mannerisms such as sitting a certain way, nodding frequently when listening, nervous habits.
• How they smell: do they regularly use tobacco, cook with garlic or use a signature cologne.
• What their voice, cough, sneeze, singing or laugh sounds like.
• Problematic or distinctive characteristics such as oily hair, dry skin or uneven ears.

So what kind of patterns can you build into a character, or use to drive a storyline? You have a choice of positive and negative patterns. It is easy to limit your characters and bias your writing by placing the focus on negative behaviours. You can limit them to being the serial womaniser; the bully; the shy person; the issue avoider; the addict; the co-dependent; the unlucky in love or the self destructive. Try and also consider people’s strengths: confidence in their ability in a specific area; kindness towards strangers or animals; a belief one day they will make it no matter what; love of family; strong faith or intuition; determination; emotional stability. What do they value the most? What will they fight to achieve? That way you will have a more balanced personality and more avenues to explore in your storyline.

If your character has been through a particular life experience, do a little research into the psychology behind it. It will assist you in building in personality traits and behaviour patterns which make them realistic. For example, on the “My Way Out” web site, Mario is talking about the patterns of behaviour you see in adults who come from families which were neurotic or alcoholic. He identifies six dominant behavioural patterns: the caretaker, people pleaser, martyr, workaholic, perfectionist and stump.

Peace Sign fabric by Alexander Henry

While those roles may look like cliches or stereotypes, many times it is the common attributes of people who have lived through these situations that give rise to those images, so you can’t always write them off as overused. Again, look for positive traits as well. The traits of a survivor pull people through their past and present challenges. They are strong motivators which can fuel heroes and heroines, including the every day kind who aren’t overthrowing evil or slaying dragons.

If you’d like more information on using basic psychology to build characters, try the links in the Psychology Classroom at AllPsych Online http://allpsych.com/ or the Core Basics library at Psychology Today. http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics

This article is Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2012. It may only be reproduced, with my permission, for non commercial purposes only. My name and Copyright must remain intact. For permission, please email me at: cate@virtual-desk.com.au

Hubble Telescope: Dark Matter, Copyright NASA

I’ve been an astronomy nut since I was a kid. I loosely follow what is going on and one theory has me scratching my head. Why are scientists so keen to identify what the dark patches in space consist of? You know, the bits where they can’t see stars or comets or anything. I watch their impressive tv programs about dark matter, then I think, why does anything have to be there? It’s called space, right? Perhaps it is similar to ’there is space in my closet?’ Or ’Yes, I have some space in my schedule.’ Why does it have to be full of something, anything? I realise even the empty space in my closet is scientifically full if oxygen and dust particles, but I am bemused that as human beings we have to fill every inch of available area with something. Is it so we feel safe? Do we have to be surrounded by what we’re used to?

This week I have read numerous articles about how it’s that time of the new year when the enthusiasm for new year’s resolutions has waned. When that happens, we start to look at what we’re not achieving and discouragement easily sets in. Did we bite off more than we can chew? Maybe part of the problem is, we still have the remnants of too many old meals around us? Maybe we are cluttering up our minds and workspaces with our own dark matter: things that aren’t in the light (our conscious mind), but are lurking in the darker recesses, pulling us back by their energy. (Einstein believed that dark matter could be energy involving the properties of the expanding universe and… do you really want to know? The link is above.)

Hubble Telescope: Infant Stars, Copyright NASA

I have had issues with my own dark matter. I always had this compulsion to keep my old files on my computer: just in case… yes, to feel safe. Even with regular backups, it’s so easy to lose things… and I may need something from those minutes of that meeting five years ago, or that email or that old Internet bookmark… Right? Really? Do I also need that ten year out of date research file?

A close friend of mine puts it this way: ‘that’s old energy.’ Old energy doesn’t just rob us of gigabytes or space on desks, it also clutters up clear thinking. Looking back at old files that reminded me of old goals I grew past, wasn’t helping me achieve what I want now. I needed a clean, simple new start.

So I archived!

I went through my browser bookmarks, my address book, my computer files and the books on my desk. I cleared out everything that I am not using now. (Yes, being me it is all archived carefully, but it is out of my sight.) In effect, I got rid of the old energy and made space for the new. Then I looked at how much free space I have around me and I got excited about what it would be filled with!

I am so glad I took that step! I don’t want to fill that space with ’dark matter’ to feel safe, I want to wait to fill it when I grow. By giving myself the physical room to take new things into my life and letting go of the past, I mentally allowed myself to explore what new things I wanted to do. Plus past bad memories of rotten times are packaged away where they belong: as lessons from the past, not something to stumble over again and again!

Hubble Telescope: Galaxy NGC5866 Copyright NASA

For those of you who believe that a neat desk can be a sign of a sick mind, there is a faster option than a major clear out. Get some big packing boxes, throw your old stuff in them; then garage them or arrange them as a table or printer stand covered them with a table cloth. Whatever works!

Whichever way you do it, try reducing the anti-matter in your life and let more oxygen and dust particles dance freely. See what happens for you. It really does feel good!

This article is Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2012. It may only be reproduced, with my permission, for non commercial purposes only. My name and Copyright must remain intact. For permission, please email me at: cate@virtual-desk.com.au

Their description: “We are all different and we all have different demands on our time. Why should we all have the same goal?  The simple answer is that we shouldn’t.  If you want to be a writer, then you have to be able to roll with the punches and adapt to your changing circumstances.  If that means changing your goals when your life blows up, so be it.  ROW80 is the challenge that champions the marriage of writing and real life.”

Thank you to those of you on the Internet who are so generous with their time and resources to make initiatives like this happen… and thank you to the bloggers who pass them on! Enjoy everyone.

Creative Every Day was started by Leah Piken Kolidas as a low pressure way to “help infuse my life and lives of others with daily creativity…” Leah says, “Creativity is meant in the broadest sense, so it doesn’t have to be something art related. Your creative acts could be in cooking, taking pictures, knitting, doodling, writing, dancing, decorating, singing, playing with your kids, brainstorming ideas, gardening, or making art in the form of collage, paint, or clay…or whatever!”

Please have a look at her beautiful blog, sign up and pass the link along.  ”You do not have to post every day! I know for myself that having to post every day for a year would be too much. You can post about your creativity in whatever form you like, whether that be once a day, a few times a week, once a week, or once a month. Do what works for you!”

Enjoy and thank you Paula and Leah.

You can follow Leah on Twitter also: @leah_art

This is my current list of the writer’s resources that I follow on Twitter. I am sharing them with the hope they will be of encouragement and guidance for you. Enjoy!

• @NaNoWriMo : National Novel Writing Month Twitter feed
• @CampNaNoWriMo : Camp NaNoWriMo
• @FamilyFiction : Christian Fiction news
• @eReadingCheap
• @TwitrLit : tweeting the first page of books
• @WritingReader
• @Grammarics
• @BloggersDotCom
• @KristenLambTX
• @nuffnangAU : blogging community and blog advertising network
• @writingproject
• @OnlineWriters
• @AuthorNetwork
• @jeanniecampbell : character therapist for fiction writers
• @StoryDam
• @problogger
• @AbsoluteWrite
• @womenonwriting
• @fuelyourwriting
• @atticinstitute : a literary thinktank and haven for writers
• @eBooksAustralia : for Australian ebook authors
• @CWGuild : Christian Writer’s Guild
• @Blogpreneur_
• @Quotes4Writers
• @SouthrnWritrMag : inspirational, no matter where you are globally
• @AdviceToWriters
• @WritingCom
• @SydneyWriters : Sydney Writer’s Centre with worldwide value!
• @ThomasNelson : the publishing house
• @ChristianArtcls : community that allows Christian authors to connect with Christian content providers
• @SITSGirls : blogging community for women
• @AussieBlogs
• @ACFWTweets : American Christian Fiction Writers
• @NovelRocket
• @WritersDigest
• @thecreativepenn
• @FictionMatters
• @ASAuthors : Australian Society of Authors
• @WreadyWrite : Great reads from Australia
• @Litopia : writing colony
• @ukeditor : Writeintoprint One-stop resource for writers: proofreading; editing; articles.
• @BrisWritersFest : Brisbane Writers Festival
• @AussieWriters
• @publishingtalk
• @SiteForWriters : The Writing Corner
• @AIAythors : Independent (Self Published) Authors Organisation
• @AuthorKarma : Author Tweet Chain
• @IndieBookIBC : Indie Book Collective
• @IndieWriterZone
• @johannaharness : creator of the #amwriting hashtag and great writer support tweeter
• @bloggerwomen : list and promote your blog free on She’s Connected
• @NRinkSpot : New Renaissance Ink

My Twitter username is @cateartios. I will add to the list on Twitter as I discover new resources, so please, Follow me and have a look at my List link for writer-s-resources to see what’s new. You can subscribe to that list as a Twitter user.

When I teach creativity, one of the exercises we do is: picture yourself in an empty white room. Now, if you were to create your ideal writing space, what would you fill it with? What colour would you paint it? What do you need in there you can’t work happily without? Answers generally vary between a simple, uncluttered desk; to paradises with garden vistas, fireplaces and antique writing desks. Oh, if only! I then go home from my inspirational class, to my five feet square desk and cupboard. So realistically, for me at least, what was the point of that exercise?

Even if you can’t create paradise, identifying what you want makes you think. If I want a garden view, I can add a few plants and a floral picture or calendar. I know I need my books around me, as my ideal room had floor to ceiling bookcases. A log fire is a no go, but I can make sure I have appropriate lighting, a fan for summer and a heater for winter. I don’t need to rennovate, I just need to tune into what I need.

The other essential element is colour. For anyone creative, you know the power this has to make you feel great, or feel blah. We once stayed in a ultra modern hotel that was all black, brown and grey surfaces. I have never felt so cold anywhere. The stone and concrete depressed me. I feel the same way about writing on a piece of white paper with a blue or black pen. It is cold. It doesn’t inspire me. For me to actually want to write, I had to change the background colours on my computer, my Scrivener software colours and font; and I needed to place art supplies such as coloured markers on my desk to inject energy. It now feels like a creative space!

Gone are manilla folders. My file folders are pink, purple and blue. I don’t write with a blue pen. I have post it notes that aren’t yellow, and I never use Times New Roman as a font. I have images around me I love; creativity prompt pictures in my diary; quotes calendars and a notice board for ideas and reminders: and it’s got a floral background. My space doesn’t feel like a sterile, stock standard office anymore. I like it. I do write there. It’s me. I made a space where I could be happy.

Colours have been scientifically found to affect your blood pressure and neurological functions. If they affect your body so profoundly, no wonder they greatly impact your mood! Blue is supposed to be the best colour for creative people to be surrounded by. Red encourages risk taking behaviour, green soothes and so on. (Follow the underlined word links here for more information on colour psychology.) Statistically, people have more fights in yellow rooms. However, If you are writing a crime novel, maybe yellow would be a productive colour to surround yourself with? It could put you in the right frame of mind! It’s up to you to discover what works for you as an individual. If you see yellow as positive, sunny and cheerful, which is the atmosphere you want, it may be your perfect choice rather than blue. If you can’t paint the room your desired colour, buy a yellow print, have yellow flowers in a vase, get yellow stationary items. Any way you can introduce it, bring it in to heighten your mood and your enjoyment of your work area.

I’ve also found it helpful to have a zip up folder on standby for when I do get to escape my “office.” In it I have sticky notes; lined writing paper I have printed with a pretty watermark; and more than one pen (in case of an ink failure incident.) As it zips, I can stuff all my notes in it, then go be a gypsy and write anywhere. Nothing falls out. It’s about being adaptable. If all you have to write on is a corner of a desk or kitchen table, a folder as a mobile writing lab may work well for you.

If you really want to write, you will find a way. If you’re blocked or not so confident as a writer, you can find any excuse not to be productive. It comes down to your dedication to your goals. But, as with every area of life, if you take the time to care for your needs and improve what you have, it will pay off for you.

This article is Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2012. It may only be reproduced, with my permission, for non commercial purposes only. My name and Copyright must remain intact. For permission, please email me at: cate@virtual-desk.com.au

“Dear Internet, I need to report the theft of an entire continent: not just the continent either, a large part of my writer’s ego was also removed without my consent. I miss both and want them back.”

I have been writing since I was a child. I started off at an early age with abysmal free verse poetry which became much worse in my teen years. Then I discovered Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. I loved that series so much, I built my own world: Mirchar. It had a complete history, topographical maps, political and religious structures, economy: everything a society could need. I named food items, plants and to get the maps right, I learnt how ocean currents flow. I considered colonisation problems such as water quality… thus I created a continent named Meridan. On that continent, just as society was on the verge of being wiped out [insert dramatic music here], the water cleansing plant calchador was discovered. Internet, I have proof. Here are the short story listings from my master writing database. Chatina was the story which related the tale of this plant being found in a swamp. The quality of that story would make any decent fiction writer cry.

Yes, in the on again, off again process of writing the Chronicles of Mirchar, I discovered I was a terrible fiction writer. All that remains of Mirchar is a list of deleted stories and a cover mock up an artistic friend drew for me. (I wish I’d kept the maps!) Regardless, I have always been quietly proud that I built an entire planet. I believed that Mirchar was original… Until I went on holidays and drove through a suburb named… Meridan. That was when I realised the theft had occurred! You can Google the name. It is the only Meridan, as far as I know, but it was mine first and where did they get that name from? Where!  I then Googled all my old ‘original’ character names. None of them were original at all. Most were foreign surnames or terms. Ouch!

Thus is the lot of the writer: the battle in your head to stay original, motivated and fresh.

Dirty Money Buzz Saw Electric Bass: Discovery Channel

I am my own worst enemy. I love dramatic creativity. The kind that makes you stand back in awe when you see people put ideas together you would never have dreamt of! That is kind of person I want to be as a writer. It is the same concept I admire in art and invention. One of my favourite programs on Discovery Channel is Dirty Money. These guys put together original pieces to sell at the Hell’s Kitchen New York Flea Market. They come up with out of the box ideas such as the buzzsaw electric bass guitar pictured here. I love that program. It fascinates me. I want that same jaw dropping creativity!  However, I am nothing quite that spectacular.

My greatest challenge in writing is collaring ideas. Autobiography comes to me very easily, but outside of that, writing can be hard work! I was chatting with a blogging buddy and she was asking me how you stay fresh when you want to write regularly. I don’t profess to have all the answers, but I do know the following suggestions are helpful.

• Write from small incidents that have occurred in your everyday life. Robert Frost was a master of that. In his poem, The Road Not Taken, you can see it obviously came from standing at a junction in a daily walk, then making a decision. That decision turned into a meaningful piece of timeless poetry which talked about his life’s choices.

“I shall be telling this with a sigh,
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

• Try a technique such as Mind Mapping to generate ideas from your subconscious. You’ll be amazed at what you come up with! Use colour and images if you are a visual person.
• Give some thought to the writing area that you use. Having to constantly clear a spot on a crowded table can be uninspiring. You may want to go to a library, sit by the water or make yourself a work space that is pleasant and surrounded by the items you need and things that inspire you.
• Get life’s hassles out of the way: worrying about bills, time, appointments and what you haven’t done will rob you of energy and ideas.
• A healthy diet, plenty of sleep and a little exercise nourishes the brain and will be your ally.
• As I said in an earlier post, it may not be healthy for you to blog every day, but still write every day to build your skills. Use a journal or notebook.
• Keep a stash file of topic prompts, useful information and other idea generators.
• Mix it up! Keep learning new skills and discover what you can do. Try flash ficton, autobiography, haiku or another form of poetry… something you haven’t done yet. You may discover a new road that will make all the difference.
•  Join online and local writers groups and sign up for daily writing prompts sites like The Write Prompts and inspiring idea generator sites such as Pinterest (which I also covered in an earlier post on Idea Generators.)
• Make a time to write which functions like an appointment that you can only change in an emergency.

In writing this post I discovered that late last year, Anne McCaffrey died, aged 85, which saddens me greatly. Thank you Anne for the many hours of enjoyment and inspiration you have bought me. Rest in Peace.

This article is Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2012. It may only be reproduced, with my permission, for non commercial purposes only. My name and Copyright must remain intact. For permission, please email me at: cate@virtual-desk.com.au

Last Update: 15th February 2012

This post is going to be an ongoing directory of promotional communities and directories for bloggers.

I have been slowly bookmarking various communities and directories for bloggers as I have been reading through other people’s blogs. It’s a frustrating process, particularly when you dimly remember there was a badge you wanted to check out and you can’t remember where it is, or the source code behind the badge doesn’t work! So I wanted to put everything I have found together in one spot so everyone interested can benefit.

Please add to this page: if you know of a directory / community / blog only search engine I have missed, please let me know in the comments and I will check it out and add it. I moderate all comments to reduce spam, so it won’t appear instantly.

P.S. I found this great picture of Rosie the Blogger on Pinterest. I have no idea of it’s source, so if you know, please tell me so I can attribute it properly. It’s brilliant! 

All the links below will open in a new window to take you to the page, plus I have left them in text form so you can print this post off or save it as a .pdf  Please note: I don’t use all these services, so I don’t know if they are good or bad. Use is solely at your own risk.

A word of wisdom, many of these directories want to know what your RSS feed is for your site. If you don’t know, try RSS include. https://www.rssinclude.com/

If you want to promote your site, you need as many options as possible: join by email, allow WordPress and Blogger Follow buttons, RSS feed, Networked Blogs, Google Friend Connect. Everything you can get your hands on. The more ways you have to connect, the more followers you will get. I get so frustrated when I see email sign up only on blogs. I need more options! My email is too cluttered for posts to be noticed.

Don’t forget to add your Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google + and other social networking details so people can find you. It all helps. I know it looks scary, but many of these options are just copy and paste their code. You don’t have to be a web developer.

Blogging Communities

• Triberr: (Wants money/bones for you to make connections.) You collect Karma points here. http://triberr.com/
• Bloggers: This community is thriving! http://bloggers.com/
• We Blog: Blogging Community on Facebook that shares posts freely http://www.facebook.com/groups/240976049268613/
• Compassion Bloggers: partnering with bloggers to help children (Christian initiative) http://compassionbloggers.com/get-involved
• Blog Catalogue: for reading and promoting http://www.blogcatalog.com/
• The Blog Frog: http://theblogfrog.com/
• She’s Connected Social Networking Site are advertising that they do blog promotion. Haven’t tried it yet. http://www.shesconnected.com/

Blog Directories

• Add Your Blog: http://www.addyourblog.com/suggest-listing.php
• Blogalicious: this is a blog promoting other bloggers with new posts on Wednesdays. Takes ages to come up in my browser, but it’s a treasure trove! http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com.au/
• Review’d: similar to what I am doing here. http://reviewd.blogspot.com.au/ They are also on Facebook.
• Fuel My Blog: add their widget to your blog to get votes. http://www.fuelmyblog.com They want bloggers as reviewers too, so look for opportunities there.
• You Say Too: “boost your revenue, exposure and readership.” http://www.yousaytoo.com/
• Buzzerhut: will list your web site and/or blog but… you have to have their widget on your site and I can’t get mine to work on WordPress. I have emailed them for help. If I hear back, I’ll let you know. Blogger sites should be no problem at all. http://www.buzzerhut.com/
• Bloggapedia: http://www.bloggapedia.com/
• Top Blog Area: with free blog tools and statistics. http://www.topblogarea.com/
• Blog Hub: http://www.bloghub.com/
• BlogNotions: only takes technology, marketing, business and industry blogs. http://www.blognotions.com/
• Liquida: you can submit a blog here. http://www.liquida.com/
• Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/
• Blog Carnival: Submit a blog entry. http://blogcarnival.com/bc/
• Promote Blog Commercial Service: http://promote-blog.com/ (This link is only here as a courtesy as they retweeted my post. Personally, I don’t pay for services. That is your decision. I have no experience with them so don’t know what the quality of their service is like, neither am I responsible in any way for your use of their service or what occurs from your use of theirs: it is at your own risk. It is your decision. I am not liable for your experience with this business or any other services/people/users behind the links on this blog. Isn’t it sad that we now have to put in disclaimers like this. Let’s build a friendlier world and treat each other with decency and respect.)
• Blog Engage: another commercial service I haven’t used. http://www.blogengage.com/blogger/
• Add your blog posts to sites such as Stumble Upon, Reddit, Digg etc and set your blog to have the share buttons available so others can add your pages.
• Says Her: A Women’s Blog and Twitter Search Engine, http://saysher.com/
• On Top List Blog Directory http://www.ontoplist.com/blog-directory/
• Devotional Christian Blogs: http://devotionalchristian.com/blogs/
• Faithful Bloggers (Christian): http://faithfulbloggers.com/

Responsible Web Users, We Are!

Take the pledge and add a Blog With Integrity badge to your site. http://www.blogwithintegrity.com/

If you are sick of spammers, hackers and weirdos on the web, you may also like to join the Pledge Of Responsible Social Media Users on Causes. http://www.causes.com/causes/570107-pledge-of-responsible-social-media-users They have a badge, which again isn’t WordPress friendly. It will be fine on Blogger. It’s on my web site.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

It would be very easy for me to step into strict writing teacher mode and command “blog less often!” The issue is, if you’ve done your homework on how to blog, to satisfy the search engine rankings and build an audience, it is recommended you blog daily. If you don’t, there are dire predictions of failure and doom. It comes down to the settings of the search engine ranking robots: which care as much about the needs of flesh and blood humans beings as say, your toaster does. Recently one blogging Twitter feed, which I normally enjoy, started preaching down this path. Such was their fervour that you had to work yourself into the ground to succeed, I unfollowed them. The last thing anyone needs is the whip being cracked at them in an already ‘too-busy’ society.

So that leaves bloggers with a choice: Buy into “toaster mentality” and let your life be ruled by search engine logic and cyber peer pressure; or take care of yourself by posting less and taking the pressure off. I opt for the latter, but not just for myself, also because as a reader, I know I simply cannot keep up with every post that comes out that I really want to absorb and comment on. We are potentially overwhelming the supporters we want and need. Could that be why so many blogs have such low subscription and comment numbers?

What you do as a blogger is entirely up to you. Just as long as it’s right for you! From everything I have studied about writing, to write daily is a necessity for writers who are truly serious. May I suggest, that perhaps, as an alternative to blogging every day, keep a journal, or use some of your would-be posts as writing practice? There is a great sense of satisfaction to be had from just writing for YOU, experimenting and having fun for your eyes only. It is all about breaking away from the “toaster mentality” and doing what your creative heart is telling you to do.

If you write less often, it also means you are under less pressure to put forward a polished piece of work which ultimately becomes part of your writing portfolio. Write when you have something you really want to say and share. Plus be careful about how personal your posts are… When you are online, it is dangerously easy to forget just how open your most personal information and feelings are to anyone who finds you.

The bottom line is, take good care of yourself. If you look after yourself and allow yourself time and space to be open to new input, ideas will generate much more easily and you can recapture your enthusiasm. There are more ways of becoming a recgonised blogger than merely relying on search engine rankings and appearing in Twitter feeds en masse. If you would like support, use the #mywana tag on Twitter started by @KristenLambTX who supports bloggers. There are also blogging community web sites out there that may be helpful. Just beware of the toasters…

DISCLAIMER: To be true to my geeky heritage, I would like to state that the negative use of the word ‘toaster’ in this blog post in no way includes “After Dark’s” Flying Toasters, who were always the good guys. Particularly the baby ones. “When there’s a job to be done, the flying toasters will be there…” I wish they would bring that screensaver back.

This article is Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2012. It may only be reproduced, with my permission, for non commercial purposes only. My name and Copyright must remain intact. For permission, please email me at: cate@virtual-desk.com.au