Today, I’m struggling. Okay, I struggle most days, but we don’t need to go there.
Today, I am specifically struggling with my blog and what, if anything, to do with it. I took the appropriate steps in warning you that my premise would be murky and I think I was right on the mark there, but now, I’m wondering if that’s a problem. It may be a little too hazy…even for me.
I definitely love being able to write whatever it is I’m feeling that day or hone in on something that’s inspired me, but I now find myself contemplating whether or not I need to be more specific.
I’m toying with a second blog; a blog explicitly for fiction. A glass house in which my stories can live. Is this a good idea? Are blogs more fruitful when focused? Is it a no brainer? Am I slow off the line or is this a normal rate of progression? Is this progression? Or would I be spreading myself too thin?
Is there such a thing as too thin when it comes to writing?
Is this even something to worry about? Probably not. I know that, but worry and me…we’re kinda tight.
Do you have input? Anything? Anything at all…
Some things are more tender when slightly out of focus…
Hazy Shades of Me 
Go for it Hazy….you can do it!
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Thanks Murphy – you’re the best cheerleader. 🙂
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I don’t think you need to worry about it. Have you got followers? Are people commenting? What are your stats like? I like your blog, but I’ll like your new blog too. For me, it’s just about reading what you write, no matter what it is.
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I have quite a lot of followers, and although my daily views are quite high, not very many comment. I guess I haven’t mastered the art of drawing that out yet. Thanks for the vote, Jenn. 🙂
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I would do whatever is comfortable for you. I like reading your work, too, but I’m not big on following continuing fiction but I know others are. I’m getting ready to cut back on my two blogs because I find it’s taking too much time away from writing my books. I’m going to post once a week in each of them (two posts a week). There are differing viewpoints on sharing fiction in the blog; some folks have done it successfully, but I’m sure there’s a trick to that.
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I’m trying to decide. In the end, I suppose there’s no harm, really. My only issue would be…would I continue to post my fiction on this blog so as to still share with those who don’t toggle over to the new one? But then, what’s the point of separating them…Oh my – I am thinking way too much. 😉
Just to clarify – you don’t like blogs that generate a continuous fictional story, a selection of perpetual, individual short stories or both?
Thanks for the input!
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When I read blogs, I’m expecting an essay. When I read fiction, I like the longer version (novel) and in one form. That’s just my personal idiosyncrasy – others enjoy reading short fiction (obviously) and reading longer works in increments. Also, I probably linger over fiction longer than nonfiction and when I read the many blogs that come daily, I do a whole lot of skimming – something has to really catch my attention. There are four or five blogs I always read or at least give it a good try. Hope that helps. I’ve gone back and forth on this one too and decided to not publish my fiction on my blog, but I will put out excerpts here and there if they apply to the topic. I have two blogs – one for my platform (environment, nature, gardening – Living Lightly) and one for writing things. I have some crossover followers. I should probably check how many, but not sure how to do that! As I’ve said from day one of trying out this cyberspace way of working – the more I learn, the less I know!
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Nice to know I”m not alone in the learning process. Thanks for your responses, P.C. And, for the record, I”m one of your crossover followers. 😉 I just need to find the time to read all of these great blogs!
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That’s so true. I try to remember that less is best when I write mine.
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I have two blogs–one for non-fiction and one for fiction. My fiction blog (http://ravenspeak.wordpress.com/) includes short stories and thoughts about the process of writing, so it’s not exclusively fiction as much as it’s exclusively about fiction…
But, I’ve found the division to be helpful. I started with only one blog and could never quite decide what the focus there was. Is this about the world and current events? Being a good person? Fiction? My thoughts on fiction? It felt, as you said, stretched thin.
I split the two a couple of years ago and I’m so glad I did. That doesn’t mean that’s what you should do. You should do whatever you’ll be comfortable with. But, as someone who’s wrestled with the same question, I thought you might find my input helpful or at least interesting.
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Hi Adam – do you mind if I ask how long you had your first blog before you divided them? Did your followers hop over to the new one? Did you find you lost anyone? It’s not that I expect people to follow whatever I do. I just don’t want to disappoint existing followers, if that makes sense.
Yes, I found your comments helpful and I really appreciate you taking the time!
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Good questions.
The blog that ended up being my fiction blog was my first blog, so when I split them I kept all the fiction there and created a new space for non-fiction. I write my fiction under a pen name and didn’t (for more than a year) disclose on either blog that the pen name was really me, so I didn’t have a lot of followers from one find me other the other. The blogs looked like they were by different people.
My non-fiction (mostly my own thoughts on life and being nice to people) and my non-fiction (dark fantasy and horror) tend to appeal to completely different audiences. One of my reasons for splitting them was to give myself permission to write fiction without worrying that someone might find it upsetting or too dark. There are a few people who follow both my blogs, but really, I have two completely different audiences.
Which doesn’t bother me. 🙂
What I have done since the split is create a page on my non-fiction blog that explains my fiction blog and links to it. Anyone who wants to read my fiction can easily click over to it. Also, thre is a wordpress RSS widget/plug-in you could add to your sidebar on both/either blog. Using it, you could easily display the last 3-5 posts from the other blog so that people can quickly and easily bounce from one to the other, if you choose to split them.
For me, the choice was easy. I believe my fiction and my non-fiction fit together well, but then again, I believe the horror genre serves a purpose and has the potential to convey deep life messages. Many people don’t see it that way, and I didn’t want to scare people away from my non-fiction, so I split ’em. Easy, peasy.
In the end, I’d say do what feels right to you. And if you do split them, make it easy for people to find you in either place. (Feel free to ask me any other questions! I’m happy to help as much as I can!)
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Whoa. Thanks for all of this, Adam. Very helpful and I’m thankful for your patience in explaining. I’m glad you have found happiness and success with both your blogs!
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Do what YOU like to do and don’t do it for anyone else. Enjoy! 😀
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Ha ha, yes! Although I’m a muller and an analyser. Makes it complicated to do what I think is best!! 😉 Thanks for your comment, Dianne. But…I am enjoying…
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Glad to see this discussion going on here. Love all the comments.
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Me too. They warm my heart. ❤
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