105 Ways to Give a Book

Comment Challenge: A Public Service Announcement

I’m a wee bit concerned that the number of Comment Challenge participants checking in was low yesterday. We’re not losing you, are we? Let me be your cheerleader. Commenting is like any new habit — exercise, a diet, organizing — where if you blow a day or two, you should get right back on track.

Here are some thoughts from this week:
I have found some terrific new blogs and websites, made new connections, and increased my own blog hits. So I do think it’s a very worthwhile exercise, but one I know I cannot sustain at the five-a-day pace over the long term.

I know how much I like to get comments on my blog, so that motivates me as well! ... It also hits home the idea of writing fluency for me. At first I would agonize over what I was going to write, now I don’t second guess myself so much.

BTW the coincidence of the Comment Challenge with the WBBT has actually slowed me down a bit — while I love the interviews, they don’t necessarily call out to me for comment, more for savoring.
I have a reason to highlight these three thoughts. While the amount of comments may be more than you choose to keep up later, it is intended to make you “practice” so that commenting can become more second-nature. The more you do it, the easier it becomes and the less time it takes. I also wanted to address Libby’s thought that interviews don’t always seem to inspire commenting. Having been both interviewer and interviewee, I would say that there is no better place to see a comment than on an interview post. Both parties put a lot of effort into it, and we love to see that people enjoyed it — or for that matter, read it. There are two more days of the Winter Blog Blast Tour and lots of great places to say, “Hey, I liked what you wrote here.”

10 comments:

Cheryl Reif said...

Hi there--Well, I went back to yesterday's post and checked in. The challenge has proven to be a worthwhile--and thought-provoking--exercise for me. Thnks for your thoughts yesterday plus the encouragement today. ~Cheryl

teacherninja said...

I think that's always been my problem. "Ok, that was great. I completely agree," is what I think after reading a post sometimes. But I don't feel like I have anything original to actually say. Now I'm realizing it's ok to just let the blogger know you actually read the thing. A simple "yo!"

Anonymous said...

You haven't lost me. I am still loving the challenge! In fact today, thanks to Booking Through Thursday, I'm already up to 11 comments. I've noticed higher traffic on my blog, but not more comments. At least people are stopping by and taking a look at what I'm doing.

Libby said...

As soon as I wrote that comment I think I went back and commented on the next two or three interviews I read. So you're right, it needn't inhibit one! Still, I often do want to add something more than, "hey, I like what you wrote!" Chalk it up to the academic training--everything I write is supposed to "count" somehow. Sigh.

Anonymous said...

Sadly, I was lost for the past few days! I'm going to recommit myself. While I love conducting reviews, I have noticed that they are among my least commented posts. I wonder why that is. I always get a recipe from each author I interview and the comments I do get all seem to be about the recipe, not the book!

Lee Wind, M.Ed. said...

"Hey, I liked what you wrote here."

How was that? Did I get it right? I hope I did it right...

(heh, heh...)

Thanks for spreading the word, my co-commenting-conspirator! (now THAT'S an alliteration!)

Lee

Gail Gauthier said...

Though I have to admit that I've pretty much given up on the challenge (I'm a broken woman), I did just leave a comment on a total stranger's blog, one I'm not sure I'd ever even heard of before. And it was totally for you, Pam.

Hey, this is my third comment today. And I have lots of blog reading left to do.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for highlighting my comment. I agree, the practice will make commenting regularly easier, but I find that I spend a lot of time deciding what to read--looking for new blogs, performing searches, and checking a list of favorite sites. Reading five articles takes more time than commenting, I agree. I had been in the habit of commenting on blogs, but they weren't always kidlit blogs. I see the value in supporting my own community and I will definitely continue participating. At some point I'll find the most comfortable number for me, but I don't think I'll be counting at that point. Instead, I'll simply be enjoying the process.

That being said, I didn't do any commenting this weekend since both my children have been sick! But I'll try to catch up before Thanksgiving!

Anonymous said...

I wanted to also add that this challenge has made me think differently about how I write my blog. I am trying to engage my reader in a discussion by asking questions based upon the current topic.

I have had 11 people comment on my picture book length post, which is the most I've ever had on my blog for an individual post.

Anonymous said...

Here you get one from my side! I am new to your blog but I assure you this is the first of the many comments I am going to post! thanks for the interesting links!