How are we almost in December? Scary how time flies, when you are having fun. And also when you don’t?! π
Novellas in November
I was meant to post my Novellas in November post today. Being a big supporter of novellas (see some of my reasons here), I wanted to support this excellent event, which is hosted by Cathy and Rebecca. For once, I’d even prepared and lined up three novellas: One classic (Passing), one translated (Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982) and one contemporary (The Swimmers).
Guess how many, I’ve managed to read? Yes, you are right, none is the correct answer. Sigh. Of course, November isn’t over yet and I will try to read one before the month is over. Is there any of them, you’d recommend in particular?
Reading
My failure with the novellas doesn’t mean, that I haven’t read anything recently. Last year I listened to the audiobook Why Does E = mc2 ? As much as I love audiobooks, it’s a sad fact of life that certain books don’t lend themselves to the audio-format. Mathematical formulas are (at least to me) incomprehensible on audio. So this year I reluctantly reread a paper copy. Yes! That worked a lot better and I now have a much improved intuition for what lies behind the formula. Einstein really was brilliant!
Whenever I am commuting or traveling, I listen to Great Expectations. Earlier this year, London got a new train line, Elizabeth line, which goes across town and has made life immensely easier for us Londoners. It’s now super quick to get to work and my commute to the airport has become smoother as well. Considering that Great Expectations is 20+ hours on audio, it will take me a while to get through. So far, I am thoroughly enjoying it and I wonder if this will become my favourite Dickens.
Watching mindless movies
Did I mention, I don’t have a television? I do occasionally watch movies on Prime via my laptop, but it’s rare. However, when I travel, I often watch television in my hotel bed late into the night. It feels like a rare treat and I’m not too critical about what I watch. This week, I managed no less than three movies of a dubious quality. I was certainly entertained, but I will soon struggle to remember any of them (actually I already struggled to remember them, when writing this post).
Thoughts on Blogging
Recently, I’ve been contemplating, what is the best way to run a blog. I’ve always been fairly relaxed about my blogging schedule. This year, when the world returned to normal, there were other things, I’d rather do in my spare time and I’ve taken some rather long breaks from blogging.
At some point, I decided on a more regular schedule, but with a modest frequency of around two posts per month. However, even that seems difficult.
When I don’t plan ahead, I forget about blogging and don’t post at all. When I try to plan ahead, I often end up with half finished draft posts, which never see daylight. And in some cases, I’ve read books for themed posts, which don’t materialise either. For instance, I read two books for Halloween this year, but never posted about them.
It’s obviously not a big deal, but I am curious how other bloggers are doing it. Do you have any tips? Do you plan ahead? Or write when you feel like it? At some point I used the trick of building up a storage of reserve posts when I had time, but that worked a lot better during lock down. Now I never seem to find the time.
Anyway, that must be enough waffle from me on this rather dark and cold Sunday. Wish you all a great week!
The Sunday Post is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer.
I’ve missed your posts and wondered what you were up to. I’m not primarily a book blogger, though I guess I could be as I review – for my own purposes really – every book I read on Goodreads. I used to have plenty to say when I lived in France, and when I was new to North Yorkshire and England again. Now that life is more routine, i tend to fall back on challenges to see me through as a blogger, and this works well for me. Though, unlike you, I plan to cut down three posts a week, albeit not long ones, is too much.
The only one of your trio of novellas I’ve read – right at the beginning of lockdown in 2020 is Born 1982. I remember it as a vivid and uncompromising read, which won’t take you long, but may have you thinking.
It sounds as though you’re maybe not enjoying blogging so much? I’d miss you if you went, but it’s no fun for you if it’s an ‘ought’. Maybe a break, in which you definitely don’t blog, might help you make up your mid? Have a good week!
I did feel bad about disappearing for months, but I never intended to. Life just happened… It makes sense, that your blog has been changing over time; I think it’s great that you kept it up when moving back to the UK. Do you think, your audience would be interested in a book review from time to time? I certainly would :-). I also enjoy your Six Degrees posts, when you write about books in a different way.
Challenges, memes and tags are a quick way of creating content, I think. Reviews are more time consuming (for me at least). My favourite posts, however, are the more creative ones and maybe that’s one of the problems. I seem to lack creativity this year and all of my posts have been fairly mainstream.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. You are probably right that I don’t enjoy blogging as much as I used to, but I think it’s mostly due to lack of time. I still enjoy writing, when I find the time. Anyway, let’s see what happens in 2023.
Let;s see indeed. You do sound ready for a break, but I would miss you if you went. The reason I don’t do more reviews is that I do review all my reads on Goodreads, and perhaps that’s audience enough. But I’ll think about it. Thank you for your thoughtful reply. It explains a lot! Good luck, whatever you decide.
Thanks Margaret!
Oh wow that’s awesome about the train line. “dubious quality” ha ha. I think I saw The Tourist.Maybe?
I used to plan ahead a lot more but lately I’ve been winging it. Which means sometimes posts don’t go up or I don’t end up participating in a meme or event I planned to. time, though, right?
Yup, construction of the train line was several years delayed and budget was exceeded by billions – but it was worth it!
The Tourist might have been the best of the bunch, but still pretty forgettable.
Time is the problem for sure. I like to wing it as well, but it doesn’t always work. But hey ho, blogging is just a hobby, so no need to stress.
Btw. I tried to leave a comment on your post, but couldn’t log on with my Google username. Don’t know if other bloggers have had similar problem?
Oh no! Thanks for letting me know. I have had some issues with the commenting system. Everythnig seems so up in the air that way. Thank you for trying though!
I think there are often issues with comments, especially when WordPress users try to comment of Blogspot blogs. I can comment on some, but have problems with others. No idea why.
Iβm always interested in your points of view so Iβve missed your posts. I donβt have a schedule, just post the reviews I write once Iβve finished a book. My participation in a lot of series group reads on Goodreads assures me of a pretty nice mix of titles and genres soβ¦
When I first started blogging for someone else years ago, I was mistress to a schedule. Now, on my own, Iβm no longer beholden to one. Itβs very freeing.
Hope you get your mojo back!
It sounds ideal to manage without planning. At least I wouldn’t want to be completely tied to a schedule. How come you were blogging for someone else?
At the moment, however, it works best if I plan ahead a little bit, it increases odds of me actually posting. And thanks so much, I am glad people noticed, that I was gone. π I did miss the interaction with other bloggers, when taking a break. But that’s another thing. Have you noticed that a lot of bloggers seem to have disappeared during the last year or so? Obviously, I 100% understand that people have other things to do, but it’s always sad to see bloggers, whose posts you have enjoyed, leave. I am glad you are still here!
Anyway, I am sure I will get my mojo back, it will definitely help if/when work slows down.
I started as an associate blogger Witherspoon a Goodreads friend who wanted more content and genre mixes. That relationship lasted five years and I went solo when she was ready to walk away. By that time, I was ready for my own identity.
Yes, many of our mutual blogger friends have abandoned this platform and are posting on Instagram, which I loathe for this type of content. Our numbers here are fast dwindling and it makes me sad.
Witherspoon? Where did autocorrect get that???
You gotta love autocorrect! π€£
You probably need to be quite aligned in order to run a blog together for five years. Well done! I don’t think, I could commit to such a partnership.
I didn’t know, that some people moved to Instagram, I’m not on that platform at all. But agree it’s sad, that blogging friends leave for one reason or another. Hopefully, new bloggers are joining the community as well.
I use a digital calendar to plan but since itβs digital, itβs also easy to change around – which I do as I need to. You just need to do you, I think. Itβs okay if postβs donβt materialize, etcβ¦
Of course, you are right. We all need to figure out, what works for us. However, I am a bit frustrated about my lack of posting, but that is how it is. Thanks Tessa.
I like the structure but freedom to move things with ease that a digital calendar allows too.
Of your three novellas I’ve only read Passing, and thought it was very good. At any rate, I’m still thinking about the plot several years after finishing it.
A shorter commute must be a blessing!
Not sure about scheduling your posts or blogging. I’ve had to drop back to posting once per week as don’t have much time to read at present. Writing a review takes time, too. I don’t exactly schedule time to write reviews but try to find the time, usually on a weekend. Early Sunday morning works best for me.
It’s certainly a good sign, when you think about a book years after reading it. I am also curious to get to Passing, because everyone compares it to The Vanishing Half.
And yes, I enjoy my new commute, which is quick and I don’t have to change trains anymore, which is always stressful. Now I arrive at work relatively refreshed after having listened to my audiobook and even (quite often) getting a seat. Before I arrived highly stressed after having missed 5 trains (often you can’t get on because they are full), being squeezed in an overfull train and having fought my way through the endless masses on the stations amongst people who are busy, aggressive and highly competitive [you gotta love London in rush hour π ].
Posting once a week is actually quite good, I am impressed with how consistent you are with your schedule. Especially, since you almost always post reviews, which are definitely more time consuming. I quite like memes and tags, but I must admit they are also a quick way of producing content, when I can’t find the time and energy to write a review. Thanks Rose!
I haven’t read The Vanishing Half, have added it to my list as a story that is compared to Passing will be worth reading.
Ah, commuting! I haven’t missed mine these past two years while working from home. I don’t miss cancelled trains, late trains, crowded trains (I’m exactly the right height to find my head in someone else’s underarm) or weirdo passengers. Melbourne’s cancelled trains are replaced by buses and only the biggest and strongest survive that challenge! I suppose it is just a co-incidence but it is always seems to be raining when the trains are cancelled.
I try to write my reviews when stories are fresh in my memory but never post right away and spend as much time revising as reviewing.
Hope you can find a way that works for you π
I enjoyed The Vanishing Half, some parts more than others. I hope you will read it, then we can discuss!
Commuting was certainly one of the few things, I didn’t miss at all during lockdown. I happen to be armpit height as well, it’s definitely quite the wrong height for commuting in a boiling, overfull train! π And no that isn’t a coincidence – there is a clear positive correlation between bad weather and cancelled train. I am sure!!
I haven’t found the ideal formula for writing reviews, but typically I wait a while after having read the book. The negative side is, I may forget certain details, the positive thing is, I get a bit of perspective after having thought about the story for a little while. Anyway, maybe I can find a way to become more efficient. Let’s see.
I’ve added The Vanishing Half to my list and will actively seek it out.
Yes, waiting a while before writing (or at least posting) a review is a good idea. I always think of things I wish I’d said when I rush to post. As for forgetting details, perhaps they weren’t memorable enough to make the cut anyway?
I like the advice of those who have said to do what is enjoyable, wishing you good luck with the formula π
Thanks Rose. I will look forward to discuss Passing and The Vanishing Half with you at at some point in the future. And doing what is enjoyable is indeed sound advice (as long as legal, morally acceptable, etc. π€).
π
I loved Great Expectations on audio! Which version are you listening to?
I have a loose schedule for blogging, mostly WWWWednesdays every week, and hopefully some reviews as well. Sometimes I also join in with Top Ten Tuesday if I like the topic and can do it quickly. When I was first blogging I was turning posts out everyday, but I realised that I couldn’t sustain that long term when a blog/reading slum hit me. Now that I’ve been blogging for just over 6 years I’m more relaxed, not reviewing every book I read or listen to and it’s so much easier.
BTW I haven’t got a TV either so stream films and TV shows as well.
Good to hear you loved Great Expectations! I am listening to the version from The Audible Dickens Collection, which is narrated by Matt Lucas. He is doing a great job, I think.
Of course, you have to post WWW Wednesday every week, otherwise we will all miss the GIF!! π€£ It makes sense to mix up memes and reviews, that is what I try as well, although with fewer posts than you. Wow, you were blogging every day! That is impressive, but I don’t think many bloggers can keep it up in the long run. Thanks for your input, Nicki!
Do you miss having a television? I don’t at all. It’s easy to spend too much time in front of it. Although during the last couple of years, I’ve taken to Youtube, which is almost as bad as a TV! ππ
I just recently watched The Tourist as well.
Itβs an entertaining but forgettable movie.
When it comes to blogging, I try to post at least once a week. But with my work being very unpredictable I post when I can and write when I can. I try not to be too hard on myself when I canβt meet the deadlines I set for myself.
The Tourist was probably the best of the bunch! I enjoyed the ending, which I didn’t see coming…
Exactly, my work is unpredictable as well and I travel a lot for work, sometimes with short notice. That makes blogging more difficult. I also used to aim for weekly posts (or at least 3-4 posts per month), but I’ve given up on that, at least for now. Of course you are right, one shouldn’t be too hard on oneself, after all blogging is just a hobby. Thanks for your input!
I can disappear for weeks/months as well and then I get too scared to open my computer because I think of the backlog! I can write brilliant posts in my head as I walk my dog that never get written. I don’t have a plan, never have anything ‘scheduled’ and everything feels a botched job, but when I do it I enjoy it and I would feel sad not to be a part of the community, so I intend to keep going in this haphazard manner because I can’t seem to make myself any more organised! Thank you for asking the question and don’t go, I love your posts!
Good to hear from you! I’ve sort of noticed, we have a similar approach to blogging, with long breaks and irregular posting. That makes me feel less bad about my lack of consistency! π Haha, I often have almost fully formed posts in my head, which never materialise. In any case, I will join you in the club for bloggers with haphazard posting habits! Maybe we should try to make a virtue out of it… π And thanks Jane, that is so kind of you to say.
Oh my blogging schedule is awful. I try to plan but often things go out the window due to my health or my daughter’s. I’m starting to try and learn to go with it a little more but I’m someone who naturally loves organisation.
In theory, I love organisation as well, but since we need to be organised in so many other aspects of life, I think it’s fine to be more relaxed, when it comes to blogging. Sorry to hear that health issues have been interfering with your planning, but your health is definitely one thing, which is a lot more important than blogging!
So true on all points! π
I was a sporadic blogger for six years as well, sometimes disappearing for months at a time, so I can relate. But somewhere in 2020, I just made the decision to post something on the same day every week, and haven’t broken that schedule since.
In my good phases, I’ll write and schedule ahead, so that when I go through my creative blocks, I will have a buffer during the weeks I can’t write. But no matter what, I _will_ post every Tuesday.
That is great! I had a phase, where I more or less consistently posted every Sunday. But it seemed to work a lot better during lockdown, when I spend more time at home. I also like the idea of having a buffer, so you always have reserve posts.
Hopefully, at some point, I can get back into the rhythm of posting regularly, but for now, I have to wing it.
I hope you’ll stick around on your blog! I enjoy it — your reviews, thoughts, & notes on London. Always cool. I like to post every 7 to 10 days. But sometimes when busy it gets to be 14 days. I don’t really have a set day but I aim for posting on weekends. We’ll see how next year goes. Good luck with everything.
Thanks so much Susan. I am pretty sure, I’ll continue blogging, but my posting frequency might be slightly more irregular. 7-10 days used to be ideal for me as well, let’s see if I can get back to that in 2023. In any case, I still enjoy writing and interacting with other bloggers.
I always wanted to try Great Expectations but could never find myself in a specific Dickens mood for it. I hope it turns out to be an excellent read! I personally organize my months ahead and identify days where I post reviews. I’m way more flexible these past months/years than I was when I first started blogging but still put a lot of energy into blogging because of how much I love using it as my creative outlet. I also try to mix things up with the types of stuff I review. Hope 2023 will allow you to find your own groove and that you continue to prioritize what you WANT to do over anything else (except the things you HAVE to do hahah). π
The problems with Dickens is his books are very long. Even if I enjoy his writing, I sometimes think the books would have benefitted from being shorter…. Thanks Lashaan. You are quite a consistent blogger and I like that you mix it up a bit. I try to do that as well by writing different types of posts, not just reviews. Let’s see how it all goes in 2023.