Marsha Ingrao – Always Write

How to Choose When Your Time Runs Out – Read or Write?

Writers and bloggers have to do both. Soon after we start blogging time management becomes a big issue! Eventually, the pressure to both read other blogs and publish your own meets the time allotted for both, and something has to go. Which is it for you? Do you feel more pressured to publish or to…

Marsha
1 minute
, , ,

Writers and bloggers have to do both. Soon after we start blogging time management becomes a big issue!

Eventually, the pressure to both read other blogs and publish your own meets the time allotted for both, and something has to go. Which is it for you?

read or write?

Do you feel more pressured to publish or to read other’s blogs? 

I know which one I do, but what about you? I love to hear what you think! If you prefer link to your post on this subject, in the Just Write comment section.

If you know someone with a strong opinion, please forward this post to them. 🙂 Thanks!

26 responses to “How to Choose When Your Time Runs Out – Read or Write?”

  1. Mama Cormier Avatar
    Mama Cormier

    Hi Marsha! I just got back from Italy and didn’t blog for two weeks. Life didn’t stop and I had a wonderful vacation with my family. Now that I’m back I have a lot to share but I do want to get up to my cottage where I have no electricity. That means writing a lot now and saving my posts to scheduled dates that I can do on WordPress. For me blogging is a hobby. When it becomes stressful and no longer enjoyable it’s time to take a break. One of the woman I follow is literally running out of time. She has chosen to share her last minutes on this earth with us. At times it is difficult to read and then it is inspiring as she attempts to continue with her art despite her failing eye sight.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
      Marsha Ingrao

      OM gosh! Your last line is heartbreaking. We have a friend who is battling cancerous tumors in his face. He, too, is documenting it, but not posting. So difficult! I’m so glad to hear from you. I thought you’d fallen off the face of the earth, so it’s nice to know that you’re ok. Don’t you love the scheduling ability of WP? I’m not taking advantage of it as much now as I was a month ago, but when I get in a writing mood, it’s great not to overwhelm people with six posts in one day! Have a wonderful trip, and I’ll look forward to reading all about it when you get back from your cottage. And all about Italy! 🙂 Take care, Marsha 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  2. diannegray Avatar
    diannegray

    I try to post once a week, Marsh, but don’t often get there 😉 There are just far too many other things on my plate 😀

    Like

    Reply
    1. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
      Marsha Ingrao

      It’s a lot of work to post. It takes me at least two hours for a simple post, and many are much more than that. 🙂 It’s a great hobby, though. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  3. the eternal traveller Avatar
    the eternal traveller

    I’m a once a week poster too, but I don’t worry too much if I don’t make it.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
      Marsha Ingrao

      You are my thermometer. I love your level head. Your calm attitude about life brings my temp back to normal! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
      1. the eternal traveller Avatar
        the eternal traveller

        I haven’t always been so calm. It’s something that has developed over time.

        Like

        Reply
        1. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
          Marsha Ingrao

          Not me! I’m still scattery and glad to limit my pressure situations.

          Like

          Reply
  4. anotherday2paradise Avatar
    anotherday2paradise

    I think it’s important to make time to catch up with other bloggers. I spend far too much time reading blogs. 🙂

    Like

    Reply
    1. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
      Marsha Ingrao

      That’s part of why you are so awesome!!!! It does eat up the hours, though!

      Like

      Reply
  5. Tricia Sankey Avatar
    Tricia Sankey

    I try to give myself deadlines when writing which can lead to pressure. Reading I do in free time which is getting less lately..but I try to use it as inspiration to write as well. A writing professor once told me you can never be a great author unless you’re a voracious reader. Same for blogging…the more blogs I read I find my own writing improves!

    Like

    Reply
    1. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
      Marsha Ingrao

      I do the same thing, Tricia. I start feeling pressure, then some other chore comes along that I have to do! Zip the blogging pressure goes away for a bit because it is my record of learning. For me learning is like my favorite hobby. ???

      Like

      Reply
  6. Ralph Avatar
    Ralph

    Because my blog is becoming more popular, i.e. 100+ likes, 100+ comments ( 50% being my replies ) and 250+ WP emails, all generated from one published post, I had to cut back on my posts. I am now publishing once a fortnight which takes a lot of pressure off of me, which means I can reply to comments, visit everyone’s blog who has liked or commented, draft a new post and have plenty of real time. I have also cut back on blogs I follow which has helped tremendously in reducing my inbox. 😀 ❤

    Like

    Reply
    1. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
      Marsha Ingrao

      Hi MFR, Yes, you are way more popular than 100+ likes. What are WP emails? Are those folks who email your gmail account? How do you feel about being so popular? I love your term, “real time.” Blogging can get pretty intense, and seems pretty much like real time. The big difference for me is that if I walk away from blogging for a bit, nothing horrible happens to my real life. If I quit real lifing it for a bit, my real life suffers, for sure. That would be very different if I earned my income from blogging, but, like you, I do it for enjoyment. Even writing books is for enjoyment. I’m glad you are not as stressed out. I remember when you first started blogging, your real life was pretty stressful, and your blogging took a great deal of the pressure off. Remember looking for your house? That’s when I started writing to you because I felt everyone was encouraging you to buy the wrong house. Fortunately, you found your beautiful home, remodeled it, and now your life has settled down quite beautifully. Thanks for commenting. on my blog. I know it’s a pain, and Akismet has not fixed the problem, but I know now to check it. Lots of love, MFR. Take care and have a great weekend. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
      1. Ralph Avatar
        Ralph

        Thanks for rescuing my comments from spam, as least I know you will find them eventually. WP emails are the emails I receive when someone likes a post or makes a new comment ( there are no emails for replies as they just pop up in my notifier ). Hey, you are meant to be retired MVBFM, lounging outside on the patio sipping gin and tonic while ordering V about. But I am glad you are not doing that as you have written such a great comment. And thank you for reminding me of what I have been through since starting to blog. I don’t think about those things nowadays. And the same to you my friend, have a lovely weekend and take care of yourself. 😀 ❤

        Like

        Reply
        1. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
          Marsha Ingrao

          I am retired, my dear Ralph, and yesterday we spent much of the day doing just that. We even talked about the future of my blogging ventures. My friend Steve, has decided that co-writing a book is not what he wants to do right now. So I am spinning around just a bit. Do I want to continue this project, which may or may not be successful, or is it just a redundancy of blogging books that have already been written. Yet, there are stories like yours and others that are really important, that probloggers would probably never tell. I think they are so amazing. The transformation that has taken in your life – and mine are so extraordinary in their healing that they are almost miraculous. I don’t know. What do you think about finishing a book Because of Blogging or Transformational Blogging or both? I value you opinion.

          Like

          Reply
          1. Ralph Avatar
            Ralph

            That’s great that you had a proper retirement day the other day MVBFM. I am sorry to read that your co-author has pulled out which has put you into a bit of a quandary. I cannot really advise or help you in your decision whether to carry on with the book. Whatever rings your bell I suppose. If you really want to do it then do it. If not, I am sure that something else will pop up.
            I hope you are having a wonderful week my friend. Ralph 😀 ❤

            Like

          2. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
            Marsha Ingrao

            That is not too encouraging since you are not panting in expectation for the book. hmmmm. I’m not sure what is ringing my bell, but I do love to blog. Maybe that is all I need. I did enjoy researching for the book because I began learning new things again, and was reminded of the old things I practiced from the beginning. It is really hard to get started blogging and getting an audience. Once you have one, you kind of relax and take it for granted. Remember how we met on Meme’s site? I think she got on us for carrying on a conversation on her site. 🙂 RVBFM xox

            Like

          3. Ralph Avatar
            Ralph

            I am sure that you know in your heart what you really want to do with your writing MVBFM. Things change all the time especially as you are a writer. Good luck with whatever emerges. Hugs. Ralph xox

            PS. Every time I reply in my notifier when I hit post comment my comment locks and doesn’t disappear as normal, so I don’t know whether it has gone into my personal area in your spam or hasn’t gone at all. I copied what I wrote and visited your blog to paste the reply. Here I know it submits, but never comes up in comments so it must be in spam again. Oh boy !

            Like

          4. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
            Marsha Ingrao

            It goes into my spam file, but it’s always by itself, and I know it’s you. So I pull it out, dust it off and give it a little kiss, then write a reply. Don’t worry. Akismet has not responded to me, and I do not know what else to do. But your comments are NEVER spam to me, dear Ralph. You are right, of course. I spent today organizing my new blog to add internal links. To cut back on them I’m creating pages that have all the links for each category. Then I’m updating each post. Fortunately, I don’t have tons of them yet. So who knows. If my blog encourages people, today that is enough for me. As you know, I always have tons going on in my life besides blogging! 🙂

            Like

          5. Ralph Avatar
            Ralph

            Oh well, my comments are in a little hidey-hole all on their own until you rescue them MVBFM. Tweaking your blog sounds like a lot of fun for you.
            I was going to ask you and I keep forgetting to ask, how is your local history book selling. I hope it is doing well. 😀 ❤

            Like

          6. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
            Marsha Ingrao

            Thanks for asking, MFR. Well is a relative term! Woodlake is a small town. We have sold 400 copies ourselves for the High School Foundation this year. We just ordered 200 more, which should arrive any day now. We have a big anniversary event coming up Sept. 23-25, and expect thousands of visitors (hopefully) from all over the country. If that happens, we will probably sell lots more. Again, lots being relative. hehehe.

            Yes, your comments have their own little spot. I know when I see spam (1) that it’s you. 🙂 ❤ RVBFM

            Like

          7. Ralph Avatar
            Ralph

            Wow ! 400, that is really good and I do hope that the other 200 go during the big anniversary MVBFM 😀 ❤

            Like

          8. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
            Marsha Ingrao

            Thank you, Ralph. I have a rating on Amazon that is over 1 millionth, last time I checked. hehehe! Nonetheless, what is important is that it was the first book since the 1940s written about Woodlake. We only have a population of 7,000, 90% of which is Hispanic, and the book is only in English. People from Woodlake tell me that they appreciate it, and many people have purchased copies as Christmas presents for relatives who used to live here. I think it earned about $3,000 for the high school scholarship foundation last year. It’s been really fun, MFR, to provide a service that people really enjoy. I just hope I can get my act together to write some more books, but I seem to get so distracted! 🙂 Thanks for asking about me, MFR. Love, RVBFM xox

            Like

  7. writeanne Avatar
    writeanne

    Tough question! It’s always a struggle to balance our time as writers. I try to post once a week and respond to around 3 or 4 blogs a day out of the many I follow.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Marsha Ingrao Avatar
      Marsha Ingrao

      It is a struggle. I definitely go in spurts! Right now I’m trying to create a podcast for a blog. Fun! But I am SLOW!

      Like

      Reply

Your babbling is music to my ears. Please leave a comment!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Trending