I've been cheating lately.
Cheating when I blog.
Cheating by asking YOU all questions instead of sitting down to take the time to compose something of substance.
I have three great posts written in my head. They have been written in my head for weeks now. But, it takes me sooooooo long to compose my posts that I just haven't been able to sit down and write them without feeling guilty about not tending to other things. And, since I am only blogging in the evenings these days, it's hard to keep up with all my blogging duties, write alot, and get to bed before midnight.
So today, I am cheating again. Cheating because it is 8:31 in the morning, and I am quickly posting this before I get sucked into it for the next hour or so. And cheating because I am going to ask you all another question. I was curious how long it takes YOU to write a post. Posts like should take me fifteen minutes. It won't. I guarantee it. Most of my posts take a minimum, yes, a minimum of an hour and most take up to two hours. I write, edit, re-write, edit...blah blah blah. That's why I can't post everyday. Between managing Blog Around the World (which I thoroughly enjoy doing), reading all your great blogs (which again, I am woefully behind on doing), and writing posts here, I could be parked in my office chair, behind my laptop twelve hours a day watching my butt get bigger. Yeah, that's a problem. I seriously started back on the treadmill this week just in case I might be going on a trip somewhere in the near future. I don't know where. Someplace.
We've established that I am freak who likes to iron, but am I the only freak that takes that much time to compose a post? And if you don't have a blog, what's stopping you?
Just curious.
PS...It is now 9:02 am....which means it took me 31 minutes to type this post. I rest my case.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Blog Cheating...Again
Brought to you by Debbie at 8:31 AM
Labels: blogging, dumb questions
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54 Comments:
Mr. B asked me to keep an online journal where I can write things for myself and for him. The other day he asked me to write about a specific thing, so I did. He said it was really good and asked how long it took me. 15 minutes. Most of my posts take about 15 (well, today's was significantly less)... I don't really edit much... I just verbally spew forth and figure that's me... if someone doesn't like it, they can lump it!
I'm like you...it takes me a long time to write a post. Sometimes days. Seriously. And even though I edit and re-edit a bazillion times, I almost always find a mistake after it is posted! This is partly why I rarely post. It's too exhausting!
I mean this in the most loving way possible, but I would have to say you are a freak. It takes me no time to write a post. I think it's because I have crazy voices in my head, writing my posts in my brain. Then, when I get to my computer, my head just throws up on the keyboard and voila! Publish and done. 15 minutes, MAX.
Everyone's different, though, right?
Um. Longer than I'd like, but I'm not sure.
I go into total time warp when I'm blogging.
SO, my clock says it is 8:20 -that means that I have been checking into other people's blogs for close to an hour now.
And I haven't posted...I'll have to let you know.
"It takes me like 2 hours to write a post. ... And if you're not blogging, why not?" You totally crack me up!
The reason it takes you so long is because you waste time answering your own questions. (Or is that questioning your own answers???)
If I only wrote my posts, I could do it in 15-30. It's choosing/editing/uploading/posting the pictures that takes forever. But I don't think I'd blog were it not for the pictures. My blog is my scrapbook. Kind of. So I get to it when I get to it. And then I treat myself to Wordless Wednesdays and let the pics speak for themselves once a week.
The actual writing doesn't take me long once I know what I want to write, but then I have to go and upload a gazillion pictures half the time and THAT take F.O.R.E.V.E.R. Serioulsy.
See, obviously I don't take time to edit properly. . .that "takes" forever.
I write quickly .. I type very fast, and I just type whatever comes into my head. If it bothers me, I erase and rewrite. This takes me less than 30 minutes. Unless I'm really conflicted about what I'm writing .. worried something I said may offend, or just not feeling it .. then I just scrap the whole thing and write about something else.
I enjoy all of your posts, even if they are just questions about your readers .. who doesn't enjoy a bit of "let's talk about me" time ;o)
it doesn't take me long to compose the post...but I have to have some pictures to start with! otherwise...I got nothin'!
It depends. Sometimes it just flows and other times I stare at the blank screen.
I usually just write what is on my mind and forget about editing it too much. I can definitely finish a post in 15 minutes. The most annoying part is waiting for any pictures to download. ugh!
That being said, I don't post everyday. I only post when I really have something on my mind. I think that makes it easier. It would take me longer if I had to try to think of something.
OH!!!! I'm glad to hear you are a freak with ME!!!! I like to iron too! But...it doesn't take me long to write a post because I'm not a good writer and I'm so random about EVERYTING!...I'm sure if I was as good as you...it would take me hourse :)
Oh gosh, I wish I could make a post quickly. If I'm just posting 2 pics or less and a one-liner, I can do it in less than 15 minutes.
But if I have to string words together, even if only a few ... it takes forever.
And if it's many pictures and/or a collage and words ... well, then that's forever, too (easily in excess of an hour). Don't even ask how long that BATW guest post took .... oh my!!
I usually do all my composition in my head. I think about a post all day long, then write it at night or early the next day. If I do that, and it's a long post (like mine tend to be) that usually takes me about 30-45 minutes. But I don't mind the time because I love spilling my guts out on the screen. I love using words to paint a specific picture, conveying exactly what is in my head.
If I put pictures in, that always takes WAY longer. I have to search pictures on the internet, finding the PERFECT one, or else take photos with my camera then download, edit, upload, blah blah blah. I hate doing pictures. They take forever.
Ha - you blog cheater. Well, you saw my post today..I cheated as well with my video. I can do that off the top of my head.
If it didn't take forever to upload photos, I could just spit it out. I have vowed I wont edit, and re-edit or I wouldn't ever post, but it still TAKE SO MUCH time. Much more than I want...but my posts are TOO long and I am working on splitting them up.
Just out of curiosity, when people read post through bloglines...does the re-edited post show up every time, or just the first one? Anyone? If they do...then I am really in trouble. I post, then edit...could be a problem.
Ummm... I type fairly quickly (due to my tendency to procrastinate and need to churn out 15 page papers in a few hours time in college) and I tend to just write whatever comes into my head, so the writing portion doesn't normally take that much time. Most of my pics are pre-uploaded into Picasa, so I normally just have to copy/paste the codes for those...
I will normally spend 15-30 minutes on a post (unless it's a how-to, I try to be a little more careful with those). Some days it takes a little longer though. I tend to ramble a little, so sometimes my posts come out really long when I was aiming for short and sweet. Kinda like this comment...
OH GOOD NIGHT!! YES it takes me F.O.R.E.V.E.R (think Sandlot if you've ever seen it).
I've been doing pretty good with every other day. I think everyone (at least I hope!) is alright with that.
THe work you do with BATW is so great and so many people benefit from it - I can't blame you if your 'down time' blog gets less focus. Personally, I love hearing from you either way.
I think I average 30 minutes. But often I'll write, then have to leave the computer to deal with kids (so rude!) and then come back, then leave again and come back to finish it.
probably 15-20 minutes but you're right...the editing takes forever. (especially when blogger is acting up. Am I the only one who has a problem with the spacing between paragraphs? seriously!)
If only freaks take forever to type posts, then I am TOTALLY your freaky sister.
It takes me FOREVER to do a post. That's why I haven't done one in several days, well, also because I'm tied up in Twilight and a Bible Study (but maybe not in that order).
I think it takes so long because I try to be even funnier and want to post to be perfect for my few faithful readers.
Besides, Freak is chic.
This set of comments has been so helpful, because I struggle with trying to find balance between my blogging - which I see as a ministry - and everything else in my life. I've decreased my blogging days to 5/week, but then I'm trying to freelance some to get more notice of my ministry, so I;m still writing. Then there's the networking online, researching resources, etc. When someone once asked how I make homemaking fun, I answered "Homemaking?!" I'm still trying to figure out how to balance conducting my ministry, and not forgetting the greatest ministry I have, my family!
It takes me 30 min, generally, to write, and another 30 min, generally, to format the article with pics, hyperlinks, etc.
I'm with you ... it can take me ages.
Plus, sometimes I can get an idea in my head or even dream up a whole post while lying in the bath, sitting on the bus or while I'm out cycling/walking. However, when I sit down at the computer to write, my menopausal brain has done a cache dump and I'm left with a blue screen mind..
I really should start carrying a pad and pen with me...
I also probaby spend way to much time writing loooong comments to people. :-)
If there is anyway you can manage to use you laptop while on the treadmill, you wouldn't have to feel so guilty about blogging taking up so much time. ;)
I average between 30 minutes to an hour including editing and re-editing.
I just found your blog and I'm enjoying it immensely, so you must be doing something right! *chuckle*
It takes me about 15- 20 minutues to type up my posts...but if I add pictures it takes FOREVER!! This is because I usually have to upload my pics off of my camera first..which I am a total procrastinator about.
I only post about 3 times a week and that's plenty....I have tons of ideas in my head...but am too lazy to spend the time & dread uploading the pics.
My weakness is reading & commenting on all of your great blogs...I can get caught up in it and spend WAY too much time on my friend Mr. Mac!!
15-20 minutes for CRAP.
1 hour or more for something I'm proud of.
I'm like you. I have to edit, re-write, and fuss with it until I AM WELL PLEASED. :)
It takes me about 30mins. to post and the rest of my life to read. LOL
It took me 20 minutes to just post 3 entries... but it depends on how much I want to say... and how many pictures... usually not too long. I am not a perfectionist as you can see from my life!
It takes me about an hour to ninety minutes. I usually get ideas of posts when I'm out walking or if something happens in my day. What takes so long is the writing. I like to read my posts out loud to see if the writing flows then of course I have to find the right picture or video to go along with it. The time spent on my blog is worth it to me.
I don't write much and it usually takes me about 15 minutes, unless I'm adding lots of links. I know what you are talking about though. i take FOREVER to scrapbook. I'm such a perfectionist.
Most of the time, when the idea is fresh, I can really crank a post out. Other times, I find myself changing this sentence or that one, moving this to there, adding a picture, no wait, this one...Yeah. Those take a lot longer! LOL
With this, I take freakishly forever. Part of it is procrastinating. Part of it is that I have no inspiration. Another part is that I try to temper my words. Like yesterday's commercial. I have been pondering that post for months. And my dirty little secret post - for forever. But, you'll notice that I have a very Seinfeldian blog. It's about nothing. And it's random because I got nothin'.
I don't think I answered your question :-)
It usually takes me about an hour. Its not the writing of the post that takes that long...its just that after I add pics.....the spacing gets all screwed up and it takes me forever to fix it. I wish Blogger would fix their spacing....I blame them really!!!
Hmmm. I think I may be the exception. I'll have to track it next time, but usually it doesn't take me more than 20 or so minutes, unless I'm uploading pictures, which takes forever. Does it show that I don't agonize over the posts? Maybe I'm just a bad blogger :)
Sigh...
Some days, 10 minutes. Some days, 50. And then there are times when I write for an hour, delete it all, and post something random and lame. Yeah, I admitted it.
It ebbs and flows...like life...
It takes me 20 minutes. But that 20 minute blog post can turn into 2 hours. What with my little ones taking turns peeing, and climbing on me, fighting or asking for food, crayons, and something to drink. So, this is the reason I don't blog everyday either.
Freaks are lovely people! I can post in 15 minutes, unless Blogger erases my post (thank-you, Blogger for that gift this morning), but sometimes when the chaos in the house is just right, a post takes an hour.
Now for your ironing thing...that I can't understand!
It takes between 15 minutes and a half hour for me. Longer if I am trying to post pictures and even longer if I have forgotten how to type that day. Which happens. And I make so many mistakes. But two hours is a looong time. Long time.
I have about 2 weeks of posts lined up and then when something hits me I add that in. So I go back and re-edit multiple times. I hate getting those critical comments that I spelled something wrong. Heaven forbid that should happen.....
I think it takes about 30 minutes to get everything all put together. Is that so bad??? I look at it this way, it is history. History of my life, my family and my thoughts....
I totally forgot why I came over.
Thank you for making me the lay-over. What a SHOCK and great surprise. I am having so much fun meeting so many amazing people. You are so sneaky and so wonderful!!!!
Hey Debbie~
I have a very simple posting routine. I think about something and let it brew in my head for a day or so. I compose it in 15 minutes or less. I let it sit for ten minutes, an hour, a day...until I can get back to do a final edit. Spend anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes editing, and hit the button. My life and real writing projects do not permit me to spend much more time on it than that.
Sadly, I know it shows up in typo's, gramatical and spelling errors, and verb tense inconsistency.
It is only a blog, after all.
Blast my perfectionistic nature! It really only takes me 15-20 minutes to write a post, another 5-10 to mess around with all my fonts, 5 more to find and download the right song to accompany it, and then it's edit,edit, edit (another 15 minutes worth---somehow it just doesn't look the same on the "new post" page as it does on the blog and I find all kinds of repeated words, etc..). Some nights I'll get super creative and just write 3-4 and schedule them. But it's been a while since I've done that!
I just count all of it as practice for my future career :)
Vacation, huh? Wonder where you might go?....
yeh I have this thing where I set a time limit for myself, but I am in control of it so I just, lol, allow myself *additional* time....I think we need like an eject button that if we spend more then our allowed time to blog that our computers will be ejected to the heavens til we can regain ourselves!!
love ya and miss ya!!
kelly
my blog post take about 30 min. but i have a gazillion typos, no editing, etc. but thats ok, because thats who I am! :) hehehe
What a hoot! I came here via Life with my 3 Boybarians but I just read your last 10 posts and I am cracking up!!!
I am one of those who takes *forever* to write a blog post. I too write, re-write and then write again. I have so many ideas that I could blog almost everyday if I could get over my neurotic self!
Thanks for such a fun blog!!!!
Honestly, mine vary. I can post quickly or take a while and the pictures do add time but I love posting a visual. Probably because I need it.
Hi Debbie!!
Well it depends if my computer starts having a mind of it's own or blogger quits messing with my widgets and all that Jazz.. okay I'm breaking into a song and dance!!
Not!!..anywhoos for me almost an hour, but later I go back and try to correct some errors, I was going to say edit, but I don't edit well so what they see is is usually what they get when they come to read. Hopefully they read it from the heart.
Hugz Lorie
I am a quick poster... but that might be because I like to keep my posts short and sweet... a one, two punch.
It does take me a while to come up with something....
My problem is it takes me 15 minutes to post and the rest of every waking hour to visit, Twitter, and comment.
Not nearly as long as it takes to make my rounds and comment....
My posts are usually about to spew out when I sit down to write them, so it only takes 15-30 minutes. I do reread them, sometimes heavily editing them.
most of my posts take 30 minutes to an hour. some have taken much longer, and occassionally I throw one out in just a few minutes. whatever is working for you, keep it up, I love your blog!
Me too! I could have written this post, and it would have taken me an hour. ;)
I like to iron too! Park the board in front of the TV w/ a good movie on and I'll iron like 20 items of clothing. and I just started my very first blog yesterday! I was nervous at first about throwing my personal thoughts out there but what the hey, it's all me :)
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