It's the first Wednesday of the month and that means it is time for IWSG! Insecure Writers Support Group.
Who isn't insecure about their writing?
Having a support group like this is really, really helpful. It saves my sanity, more often than not, just knowing I can vent to other writers once a month. People who know what I am going through when I feel insecure or hit a snag or get irritated with some lousy idiot who doesn't....
Ahem.
You get the idea.
It's also nice to be able to offer up support and advice for those who might need it. There are soooo many of us involved in this, I don't get to everyone. I think the Ninja Captain himself is the only one who does... So if I don't make it by, I'm sorry. I will try to get to you next time around.
Which leads me to my insecurity of sorts. Commenting. I love reading everyone's posts and I do drop by, trust me. Time is limited as you are well aware. But sometimes, I don't leave a comment to let you know I was there because I just don't know what to say.
Things like, "Great post!" is good, but I fear may come across as, "Oh. Hey. Just skimmed. Good job. Keep it up. See ya."
You know?
Meh.
I do make an effort to get involved in discussions. But I'm also having issues with Blogger these days with people not able to leave a comment. (Some anyway, working on it.) And I've reached my limit on how many people I can follow. So I don't see all the posts in the feed. I have tried deleting some blogs that are inactive and have been for over a year or something silly I don't want to follow anymore and I can't get them to load so I can remove them. Very frustrating!
And I refuse to upgrade Blogger. That's like saying, "Hey, don't worry about your buggy issues, let me just throw some money at you to make it all go away..."
Not.
I'll try to be better. Maybe when I comment, I'll say, "I was here!!!" if I can't think of anything else to say. That way you know I stopped by and showed you some bloggy love. <3 br="br">
16 comments:
Hey! I'm good with "I was here!!" Only if you have the time. I know how that is. I don't know how Alex does it.
I'll take a "I was here!"
And I don't make it to every single participant every month, but I try to at least once every three months.
I may have to start doing that, then, lol!
And Alex, I don't know how you get to everyone all the time, no matter what! You are a serious Ninja. XD
I'm often frustrated by my usually low percentage of comments per hits, though I'd rather have a personal comment than a meaningless line like "Great points!" or "I agree!" I don't always comment on posts I visit either, since I can't think of anything original or profound to say.
I like just knowing people have stopped by, though I understand commenting takes time, especially if you are following a lot of blogs.
Allison (Geek Banter)
I've learned that comments aren't always necessary for me to know I'm getting seen. I look at my daily page views and I'm astounded. Would I like more comments? Yes, but I understand since I don't comment much myself.
And I have hit the allowable limit to blogs I can follow, apparently. Booo!
You should consider using Google Reader for blog posts. That way you can follow more people and even organize lists and such. I'd be lost without Google Reader.
And I do know what you mean. Sometimes I just don't know what to say, so I say something inane like "Great post." I hate doing that, but I don't want people to think I don't care either.
Great post! hahaha, and I feel your pain. I'm on wordpress and have the same buggy issues. So frustrating. I wish I was smart enough to start my own free blog site that fixes all this stuff. Oh well . . . hope to see you around some time:-)
I don't always leave a comment either. It's nothing to be ashamed about. Some times it works. Sometimes it doesn't.
We are a great community.
Heather
Hi Mel, sometimes I can blog a lot and sometimes life tosses me a curve ball~ Do what you can, when you can!
So nice of you to visit me today!
I liked what you shared, it was real and honest! :D
I feel your pain-and I agree sometimes I do not know what to say!
You are not alone~
Even a "stopped to say hi" is nice. It helps to know people do read a post now and then. And, I agree. It gets to be too many to read, so we have to spread out the love a little.
Oh my God, I can relate sooo much! Usually I comment on blogger book reviews, and if it's something I haven't read but really want to, all I can think to say is, «I'm dying to read this, too!» Then I feel totally lame. But I don't want to read too much of the review and risk reading spoilers. I worry about sounding as if I don't care, but honestly, other people are usually so happy to hear from readers, I doubt they're sitting there analyzing what we've said even though that's what we're worried about. I'm completely happy with every comment, even a quick «hey there» makes me grin. I think we worry too much! ;D
I'm with you. It's really hard to comment without sounding like you skimmed the post, when it just turns out that you read the post but have nothing to add to the discussion.
I like your idea of adding in a 'I was here and I read this!' to stop that :)
Jamie @ Mithril Wisdom
I know I worry too much, it's just in my nature.
But yes, I think I will be adding a little 'hi!' or 'I was here' when I read a post and don't have anything to add. Glad I am not alone! lol
LOL comments were my insecurity this month. I used to get tons of them and now well not so many.
I am guilty too, of reading and not commenting. I am trying to get better at this. It is hard trying to come up with the perfect thing to say. I think as writers we should start using our comments as a writing exercise...
Heck, I'll take a smiley face. haha
People really shouldn't get offended if someone doesn't comment anyway.
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