Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Hanging Up My Shoes Paid Off Again!

(I usually use a different picture for this, but since it's like -10 degrees here, I needed a reminder that summer's coming!) And you all thought I was kidding about my blog breaks being good luck... Seriously, on my last break, yet another blog friend signed with an agent. Go by and congratulate T. Anne. Her story is inspiration to us all. Some of you may not know what I'm talking about, so here's the short version: I tend to take frequent breaks from blogging, which I call hanging up my shoes. Recently I noticed a very exciting trend. Every time I take a break, one of my blog friends gets good news on their road to publication. I guess it was T. Anne's turn this time around. Good for her! She worked hard for it. Anyway, I decided, in order to ensure a year full of agent signings and book buyings, I should make one of my goals be to take even more frequent blog breaks. No, I'm kidding. Actually, one of my goals for 2011 is to keep up with my blog a little better. I don't mean in the sense of posting more often or visiting more blogs, but I mean on an organizational level. When I first started blogging, I was much more organized about it. That's what I'm shooting for this year. In other words, I'm going for quality, not quantity. So, don't worry, I'll still be taking lots and lots of breaks, but when I do blog, I will be more organized about it. So, do you have any blogging goals for 2011?

35 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

I hadn't thought about that but same as you, focus on quality and organization and really being me. I comment as much as I can but a girl has to write too! :)

Wendy Paine Miller said...

So pumped for T. Anne. My turn next. Go ahead, take another break already. ;D

~ Wendy

Patti said...

The trend continues - another signing and her story was amazing. I think I need to do the same. I have all these blog ideas, but I need to be more organized like everything else in my life.

Anonymous said...

Quality instead of quantity is a good plan! My goal is create my own website this year, combining my photography and writing blogs in one place.

Plamena Schmidt said...

Will head right on over to her blog.

Hey, could you take a break after I start querying? I'll let you know when : P.

Carolyn V. said...

To do it. =P Sometimes I get sidetracked.

Stephanie McGee said...

LOL.

When I'm ready to query, I'll let you know. :D

I haven't really set any blog goals for the year. I have too many other goals to deal with.

Diane Marie Shaw said...

Last year I was not consistent in my posting, my goal is to change that trend. I enjoy blogging and reading blogs, why didn't I do it consistantly last year? I got too involved in Facebook. I am going to be more balanced this year.

Tana said...

LOL! People are going to start paying you to take a break, you know that right? Perhaps that was the point? I'm so flattered to mentioned on your blog. Thank you so much for the shout out Susan!

W.B. said...

Thank you for your kind words, Susan. :)

One of my goals for this year is to read more books. I said I would do that last year, but it didn't work out all that well. :p

Diane said...

Your blogging breaks are the best. Now if only we could strategically place your next one after a bunch of us send out queries..... Hmmmmm. :O)

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Thanks for sharing the news. I hopped over to read her story - WOW. Can it be my turn next??? LOL. :-)

strugglingwriter said...

My goal is to blog more blog more blog more. And hopefully be able to blog about my writing. Which will mean that I have actually been writing!

Valerie Geary said...

You have good juju. :D

Karen M. Peterson said...

Ooh, do you think you could plan a blogging break for sometime around June? That's my target for querying... ;-)

My blogging goal this year is to be better about responding to comments. I think I'm off to a fairly decent start, but there's always room for improvement.

Terri Tiffany said...

I LOVED TAnne's story. SO happy for her!
Only thing I plan for my blog is to try to keep going:)

Carla said...

Yay for T. Anne! I just started my writing blog and my goal is to post once a week--for now! I also want to keep up with my family blog and other writing projects. Good luck to us all!

~Carla (carla-jansen.blogspot.com)

Carol Riggs said...

Aha! It was T. Anne who benefited from your bloggy vacation. Very cool. ;o)

Sarah Laurence said...

Funny story and congratulations to your friend. My goal is to keep blogging steadily but to write shorter posts so I can spend more time on my WIP or have more free time on weekends. Then I went and wrote a really labor intensive post this week.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Um, yeah, you really should take some more breaks. LOL!!
Sooooooo excited for T. Anne! She's the best. :)
My blogging goal is actually to blog one extra time a month at my crit forum. But I did cut down to twice a week on my regualar blog which has helped a lot.

BK Mattingly said...

Man, I wish my blogging breaks would work like that. I've had 3 and no such luck. I should probably keep trying right? I've got several cp's that would probably benefit. :) I'm can't wait to read what you have in store for us :)

Stina said...

LOL. When I first read your title, I though you had an agent. Oops! Miss read 'Again'. But apparently I was close on the topic matter.

I'm about to start querying. You could take another blogging break if you want. I wouldn't mind. Okay, I'd miss you, but if that's the sacrifice you're willing to make, who am I to complain. ;)

Corey Schwartz said...

Oh, ha! Yes, i read her FABULOUS post. (But didn't realize you were behind the whole thing :)

Anonymous said...

I just want to be more consistent with my posting as well as add more of a variety! :o)

Tamika: said...

I'm thrilled for T.Anne! Her journey of perservance is heart warming, I love seeing God opening doors:)

Blogging is a huge passion. Right now, I'm trying to find the perfect system for me with the added responsibiliies of family.

Colene Murphy said...

Wow! You're the novel fairy. Can I rub your head? Would that be weird? ;)

Melissa said...

When I start querying your going to take a break right?? :P

Faith said...

I definitely want to stay on top of posting a few times every week. There are often weeks when I "just don't feel like it" and I put off posting anything for days, but that just makes me feel guilty in the end. I want to try and get a few posts written in reserve for weeks like that, so the page doesn't sit without new content for more than two or three days. But, we'll see! Good luck with your own goals this year!

Glynis Peters said...

Wow to T Anne!

You are the lucky blogging fairy, Susan!

Good luck with your writing during 2011.

Heather Sunseri said...

Yeah, a huge congrats to T.Anne! I think you have the magic touch, Susan! When will it be my turn?

Nancy said...

I love your flip flop picture. My daughter doesn't get why they decorate the bottom when your feet are there. I do. It's because they are just so darn cute. And my little feet show the pattern, too. I'm glad you are going for more organization. And congratulations to T.Anne.

Joanne R. Fritz said...

Ah, I WISH it was summer. Thanks for the photo and also the link to T. Anne's blog.

My blogging goal should be to try to get more followers. But all I'm really hoping is that I can manage to post twice a week consistently. Shouldn't be too hard, right?

Dawn Simon said...

Yay! Thanks for sharing the great news! I just read T. Anne's post. Very inspiring! :)

4 Life said...

Oh, I hope I can get a great deal on one of your breaks this year! Happy New Year to you! And many happy deals for yourself too!

Jen said...

Congrats to T. Anne! That's wonderful news :D Blog goals for this year? Just to blog consistantly. Being back in school, I've had to cut back to twice weekly instead of my intended 3 days a week. So far, it's working ok (but I miss reading blogs...I've got to get that in balance too!)

~Jen