Thursday, May 13, 2010

Oy.

I’ve done a fair number of blogfests lately, and I have to admit that I’m beginning to wonder. I thought for sure after this last one I was pretty much blogfested out. But, no. I found not one, not two, but three other upcoming blogfests I’ll probably enter. Seriously, I might be addicted. And that’s not counting the short story contest I still plan on entering if I can get myself together.

Now I like blogfests and contests because they force me to write. Maybe not write in my WIP, but write something. And that’s taking more than a little bit of effort lately. Plot Whisperer has a great post here about your relationship with your writing.

Do you participate in blogfests? Think they are good for you and your skills? Or not? And how’s your relationship with your writing?

24 comments:

  1. I think we all know I take part in too many blogfests *nods* but for much the same reasons as you. They force me to write when I otherwise might not.

    Also, they're a great way to procrastinate but also do something productive... if that makes any sense?

    Haha, I have a turbulent relationship with my writing but I think these help me focus on what I'm good at and discover new ways of discribing a scene or moment in time :~)

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  2. I don't participate in blogfests, because the last one I did, I spent two days reading and commenting. Yeah, that wasn't a good thing.
    Although I agree, like you said, they're good for my skills. Writing quick, short, get-to-the-point pieces, definately hones one's skills.

    As for my writing, not so much these days. I'm unplugging next week, (I swear it this time) because I really need to get something done.

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  3. I participated in one and I know what you mean about seeing them everywhere thinking every one sounds good and signing up! I could definitely fall in that trap, luckily things are going so well with my WIP that I've decided to stay going that route rather than breaking away from the whole purpose of starting this blog!

    I'm so impressed with all the blogfests you're joining and I love them so never feel the need to give up!

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  4. I have never participated in one but they do sound interesting.

    CD

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  5. I haven't done a blogfest myself, but I heard it really boosts your followers.

    If I'm going to write, it better be on my WIP right now because I want to finish it!

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  6. I'm trying to pick-and-choose blogfests. I think they are a lot of fun, good for sharpening skills and great for meeting bloggers. But they take a lot of time, and I know I need to give more to my WIP. In fact, I need to stop blogging right now and get to work! :D

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  7. Blog fests don't better my writing at all because I only enter ones which I have something already written for! I'm a bit of a slacker like that ;)

    Perhaps you should host one! I've a good idea for one if you'd like a head's up? One that won't take up too much reading time! :)

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  8. More great questions. I've participated in two blogfests, both of which I found here. I don't know that they made much of a difference, though.

    As far as my relationship with my writing is concerned, it's a lot like my relationship with my geographically far flung siblings. I love them, think of them often and fondly, but rarely ever communicate with them. And so it goes with writing--think of it fondly, love it but rarely ever visit with it.

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  9. Blogfests are fun and a good learning experience. I usually post something I've already written, but even this helps because it forces me to evaluate it. Is it my best piece for the fest? If not, how can I make it better (not for the fest but for the WIP)? And I can't put something out there with no editing. I think, "Holy cow! People will be reading this!" So I clean it up.

    I also learn from reading others' entries, especially when it's an off-the-wall subject. It's interesting to see how other writers approach it. Only once have I written something new and that was definitely a stretch for me, which was great for my writing.

    My biggest problem with blogfests: Those going during the week. I just don't have time to read all the entries and comment. I like the weekend ones - or at least Fridays, so I have the weekend to read before they disappear off the blog radar screen with Monday's posts.

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  10. I like the fests as a way to test out material and meet other bloggers. I kind of epic failed on the latter with yesterday's fest because blogger was being wonky and not letting me post comments.

    Twice I've written something specifically for a fest, but always with an eye for getting feedback on a character or voice or situation I might use in a WIP.

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  11. i participate occasionally, if it's one that sounds really fun or is being put on by a blog buddy. Mostly, though, i feel like i should be working on the WIP and not blogfests

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  12. They are social events. If you want to write, write. If you need a prompt, you're are distracting yourself.

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  13. I would love to take part in them, but honestly I just can't dedicate the mind-space to them right now!

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  14. I've done a couple of them. Chapter books and PB's don't lend themselves to most blogfest criteria, but I've enjoyed the ones I've done. I wouldn't want to do them all the time, though. :-)

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  15. I've been participating in the explosion of blogfests this month mainly to network. I'm looking for other writers who inspire me and who can give me feedback on my work. After this month, though, I may cut back and focus more on my writing.

    One thing I can say: Blogfests are MUCH LESS a waste of time than Facebook games. LOL!

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  16. Don't even get me started on FB-Games...

    I like blogfests (me= recent convert and perhaps addict) because they pose a definite limit by which a certain amount of work should be done.

    Also, only not writing is bad writing, at least in terms of practice.

    If you can work your WIP-scenes into the blogfest themes or vice versa, you get a kind of two-for-one deal. Plus there's the networking, the socialising, and the non-relatives feedback you can get.

    It can also be fun to just write a short scene right off your head, so to speak, and see how creative you can be (although I don't recommend killing your computer and then having to do so to meet the due date) (that happened to me in case you're wondering).

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  17. I only recently started participating in blogfests. I love them but they do distract from what I should really be doing. They definitely help me as a writer, just like my blog does. But they don't help me get any serious writing done which, you know, kind of defeats the purpose of, well, my existence.

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  18. I've participated in quite a few. There are 2 more linked in my sidebar that I will do, then I'm going to get more choosy with them. I'm finding my time is being sucked away by blogging in general these days.

    My relationship with my WiP sucks. (See above sentence for reason ;/ )

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  19. I'm participating in my first blog fest next week. I can see how it can be time consuming, but it still looks fun. I'm also thinking of running my own, just to see what it would be like.

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  20. I did one blogfest and I loved it. It took the rest of the next day to read and comment on all the other entries, but I really enjoyed that part, too. I keep meaning to sign up for more, but I haven't yet. I don't think I'd sign up for one I had to write anything new for, but I would post something of one of my existing manuscripts - probably not the one I'm getting ready to query, but the one before that that's still waiting for me to get around to more revisions.

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  21. I've done a ton of blogfests, but don't usually write new material. I use short excerpts from existing work, edited not to give any more away than what might be revealed in a three line pitch. I enjoy getting around to the other blogs and reading the entries. It's useful to see the different ways writers explore the same topic. Unfortunately, the entries seem to be getting longer and longer, and it's taking way too much time to get to every participant. I'm going to have to cut back.

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  22. I don't. I do a few theme blogs and 10th DoM. O have no more time :). My writing? I am thinking ALL the time about it.

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  23. I have never joined a blogfest. I think it would be a distraction at the moment. I am editing wip, that takes my time.

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  24. I've never joined a blogfest. I do the Writing Adventure Group on my blog, but figure there's a limit to what my followers want to read in that vein. I do write some flash fiction when I'm feeling stuck on my WIP though!

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