Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Going part-time (hard habit to break)

I'm going part-time. I've negotiated a flexible working arrangement with myself. I've put a business case together and showed myself how blogging five days a week is curtailing my other writing time. I've shown myself how cutting back to three days will allow me to focus on my other, sadly neglected projects. It's not an easy decision. I have discovered that I have a lot to say. (Actually, I'm not really surprised by that...) But I also know that there are other ways to say it. Other places.

It will take me longer to rack up my next 500 posts. And I'm okay with that. Five hundred posts at an average of 500 words apiece is 250,000 words. That's around three full-length novels. Written in 18 months. I take 200 posts out of that at an average of 500 words apiece and that's more than one whole book - well, here's hoping it's one whole book.

Even so, it's a hard habit to break. 

I'll still be here, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, sharing the Fibro love. I'm just making some room. Opening some windows. At least for a while.

I hope you'll continue to pop round to visit.

[image: tumblr.com]

26 comments:

  1. Hi Allison
    Makes sense to cut back to 3 times a week and Mon, Wed and Friday is a good posting schedule (it's my schedule too, though I have been a bit inconsistent lately). Will definitely make sure I pop back regularly to read new posts. All the best with the projects you have planned, looking forward to hearing about them here on the blog.
    Cheers
    Thea

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  2. Ah, eminently sensible, Al. I wondered how long you could sustain the pace along with all your other commitments. You must be tired! best of luck with getting that slipperily elusive *balance* right. J x

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  3. Course I will! And I cut back a while ago. Think you've been amazing to sustain for this for so long. You awesome woman you x

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  4. Good for you. I will be back for every post as always. It saves me on telephone calls. lol x

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  5. I've been thinking the same thing... although I already only blog 3 days a week... it was my biz stuff I was thinking of cutting back on. There's just too much garden, coffee and life to live, to work full time any more. So, is there any special "paperwork" you've put in place for your flexible working agreement?

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  6. I have only just finished a month of blogging daily (well just about daily) and I can totally relate to this decision Allison.
    The other day I was working at the paper and thinking... this story I'm writing here is getting in the way of my blogging!! Bad form considering I was getting paid for writing that story, not the blog.


    Good luck with your projects.
    x

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  7. I'm excited for you and the new habits you'll be able to make. Enjoy the next stage, and write that novel!! x

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  8. That's more than I manage most of the time! Paid work kind of has to come first, or two year olds wanting to be patted to sleep. I bet you get just as many readers each week.

    Enjoy the time for new projects and seeing them reach completion.

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  9. Phew! Now I might actually manage to catch each post AND get some work done ;)

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  10. It's scary when you break it down to 250 000 words over 18 months - or 3 whole novels.

    I think you have made an excellent decision. I have cut down on the blogging soooo much lately. I am trying to write more and get better at it and to do this, I have to cut down on blogging time.

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  11. Kudos, Allison. You know how amazed I've been at the number of quality posts you're able to write. I think this shift to three days a week will be great for you, while still providing value to readers.

    You'll also make me feel a bit less guilty about my less frequent posting, although I downshifted this summer from the schedule you'll do -- Mon, Wed, Fri -- to a Tues/Fri schedule, so you're still more productive than me!

    Patrick

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  12. I blogged daily for 6 months, tried a few different things to mix it up - then joined Twitter and hit my 200th post (albiet some of it was utter drivel)and decided the same thing.

    Focus on my writing and research to make my writing better. I blog haphazardly now.

    It has meant that my "readerhip" has dropped significantly but hey - it is bringing me a step closer to a bigger dream.

    We'll all be around still visiting the fibro.
    Good luck in your "bigger" writing challenges.

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  13. You gotta do what you gotta do! Will be first in line to buy your novel! Actually, will go line up now...

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  14. I only blog 3 times a week. You do what you gotta do. :) Can't wait to hear about your book! :)

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  15. I'll still be around. But you knew that ;-)

    Al, blogging less - does that means tweeting and stumbling and Facebooking less too?

    (THAT is my problem. A blog post is actually not too much of a time suck, but all the other lovely blogging stuff is - like a web that sucks me in....)

    xx

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  16. Wise move. Can't wait to read your books, and will still come around to the Fibro religiously. x

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  17. Oh when can we buy the books here in America? Can I buy them via my Aussie friends and have y'all ship them to me?!?!

    I think setting a posting schedule is wise. I've been scheduling posts and I love it! People that I go to class with are like "hey I just got a message that you posted, but you're here...what?" I love their confused looks!

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  18. It's all about getting the balance right - once you get that right, life is sweet for everyone.

    I'll be back to read - whever you update.

    Good luck and take care !

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  19. I've only recently come across your blog and I must admit I have enjoyed reading such frequent blogs. But I completely get the need to tone things down here so you can focus on other work. And I promise to still read faithfully, regardless of how often you post!

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  20. Wouldn't it be great if all the bloggers we love would write part time????? x

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  21. I've thought about cutting back too, but I don't have that much else going on except a few hours paid work per week. I'll probably just keep drifting on.

    Good luck with your book(s).

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  22. Good for you Al. Sometimes we realise we just can't fit everything in, so good luck. I'll still be here like a loyal puppy :) x

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  23. That sounds like a balanced decision made with wisdom. Making room for life to happen will give you even more to write about..even though you're not short on words.

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  24. Great idea - this blogging caper can take up every minute of time if you let it.

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  25. Can completely relate and wish you so much luck! I've never been busier and my blog and blog reading has taken a bit of a back seat sadly. But have to go where the $$$ are to keep my family fed, just like you need to do what you need to to meet the needs and wants of you and yours. Good luck!

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  26. Go Allison, enjoy! I'm sure you will write as much and we'll still be able to read it in a book won't we?!

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