I hesitate, but not for long, not longer than a second really.
Then I do it. I click on the + and there I am, relentlessly following yet another blogger.
(And to think that, for the majority of my life, I considered myself a leader, not a follower.)
I don’t go searching for blogs to follow. I’ve never clicked on Recommended Blogs.
What I do do, though, is check out the blogs of anyone who shows evidence of visiting my blog. If they “liked” a post or left a comment, then I in turn go to their blog and see what they’re writing about. That’s what the blogging community is all about.
But here’s the trouble–almost every blog I visit is respectable, unique in both appearance and content. Worthy. Worthy of my time and attention. And thus I click on the +.
And I am following yet another blog and that means there will be even more reading material coming into my life on a daily basis.
When I follow a blog, I follow it. Wholeheartedly. I don’t want to miss any posts. I want to read what is being written, ponder it, and try to make a comment or get involved in the conversation. I want to nurture the community and build relationships.
There have been blogs that I’ve followed and then un-followed once I realized that they weren’t my style, weren’t on a topic that interested me. So far I haven’t un-followed any blog just because I feel I’m following too many blogs. If it’s a good blog, I want to recognize that by becoming a faithful follower.
Currently I am following (only?) 61 blogs, but last week at this time it was 54. What is there, something like 500,000,000 WordPress blogs? I’m in so much trouble.
There’s only so much time in the day. Only so much time for reading, only so much time for writing. Every time I decide to follow another blogger, I am cutting into my writing time because I have to devote more of my daily WordPress time to reading. Weird how that works. I started blogging to write, not to read more, but one cannot happen without the other. Reciprocity. I am learning from these other blogs, not just content, but how to become a better writer. It would be foolish to not keep up with my reading.
So, as you can see, or as you may very well know, it’s a dilemma. What is your experience? How many blogs are you following? How do you balance reading and writing time?
A String of Pearls 
Nov 20, 2013 @ 14:23:29
It is a dilemma for sure, Randee. On the writing site HubPages I follow hundreds of writers…then add in the blogs….goodness gracious. What I have to do is set a time limit for each day; when time runs out I stop commenting. I don’t know any other way to do it. I can’t be there for everyone every single day, and I don’t expect them to be there for me every day. 🙂
Nov 20, 2013 @ 18:47:45
Good idea – time limit. I’m afraid I’ll only choose the shorter posts to read, which isn’t fair.
Nov 22, 2013 @ 09:55:59
That’s a really great idea. I have a time limit, too, but since I’m currently on maternity leave, so I find this time limit getting longer and longer!
Nov 20, 2013 @ 14:38:58
I know how you feel. I try to stay invested in the blogs I follow. I comment when I can on posts I enjoy. I need the feedback on what people like me to write about and I suppose I figure so does everyone else to some degree. I mean we write what we want, but it helps to know someone is relating, as well. Great post. No worries if you don’t get to my posts, friend. 😀
Nov 20, 2013 @ 18:49:18
Thanks for your comment and for understanding. Maybe that’s it – think of blogs as FRIENDS. You can’t do everything with everyone, but it’s helpful to check in at least once a week or so.
Nov 20, 2013 @ 19:41:57
I agree! 🙂
Nov 20, 2013 @ 14:51:42
Well I feel lucky I got in at or around the ground floor. It took me a second there but I found it, 98 blogs I follow. I’ve found that a portion, as was foretold by WordPress, a fairly large portion that is, stop blogging within 6 months of starting. So that knocks the number down quite a bit. But I’ve found that some are kinda like a certain style of food or movie, and sometimes you want to watch action or comedy perhaps. So I kinda save those up for when I’m in the mood, then spend a night going through what all I’ve missed. But then there are others I just have to read everyday as soon as they come out and that amounts to about two, and others that post once/twice a week or infrequently and that adds up. It certainly does keep me busy though, and the pool. Gotta keep a grip on the handle down there. Fun post Randee.
Nov 20, 2013 @ 18:51:14
Another good idea. Save ’em up and read them when I have time. I guess they’ll always be in my READER, just a ways down. Thanks. I am picking up a few ideas here!
Nov 20, 2013 @ 16:05:37
I go on a blog binge about once every two weeks… there is one day I read read read everyone I follow, during the week I read what catches my eye when I sign in to update mine. So sometimes I’m a little late…sometimes not so much!
Nov 20, 2013 @ 18:52:16
Similar to another comment and a good idea! Read a little each day and a lot on those rare days when I have several hours and am just in the mood for it. Thank you!
Nov 20, 2013 @ 17:52:36
I was just thinking about this yesterday and decided to limit myself to 50 blogs. But then I thought if everyone did that, nobody would probably ever read mine- there is just too much fantastic writing out there- and I would be missing out on it as well. So my new rule is I follow anyone who likes or follows me and once a month go through and un-follow any blogs I’m routinely skipping over. You’re so right, though. There is hardly enough time in the day to interact with my physical world, much less the virtual one. It can be overwhelming.
Nov 20, 2013 @ 18:56:44
Yes, good point about the physical world. That has to come first and should get most of our time. And, I agree, it’s good to show some appreciation for others’ blogs and I’m glad there are people out there who read mine, when it is nowhere near the caliber of the great ones.
Nov 20, 2013 @ 18:04:57
At the moment, 57. But as someone else said, many bloggers fall off the radar after a while, so the number of blogs I’m actually following is probably much lower. I don’t worry about the numbers too much, though; I just like to follow quality, maybe learn a few new things along the way. Writers with strong voices. But I am really thankful for the people who take an interest in my own blog posts, whether that is in the form of a Like or a comment or whatever; I follow them the closest.
Nov 20, 2013 @ 18:58:02
I think that’s true for me, too. I follow more closely the blogs of those who interact with me. It’s because they’re becoming my friends and I want to get to know them better.
Nov 20, 2013 @ 22:36:56
I think about the high number of blogs on WP, too, and wonder how I keep running into only the same people? Weird, isn’t it?
I checked out the ones you recommended for me to follow and all were great, but I just can’t add more reading time right now…as much as I complained about not having enough to read. Perhaps for the new year. 🙂
Nov 21, 2013 @ 08:27:09
I’ve wondered that, too – why I keep seeing the same people. So far, I like my people. 🙂
Nov 21, 2013 @ 12:02:31
I like my people, too. 🙂
Nov 21, 2013 @ 04:24:41
I follow just over 2000 blogs! I keep some on weekly until I get to know the blogger a bit and learn their blogging patterns. But many are on immediate email notification, too. It’s a difficult balancing act, but ultimately, I read blogs long before I wrote them– so I prioritize the reading. 🙂 Loved this post! It’s a great peek into what makes you tick. 😀
Nov 21, 2013 @ 08:31:46
2000! Holy cow. I better quit whining. Thanks for including me in the 2000, btw.
Nov 22, 2013 @ 13:18:59
I follow very few blogs yet read a whole bunch of them simply because I tend to go off by topic. If the topic is interesting I follow; it has gotten harder to do, since I have so much on my plate. Two jobs, own blog and 7 writing projects plus a mental laziness that often visits me here and there….oh yea plus I enjoy yahoo answers lol.
Nov 22, 2013 @ 15:10:50
My blog doesn’t really have a topic; it changes daily. Thanks for your comment. Good luck balancing your time!
Nov 22, 2013 @ 13:30:06
I understand how you feel, I am following over 200 blogs and would love to follow more. There’s just so so many things interesting going on out there. I also have a few more which I am subscribed through email! I read blogs whenever I can, though I have to admit that lately I have been on a post an run because of NaBloPoMo. Blogging daily makes it hard for me to find time reading other posts. I try still! 🙂
Nov 22, 2013 @ 15:12:54
I understand! I did blog-a-day in October. I spent a ton of time writing and picked up followers, but I also started following many blogs, too. It’s fun, just time consuming.
Nov 23, 2013 @ 18:00:04
I loved this post, I can relate very well!! I don’t follow very many blogs at all, and I also like to try to be involved with the ones I do follow. I used to follow people’s blogs out of guilt, like people who comment or “like” every single one of my posts. But hey, that’s not what it is about. I think it’s great that you are committed to those you follow, and thanks for adding me to your list by the way! 😀 I am really enjoying your blog and writing style!
Nov 23, 2013 @ 22:44:54
Thank you, Courtney! I look forward to reading more of your posts.