Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire

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"Why haven't you posted about _____?"

So periodically, someone will ask me "why haven't you posted about _____?", where "_____" is everything from "my charity auction" or "this award" to "the new episode of Glee" or "your pedicure (I saw a picture on Twitter)." And then I tend to look tired and wander away. This isn't actually an answer. Here is an answer, in three parts.

1. Time.

A post like this takes no research; it just takes the time to think the thoughts and write the words. I don't need to fact check, find the links, explain the rules, justify my thoughts, or be funny. I just need to type. Sometimes, that's honestly all that I have the brain, or the bandwidth, to accomplish.

2. Backlog.

My current file of links to post, talk about, or use for reference is so long that it scrolls my screen three times. I've started deleting the really old ones, because they've literally aged out of relevance. But there's a new link, or two, or three every day, and I'm not removing them at nearly that rate. So something that shows up and is cool today probably is in that link file. It's just that unless it's super time-sensitive, it isn't anywhere near the top.

3. Variety.

You know what's boring? An author blog that's all BUY MY BOOKS BUY MY BOOKS BUY MY BOOKS all the time. I have what I consider the "advertising posts," which are things like the review roundups, convention announcements, publication or sale announcements, and so on. I have the "administrative posts," like this one. And then I have the "content posts," which actually say things other than "BUY MY BOOKS" or "please don't spit on the cat." I try to maintain a good mix, but it means that sometimes, things have to wait. Since I considered both the entry on where to buy my books for the holidays, and the entry about Shaenon's party, advertising posts, I needed to do some content and administration before I advertised again. Which meant certain things needed to wait.

And that is why I do not post everything that happens the second that it happens. There's no hard and fast rule dictating what gets posted when, but time, effort, and maintaining a decent level of variety are all factors.
Tags: a few facts, busy busy busy, utterly exhausted
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  • 28 comments
I find that the things I want to post about, and the things that other people think I should post about seldom match. In my head, what I do and what I know are routine, mundane, every day. They don't seem worth mentioning. SO I write about things I read or things that happen. And sometimes nothing much happens for days n' days...
I enjoy most everything you post: your blog, your rules, after all.
I've seen this in other people. I call it "being a fish talking to a rabbit." To the rabbit, it's amazing how the fish can stay underwater so long, how it evaded a bear last week, or that it's going down to the ocean soon, but to the fish, that's routine, mundane, every-day stuff.

Also, the fish is sometimes impressed by the rabbit's stories of dodging a coyote, tunneling through the ground to get a carrot on the other side of a fence, et cetera. The rabbit, on the other hand, sees this as routine, mundane, everyday stuff.
I love that image!
Oh, I'm absolutely not changing what I post for other people. Just giving a bit of logic. :)

And I adore your posting.
Thank you!
I can identify with the first one - I almost never post to my LJ because I just don't have the time to sit and compose a post until well after whatever inspired it. From what you've shared about your schedule, you're an order of magnitude busier than I. As a related note, I also tend to assume that if you don't reply quickly to a comment here it's because you're busy, not because you're snubbing any of us. I certainly don't expect to be at the top of your priority list unless I'm attempting to warn you about an incoming meteor or something. :)
If you warn me about an incoming meteor, I promise to respond VERY QUICKLY.
I always figure that the Buy My Books blog is the internet equivalent of the author that spends all of his/her time on a panel making shameless plugs for the latest book.
Agreed. I mean, they're a huge part of my life, so yeah, I'm gonna talk about them, but there are limits.
One of the things I love about this LJ and you is that it is so random. I never know what I'm going to get when I check out Rose Owls and Pumpkin Girls and that is awesome.
Hee, yay.
Until someone invents Telepatwitter, I figure you post what you want to post, when you want to post it, and... sheesh, it's your journal. O:>
Well, yes.
Wait... Someone spat on the cat?
*giggles and runs off to hide*
It's happened! But rarely twice.
Wow. That seems like a really (searching for the most appropriate adjective... I give up) stupid thing to do.
Given the multitude of things you are doing, I find it difficult to sympathize with anybody who has the nerve to ask you why you haven't blogged about a particular item.
Thank you.
[Unknown LJ tag] beat me to it. It's your journal. You post what you want when you want. The rest of us are just lucky that you do and that you have such an open door policy.

Oh, no need to respond; you have enough on your plate.
Sadly, no one gets to call comment amnesty but me. It makes me very twitchy when people try. But I appreciate the sentiment.
Errrrrm, I did just say it was your journal. I stand abashed.

seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

I always enjoy whatever you post. And frankly with as busy as you are, the fact that you take the time to post almost daily about anything is a gift. So for anyone to grip about that? Well (and pardon the cliched expression) they are looking a gift horse in the mouth and should be ashamed of themselves.

and as meggins said, you have enough on your plate. No need to reply
Sadly, no one gets to call comment amnesty but me. It makes me very twitchy when people try. But I appreciate the sentiment.
Sorry about that-will make a note to not do that. But it was a heart felt sentiment though :)

And I thank you. :)

paksenarrion2

5 years ago

seanan_mcguire

5 years ago