Readability Tool Success and Mobile Posting Fail

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First, something helpful…

This came to mind when, during a class last week at the conference, someone mentioned reading level and being appropriate for your audience (specifically children in a certain age range).

Did you know you can paste your text into an online tool that will test your document’s readability? Check it out here, with many thanks to an editor of mine who shared it with me about a year ago. The same editor also shared this website with me, and it explains fluency and reading levels in more detail.

You might wonder what that has to do with blogging, and I’ll tell you: in my world, everything has to do with blogging. 🙂 The truth, though, is that we can easily write over our audience’s heads without much thought, especially when we’re talking faith and theology and stuff that’s technical.

There’s also the fact that I have found myself writing for children (my current title is one example), though I never intended to be a children’s writer. (God has a sense of humor, after all.)

Second, a frustration that could have been cool…

There’s an option for mobile posting on Blogger (which is what we use right now for the CWG blog). I enabled it, entered my mobile number, and took the 20 minutes to type out a post on my phone’s teeny-tiny screen last Friday afternoon.

Turns out, it doesn’t quite work, at least not with my (non smart) phone. Oh well…it would have been SO COOL to be able to share things on-the-go via texting. It’s not to be (and it’s probably just as well…for you!).

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Sarah Reinhard is the author of Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families. You’ll find more of Sarah at her blog, SnoringScholar.com. You can also connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Babyspotting

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I have a whole collection of pictures of the baby with a whole collection of cool Catholics who were at the Catholic Writers Conference Live and Catholic Marketing Network trade show last week.

But…

But my Official Photographer has misplaced her iPod Touch, which has all the great pictures on it. She’s 13 and was such a help to me during my trip that I can’t hold it against her. In fact, I’m petitioning St. Anthony about it.

In lieu of that, I’m going to point you to the post I put up over at my place, which features some Guildies you’ll recognize (and who my little guy simply loved). When I get access to the pictures on my niece’s iPod, I’ll interrupt things here and share them. 🙂

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You’ll find more of Sarah Reinhard at her blog, SnoringScholar.com. You can also connect with Sarah on Twitter and Facebook.

A Resource for New Media Users

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Last week at the CWCL, I received quite a few questions regarding new media. They seemed to stem around these themes:

  • What is it?
  • Why should I use it?
  • How does it work?

I watched people take notes on what “backlinking” meant and how to “schedule a post.”

We’re a group of writers here, but I do think there is a place for discussion about new media. The number of people who approach me about it, asking for help and guidance, is growing. There is a discernment process for deciding whether any of this is right for you, but the trend leads, more and more, to writers being online and having a presence.

Today at my blog, I have a review of The Church and New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists, and Bishops Who Tweet, by Brandon Vogt. It’s an excellent resource for anyone and it examines the use of new media in light of our faith. Check out the website as well for more about the book and some nifty features.

I mention it here as something that could serve you in your writing and in your interactions with new media.

I’ll be tackling some of the questions I’ve received in upcoming columns. If you have anything related to blogging or new media that you’re wondering about, feel free to leave them in the comments here.

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Be sure to check SnoringScholar.com for more of Sarah Reinhard’s antics, tales of rural adventure, and writing updates. Her newest release is Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. You can also connect with Sarah on Twitter and Facebook.

Quantity versus Quality in Blogging

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At the blogging panel at the Catholic Writers Conference Live, a participant raised a great question: Is it better to focus on quantity of posts or quality of writing for blog posts?

We could go around and around about this question. I can’t help but think of the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg.

I think, really, this is something you have to decide.

Recently, someone told me, in a pretty offhand way, that no one’s ever discovered by their blog. So, really, it’s something you do for yourself, right?

Here’s my experience. The first acquisitions editor I spoke with, from Pauline Books, cited my blog as a way she found me AND a reason why she thought I’d be the right person for their project (which you’ll see in March 2012). The second acquisitions editor I worked with, from Liguori, cited my blog as a way of knowing who I was. The third acquisitions editor, from Ave Maria Press, … well, you see where this is going, right? She had been following my blog (as well as Facebook and Twitter) for quite some time before contacting me.

Could this be true for you?

When you put yourself “out there” on the internet, you are sharing a part of yourself. Just as you take time to make sure you are presentable for in-person meetings, you should do the same in your online presence.

I haven’t really answered the question, though. Should you write more often or write better stuff? Here’s my three-pronged answer:

1. Find a posting schedule that works for you. If it’s weekly, fine: make sure you stick with it. (Weekly bloggers are a gift, in many ways, to those of us who follow a lot of blogs.) If it’s three times a week, fine: same advice as above. If it’s sporadically, well, so be it.

2. Don’t put any writing out there that you wouldn’t want an acquisitions editor to read, but don’t let the thought of your audience bind you and keep you from being able to write. I think there’s more forgiveness with online writing than with print, BUT that’s no reason not to write quality stuff. Practice makes perfect, right? So use your blogging space to practice. Don’t get so caught up in “perfect” that you can’t ever post.

3. Have fun. We’ve talked before about reasons you might not want to maintain a blog, but if you don’t have passion for what you’re writing–whether it’s online or off–that will come through. Fun doesn’t mean “easy” and it doesn’t always mean “enjoyable all the time.” I have fun as a parent (which I still find surprising), but it’s not easy work or even always smile-inducing.

What’s your take on this topic? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments!

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Be sure to check SnoringScholar.com for more of Sarah Reinhard’s antics, tales of rural adventure, and writing updates. Her newest release is Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. You can also connect with Sarah on Twitter and Facebook.

To Blog or to Guest Post

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Among the things that came up during the blogging panel of the Catholic Writers Conference Live last week was the subject of guest posting.

One of my favorite authors shared with me after the session that she’s really struggling with blogging. She has REAL writing commitments, paying gigs. Blogging is a distraction, in many ways, from the work she needs to get done.

On the other way, as she pointed out to me, it helps keep her in touch with her readers in between books.

A few months ago, I was a loud proponent of her beginning a blog. (What can I say? I’m a fangirl!) Now, after talking with her and considering her situation, I’m not so sure.

Guest Posting Options

Guest posting is a real option and even an alternative to blogging. In fact, I offer it to anyone who’s interested and can think of a good topic to share at my place: come on over and guest post. I’ve had a number of interesting folks in the past, and I’m happy to share my space with others. Email me!

Lisa Hendey also offered CatholicMom.com to those interested: you can be a regular columnist or write guest posts there as well. You just need to contact her.

I haven’t talked to our Blog Editor here, but I’m quite sure the Catholic Writers Guild blog could always use more guest content as well…so check out the schedule and contact the appropriate person.

Benefits of Guest Posting (whether or not you blog)

1. It gets you exposed to a different audience, or, if you’re not a blogger, to an online audience.

2. It’s a win-win, in many ways. The blogger gets good content; you get a chance to tap into their audience.

3. It might stretch you to write in a different way, for a new subject, or for a set of people you might not have a chance to connect with otherwise.

Should You Blog?



I can’t answer that for you. There’s a discernment that has to happen…but I can point you to a discussion we had before and offer my one-on-one advice.

What’s your take on this? Do you have a preference or a way you approach guest posting?

Related posts:

– To Blog or Not to Blog

– Coming Up with Blogging Content

– Blogger’s Block

image from Abnormal Marketing

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Be sure to check SnoringScholar.com for more of Sarah Reinhard’s antics, tales of rural adventure, and writing updates. Her newest release is Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. You can also connect with Sarah on Twitter and Facebook.

Links from the Blogging Panel Workshop

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One thing I love to do when I speak about blogging is to send a piece of paper around the room and collect everyone’s blog links and then SHARE THEM. This goes along with the generosity I believe we should all have with our online space (within reason).

This list includes everyone who filled out the page I sent around the room as I moderated the panel. I’ll list our panelists first:

Now, for those who participated:

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful participation in the panel! I hope we can expand it in coming years and continue to connect.

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Be sure to check SnoringScholar.com for more of Sarah Reinhard’s antics, tales of rural adventure, and writing updates. Her newest release is Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. You can also connect with Sarah on Twitter and Facebook.

Live Blogging and Coaching and Interviewing, OH MY!

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My brain is spinning. In less than one week, I hit the road, baby (and possibly niece) in tow to attend the Catholic Writers Conference Live.

I’ve never been to a writers conference like this (though I have participated in online conferences). In fact, the last time I was at a conference at this level was probably more than 20 years ago, when I was in FFA.

Not only am I attending this conference, but I find that I will also be coaching a few people about blogging and also conducting some interviews (a few of which have me jumping! up! and! down!).

But I can’t think of all of that right now. Right now, the laundry, meal planning, and details of those who are staying behind has my brain whizzing and my heart racing.

Then there’s the matter of my blog. I’ll be spending the week here, live blogging. You can bet I’ll be live tweeting, too, so check me out on Twitter (I’m @peerybingle) during the week! And I couldn’t leave my Facebook page without a plug or two, so there will probably be pictures and such there.

With all that, I think my blog will have some scheduled stuff running, while all the live action–the real life side of things–takes precedence in other places.

Sometimes, that’s the role my blog plays. Instead of capturing the moment in my life, it covers me while I go away for a while. Sometimes, I’ll call myself “out of blogfice” and not post anything. Other times, I just won’t post (that’s what happened in the early part of this week, in fact). And still other times, like next week, I schedule things ahead of time, including guest posts and reviews.

Will you be at the live conference this year? Be sure to stop by and say hi!

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Sarah Reinhard is a Catholic wife, mom, blogger, reader, and farm girl who blogs at SnoringScholar.com. She is the author of Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Is Your Blog Mobile?

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I was scanning through my blogging feeds in Google Reader the other day when I found this article, “5 Ways to Make Your Blog Available on the iPhone.”

I’m not a smartphone user, so maybe that’s how this never occurred to me before. I also read blogs primarily through a feed reader, so that’s certainly part of my blind spot.

When I read this article, though, I knew what I had to do.

I had to make my blog available on the iPhone! Now!

As it turns out, it took about two minutes to install the WordPress plug-in and activate it. I grabbed my husband’s phone and checked, and there was my blog, newly mobilized.

Next on my “things to do when I should be writing” list is to make my own blog icon…

If you have any tips or tricks for making a blog mobile, I’d love to hear them in the comments. Questions welcome, too!

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Sarah Reinhard is a Catholic wife, mom, blogger, reader, and farm girl who blogs at SnoringScholar.com. She is the author of Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

What would YOU ask a blogger?

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At the Conference Writers Conference Live, I’m moderating a panel on blogging.

I have lots of questions I want to ask, but I’m curious…what would YOU ask a blogger? What do you want to know? What advice or tip have you been longing to learn more about?

One of the bloggers on the panel is a very well-known blogger, speaker, and writer, someone who can offer advice and guidance to all of us.

The lens I’m approaching this panel is that of a writer mom, which I know doesn’t resonate with everyone. For one thing, I work from home with little kids underfoot.

I have different challenges than many other people. What would you ask a panel of bloggers?

I’ll be sure to share the answers and thoughts in this space in the coming months, since I know not everyone can make it to the conference (though I understand registration’s still open…so maybe we’ll meet there?).

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Sarah Reinhard is a Catholic wife, mom, blogger, reader, and farm girl who blogs at SnoringScholar.com. She is the author of Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Getting Back on Track with Daily Blogging

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I usually look at my blogging as something that can’t be cut. I mean, I can post a picture of my baby, or a daybook, or a quote. There’s no reason to cut and run and let it gather dust.

Except…

Except that sometimes, life gets in the way.

Because of that, I’ve spent the last few weeks getting out of the habit of daily blogging. I had all this other stuff that had to be done, and the blog had to wait.

Now, I find myself facing something that’s as hard for me as exercise: discipline.

Writing daily isn’t just an inspiration, at least for me. It’s not just something theoretical: it’s work. As work, it requires discipline.

Here are five tips I use when I’m in this scenario, trying to get back in the swing of things:

1. Schedule posts.
Scheduling helps me distance myself a bit and gives me a cushion. It also helps me work a day ahead. (Try as I might, I can’t usually work more than one day out. I just get overwhelmed and I lose all my steam.)

2. Keep it under 500.
It’s not the long post that takes a lot of time, is it? It’s the short post. The 500 mark is one that I stole from someone else when I did a guest blogging gig. I noticed, after that, that 500 seems to be a golden point in my own attention span. It’s not set in stone, but it’s a benchmark. If what I have to say is important, it’s worth editing. If it’s not important, it’s probably going to be even better shorter.

3. A little every day.
I tend to prefer a binge method when it comes to crossing things off lists. I want it all done NOW. But that makes the whole nature of regular blogging really overwhelming. So I do a little bit (usually one post) every day. That’s all.

4. Sometimes a schedule, sometimes not.
Nothing’s set in stone. This is helpful…and not so helpful. On the one hand, it appeals to the PsychoManager in me to have a pattern for each day of the week. On the other hand, I find myself a little annoyed when I start to notice this on other blogs. When it’s helpful, I have a schedule. When it’s not, I don’t. And that is the most helpful thing of all.

5. Have fun, but don’t let fun run me.
Blogging is my fun writing. It’s my warm-up. It’s a passion of mine. (And apparently something I can ramble on about once a week indefinitely!) When it’s not fun, then, it’s tempting to want to walk away. It is then that I have to remind myself of the discipline part of the equation. It is then that I have to buckle down and remember that not only is there no such thing as writer’s block, but this is work that must be done.

How about you? What helps you keep to a regular blogging schedule?

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Sarah Reinhard, author of Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families, is a Catholic wife, mom, blogger, reader, and farm girl who can be found at SnoringScholar.com. You can also connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

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