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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Thanks for visiting. I am no longer updating Notes to Self. I hope you'll join me on my current website, PlantingDandelions.com

Take a Bigger Piece of My Heart

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It's been increasingly apparent to me that becoming a book author is going to change the way I approach blogging, though how is still not entirely clear. But some things are coming into focus. For one thing, I'm not in the business of blogging. Which is an enormous relief, since I've never been that adept or that interested in the business end of social media. Many bloggers I know and admire have made online publishing their business, and I am really excited for them. It makes my head spin sometimes to see how rapidly a small group of people blogging for the hell of it has evolved into a serious, professional enterprise; a force to be reckoned with. I'm very proud to be associated with it in any marginal way.

Me, I'm a professional writer, and an amateur blogger. It's so freeing to accept that blog ads are never going to do more than pay my domain registration fees, that I never have to understand what SEO is, and that I can continue to cheerfully ignore my sitemeter (as I have done for months and months upon end) and all the other acts of due diligence a pro blogger should rightfully heed.

This blog has always had a small but extremely dedicated following of really fabulous people, and I'm perfectly happy for it to stay that way. I am on the masthead of a magazine that is read by millions of people every month. I hope this doesn't sound like I take them or you for granted for one fraction of a second, because I don't, but I don't think I need a strategic plan for my blog. The strategy is to let it be what it's always been: a personal creative space. My notebook.

One small manifestation of this clarification is moving to full feed posts. I so much appreciate being able to read other people's blogs in my google reader (in fact, it's the only way I do these days), that it's only fair to return the favor. So, please feel free to subscribe to blog posts here , though I certainly hope you will continue to click through to comment.

There are some other technical changes coming down the pike, principally, a shift to an eponymous domain, under which Notes will be nested. I sometimes think I need to move to shorter posts in the interest of energy and material conservation, but honestly, I'll probably just continue to post what I feel like, when I feel like it. I hope you like it too.

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9 Comments:

Blogger Jessica @ A Bushel and a Peck said...

As long as you keep writing, I'll keep reading!

3:57 PM  
Blogger Jennifer S said...

I've been blogging that way for the last few months, without the pressure of a schedule. Feels so much better.

4:29 PM  
Blogger Rose said...

Yay! I've been a feed subscriber for a while now, and your blog is one of the few without full feed that I feel is worth clicking through (I know, I know: the ultimate laziness). Thanks for saving me the extra click.

4:38 PM  
Blogger Caroline said...

I don't know what I'd do without Google Reader. It is my "magazine" these days. Your blog is always worth the extra click, though!

10:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I came all the way "over" from my Google Reader to say THANK YOU! Like Caroline said, you were always worth the extra click, but I couldn't read your site on my mobile, so a good headline would tease me until I was back at a screen. :) Keep it up!

5:05 PM  
Blogger Chrisy said...

Your blog is only one of two that I've continued to read that haven't been available via full feed. As a busy woman, wife and mother, I'm thankful for your decision to change to full feed posts. Time is so valuable. I admire your writing and enjoy your blog. Thank you for allowing us to use our Readers. I assure you I will continue to encourage and support you via comments. :-)

12:19 AM  
Blogger LoveFeast Table said...

I have a question...what is full feed post....is there a half feed...? I guess as a blogger I should know this...but I'm still learning!! Love your blog and will visit too!! ~Chris Ann

12:18 PM  
Blogger Kyran said...

Hey, Chris Ann! Yes, you can choose to broadcast a "teaser" of your posts (the first few lines) or let the whole thing broadcast to a RSS reader like reader.google.com

Both options should be in the "publish" settings for your blog.

9:34 AM  
Blogger isabel said...

I loved your article in this month's issue of Good Housekeeping. I read it, I tore it out, I sent it to my 27 year-old daughter and then sat to write you.
#14 , #10, #12 were particularly insightful and you are oh so right, no one looks good when they are throwing up from drinking too much. Thank you, thank you.

10:26 AM  

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