So, lately (say, in the last few months? Possibly longer?) I've given up on Reader. That is, Google Reader, which for a while there I used to keep track of all the blogs I'd followed (hundreds of blogs, let me tell you). I kept having to mark everyone as read 'cause I'd get in there and there'd be 500 unread posts, or 700, or the dread 1000+ (I don't WANT to know how many there really are). So I've given up. And now I'm relying on my blog roll to keep me in touch with the blogs I like to read. As well as reciprocating for comments I get on my blog.
But I keep stumbling across writers I've lost track of, and haven't yet got around to adding to my blogroll. If I used to comment on your blog a fair bit, then dropped off the face of the earth, only to recently resurface, now you know why. If I still haven't resurfaced, it's 'cause I haven't added your blog to my roll yet. That sounds funny..."your blog to my roll." Anyway, if I've forgotten you, please let me know. Oh, and a note to anyone who's followed my blog but doesn't have a link to theirs in their Blogger profile...maybe add a link so I can find you? AND I still hate the word 'blog'. For such a hater, I've used it a lot in this post!
Now, since I'm here, I might as well do a really quick rundown on my writing/revising status: 1) NAUSICAA revision started, but progressing slowly; 2) this week's Chrysalis story not yet started; 3) I can't remember the third thing I'm meant to be doing. Oh wait, I think I'm doing it right now - writing in this blog.
How do you keep up with the blogs you love to read?
I also use Reader, but I am very slow to add new blogs, and have no qualms trimming one if it's no good//not my taste. Quality before quantity, after all; I'd not want to miss something good 'cause there's lots to paw through. :)
ReplyDeleteAdd me! I too suffer from blog reading issues. Boy how they mount up.
ReplyDeleteGoogle has been giving me nightmares lately. I've been trying to keep up with people, but I've noticed that some are sporadic posts, like they'll be there one second then gone the next. Arg!!!
ReplyDeleteHi, new follower here. I really struggle with blogging on time and keeping up with friends' blogs, but I do try my hardest! The good thing is that people are so understanding around here. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I started off using Google reader (or the Reading List, I think), but shortly after it became very erratic and kept losing new blogs I followed. So now I just use the blog roll and have it in order of most recently updated. My list is only a fraction of others' and I'm already finding it hard to manage! So, I'm quite picky about those I follow.
ReplyDeleteI dislike the word "blog" too. I vote we change it. Like to "diatribe" or "verbage" or "schism" or something more fun to say. Because blog roll sounds like what my belly looks like after a week of Christmas parties.
ReplyDeleteI do a combination of "not very successful" at keeping up with blogs.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to some via email (and am experimenting with the google filters to make the inbox more manageable. Some blogs I Just know to look for them on specific days. I find a few through comments. I just got a Kindle Fire and began using a reader app to follow some. I never liked the reader on the computer. Check with me next week, this system might change.
I just recently cleared out my google reader and I only follow people whose blogs I actually read or will learn something from. I didn't want to do it at first, but I've found it a lot better to have 100 new notifications than 1000.
ReplyDeleteI have to keep up with the posts in my reader because I hate the 1000+ sign when I open my reader. I do pick and choose who I read an comment on and mostly I comment on those who visit my blog but still...
ReplyDeleteWell I didn't check yet to see if I'm still your 'friend' but blogger has been playing juggler with my friend list lately. Newest followers get lost in the jungle of my list. It can take a lot of time to track a new follower down if they don't link. Sometimes I'm lucky to see their name in a comment and can catch them that way. But I don't know why everyone doesn't check their link.
ReplyDeleteHope you're having fun in WA getting ready for Christmas. Heard you had LOT of rain recently. I'm headed for Perth/Margaret River in January for a looksee. Only state not visited yet and I'm sick of apologising. Just better trot over there.
Merry Christmas Trisha.
Denise
I've never really liked reading blogs on Google Reader either. I tend to comment on people's blogs when they comment on mine, which is great because after a few times back an forth I tend to get really invested, which makes it harder to forget the writers/lives/blogs I admire...which makes the whole give and take a lot less overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteI'm no fan of the word 'blog' either. I'm briefly back in a blog reading mode and you're currently listed on my blogroll (which I've called Places I Visit to avoid the b word).
ReplyDeleteDon't beat yourself up. You already so much than other bloggers I know. I'm sure you remember all of your faves, even if sometimes you go MIA, you still remember them.
ReplyDeleteIn case I don't pop back in here before January 2012, Happy New Year 2012 :)
I gave up on Reader too. Knowing how many blogs/posts I hadn't read was just too depressing.
ReplyDeleteHi. There should be a Google Friend Connect on my site. It's just down below. I'll move it to somewhere easier to see. :)
ReplyDeleteI use the blogroll down the left hand side of my own blog. Forget the Reader, this stuff is constantly updated. I check it every day, usually once in the morning and once in the evening, and either comment then and there or email a list to myself of blogs to comment on. Makes me feel like I've crossed something off a to do list when I can delete that email!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently using Reader, but find that I'm fighting a losing battle. As fast as I get through some blogs, more posts appear, and I'm even further behind. Plus Reader keeps losing blogs I'm subscribed to. I think I need another way - maybe the blog roll (and it does sound funny, doesn't it?) is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteI'd go with the blog roll...at least you only see the most recent post, and if you want to comment on earlier ones you can but they're not all choking up your "unread" list. hehe
ReplyDeleteI tried Google Reader briefly, didn't like it, then stuck with Wordpress's "Read Blogs" function. It gets wonky once in a while, but it works for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way. I have followed too many blogs in the past that I have now lost interest in and no longer visit and there are others I can't really find because I didn't put them in my blogroll. The Reader is too bogged down with all the new posts of all the blogposts I've missed or I'm not interested in. So I only check those in my blogroll. But I hope to get back to some of those that I was interested in but "lost" in the mass of blogdom in Reader.
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to keep up with Google Reader, but I know what you mean about things getting out of hand!
ReplyDelete~Debbie
I'm so glad I'm not the only one! I feel like if someone doesn't drop by my blog, I lose them for a while. Kind of sad :(
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who uses the Blogger Dashboard? I find it works great for me, but then, I don't follow hundreds of blogs.
ReplyDeleteThis post is dear to my heart because I have THE SAME PROBLEM. So I use my blog roll to keep up, too. And I have it sorted by the most recent post so I don't have to look at every single one, just the ones at the top of the roll.
ReplyDeleteWorks GREAT!!
Yeah, I'll admit I tend to lose track of all the blogs I follow sometimes... I don't mean to either, just sometimes there's just too many to read sometimes! Lol! ^^
ReplyDeleteI don't think Google Reader works very well. For me, I just load them up and peruse the posts when I have time and see what I might have missed.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited that other people dislike the word blog as well. I still use Google Reader but I recently went through and trimmed down the blogs I follow. It's back to a manageable number now =)
ReplyDelete