Two New URLs and Writing Fatigue

I love beagle pups and this one illustrates my dilemma so well.  Plus this one is so dog gone cute.

Just to let everyone know.  I started the process of getting real URLs for two of my blogs. 

rabydtheologian2.com for Rabyd Theologian 2.0

and

opentheism.net for Open Theism

Sometime in the near future both will be fully registered and take off.  I am still using Blogger.com for my format so you won't see any difference cosmetically (for now) just the new URLs.  I am hoping this will help them both take off better. 

I haven't written on anything much (here is where the beagle comes in), since getting back from Romania I have had sort of a writer's fatigue.  I love writing but there is a mental tiredness that keeps me from jumping off the barrel.  That and what I need to do next is a bigger jump than I have done before.  Being a writer is a job I love, but like exercise you have to have the juice to do it.  The new URLs should help get me kick started.

Blog Predicitons

I have been thinking long and hard about my blogging future and the more I look at it ans study it, I began to realize that success is more a measure of hard work and being innovative than anything else.

When I get back from Romania at the end of the month one of the first things I will pursue is getting URLs for each blog.  Once that happens there are other steps to follow but the basic idea is I will get more looks and that is the main goal.  Each blog though has its own uniqueness which will determine its own success level.

The Rabyd Theologian 2.0 - by far this is my favorite blog and the most freewheeling.  it is a theological opinion blog with series of posts on different topics that involve the Bible and life.  Since pulling my book and magazine reviews though the number of hits has dropped and the unfortunate thing is that one post has been driving the number of hits.  That post has started to fall.  Despite this I have high hopes for it.  No topic being safe or sacred means some controversial stuff gets written so it might do well.

The Temple Builder for Christ - this one is about my own personal quest in bodybuilding.  In large part this is to keep my self accountable, but it might make some money in the fact I do review bodybuilding magazines that get hits. As I look more and more the part and talk about the spiritual side of bodybuilding I think that will generate some interest as well.  As I am more successful in my quest, the blog will be more successful.

Open Theism - Actually of all my blogs I have the highest hopes for this one.  Open theism is a controversial way of looking at God's foreknowledge and providence and as such will get some attention both up and down.  That being said, that means a solid blog with a good niche.

Rabyd Reader -  the blog you are reading is about books and writing when you break it down.  It is one of those blog where I think time will be on its side.  The more reviews get written the more hits it will get.  I debate whether I should make this exclusively about me and my views on these topics or make it a group project with multiple contributors.

I have one more blog in the works and its' content will remain secret until revealed.  I am planning on using a different format (probably Wordpress).  This is mostly because I want to see what the advantages are for a different format and if Wordpress will work better for what I want to do.

I like this blogging thing.  It's fun and fits my writing style better than most others.  I want to see all my 'children' succeed but you have better feelings about some than others.

My Business of Writing

Today I was reflecting as a reader and writer how much the business of writing has changed over the years.  When I was a kid, we had books, magazines and other periodicals.  In all those cases, the main way you made money at it was to type something, send it to the publisher in questions and wait for a reply.  Payment was either a flat fee or per copy sold compensation.  Sometimes people got paid per word.  It was really though, a business based on the publishers controlling what they wanted to print.

Today that has all changed, now anything, and I mean anything can be printed or more accurately posted and if it gets popular enough it will make money.  Thank you Internet.  I suppose the downside is that writers and the image of writers has changed as well.  The half shaved, half dressed, literary hermit slouching over his typewriter if gone.  Now you really can't stereotype anything about a writer, there are as many types of writers as their are types of blogs. 

What this means is that who gets paid what on the Internet is largely a question of doing the right things to get attention and different readers.  Getting enough attention generates ads and advertising.  Being at the top when a search engine looks for your topic is what you want. 

For me this has caused me to give another look at my whole writing career.  People tell me all the time 'write a book' but is that really where the money is at anymore?  How about this start writing a blog, get a big audience that generates you income and then keep doing it.  Unlike a book that sells well for a time then drops down to find its way to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, a blog can stay current and keep making more and more money.

So here I am with four blogs and plans for a fifth when I get back from Romania.   Goal to build a following on all of them as large as possible and then hold them for as long as I can.  Sounds simple, but the work is in the executing of this plan. 

Is a book still in my future?  Most likely, but that also means that a new order of ebooks has arisen as well as traditional paper books.  My guess is an ebook is better for the publisher as they only have to give out as many copies as readers request.  No leftovers to sell to the wholesalers.  Means that if I ever write a book I want to keep my royalty rights on a ebook copies. 

The thing is to keep writing, keep connecting and never quit.  What happens is really in the hands of what people want to read.   

Time: The Blogger's Most Precious Resource

Time is the most valuable commodity on the planet for two reasons:  1) you can never get it back if you waste it and 2) You do not know how much you have left.  It is this unknown factor that makes time something that has great value so learn to value it and use it with purpose.

For the blogger or another type of writer, time is something we usually don't have much of as we sit down to write.  We all have stuff to do, but taking the time to blog each day is difficult and often hard to find.  Really if you think something is important though you make time for it.  Blogging is no different, I make time for it at some point every day.  The challenge is to writing well with limited time.

I am no expert on this but I have learned a little about the management of time and blogging:

1. Make sure you remind yourself how important blogging is to you -- you will make time for what you consider important.

2. Learn the word 'No' when dealing with people who want you involved in something that will not further your personal goals.  Time stealers are not your friends, they are thieves.

3. Have a notebook or some other way of recording ideas and outlines with you at all times.  That way when you are inspired you can jot it down quick and then when you write later, things will go faster.

4. Do not blog based on feelings.  Set a time for it and write.  If you think your post will be crap rewrite it and publish it, but don't come away from a set blogging time without publishing something otherwise you have wasted your time.

5. Write well but don't be a perfectionist.  There is no such thing as a perfect post.

6. Set a time to write and stick with it.

7. Do not be a blog hermit.  Get away from writing from time to time.  Overwork can rob you of creativity.  Sometimes the best use of your time is just to have fun and do something else you enjoy.

There are probably a lot more things that could be added and if you know some comment away on them.  This is what I have so far and it works for me.

Blogging: Getting a URL - Is it an asset or a liability for a beginner?

This is a question I have been wrestling with ever since I finished reading Problogger.  One of the things you are expected to do is get your own URL so that you can improve your hits.  The argument being that having your own URL eventually pays for itself.  The question I am asking then from a business point of view though is this then an asset or a liability?  Ever since reading this book; however, I have been looking at the stuff I have in those two terms: asset or liability?

In truth for the beginner, like myself, this is a liability in its purest form as it will not generate income but take it.  Only when having the URL causes enough income to come in does it switch to becoming an asset.  How long will that take? 

I off course have this real rabid (smile) philosophy about debt anyway.  A bill is a debt until you pay it.  Based on this wouldn't a better policy be to get a blog to generate enough to pay for the URL first then get one?  Or is having a URL one of those necessary things to owning a blog?  It makes me think a lot right now. 

What do you think? Is a URL an asset or a liability?   

Problogger by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett - Book Review

ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income

Title: Problogger - 2nd Edition
Author(s): Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett
Pages: 220
Publisher: Wiley Publishing (Indiana), 2010

I decided to get this book after reading some the Problogger website. Given that one of the goals of my life is to make writing profitable and blogging is now a part of that it seems only natural to read some of the successful bloggers out there and acquire some of their secrets and tips for success.  Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett are both professional bloggers who do indeed make six figure incomes doing what they do.  The book promises to be guide to duplicating that feat, but it comes with no get rich quick claims,  Work hard, be patient and learn are its main themes.

The book is divided into eleven chapters that deal with the various aspects someone must know to be a successful blogger.  These include but are not limited to setting up your blog, blog writing, connectivity and marketing strategies.  Each chapter focuses on that particular aspect and looks at it from multiple angles.  While probably not complete, the book does give some excellent advice in each area.  It even at times delves into the ethics of blogging.

Stylistically this book is written by two authors, but it seems some steps have been taken to streamline this issue so it is hard tell who is writing what unless the authors tell you.  It is not difficult to read, although because of it's subject matter it has to delve into technical jargon which is always explained.  Some other features that I liked were the links and websites given as aids to the blogger.  There is also a pretty solid index

If there is a weakness it does seem deliberately made to be somewhat incomplete.  In part I think this is part of being a brand item and the authors are hoping to sell other products in that brand.  Can't complain too loudly because I understand the concept of marketing and will do so myself when I get a big.

Rating: 4 stars.  I would have liked more but the book is still well done.  This book will actually be my guide and step by step over the coming months as I try out some of their stuff on my blogs, so in a sense this review is not over as I will be reporting the results as I go. 

Welcome to the Rabyd Reader!

Welcome to the Rabyd Reader! This blog is a spin off blog from the Rabyd Theologian 2.0 which involves all my posts and comments involving books, book reviews, blogging and writing. Here I will make comment on my quest to be profitable blogger and writer as well as give my thoughts and feelings on the world of books.

All the content posted before this post is stuff from my previous blogs so if reading and writing are your thing you don't have to go back and forth.

Blessings and Enjoy!

Reflection - Why I Write

Since the month began (in truth probably since the middle of April), I have been plagued by several questions not the least has been what to do with my writing. I mean throwing blog article out there is great from time to time and it has its moments where people seem genuinely touched, but what is it all for?

Last week I read a reviewed Robert A. Heinlein's Grumbles from the Grave and to be very honest it was challenging book to read from the standpoint of it challenged my motivation for writing. Heinlein in the book answers a letter from a reader answering several questions. One of those questions is 'why do I write?" Heinlein's response is lengthy to explain three simple statements: 1) To support myself and my family, 2) To entertain my readers and 3) To make people think. I believe he is dead on.

I think my problem is related to these answers; in that, I have the last one but not necessarily the first two. Ultimately, it is the first two though that mark the success of any writing venture. Writing takes time and it is time I could be doing something else that actually did number one. So far the grand total made in my writing career is $50 but it was enough that I had the same sort of reaction that Heinlein did when he got his first check for writing his first short story: 'Life-Line'. "How long has this racket been going on?" was his response. Mine was: "Holy crap, it took me ten minutes to write that letter to Musclemag International and it netted me 50 bucks. Talk about easy money!" To be honest, if I could sit an write stuff and net a few hundred a week, I would. If I could make more, even better.

Artistic purists always whine about money ruining art, but the fact is without cash any pursuit will eventually die out on planet earth. More money means more time and freedom to enjoy and pursue what you want. It is not money itself that pulls me but the things I could do with it and if writing were my second career, and it could generate a significant enough paycheck, I would love doing it even more.

The real thing though is number 2 - entertainment. If it is not entertaining, no one will read your stuff. No one has to read your stuff; they have choice. On the Internet there are a google of choices to read out there why should they read mine? The only reason anyone would is that they like it enough ot bypass the others and read mine. Books are about as bad, but the same principle applies.

So, for the last week I have been just thinking positively about the whole thing and doing the one thing I know works - praying and then shutting up and waiting for God to answer. You know this Law of Attraction thing works! Suddenly I was hit with an idea and instructions. The idea was to take the themes of the non-fiction book I have been stuck on and turn it into a work of fiction. What was turning me off about the book is it was basically a series of lecture type essays. The only thing entertaining about them was my sarcastic sense of irony. Taking those same themes (and my sarcastic sense of irony)and weaving them into an entertaining novel would definitely make it better. The only question is backdrop, characters and plot. Story tellers are always far better received than lecturers anyway.

I got instructions as well. Wait till I go on the trip to Romania to start. Why? There are some things I need to see and learn from the trip that will help the book. I have always heard that world travel is as educational and life changing as university or college; I guess this will put this to the test.

My blog is an entirely different matter. The real questions is learning how to connect in the right ways. There are a ton of blogs out there on how to make money blogging, why not read them and see what they suggest? There are a lot of questions here but I know what gets hits: magazine reviews. One post shot up simply because the title made it perfect for Google when you typed in a search that read "scientific method". Learning what does this and how to do it better are essentials here. I need to be the thing people are searching for.

Making people think is what I try to do naturally in all my communication but what they feel, see and hear is important too. Communicating on all levels to get mind, heart and spirit change is the real challenge, but that's what I love about writing and preaching for that matter.

For the first time in a while I have sense of real purpose about this writing thing and it feels great. I can see what I am trying to achieve, I can hear the sound of change falling into my bank and I feel the winds of success. This is great stuff.