During the first week of this year’s month-long SOLSC, I noticed someone posted around 10 or 11 p.m. and remarked that no one ever comments on late-night posters. My heart sunk. How frustrating it must be to have one’s writing go unnoticed just because you’re a pre-bedtime writer!
I’ve been trying to make a concerted effort to go back to the previous day’s call for slices to read and comment on some of the posts other slicers post late in the day (i.e., after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time). Sure enough, I am often the first, second, or third person to comment on their writing.
As someone who has posted a few links to my daily slices right after midnight, I’m aware that being one of the first people to post on a given day means my slice will receive more comments. When I post later in the day (which is most days), fewer people read and comment on my slices. I’m okay with that since I am writing to record pieces of my life that I want to remember. However, it does feel good to receive acknowledgement from others when they’ve connected with something I’ve written.
I want to issue you another little challenge, of sorts. Starting today, would you make an effort to read and comment on at least one person’s slice from the previous day every day? Look for someone who posts after 8:00 p.m. You will send that person a message that their voice has been heard by commenting on his/her writing the day after it was written posted. This will give a writer whose posts might not be as widely read as earlier slicers the feedback s/he deserves.
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Thanks, Stacey. As a consistently late slicer, I appreciate your suggestion. I, too, am writing as much for myself as for anyone, but a big part of this type of writing — especially during this challenge — is the sense of community and the feeling that you’re in a coversation with others. When I scroll through the list of slices each day to choose the 8-15 that I’ll read and respond to, I try to pick from the whole day … and since my slice is usually one of the last up, I am definitely reading some of my fellow late-night writers.
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Totally a late-night poster!!! Hoping to change it up a bit, and make my rounds to other older posts! Keeping up with everyone here AND my student slicers is a full-time job! 🙂 Love all this writin’ goin’ on!!
Also, for what it’s worth…on occasion in the computer lab, I have my students go to our blogroll and they have to comment on two above and two below their name. They build a bit of a familiarity this way and it typically insures that everyone has some comment on a post. Once they do this – they’re free to visit their friends’ blogs from that hour or another of my hours.
Just wondering if that same idea might work for commenting? Thanks for showing us the process of creating and revising even in the midst of this awesome challenge! 🙂
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@Amanda: Thanks for the suggestion. I passed it along to Ruth since she’s running the daily calls for slices this March. It’s definitely something I will suggest people think about when it comes to slicing (year-round) on Tuesdays.
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I just had another idea…what if the oldest posts circulated to the bottom and the newest were at the top? I don’t know if this is possible… changing in mid-stream might mess people up but perhaps it could be a way to expose newer posts to more readers?
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@aruddteacher100: At this time, we cannot make this change. Thanks for the suggestion though!
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Even though I haven’t been able to post as I have liked during this challenge, I can do this! I will make the effort to comment throughout the process, it will inspire my own writing. Great idea!
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Love the idea! Will try to meet this challenge!
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Thanks for pointing this out! As an early poster, I do love the comments. I’ll try to start out checking the day before for later night posts that need a little love.
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Great idea – I have been trying to start from the last comment and work up the list some days and I keep looking for slicers that I have not met before
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I love this idea. I am one of the typical late night posters and this is my first year slicing, and blogging in general. When I post I do my best to start at the bottom and work my way up. So I post then I try to grab atleast 10 posters previous to me and read them.
Thanks for posting this extra challenge I know it will be appreciated by people who have to wait until their day wraps up to post.
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Stacey, you and Ruth are such good moderators. What a great challenge! I really do appreciate all that you ladies do to hold us together. I know it must be taxing sometimes. Thank you!
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I’m going to give it a try! Thank for the challenge!
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I am a late night poster…I do write for myself! However, I do so love comments on my slices! I so appreciate this challenge as well! I also try and comment on other late night posters. Thanks!!!
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Great idea! I’m usually one to post after 8:00 and so appreciate people’s comments. This whole experience has been very eye opening to the importance of feedback. It’s given me lots to think about in my teaching. I’m off to check late night posts. 🙂
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A challenge you say? A little challenge to a group of people who seem to be spurred on by challenges?
Everyday I read more and more and more….and the more I read the more I want to read…i
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If you are on twitter I started a hashtag #needscomments. I try to tweet out links to posts that need a little love. Feel free to do the same if you notice one.
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What a great challenge! I love this idea. My late night posts are forlorn and lonely. My early AM posts are feeling the love.
http://meanderingmaya.blogspot.com/
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I was posting later in the day, too, until this week when I decided to get a day ahead. So I am posting this week early in the morning. I was trying out my own experiment of sorts. Not sure how long I can be a day ahead, though.
Thanks for keeping us true to the project. This has been such a growing experience.
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Another “little” challenge? To a group that obviously THRIVES on challenges? I suspect your challenge will be fulfilled.
I actually have another challenge – one that I intend to accomplish this weekend with the help of my tablet – reading and responding to EVERY blogger over the 2 weekend!
Anyone else want to try that challenge?
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I’ve been trying to check out posts before i go to bed at night and comment on them. It’s hard though. This is a great idea for everyone to do!
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@Deb: It’s very challenging. I try to get to about 2-3 late night ones the next day. If everyone makes an effort to get to 1+ late night one, then I think it would be great. However, it’s a challenge so I don’t expect everyone to do it (thought it’d be nice). Anyway, thanks for all that you do to get around to as many posts as possible on a daily basis.
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Thank you for addressing this topic. For someone who lives on the west coast, I often post late for EST time. And this week, I have been extremely thankful that the comments have been available when I post.
It’s a great idea.
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As one that had to post late this week do to “daughter duties” I agree great idea! I’m heading over to the 15th now.
Thanks!
Tammy
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Love this idea too…it is the comments that keep me coming back for more. In fact, I’ve become so addicted to seeing if I have comments that I have spent more time checking wordpress than facebook or pinterest…score!
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Good idea! Community in action – here we go.
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@Kristi: Thanks for your enthusiasm!
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