Some Blog Housekeeping

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:45 pm by Tony Jones

Some Blog Housekeeping 2015-03-13T16:45:32-05:00 Tony Jones

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Time to talk shop.

Last August, my literary agent and I pitched a book proposal around and, though we got some interest and even a couple offers, we felt that the time wasn’t right. We pulled the proposal and I set about to write the book in full. I also set about to get my traffic up over 100K pageviews per month. I succeeded at the latter, but not the former. The book didn’t get done, and we’re currently shopping a new — but related — proposal around.

But the blog grew, and it continues to grow. Even lacking a breakaway post, Theoblogy is up every month over the previous month. And, even more gratifyingly, the commentary is voluminous, robust, and respectful.

Blogging is a grind. There’s no two ways about it. With the goal of posting 11 times per week, it never stops. It’s disputed about who first said it, but someone famous once said that the study of history is just “one damned thing after another.” Blogging can feel like that at times. That’s what it’s felt like this weekend, facing another new week with few new ideas.

What’s strange is that last week was a good week. Good posts, and good traffic. Until Friday, when I posted one of my more pathetic answers in the Questions That Haunt series.

I wasn’t feelin’ it, and I should have waited a day or two. But when I don’t answer the QTH on Friday, and we have the kids for the weekend, then it waits till the next Monday. That seems unfair to you as readers, and unfair to my next week. I’ve thought about changing the QTH cycle from Tuesday-Friday to something else, but the present schedule makes the most sense with my own schedule.

Also, it’s hard to write a book when I’m already cranking out about 3,500 words-per-week here on the blog. This blog isn’t a digest of other blogs — I try to post original content every day. And a human being can only generate so much original content in a week. So balancing the content for the blog and the content for a new book is a tricky balancing act. Plus, I also work several part-time jobs (acquisitions editor at sparkhouse, adjunct professor at St. Cloud State University, co-owner of The JoPa Group). Finding time to do the mundane things, like my taxes, seems almost impossible.

In a couple weeks, I’ll be taking a week off. I’ve approached some folks about guest-posting, so I hope that you will keep reading even when I’m away. I’ll take another week off in August. That’s about all I can manage away from the blog per annum without seeing a major drop in readership, which I’d like to avoid. I value the growth here, and I appreciate the value that you put in my writing to come here every week, or every day.

Regarding comments, we tried and failed to install Disqus last week. I don’t know why it didn’t take, but it seems to be a problem with Disqus and their inability to merge my Google-based account into a verified Disqus account. So, while other Patheos bloggers have Disqus, I won’t for the present time. I’m sorry about that — I really think that this blog needs a better commenting system, one that allows for liking particular comments and for better threading. But I’ve been asked by Patheos to back off on that request. They tell me that in a few months, all Patheos blogs will be moving to Disqus, so we can look forward to that. In the meantime, you can now subscribe by email to the comments on a post, so you’ll know if someone adds to the conversation.

Finally, my thanks to you for reading and commenting and sharing and liking and linking and tweeting. I couldn’t (wouldn’t) keep posting if it weren’t for you.

blogging

patheos

Previous Post

February 18, 2013

Why Stay Catholic?

Next Post

February 19, 2013 How Is the Cross Necessary? [Questions That Haunt]

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category bible blogging books christianity in america church church history dissertation divorce Dog Training education emergent church essay family funny glbt jopa productions ministry minnesota movies music parenting philosophy politics Prayer publishing Questions That Haunt random same sex marriage speaking spirituality Teaching technology television theology Travels Uncategorized writing youth ministry

Select a Month January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 June 2006 May 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 June 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 August 2004 February 2004 January 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the name "Jesus" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Prince of peace Shepherd God is love The Lord saves