I wanted to briefly apologize to my visitors over the past few days. I haven't been able to respond to comments or visit other blogs because I've been at the hospital. I won't go into details, just know that I'm not ignoring you and I'll bounce back soon!
Ever work especially hard on a blog post, spending long hours changing a word here, a phrase there, just to get it perfect? Maybe you devoted hours of on-line research to make sure you included enough details to impress, but not so many as to invoke drowsiness. It could be that you were inspired by a different approach on a topic that has been covered over and over, but not like your take.
Then the day comes when your special post goes live and you sit back to wait for the flattering comments to arrive. And arrive they do...all five of them.
You wonder to yourself what went wrong. You normally average way more than that, so where is everyone? Your awesome post has been wasted. Maybe you picked a day when a popular blogfest (that you decided not to participate in) was being held? Is it November, when a good number of bloggers are vested in NaNo? Is it the week the WRiTE CLUB finalist are being announced?
No matter what the reason is, I have the solution.
For the past two years I've held the Deja Vu Blogfest, where participants get to pick one of their post from earlier in the year that maybe didn't get the recognition it deserved, and re-post it. I will be holding the blogfest again in December, so write the date on your calendar if this interest you. Don't worry, I'll post about this again a month prior to the date with a Linky Tool to sign up. Today I just wanted to wet your whistle.
BTW...Although my first two novels were straight-up Mystery/Thriller, my latest project is YA Horror.
Were you aware I was holding a contest during the Challenge? No? You can read all about it HERE.
I hope you're feeling better.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea to have a blogfest for your best posts!
I've participated in the Deja Vu Blogfest and plan to this year, too! It's such a great idea. Hope all is well with you
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
Hope you're feeling better and get to come home soon.
ReplyDeleteGet well soon. I love the sound of your Blogfest. You have given us plenty of warning too ;)
ReplyDeleteI've participated in the Deja-Vu fest for the past 2 years. Looking forward to doing so again this year!
ReplyDeleteGet well soon!
I'll be there . :
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing well and get better soon!
ReplyDeleteDeja-Vu sounds like fun!
Dani & Jax @ Cover Girls
Yay for the blogfest and the fact you are writing YA horror!!! If you need a critique partner on the horror, let me know. I'm writing a YA horror now.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about us, just get better soon!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your hospital stay, I have just come back for treatment to my shoulders being there an hour wasn't a way I enjoyed myself. Hope all is well soon.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Yvonne.
DL,
ReplyDeleteI pray it wasn't serious and you are well on your way to recovery. I recently posted about non comments and the questions a blogger asks themselves. You now what, the answer can from the usual suspects and nobody else.
I know I'm reaching people, the number of hits on my site proves it. But you ask yourself constantly why aren't more people commenting.
I'm so sorry to hear you're not feeling well.
ReplyDeletehopefully your visit is only for the jello in the cafeteria... hope all is well, only good thoughts out to you...
ReplyDeleteJeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host
Oh No, Let's Go... Crazy
Don't you just love the idea of 'Deja vu'? It happens to me all the time...deja vu and wonder where the comments went! Ya know, 'D' should be for 'DL...He's DaMan'...with ideas 'Deluxe' for supporting and encouraging Bloggers. Thanks and Be Better Soon!
ReplyDeleteSue~CollectInTexasGal
AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee
Hope you bounce back soon and it's nothing serious. I spend way too much time blogging and trying to make the posts special or perfect. Sometimes I find an error several days after going live and yes, I go back and correct it. I'm not familiar with your Deja Vu Blogfest. I'll make a note. Again, get well soon!
ReplyDeleteDeja Vu definitely one of your best ideas.
ReplyDeleteHope your hospital (UGH!) visit was nothing serious and that your up and at em soon.
The Deja Vu Blogfest sounds like a great idea. Popular events can indeed slow the comments. Hope you get to leave the hospital soon.
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas! You amazed me ;D
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear you are in the hospital-please get well soon!
You are missed!!!
I love the premise of Deja Vu
Hope you are soon home~
Get well soon.
ReplyDeleteHope you are mending and all is well with you very soon!
ReplyDeleteI'll deja vu-ing...but if you're sick, don't be spitting on my whistle!
That's a very cool idea for a blogfest.
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better!
Hope you're feeling better. The blog fest does sound cool although I am not currently up to par with getting more than 5 comments per post yet. But hey, I say some cool things every now and again on the website I write for so I am up for this re-blogging idea!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling better. It's difficult to get anything done when health gets in the way.
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better soon!
ReplyDeleteGood thing there is plenty of time to prepare.
Dani @ Entertaining Interests
#warriorminion
I hope you (or your wife) is feeling better soon. I hate hospitals. Looking forward to the Deja Vu blogfest this year!
ReplyDeleteTime to light candles then. Good vibe, plenty of good vibe!!
ReplyDeleteHope everyone's doing alright and don't worry, we'll still be here when you get back :)
ReplyDeleteThe blog hop sounds like a lot of fun...I'm in.
I just added the date to my handy dandy Google calendar. :) Prayers going up for you to snap back quickly from whatever caused the hospital visit.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you aren't feeling well. Here's to a speedy recovery! You're certainly giving us plenty of time to prepare for the blogfest. I had to stop and think, What month is this?
ReplyDeleteHappy writing and recovering!
Play off the Page
Hope you're feeling better soon. That's a cool idea for a bloghop!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a faster than expected recovery. I can relate to the subject of your post today. It used to take me a whole day to write one blog because I wanted every detail to be correct. But then there was always something that needed to be revised. But that's how we learn, so it's okay.
ReplyDeleteWill keep the new blog contest in mind. Great idea.
Praying for you and your wife right now, and will keep praying. Praying for strength, healing, courage, and the knowledge that you are both loved.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm looking forward to Deja Vu this year . . . I've missed in past years, but not again!
Great idea! Get well soon bud...will pray and send you healing thoughts! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteShannon @ http://runningsurvivor.blogspot.com
Gosh, DL. No apologies needed for being at the HOSPITAL, for heaven's sake. Good luck. Hope you and your wife are okay.
ReplyDeleteDeja Vu Blogfest sounds like something I need. And I've had blog posts with zero comments, believe me!
Crap, you should've let us know you were in the hospital!! Prayers for speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first Deja Vu blogfest. I think I helped co-host it.
It happens every time!
ReplyDeleteAnd who gave you permission to be in the hospital? Get out of there!
I can testify that the Deja Vu blogfest was a good time! It is a great idea :) Hope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteAllison (Geek Banter)
Love the Deja Vu fest! Glad you will be holding it again this year.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to hear you've been at the hospital, I hope you and your family are all okay. Sending good thoughts your way!
I am glad you are hosting it again this year. I definitely know what it feels like to receive less than an enthusiastic response to a well planned blog post. I am sorry that you have been in the hospital and hope that whatever caused you to be there has been taken care of and that you are feeling better. Yes, I knew that your first two novels were mystery, but was not aware that your newest project is YA Horror. Good luck, I know you will write a page turner, regardless of the genre. Did I catch the clue?
ReplyDeleteI hope all is well with you <3 sending lots of good energy your way.
ReplyDeleteI have plenty of those almost comment-less posts. I didn't get many last year during the A-Z because I wasn't participating. Great idea, DL!
When I saw the title of today's post, it felt like I had read it before....(I did not read every comment but I am sure I'm not the first to try to crack wise along that line).
ReplyDeleteI'd seen the blogfest mentioned (I think on Alex Cavanaugh's site back when you hosted it and thought it was an interesting idea.
I hope everything is ok on the non-blogging front.
LC
I think you might have been -
DeleteIC
I'll be honest, 5 comments is just fine by me considering the size of my audience!
ReplyDeleteThe Deja Vu thing: VERY good idea, though!
Hope all is ok with you and yours re the hospital :)
I hope everything is ok with you and yours, DL.
ReplyDeleteI loved your Deja Vu idea last year, and I'll be jotting it down on the calendar for this year too!
Thanks, Heather
Hi there from a first time A-Z visitor. Hope you're feeling better soon.
ReplyDeleteI think I did this last year...LOL.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well on the health front. Hugs and prayers included.
DL, I am so sorry!! Please keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you're not well! Get better.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder if investing so much time in a blog is worth it. I just try to keep my head down and tell myself it's at least practice...
Wishing you "get well soon"
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to participating..
This sounds like something I would like to participate in. Wait, have I said that before?
ReplyDeleteOh my, DL! Hospital, not good. I hope you are feeling better and will be back among the blogging soon.
ReplyDeleteI like the Deju Vu Blogfest. It's a good way to give older neglected posts another chance.
ReplyDeleteTake care DL! Didn't realize about the hospital gig but glad you're back.
Lee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
Oh no DL! I hope it's nothing serious. I think everyone will understand why you haven't been around to comment.
ReplyDeleteNo post is ever wasted. It's good writing practice. Get well quick.
ReplyDeleteHow true, your comment caught my eye on the way down and it's the reminder I needed :)
DeleteHope you bounce back soon, DL! Blogosphere is a dreary place without you!
ReplyDeleteIt's actually for reasons you mention above that I've been trying my hardest to streamline my blog writing... get the process as neat and efficient as possible. If my comments hit double digits, I'm happy. If not, I'm still pretty happy. I trust that those who viewed the page and didn't comment still took something from it.
Feel better soon!! I'll keep coming back to check on ya!
ReplyDeleteConnie
Checkin' in from the A to Z Challenge.
Peanut Butter and Whine
Best wishes Don, I hope you get safely back with your family soon.
ReplyDeleteDeja Vu is a great idea, good to hear it's coming back!
I hope everyone is on the mend out your way. Sending good vibes and hugs. I will definitely be dusting off a post for the DVB.
ReplyDeleteHope everything turns out ok!
ReplyDeleteDecember is a long way off, I trust you'll remind us. :)
Hospital time is no fun, so glad you're back and improving. And that sounds like a great blogfest. I'll keep that in mind.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear you're ill. Please get better soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm delighted your new WIP is Horror - we need more Horror writers! :-)
Contest during challenge? Sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteAwesome cross-promotion! And looks like a good blogfest, with plenty of advance notice! I'll be sure to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI guess I mush have know you weren't in blogland yesterday which is why I forgot to check your post!!!- one day I will get my notifications set up properly... Good Health
ReplyDeleteDon't you dare die on us! But seriously, get well soon. By the way, it's is a great idea for a blogfest. Wishing for your quick recovery.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,Miss Uncertain---sidetracked
Don't stress about responses just get better fast. Hope all is going as well as possible.
ReplyDeleteI think it's about time all this medical stuff with the co-hosts STOPS. I'll be praying for you. Meanwhile, the Deja Vu Blogfest is an excellent idea. I'll be all over that one!
ReplyDeleteTina @ Life is Good
Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge
First and foremost, I hope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteYour Deja Vu Blogfest idea is pretty cool. I think I'll be signing up for that later this year. Thanks!
Lyre at Lyre's Musings
Yay for dejavu fest!! I love this one!
ReplyDeletehope all is okay. Sending up prayers!
I hopped on the Deja Vu blogfest - you can bet I'll link in again this year~
ReplyDeletePopped by from the AtoZ Challenge.
thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com
I put it on my calendar!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you are not well, hopefully you are on the mend.
doreenmcgettigan.com
Def writing the date down! I participated in last years and was able to revive a posting from it's previous 2 comments! Thanks for hosting that!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great hop! I didn't do it last year because of other commitments, but I'm noting it this year. Hope the hospital stay is now a memory and all is well.
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best, D L - I trust it's all working out, hospital or not :D
ReplyDeleteI've always liked the re-do idea. A second chance for posts is awesome. I hope I remember it in December.
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing this around and wondering where it comes from! Thanks for the explanation and I will definitely check it out Dec 13th will be the day to see the best of the best I think.
ReplyDeleteAnother one of your brilliant ideas...but what if I think that all of my blog posts are more comment worthy? I do think that, actually, but I know that the reason I don't get a lot of comments is because I am very new to blogging, regularly anyway, and I need to build up my follower-base. That's one of the main reasons I signed up for A-Z. My followers have now almost doubled to ripe fine number of 42! (Yep, still working on it)
ReplyDeleteCheers from Brandy at http://brandysbustlings.blogspot.ca/