Wednesday, January 6, 2010

No! Don't make me choose!


Yesterday I tried to add a new blog to my "Blogs I'm Following" list (is that the same as Google Reader? whatever) and was told that I'm already at maximum capacity -- 300 -- and must "unfollow" some other blogs first.

Not cool, Blogger. Not cool at all.

This is going to seriously interfere with my attempts to follow most of those people who follow me. This means I'm going to have to pick and choose among blogs when I thought I was going to be able to idly follow everyone and just see what popped up in the recent-posts lists whenever I got the chance to scroll through. This means I'm going to have to prioritize, when I really just wanted to keep everyone included.

Sound like some authors you know?

Not all characters can stay in every novel. After a certain point, the reader can't keep track, or even if they can, they wonder why you're wasting time diverting their attentions with characters who, while they may be entertaining, are ultimately not essential to the story. You've got to make choices among those characters, no matter how much you think you love them all.

But don't think that this means total deletion! Save those characters in another file, and you may well find a home for them again down the line.

For now, I've "unfollowed" Nathan Bransford because I remember to check him daily without having him in my list, and, more importantly, because he already has 2,738 followers, so my withdrawal will not make a heck of a lot of difference in the grand scheme of his perceived popularity. (Killing the character that has already been seen in too many other stories.) Also, he's already in a blogroll of agents/editors in the right-hand column of this blog. (Moving the character to another, more appropriate story.)

The new blog I'm adding only has 9 followers -- I just made it 10 -- so I think my public readership has a bit more added value over there. (Choosing to focus on a character that hasn't had his/her chance at the center stage yet.) Plus, they have yummy recipes! Mmmm, baked goods with orange... insert Homer Simpson-esque drooling.

We have to make choices. It hurts at first, but I think we usually realize that in the end, it's for the best.

23 comments:

  1. Nate Bransford will be mortified, good lady. How could you crush his hopes and dreams like that? Cruel, cruel woman!

    Or not.

    I had no idea Blogger had a limit on blogs we can follow. Why? Does that even make sense? Oh well. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

    Plus, way to work notes on fiction in there... :)

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  2. I can't believe you follow over 300 blogs!!! I do my best to follow, but its really hard.

    Great way to tie in all the writing issues by the way. And good luck with your choices!!!

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  3. Wow, I didn't know there was a maximum capacity. i'm sure I'm pretty close too.

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  4. I was wondering if there's a limit....
    I'm at around 150, I think.

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  5. Wow. I had no idea there was a max. What a bummer!

    Lynnette Labelle
    http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com

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  6. What? 300?!
    That's a b*tch move Blogger.

    Nathan Bransford is a good choice, though. I've given up commenting and reading the comments on his blog.

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  7. Google Reader is hinting that we spend too much time online I guess. hurmph

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  8. I didn't realize there was a max, but I do tend to weed out my blog list now and then. I base it upon my interest in them, their interest in me, activity or lack of, and how truly useful they are to my needs. And yes, I also use the criterion of number of followers-- would they miss me or not.
    You're certainly in no danger of leaving my list, Carrie, because you have something worthwhile to say. And you show me attention now and then, for which I am flattered now that I know you are following 300 blogs--wow!


    Lee

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  9. Nooooo! I had no idea! And I can't believe you were able to make writing info parallel a blog following limit! :-)

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  10. That's funny, Nathan would be on my top list to drop too for the same reasons you gave. I check it anyway and he's got more followers than I can count lol.

    If you ever have to drop me to make room for a new blogger to show them the love, I understand. Just don't forget about me :( still love your blog. Tata for now :)

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  11. I didn't know there was a limit, either. Good to know.

    You know what else I heard? That there's a maximum capacity for blogging space, too. Someone said (and if I remember, it was secondhand) that another received notification from Blogger that they'd soon be unable to post anymore. If it's true, it's crazy.

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  12. Very uncool of blogger to have a limit. Puts a cramp in the style.

    I am also honored that you chose to follow my blog! I thought, at first, that I was the blog that went from 9 to 10 followers, until you mentioned orange something or other. Not me. I'm sure it's a good one, anyway!

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  13. Dang now I have to come up with worthwhile content to keep followers.

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  14. Bad Blogger! You made the right choice Carrie, and I love your analogy with our characters!

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  15. Good post Carrie. I do see poor Nathan weeping into his cornflakes though, wondering what he did wrong ;)

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  16. I didn't know there was a limit! You have a good strategy, though, and I'll probably adopt the same when the time comes.

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  17. Wow. I think you might get a gold star for your following list...

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  18. Also? Thanks for not kicking me off your awesome list. I feel grateful.

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  19. Scathing Reviewer, I added you Wednesday after writing this post on Tuesday, and noticed that I was once again follower #10! Freaky.

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  20. Carrie! You've got to be kidding!!! How can we complain about this. Blogger needs to get with the times. Otherwise we'll all have to switch over to something else at some point. I'm getting very close to 300 blogs I'm following too. So, we'll all be in the same position.

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  21. 300? Gosh. I had no idea there was a limit. Man. That SUCKS! Got any ideas about how to rant to blogger about it? I will be right behind you.

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  22. That is VERY uncool. I didn't know about that. I don't think I'll ever get up to 300, but it's good to know that's the max. Maybe they'll redo it if we scream about it enough.

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