I'll be calling a new Crusade (the Second Writers' Platform-Building Crusade) early next year, and I'd love all the original Crusaders, plus anyone else who is interested, to sign on again. Until my next Crusade post, though, we won't be taking on any new Crusaders or doing any new Crusader Challenges or organized activities.
What this means for Crusaders
Not a whole lot will change for you, to be honest. If you intend to join up again, by all means continue to call yourselves Crusaders in the gap between this Crusade and the next Crusade (kind of like a continuous Crusade, really). I'd love you to keep supporting your fellow Crusaders, and to get to know the people who signed on later in the Crusade a bit better as well. The List of Crusaders is still up, and will stay up until our next Crusade officially starts.
I'm really looking forward to the new Crusade, and to reconnecting with all the current Crusaders who want to continue our journey together (and meeting a whole new bunch of Crusaders as well). Plus having heaps more fun! It's been so fantastic to see everyone's blogs grow and develop over the last few months.
And if you've got any ideas or suggestions for making our next Crusade even better, I'd love to hear from you.
Rach xx
17 comments:
Hi Rach! My brief encounter was indeed a memorable one - I discovered many wonderful blogs and made new friends - thanks for making it happen!
dont worry Rach next year will be here b4 we know it.
Okay, I had a really, REALLY long comment (um, rant) written which blogger seems to have just eaten. Kinda peeved.
Executive summary: there were some people who merrily joined this first Crusade, collected 50+ new followers and then promptly forgot the whole thing.
I meanwhile took the whole follow/comment/help each other grow thing pretty seriously, and while I've certainly fallen short of what I wanted to achieve I've really TRIED to visit others and comment, particularly those who visit me! There are those of you who post much more frequently than I do and I admit I have trouble keeping up with the comments then much of the time.
So, given the time commitment of being not just a follower but an 'active follower' for the first Crusade list, I'd have to reluctantly say I can't join the second Crusade. The honest truth is I'm pretty sure I won't have time to visit and give regular comments to any more blogs - and I'd hate the people who joined me in the first Crusade to be short-changed with comments because I'm busy courting 'new and improved' followers.
I agree with Erica & Christy's comment on the last post - commenters are more valuable than large numbers of silent 'followers'. So is there some way to weed out people who aren't really committed to the spirit of the thing and are just in it to build their follower numbers? Wishful thinking probably...
I do like the idea of sub-dividing a future Crusade list down into sub-groups based on interests - being an 'active follower' to a smaller group I could maybe manage...
Will there be a new post for us to sign up and link back to? Or should we use the old one. It says to blog about it and link... which I don't mind doing, but just wondering if you plan on using the old post.
Definitely on board for the new year crusade!
I think it was a great challenge--you did well connecting a lot of different people. It was definitely one of my bigger follower bursts and I found a few blogs I will continue to follow permanantly, so I think you should congratulate yourself!
Thanks for the great Crusade, Rach. I will say I agree with Adina. I like the idea of subdividing the groups. Just an idea . . .
Hey @Grandpa, thanks so much :) It's been a pleasure getting to know you, and I hope you'll stay in touch :)
@Joanna, can't wait. This year's been rather hectic I must say!
@Adina, thanks for your comment. I guess I've noticed that people want two different things from the Crusade, (1) followers only, and (2) followers, comments, and more contact with fellow Crusaders. If people are honest about it when they sign up, I could perhaps divide the list into two, those who just want a "follow and forget", and those who would like to be more actively involved. I definitely don't expect people to spend heaps of time commenting/supporting those who don't give back. I must say, it's been so lovely having you involved in the first Crusade :)
Hey @PK, woot!!! I'll make a new post for people to comment on :)
@Hart, thanks so much :) It's been awesome getting to know you ;)
Hey @Mary Mary, you're very welcome :) Cool, think I'll definitely divide things up a bit next time :)
Hey Rach. You did a super job with a super idea and I offer my congratulations to you and understand there were some things that may have been stressful for you.
I agree with Adina's sentiments. Many of us tried our best to get around and comment because that's what we signed up for. But it is no surprise that many didn't do this. This is no different to the larger blogosphere except you notice it more in a smaller group.
If Blogger could make a simple cross-check tool where you could go into your followers and (1) remove all those on your blogroll who aren't following you back, (except for those you star because you are interested in their content) or (2) remove all followers who have never comment. That would cause a sensation and bloggers might get a little more honest about the following/comment business, as having a lot of followers seems to be a status symbol.
I LOVE my followers. But I want my followers to comment (not every day/week). I don't want followers just for the sake of it.
But I have a blogroll of over 500 blogs (when I get time I'll be going through them and removing those who I've lost touch with.) I can't hope to keep up with 500. That' why it was great to have Crusaders - made it easier to at least stay true to 40 or so.
I usually operate by replying to every comment by going to that blog and seeing what the latest is there.
NaNo has meant some of us have fallen behind and this is understood by most. You are supposed to lock yourself away and write. However, as Adina says, nowadays there seems to be a competition to post every day which is fine if that rocks your boat, but how can you expect people to visit you every day? I get stressed about this.
People only read your latest post,usually, so unless you leave your post at the top of the page, instead of 30+ reading it, you'll only get 10 or so unless you have reached blog superstar status and people feel you are worthy to be visited every day even if that day you're only showing a picture of your horse.
All of the above are things I've been stewing over for sometime, and I know from blog posts that many people share many of these sentiments.
If Rach begins another crusade, let's get in and encourage others to at least try to do what they sign up for.
Have a good week. Those doing NaNo, I hope you are finished or closer to the finish line than I am. I have been too busy blogging...just joking...I've had a few family things happening. But I'll get to the finish line, don't you worry about that!
:D
Hi Rach...I haven't heard of the Crusaders before but would like to participate. I have over 100 followers but I only get 10 commenters each time, I blame my not so interesting posts lately, LOL. I do take the time to comment on blogs but most bloggers don't update their blogs as often. I blog only once a week but I always return to my commenters' blogs as soon as I can to comment. I love my followers and I love the commenters as well. But I do understand that people do get busy and I cannot expect them to always come back. But crusaders sound really good. I will keep coming back here for more. How can I send you an email? Mine is conversationswithlen at yahoo dot co dot uk.
Many thanks!
With as fast as this year went I'm sure the next one will be just as quick!
@L'Aussie, thanks for your comments, it was really interesting to hear your thoughts on blogging/commenting - I haven't thought about that issue (only getting 10 or so visits per day) too much, but it definitely makes sense. I like your plan to encourage people to back up their commitment, and I really hope you keep Crusading :) Good luck with NaNo.
Hi @Len, I'd love to have you on board the Crusade. I'll be calling it early in the new year, so keep an eye out for my post (and get in quick if you can so you're near the top of the list (*winks*)). My email address is rachael[dot]harrie[at]gmail[dot]com if you wanted to drop me an email, I'd love to hear from you :)
@Jen, say it ain't so!!! If only there was a way we can slow things down! When I'm Emperor Of The World, I might have to look into that :)
Sad to see it end, but it was definitely a good run. :) I admit I've been away from the blog for a while--needless to say, life can get pretty hectic and pull you away from the computer longer than you'd like! Still, I had a wonderful time connecting with bloggers who are like me, striving to get their first book out there. Count me in for the second Crusade!
Also, thanks for all this, Rach! And I agree with Hart...I got to discover blogs through this that I now check up on frequently, just because they're so dang great. :) Thanks again!
Hi @Miles, it was a great run for sure, and so wonderful to see most of us go from less than 20 followers to 50+ or 100+ and lots more comments. Really glad you're in for the next one :)
Sad to see it go, but happy it will come back. Thank you so much for doing this and for connecting me to some great blogs. Your a saint in my book.
I consider myself a crusader and am not willing to give up the title. You'll see me back.
I've really enjoyed the crusade, especially the challenges. Those were a lot of fun and I got to know folks best through those.
I think as time goes on, I'm finding that I have about 10 or so blogs from the crusade that I really follow a lot (new friends/relevant content/etc) and I'm letting the rest slide. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I think the best part about this crusade is having a way to meet other bloggers/blogs and see what you connect with. If you don't, then don't worry about it.
This month I'm posting everyday because of my PiBoIdMo series, but I certainly wouldn't expect that to appeal to everyone.
I'll probably thin out my blog roll soon so I can focus on what I want to read and focus on what my (few, but awesome) followers want to see from me.
Yay, Crusade!
I agree with the sentiments that the Crusade was very worthwhile even if we all only came up with a handful of blogs that we now follow and comment on regularly. I know I've gotten some new dedicated readers, and that's the kind we want right? The number of followers in total doesn't matter to me as much as interacting with others with common interests.
Banned complain !! Complaining only causes life and mind become more severe. Enjoy the rhythm of the problems faced. No matter ga life, not a problem not learn, so enjoy it :)
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