Another Wednesday. As a celebration of Wednesday there is a story to be told each week. In case you wondered, all the stories are written for this post and are original. I continually wonder if these stories are what you want to read. I have been reading up on what makes a good blog and have to admit some of the advice seems to make sense. Well . . . it seems to make sense for those bloggers who follow the advice. For instance; the advice says the blog can be really long and if enough good content is there, people will read it. This does make sense, since there are a number of really good blogs out there where the writer has over 4000 words and about as many followers. I try to keep mine to less than 400 words and up until recently I could say I had about that many followers. Maybe there is some relationship between number of words and followers. I sure hope not. I have this belief people are way too busy to read every blog they follow anyway and to have to read several at 4000 words it doesn’t take much time to get to 80,000 words. This would be like reading a book a day. So unless y’all have any objections I’ll go against the advice and keep it short. Which brings up the story for today:
The Follower by John W. Howell ©2014
“You asked for comments and here is mine. I really like your blog. You seem to understand the subject and it is presented in a very interesting way. I am following you.”
Your comment is in moderation
“Dear Frank. Thank you for following my blog. I had a chance to go and visit yours and am following you as well.”
Your comment is in moderation
“Thank you George for the follow. I hope you like my blog as much as I like yours. In case you want to read my book here is a link.” http://amazon.com/mybook/frankthejerk
“Yeah thanks for the link. I guess you never thought about certain rules regarding hijacking a comment section of a blog with personal promotion.”
“Gee. I did not mean to get you in a wad. I really thought you would like my book.” 🙂
“I’m not in a wad, but I have spent a lot of time on preparing this post and hate to see it ripped off with a book promotion.” 😦
“Well I really didn’t mean to rip off your blog with one little comment. I guess you are really sensitive.” 😉
“I don’t think sensitive covers it. This is not appropriate behavior.”
“Who made up the rules. You?”
“No. I just write this blog.”
“Figures.”
“What does that mean?”
“I‘ve noticed certain bloggers invite comments, but when they come in they have a problem with them” 😦
“I don’t think that is the point.”
“So what is the point?”
“You have used my blog to promote your book. If I promoted your book on my blog it would be a different matter. You did not even ask.”
“Oh I understand. Okay let me ask; will you promote my book on your blog?”
Your comment is in moderation
Fiction Favorites 
That is brilliant John! I loved it!!! And with regards to length of posts, I am kind of in the same camp as you. I read up on writing a blog before I started mine and the suggestion was to blog three times per week and for each blog to be no more than 500 words. I try to stick to that although I do blog most days. However.. there are blogs that are hugely successful where there are thousands of words per post. For me, if it is over say 800 words, unless it is a subject that I am really really interested in, I do tend to give it a miss. I don’t have the time to read thousands of words of blog posts right now. I wish I knew what the magic formula was re blogging and audience, but like yourself, I am just pressing on with the shorter posts and hoping for the best! But as I said… fab story! 🙂
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Thank you. Obviously I totally agree with you on the length and frequency.
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Some people… BTW have you read my latest book yet? I was kinda hoping you would, what with me being a regular on your blog… oh, have I read your book? Umm…. it’s on my TBR list.
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How about those you have supported with book purchase and review who don’t seem to have the time for even a listing of “want to read” in Goodreads? BTW you are on my TBR list
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LOL. Yeah, I think I’ve heard most of the excuses by now.
I’m going right now to add your book to my Goodreads list.
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Oh yeah. Then I will do the same. (Tomorrow morning. I am too beat now)
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Sure…. heard that one too.
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🙂
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I guess quality over quantity is the rule. I get told that my posts are too long some times and I try to stay under or around 1,000. I don’t think one can ever tell really. As for the story, I’ve had that happen a few times on Facebook. I’ll make a promo post in a group and another author will attach a comment to promote their own book. It feels rather rude because there’s not communication. It just happens.
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I agree. It becomes very frustrating. Thanks.
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Ecard – so spot on 😀
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Thank you. 🙂
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Love the ecard: story of my life 😉 I think your posts are perfect as they are. I am one of those people who does not have time to read 4000-word posts no matter how content-filled they are. Even if that blogger has 4000 followers, I doubt that all of them are reading the post. I subscribe to a few blogs that tend to have very long posts, but I rarely get around to reading them. You just keep doing what you do so well 😉
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SMOOOOOCH!
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Back at ya 🙂
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Loved the story. I have seen a few blogs with 4000+ followers who make really long posts and have hundreds of comments they respond to. It seems the subject matter is always drama or inflammatory opinions. They are a put off to me and I will rarely waste my time reading through that sort of stuff. I will sometimes read one that long if it is subject matter of my personal interest. I am in the same camp as Charles. I don’t think anyone has time to read more than 1000 words. One of my most visited posts of all times was a photo of a blanket and two sentences. Ha!
About books. I avoid Goodreads like the plague, but your book is still on my TBR list…LOL You can find my book…..oh yeah…I should ask permission first 🙂
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Ha ha . Here it is http://www.amazon.com/Red-Clay-Roses-S-K-Nicholls-ebook/dp/B00C2CNWGS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390319492&sr=1-1&keywords=Red+Clay+and+Roses
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You are too funny! I am surprised it didn’t print the full cover. Amazon’s URLs tend to do that wherever possible.
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I for one appreciate your brevity, John. Often, a haiku is all that’s required…
Great story too. I feel like I’ve been there/done that!
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Thank you.
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