Thursday, November 6, 2008

The Comment Challenge: 21 Days To Community!

(See how all those raindrop circles interconnect?
Well, that's your blog. And mine.
And all the other blogs out there in the kidlitosphere!)

Okay, this one I cooked up with Mother Reader.

For the next 21 Days, from Today, Thursday Nov 6th, to Wednesday Nov 26, 2008 - join us in The Comment Challenge.



The idea is that for each of those days, we all leave comments on AT LEAST 5 other people's kidlitosphere blogs.

It's like this old commercial...




Scientific Research (Mother Reader assures me) has shown that it takes 21 days to form a new habit! So let's all acquire a new, good one!

And remember, once you've left two or three comments on someone's blog, they're going to be curious about who that smart, articulate commenter is ... and they'll click back to go to YOUR blog.



Now, not every comment needs to be it's own essay. Sometimes, it's enough to say -

"Hey, I liked this post!"

Or
"Yeah, I agree!"

Or

"I could do the chicken dance I'm so happy to read this!"

But the important thing is to be part of the conversation. Engage. Participate.

And see if YOUR stat numbers increase over the three weeks - if you take The Comment Challenge, we bet you will see a big jump in visitors to YOUR blog! And, you'll truly feel like you're part of this amazing kidlitosphere community.

Need more incentive? How about PRIZES!?! For everyone who posts 100 comments over the next 21 days (that's 5 comments a day, with one day off for good behavior...) we'll pick a winner (maybe more than one) at random and you'll get some SWAG!!! (Wow. I totally sound like an infomercial there, don't I? Maybe I'll throw in a Bamboo Steamer in one of the Prize packages!!!)

So keep track of the number of comments you leave each day, and try to write 5 comments a day on the blogs you read.

And we'll see what happens!

Ready to join us? Okay, than go ahead and comment on this blog! And on Mother Reader's, here! And check in with us throughout the three weeks, and let us know how it's going...

Namaste, and thanks for being part of this!

Lee

34 comments:

Tricia said...

Great idea! One of the downsides to reading posts in a blog reader is that I find myself nodding in agreement, but rarely taking the time to click through to the site and comment. NOW I WILL!

teacherninja said...

I'm a teacher and have a blog and often discuss reading and kids books, but wouldn't classify my blog as being part of the canonical "kidlitosphere." I do, however, enjoy many of these blogs very much and will do my best to meet this cool and interesting challenge!

Thanks

Charlotte said...

Ok, here's my first comment! I hope this works--I am very sad that so many of my posts go commentless...

Lee Wind, M.Ed. said...

Hi everyone - thanks for the comments so far!
Charlotte, one of the tricks of this is that I should be able to click on your name in your comment and go to your profile, and see the link for your blog. (alternatively, you could end your comment with a link to your blog - not as elegant, but it works.)
When I just did that, though, I got a screen that said

Profile Not Available

The Blogger Profile you requested cannot be displayed. Many Blogger users have not yet elected to publicly share their Profile.

If you're a Blogger user, we encourage you to enable access to your Profile.

Go ahead and "enable access to your profile" and then people can FIND your blog. And hopefully some comments will make you happy.

good luck with it!
Lee

Jen Robinson said...

I'm definitely in, Lee. Like Tricia said, it's easy when using a blog reader to like a post, but not take the extra step to comment. I also frequently tag posts to mention in my roundups, but still don't take time to comment. This is good incentive to try harder. Thanks!!

Laini Taylor said...

Hi Lee! Nice rainy puddle photo for a rainy Portland day. Great idea, too. So glad you and Pam met and inspired each other.

Have a wonderful day!

tanita✿davis said...

Okay, the commercial is bringing back bad memories of my childhood. However, your point is well taken!

MotherReader said...

Love the raindrops on the water analogy. Reminds me of Deep Thoughts.

Let's rock 'n roll.

Blog-Nerd said...

I love your blog. I've been following it for months now and never really commented, just enjoyed what you had to say. But after I read all of your blogs about Prop8 I just had to thank you. I'm a lesbian and what happened in CA, AR, AK, and FL really hurt, it made me want to cry and give up. But you've reminded me to fight, and even if I don't like how long it may take to do so, I'm going to continue to fight for my (and all people's) rights.

Thank you.
Love&Peace.
Emily

Terry Doherty said...

I love that picture ... especially with your comments. Looking forward to adding to the ripple.

Andrea -- Just One More Book!! Podcast said...

Hey, I liked this post!

Unknown said...

I like this project. Please count me in. Do the comments have to be on the blog of someone who has entered the challenge?

holly cupala said...

Viagra for blogs...tee hee. Thanks, Pam and Lee, for organizing us into a big blogger hug. PS I'm sending you one anyways cuz you're such a great guy.

web said...

Sounds fun, I'm in!

Charlotte said...

Hi Lee,

I figured it out! There are too many of me in google/gmail, all called charlotte, and only one of us has a profile. So this one should work....

Suzanne Young said...

I'll do better. 10 comments! Oh, can I just rewrite this 10 times? That counts, right? haha. Kidding!

Miss you!

Anonymous said...

Thank you guys for cookin' up this connective challenge. It's a human kindness...

Anonymous said...

Love the photo. I have a similary one. Your post motivates me to comment.

Cuppa Jolie said...

Love this, Lee! But I think Laini is wrong. That puddle is all about the downpour happening in the Seattle area. I'll start downpouring the comments instead.

jama said...

Hi Lee! Nice to meet you:). Thanks for the challenge!

Christine said...

I'm going to give it a try. I know the comments I get really motivate me to keep blogging with my A-game. Thanks for inspiring me to give others that lift.

Sarah Laurenson said...

Alas. I have a statless blog and have no idea how many people visit me. But I am a blog addict, so five comments a day is no big deal. I'm assuming more than five is ok, cause limiting it to five - now that might be a problem.

Rita said...

A lovely project. And, hey! I like what Sarah Laurenson said right above me! (Hello! I feel like I'm on Hollywood Squares)

Anonymous said...

Great idea! I'm in. Getting comments is always fun. Now I just need to squeeze in posting AND commenting and I'll be set.

Rie Selavy said...

I'm definitely in!

Bibliovore said...

Thanks for this initiative, Lee! I've been trying to give myself a commenting habit, and now I've got an excuse to really do it!

Carol said...

OK, I'm a couple of days late, but I want to try this. Starting this morning!

Mary Lee said...

Count me in, too! Thanks for getting this started and for helping all of us to do more good in the world!

Suzanne Casamento said...

Awesome idea! I'm SO in. Thanks!

MissBates said...

I love your blog, i was sad to see though that the book, the center of the world wasn't in here. i loved that book so much i have quotes from it tatooed on myself!

Lee Wind, M.Ed. said...

Thanks everyone - what an amazing showing of commenting power!

I love lucy - "The Center Of The World" is listed in the list of books I still have to blog about. But holy guacamole, if you've got quotes from it tattooed on your body, then I better move it up and post on it this week!!! (Promise you'll tell us in the comments of that post which quotes you chose?)

Thanks everyone, and keep the comments rolling across the kidlitosphere!!!

Namaste,

Lee

Mary Burkey said...

What a great idea! I read so many great blogs with wonderful ideas that I tuck into my head - but in the rush of reading never give a proper "Thank You." I know I love to read comments left on my Audiobooker blog, and appreciate this gentle reminder to return the favor. Getting a late start, but I promise to make my goal of 100!

Mary Burkey
http://audiobooker.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

You are having too much fun with your blog--it is great to see!

claudia said...

What a fun challenge! Instead of BIC (butt in chair) it's BYDO (blog your derriere off).
Claudia