Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The 2012 Comment Challenge Week Two Check-In... Are You Feeling the Habit?



I love this image.  It's all 'The Sound of Music' meets 'The Matrix,' isn't it? 

Here on day 14, I hope you're feeling the commenting habit becoming more a part of your blogging and online experience!  If you've been keeping up with the 5-comments-a-day-is-habit-forming-goal, you should be right around 70 comments so far.

Let us know how it's going - we have well over 150 participants in this year's Comment Challenge, and that's a great list over at Mother Reader's to browse if you're looking for new blogs of other avid kid lit bloggers to explore (and leave comments at!)

Keep on commenting,
Lee

47 comments:

Mary Lee said...

Great image! Thanks for the early morning smile!

I managed not 35, but 45 comments this week! I've been concentrating on the blogs in my reader, but this week I'm going to challenge myself to get out of my neighborhood and explore the blogs on the comment challenge list.

Thanks to all of the comment challenge folks who've come over to A Year of Reading!

Mrs. Silverstein said...

Falling a bit behind--this is #60. I think I'll make it up, though--I tend to comment extra on weekends, and I was away for much of this weekend. I still like having a goal in mind when I sit down to blog-read.

annie said...

Still loving the challenge. I've gotten to see lots of great blogs, and now I feel weird if I don't comment at least five times a day. My personal challenge over the next week is to actually subscribe to the blogs I've gotten to read more closely, instead of just jumping off from the MotherReader links.

Amy L V said...

Well, I joined quite late, so I'm reading away and writing 10 comments a day. I've happily found some great new places to revisit and am up to 50 comments...my goal at this point. Thank you for hosting this challenge and getting me "back in the saddle!"

Russ Cox said...

Week 2 and still going strong!

Sandy Brehl said...

I managed to complete 35 comments to count for the current week, Due to a late sign-on, I added 14 comments to make up for lost time.
This has been a great way to remind myself that there are inspiring, entertaining, and informative blogs out there just waiting to be found.
Keeping a tally note right on my keyboard has helped.

Kim Van Sickler said...

Really like visiting the great blogs. We've commented on 70 so far. Very few comments on Swagger from the blogfest this week. But there's always next week, right?

MotherReader said...

Loving the Comment Challenge this year as it has kick-started my blogging year. I've made 45 comments this week, and have made my way through about half of the participants. Which means that this week is going to be busy, but I'm excited!

Melissa said...

I'm loving seeing new blogs, and I love that new people are finding me. (I hope they come back...)

I'm still behind on comment count, but I do make it a point to comment on a couple at least, every day. So, that's good.

Miranda Paul said...

Love the photo. And all the new visitors to my blog.

So, today it's a special treat. A writing contest with REAL PRIZES!

Take care and thanks again for organizing this. Off to comment!

JenFW said...

My total comment count is 72, and this is my first comment of the day. I wouldn't say it's a habit, but coming up with something to say is getting easier. That's a huge step forward.

I still haven't been to my reader with all the blogs I used to read. I'm exploring participants and have kinda sorta made it a goal to hit them all. I really wish I were keeping a list of the ones I especially like so I can go back, continue reading, and maybe subscribe. I may try to do that in February.

Heather Kelly said...

Lee--I'm doing great in the comment challenge, although I'm not commenting each day. I average 12-18 comments each day that I get out there. But some days, I just want to get the writing in! So I do. I'm finding it is an excellent balance, and meeting all kinds of awesome writers, artists, and book bloggers.

I love this love fest, and look forward to it all year long! :) Thanks to you and MotherReader for putting it on!

teacherninja said...

I'm a few over 70, but I learned one thing. Definitely stick to the five-a-day thing. I let it go over the three day weekend, so had to do fifteen comments to make up for it. Let me tell you, that was a challenge! All the word verifications were starting to get me a little loopy.

ineexp!

Teresa said...

I am loving the comment challenge. I have exceeded my goal this week even though I took Monday off!

Much of this is thanks to the discovery that I can add my reader to my toolbar and actually read blogs there rather than on my reader. (I did share the discovery on my blog if its news to you) It has led to so much more commenting while still having the convenience of the reader (if that makes any sense)

Blessy Mathew said...

Can't believe I've made 65 comments already. I know 5 comments short, but it has been fun discovering so many talented people.

Beth said...

I'm having fun. I've now gotten into a rhythm -- I follow the comments to my blog out of politeness, then I go through my reader, which has swelled alarmingly due to the first week, and then if I still don't have five comments I go back through MotherReader's list (already did it once).

I still only comment a fraction of the times I read, but that's because 1) I'm shy and 2) I often don't have much to say.

Melanie said...

I'm doing well, currently at 85 comments. I'm a bit surprised how easy it was to get back into the swing of things.

I tend to do them in big batches. It would probably be better if I did them a bit more consistently, rather than a barrage.

Joanna said...

Doing just swell. Am now finding I am returning a lot to several blogs that have really resonated with me :)

Joy Weese Moll said...

I'm doing great -- fits and starts, though. My lowest day was 1 comment (Oh I remember, that was the day I was away from computers for 8 hours straight to attend an MLK day event) and my highest was 23, when I commented on all the Weekend Cooking posts at Beth Fish Reads.

Sylvia Liu said...

I'm enjoying the comment challenge very much. At first I signed up thinking, wow, what a great way to get people to visit my blog. Now the best part of the comment challenge is discovering so many different and worthy blogs. My traffic has increased, for which I'm grateful. But I'm more grateful for the list of new books I'm going to read, the pieces of inspiration I've gotten, and the new blogs I'm following.

Playing by the book said...

I'm having a good time with commenting this year - 84 so far, with a good mix of new-to-me blogs and some old favourite which I always read, but much to my shame don't often comment on (tho that's all different now!)

Helena Juhasz said...

Totally addicted! Gotta moderate commenting with actually doing! I could do more but I'm a busy lady so 39 last week and 41 this week!

The Pen and Ink Blogspot said...

I love the image, too. Where's it from. This is Susan at Pen and Ink. I am the only one counting comments. I decided I would comment on every blog that signed up. This week I managed 85 comments. I have a lot of time on my hands right now.)
My total is 130 but that includes two visits to you and two to Motherreader who was kind enough to mention us in her last post.
The comments go quicker since I connect from the list at Mother Reader. I have a growing list of TBR books. Thanks
Now I'd better go revise something.

A Journey Illustrated said...

Even though life isn't cooperating as much this week, I'm still going and commenting has become even easier!

Jen Klein said...

Um, I didn't check in the first week somehow. And I kinda missed a week. Since the very beginning, I have had days with no comments and days where I did 10 and 12. I just did the math for the entire challenge (I'm a geek) and I'm averaging 3.14 comments a day. Yes, people. I am Pi.

Greg Pincus said...

I'm not doing quite as well as last year, though I'm not horribly behind either. The good news is that I'm aware... thinking... commenting. And really, I think that's the point more than the number (cuz, like, I'm not gonna hit the number :-))

Marjorie said...

I'm checking in for the first time, as I joined late I haven't quite caught up yet but am at 55 comments for this week, so hope to be hitting the 5-a-day average by the end of the Challenge. As well as visiting old-but-neglected-of-late friends, I've made great new connections... Thank you for setting all this up.

And yes, I love the picture too. It reminds me of a very dear and very old nun I knew getting very indignant with a fax machine that spat out her letter and so hadn't sent it... :-)

Beth Stilborn said...

A bit sporadic this week -- it was that sort of a week! 34 comments on blogs that I don't usually comment on (other comments on blogs I visit regularly). I *did* start establishing the habit of checking my google reader once a day. I have tended to forget about it for weeks on end. So this is good.

Not too many new commenters on my blog, perhaps I don't write what people want to read, but I've found some interesting new people through the challenge, so it's all good.

Tara said...

I started out strong, and then the week caught up with me. So...I resolve to do better starting now!

Unknown said...

I'm loving this! Like others, I find that I am doing better when I stick to 5 comments a day. I have found so many great new blogs - the only down side is that my Google Reader queue is overflowing! :)

Christy Rush-Levine said...

So far I am at 84 comments. I am not trying to be an overachiever, but I keep finding new blogs to read that spark my thoughts--I just can't stop!

BTW- I wonder if Sydney Poitier would build those nuns a chapel!

Caryl said...

I'm at just over 70 comments, and yes, I think it is becoming a habit. I am enjoying the book talk so much. Thanks again, Lee & MotherReader!

Camille said...

I love the comment challenge! I have connected with so many new blogs. I don't have an official count - some days (on the weekend) I had none but on others I have done a lot more than 5. It is definitely becoming more a part of my routine.

Linda B said...

I do a lot of commenting, but it's been a challenge to move off my reader into new territory. The first week I added new blogs so that takes some time too. I'm not whining, just reporting! This has been a lot of fun to find new blogs and ideas for design! Thanks to everyone who has visited. I've tried to reply to those who have commented, but sometimes the links are private so I can't get back to you. Happy commenting! It's a big kidlit moment coming!

patientdreamer said...

I am going slowly, need to keep checking back with the list for new ones as well as answer the ones that do post comments on mine. *whew*...

Ms. Yingling said...

I find that it's not so much habit as mood. It is hard to comment on weekends, since I loathe computers and try to avoid them when not at work. Still keeping up the average of five a day, and am trying to explore new blogs.

Michelle Cusolito said...

I fell behind this week but I'm determined to catch up.

I've struggled a bit to find balance- it takes time to read so many new blogs and leave a comment. I'm a writer, so I want to leave meaningful comments- not just comments to leave comments. I need to get quicker!

Eric VanRaepenbusch said...

Right on target for the challenge. I had some making up to do the past two days, but I succeeded in reaching my goal.

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by my blog. I have had more comments this week than ever!

MP Flory said...

I have been having so much fun! I even found time to "tweak" my blog with the many ideas I've seen.

Anonymous said...

Got the habit, but not checking in! So--here is my first check and big thanks for organizing this.

This weekend I am really focusing on going more than my five comments and you know totally copying Mother Reader and doing a round up/feature of new blogs I'm finding and learning from.

Cheers and thanks again, Lee and Pam!

Annie said...

Such a great sense of community--I'm really enjoying this challenge!

Patricia T. said...

Great idea Lee. Enjoying meeting new people. Have already made some good contacts. With all of the challenges and being out of town, I've missed some days. But, doing the best I can. I keep a list and write everyone's name and blog down, so I know.

Storage Boxes London said...

That's really interesting with great idea.Really nice to meet new people. Thanks for sharing.

KateCoombs said...

Oops. Forgot to check in yesterday. But I'm still hitting 5 comments each and every day! When the challenge is over, I plan to continue doing 2 comments a day as I explore some of the blogs linked on other people's blogs, but right now I'm still working through my own extensive blog roll. (It helps me clear out dead links or abandoned blogs while I'm at it.) Thanks again for this great project!

Brimful Curiosities said...

I haven't been as consistent as I would like, but I'm at at total of 62 right now for the challenge. I'm pretty happy with that number considering I've had to play nurse to a sick child this past week and didn't read any blogs for 2 days straight!

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

Love that picture! And I'm doing pretty well with the commenting, although I tend to get stuck on blogs I like. I've got to keep working through the whole list so I get to everyone at least once!

MaryHelen said...

Finding great resources at several blogs. I have referred fellow bloggers to sites. I am learning a lot and am appreciating the kind comments. I am behind due to a funeral this week, but am thankful for the inspiration of this challenge. MaryHelen