Are You a Reader, Writer, or Mentor?
June 3, 2008 · Print This Article
Not everybody has time to do everything, right? But we really, really want you to read this post. It’s super important for helping people understand how we’re growing as a network and a community. In fact, we want you to read it so much that we are going to give away a free autographed book if you read this post and respond in the comments before Friday at noon central time.
Here’s the deal. We’ve developed a new “levels of engagement” concept at HighCallingBlogs.com because we want you to have permission to be as engaged in the community as you want. We’re trying to make this as easy as possible.
There are three primary ways to engage the community. We like the number three .
. . . as a READER and COMMENTER . . .
Readers are full members of HighCallingBlogs.com, but they are not necessarily active. In this role, you are primarily a reader and commenter:
- Read the HighCallingBlogs.com newsletter when we send it.
- Subscribe to receive our featured posts on HighCallingBlogs.com via RSS or email or to our daily digest of all posts via RSS or email . Or grab one of our widgets .
- Comment on posts as often as you can. This is such an encouragement to bloggers!
- THEN, let us know about posts you think we should feature at HighCallingBlogs.com. We’ll give you a hat tip if we use your suggestion.
. . . as a BLOGGER and WRITER . . .
This is the level of engagement we had in mind when we originally created HighCallingBlogs.com. In this role, you are an active reader, commenter, blogger, and content creator. Here’s what most of you are already doing:
- Register your existing blog with us or start a brand new blog for free.
- Load a HighCallingBlogs.com badge , textlink, or widget on your site . (This step is required to be included in our feeds.)
- Participate in our group writing project every month.
- Read other blogs in the network and comment as often as you can.
- Link to other blogs in the network when they write a post that is particularly inspirational to you.
- THEN , let us know about posts you think we should feature at HighCallingBlogs.com. We’ll give you a hat tip if we use your suggestion.
. . . as a LEADER and MENTOR . . .
As the community grew, we quickly realized that we could not read and support each blogger to the degree we had hoped. That’s why we need community leaders and mentors to commit to helping others. As a leader, you would:
- Actively read a category of bloggers and engage them through comments, trackbacks, and email.
- Work closely with HighCallingBlogs.com as a contributor to the site.
- Write about the high calling of your daily work on a regular basis at your own blog.
Now, about that giveaway.
"Über Celebrity God Blogger" Mark D. Roberts (also one of our High Calling bloggers) is giving away an autographed copy of his book No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer to one of the commenters.
So in the comments section below, tell us TWO things.
1) Are you a reader, writer, mentor? You can speculate on that a bit if you like as well.
2) How do you read the blogs in the community now? Do you use a blog roll, RSS category feeds, the featured posts at HighCallingBlogs.com, bloglines, igoogle, google reader, technorati? Mostly we’re just curious.
BONUS! Tell us about a blog in the community that you think people should read more.
As you and I discussed a bit, Marcus, I think I may be interested in being a writer and mentor - assuming it fits in my schedule! :-\
Currently I’m only using the featured posts notice, but I’d like to add more to my RSS so I’m not missing so much good stuff…
I am struggling with number two now: Blogger and Writer. I hope my blog would soon get tothe mainstream. However, my aim is to get to the category number three, Leader and Mentor with the help of God and my current guide - Marcus Goodyear
For now I read the featured posts at HighCallingBlogs.Com. I wouldn’t mind using other more versatile methods if I knew how to activate them.
I’m a Google reader girl; if it wasn’t for RSS I’d curl up in a dusty corner of my living room and die.
(I may exaggerate about the suffering, but not the dust. I’m not much for housework these days. Is that okay to admit here?)
I’m a reader, writer and I try to encourage others as much as I can, which means daily for me. Funny how you should ask these questions today, because I was just thinking about blogging and community this morning. Today is one of those days when I’m wondering what the heck I’m doing, pouring all this energy and concern into people that I’ll never meet this side of eternity. Sometimes I wish I didn’t care so much.
I think I do an OK job with Levels I and II; doing a good job at Level III would probably require a kind of organization I’m not currently capable of. I appreciate the opportunity to engage with the larger community, though.
Because I’m a first born and compelled to do it all, I want to be/do all three. Truth is I mostly read, lurk, and blog about aspects of my calling on one or both of my blogs. My goal is to stop lurking and comment, even if to say a word or two or three.
Thing is, and this really isn’t sucking up, there’s just so much great stuff on HCB and so little time! I find myself reading a smattering of every category. I usually click the badge on my blog and start with the featured posts, then cruise around.
I am lately experiencing a “holy discontent” as Ron Hutchcraft says in “A Life That Matters.”
I try to leave a comment everywhere I go, but can relate to Monica in wondering if it makes a difference.
I still believe in words and the power of blogging to have a positive effect on someone’s day. I have mentored a few and been encouraged by others, and will continue to seek ways to connect.
Thank you for creating an arena for those of us who want to make a positive mark on the web!
Bonus: I am enamored by Mary DeMuth!
I am a reader, writer and would like to be a mentor. I currently use a RSS category feed as well as just showing up at the site and exploring! I really like Robert Hruzek’s blog and feel that more people should read it. I think they will since he is hosting this month’s writing project, which by the way, I was the first to submit to! Thanks for everything you guys do and I am praying for continued success of this great community. Please contact me to discuss the mentoring.
Robert, mentor’s don’t sign a contract or anything! You’re already a mentor, really. Hosting this month’s group writing project is the kind of thing we’re talking about.
Ade, you just keep at it. A big part of blogging is perseverance.
Monica, who knows who’ll you’ll meet this side of eternity. I’ve met more bloggers than I ever thought I would. Thanks for thinking about these issues with us.
I am reader and a writer. I would be willing to participate in writing projects from time to time. I certainly blog consistently and find that I really miss it when I don’t. I read some of the blogs linked to the community regularly already and provide comments when something strikes me. (my favourite is Stuff in the Basement) I do not think that I have the time (or the skills) at the moment to be a leader/mentor. That would take a commitment I do not think I can make.
As far as reading submissions, I currently use Google Reader and have subscribed to the blogs that I find most inspiring. I only recently started reading one of the collective feeds. Thanks for this great collection.
I’m a blogger, but not much of a reader. I am subscribed to a number of workplace blogs through Google Reader, but I am still a clicker I’m afraid. And i’m really working at being a mentor. One lady that I helped get her blog going just as ‘an outlet’ now has a book contract based on her blog content. That is more satisfying than getting my own praise!
I’m a mere babe at this wonderful world of blogging and new to your neighborhood. I’m a reader and a writer, by the gift of God, and a soon-to-be commenter. I’m still exploring the site and finding my way around. Each day I discover another amazing blog. So much to read - so little time! Thanks for creating room in cyberspace for God and us ink junkies.
Well since this my first day here I would say I am just a reader, but I tend to dive right in, so who knows by the end of the day! I am sure I will at least be a reader/writer, probably a leader too.
thanks for having me here!
I would love to be a mentor, but I would be unreliable, hit and miss at times. My more reasonable expectation would be as a writer, and even then sometimes it has been a week between posts. I am always a reader and hope in time to do better. This is a great bunch of people and a very talented group of writers. I feel privileged just hanging around with you guys.
well, ia really having a great thinking about which category i fit in, somehow, i believe that for now i am a reader. I just love reading but i write once in a while. I am glad to be able to bare my mind. You know the mind is just a great thing. What an awesome God, to give all of us minds. Can you imagine how the world would be if we were all “mindless”
What a fantastic site/network! I’m fairly new to the blog world, but would like to think that I’d eventually be ready for all three categories. I use Google reader. Don’t know how I’d manage without it.
I’m a blogger/writer. I’m keenly interested in the poetry offerings on Fridays.
Getting acquainted with the blogging world and adding to my blog several times a week. I’m finding it very meaningful and exciting. Trust your time this week is going smoothly.