Starting this Friday, January 8th, MotherReader and Lee Wind will be hosting Comment Challenge 2010. This will be the second annual cross-blog event focused on increasing commenting and building community across the Kidlitosphere. Pam says:
"What if I told you that for the cost of a few extra minutes a day, you can boost your blog readership, foster a feeling of connection, and make someone’s day? Does that sound like something you might be interested in?"
Lee says:
"The last Comment Challenge was a big success, comments were up all over the kidlitosphere, and it really built a sense of community for everyone who participated - and we learned some great lessons"
Participation is simple. Just leave a comment on five kidlit blogs during each of 21 days. A prize will be awarded among those who reach 100 comments.
I participated last year. I found it a great way to strengthen ties with other bloggers and get a better sense of who is reading my blog. It definitely helped in encouraging me to leave more comments on other blogs, during and after the challenge. But, as with many good habits, I've backslid a bit over time, especially given the holiday season. The Comment Challenge 2010 comes at what I think is the perfect time to refresh and reconnect, the start of the new year. I hope that many of you will participate!
And although Pam and Lee seem fairly focused on bloggers leaving comments on one another's blogs (this is the sort of thing that makes us a community, after all), it seems to me that readers who don't necessarily have blogs of their own could participate, too. If you read KidLit blogs, you could take this as an opportunity to start commenting more. You might even find, as you get used to sharing your thoughts on various topics, that this will inspire you to start your own blog. But if nothing else, you can give a little bit back to the blogs that you read and value, by taking time to let the bloggers know that you are tuning in.
Comment Challenge 2010. I'm in, Pam and Lee.
[Hmm, would it work for me to hold off on reading the 500 unread posts in my Google Reader, sure to be close to 1000 by Friday, and just leave 100 comments over the weekend? Surely 1 in 10 posts will be comment-worthy... But no, that doesn't seem to be a good way to build a habit of commenting more regularly, does it? ;-) ]
Chuckling here Jen...no, I guess that doesn't count. I rarely even get to Google Reader anymore. But I think it's a great idea, a sort of win-win idea.
My problem with commenting is that sometimes I simply cannot think of anything useful to add to the post. Some bloggers really nail it, and comments seem superfluous. But then I tell myself that a comment is also a way of reaching out and saying "hey, I'm here reading and enjoying!"
And I love your point about blog readers not always having their own blogs. It often surprises me as my world is often blinkered by blogging!
Posted by: Book Chook | January 05, 2010 at 03:11 PM
Well, it simply wouldn't be right to read this without commenting! I think this is a great initiative. My typing fingers are primed and ready for the 8th.....
Posted by: Kara Schaff Dean | January 05, 2010 at 03:46 PM
I think it should count ... it says you care enough about the bloggers you follow not to just hit "mark as read." Now, that could be because my own reader is bulging a bit at the moment.
Susan raises a good point, though. Sometimes I feel like I'm just piling on. Dawn alluded to that in her post yesterday @ Mom's Inspire Learning. It's a tough balance.
Posted by: Terry Doherty | January 05, 2010 at 03:49 PM
Yeah, I didn't think it counted either, Susan. Though Terry makes a good point. I actually find it helpful sometimes to let a lot of posts pile up in the reader, and then go through by blog (instead of in date order). This tells me which blogs offer me the most useful content (the ones I DON'T skim through).
Anyway, it is tough sometimes to say something that contributes to the conversation. And I don't think that every comment has to make a big contribution. Sometimes, especially on posts where, say, the blogger has really put herself on the line, just a little "I think so, too" or "Good job!" works wonders. Now, I think that if I tried to leave 100 comments in one day, my comments would rapidly become trite and worthless. But if I'm leaving five in one day, and 2 or 3 of them have substance to them and the other 2 or 3 are of the "Me, too" variety, I think that's an ok balance.
And Kara, glad you're getting ready! Thanks for using my post for practice!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | January 05, 2010 at 03:55 PM
What a great idea, I'm in! Any lucky me, it starts on my birthday :)
Posted by: Kparlin | January 05, 2010 at 05:39 PM
Ugh, I meant 'And' not 'Any'.
Posted by: Kparlin | January 05, 2010 at 05:40 PM
That sounds like a great birthday present, Kparlin. Happy early Birthday!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | January 05, 2010 at 07:40 PM
Thanks for this, Jen! This is a great way to help strengthen the community (and help me to remember to comment!).
Posted by: Meg | January 06, 2010 at 06:08 AM
Looking forward to your comments, Meg!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | January 06, 2010 at 11:25 AM
I like the idea of lurkers adding their comments, Jen! Maybe they'll get sucked into the blogging world and start their own. Muahahaha.
Posted by: Maureen | January 13, 2010 at 10:28 PM
Exactly, Maureen! Thus furthering our plan to have KidLit bloggers take over the world!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | January 14, 2010 at 12:17 PM