Can Blogging Kill You?

I’m a fan of  M.J. Rose and actually love her book “The Reincarnationist.” I also think she’s very smart about marketing, and I wanted to note her latest article, “Is Blogging Right for You?”  for Writer’s Digest here.

She has some good insight in terms of blogging and why to blog. She also highlights Seth Godin’s blog as a blog that works, but I would say his blog works for marketing Seth (and I think Seth is great) but it is not a two-way conversation because Seth doesn’t allow commenting on his blog.

And no one has to enable comments on their blog by the way, but if you’re a book author or a fiction book author, one of the ways to engage folks is to leave your comments on. Also comment on other blogs and get the blog convo happening both ways.

Look at David Meerman Scott’s blog for a good example of convo both ways.  Or Toby Bloomberg’s blog. For literary agents look at Nathan Bransford’s blog. Look at how Liz Strauss does her amazing Open Mike nights on her blog. Read B.L. Ochman’s blog. Read Jennifer Robenalt’s blog.

Or my own personal favorite blogger Steve Kayser. 

Whatever you do online, always make it balanced with offline even if you make your living online. You don’t need to make it 24/7.

At the end of M.J.’s article, is basically a couple of paragraphs about bloggers who’ve died in the past couple years of heart attacks, which seems to beg the question, “Can blogging kill you?”

Guess what??? It doesn’t!

Stress kills us. Smoking kills us. Not spending enough time being crazy or having fun can slowly kill us. Greed and “not enough itis” can kill us. But blogging? I don’t think it can kill you.

But just in case here are some pointers to ensure you’re a healthy blogger!

1. Don’t spend 24/7 blogging, twittering, facebooking, or on any other online shenanigans.

2. Don’t believe that to be viable or visible online you have to incessantly be communicating.

3. Don’t be a blogging-downer. Don’t post a ton of negative things on your blog or website to build yourself up.

4. Step away from the blog and go outside once in awhile.

5. Don’t engage in flame wars.

6. Reach out to like-minded folks and revel in their spirit, blog posts and take on business, life, work etc.

7. Make peace with your inbox always being a bit too full.

8. Twittering during a movie date with your husband is not kosher.

9. Be mindful that juggling too many blogs makes Jack or Jill a dull boy or girl in real life.

10. One blog at a time, one post at a time, one reader at a time and always focus on expanding your ideas and your reader’s ideas.