Yesterday I posted about the removal of some future Carnival of Personal Finance hosts from the schedule. I don’t want to stir up a debate about whether it’s “better” to post small blog entries several times per day, like two sentences about receiving a tax refund, or long blog entries only when the mood strikes once a blue moon.
As far as what I do here at Consumerism Commentary, I write about my life and what I feel like writing about, when I can grab a second or 30 minutes, depending on the post. It’s a journal and a weblog, not an ultimate guide to personal finance. You’re free to write about what you want to write about at your own speed. I don’t care to debate whether personal finance bloggers should be about writing only “actionable” advice, for instance. I won’t criticize your blog.
Everyone has their own tastes and their own opinions. People know what they like to read and what they like to write. I write what I like to write and read what I like to read.
When it comes to the Carnival, I just want to know that on Monday morning, there is going to be something posted by 9:00 am Eastern time, as the guidelines clearly stipulate.
From watching the last fifty or so Carnivals, the statistics show that those who post infrequently don’t live up to the expectations. That’s why I “silently” added the “two posts per week minimum” some time in the last couple of months. There have been exceptions because I understand that not everyone wants to post twice per week, but it’s a good baseline for determining who is actively interested in their own blog. I’m fine with those who post less frequently, but the new requirement dissuades those who don’t have the time from volunteering to host. If they’re too busy to post more than two blog entries per week, perhaps (just perhaps) they’re too busy to spend the time to put together a quality Carnival.
One week in advance, I contact the host to remind the blogger he or she volunteered to assemble the Carnival. The email address provided is usually tied to the blog, and when a blog is inactive, I might not get a response. This is troublesome for me as I have to develop a contingency plan as the week draws to a close.
If you weren’t around in October, you probably don’t remember (or honestly, don’t care) that I had to fill in when a host was MIA. I don’t want to have to set aside time “just in case” someone drops the ball.
So inconclusion, blah blah blah, I’m doing what I originally intended:
1. Keeping the two posts per week regulation in.
2. Making exceptions for bloggers who want to host, even if they post less frequently, as long as they can assure me the Carnival will be up.
3. Removing future hosts whose blogs are clearly dead.
4. Keeping a list of trusted friends who would be happy to throw together a quality Carnival at the last minute if someone has unsurmountable problems with Blogger the night before or gets in a car accident (yes, that has happened).
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