Quite often people ask me questions about my blog. Whether it be in person, through text, or through the comment feature on brentreser.com, it seems like I always receive some of the same ones over and over again. For my Sunday blog post, I thought I would open up the mail bag and answer some of them.

Today I take the opportunity to answer some questions regarding my blog.

Q. How do you find time to devote as much time as you do to your blog?
A. I simply budget it into my day. On my weekday blog posts, I begin writing as soon as I get home from work. I won’t eat dinner until I publish whatever I am writing that day. To me, it doesn’t seem like my blog takes away that much of my time just because it is a major project of mine that I enjoy working on. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I probably spend about 40 hours on Don’t Blink a month.

Q. How much time does it take you to write a single blog post?
A. This definitely depends. Blog posts where I incorporate a lot of images take considerably longer than Thursday Rundown posts. Posts where I recap a trip or experience will take longer than a post where I am just spitting out my thoughts on a certain subject. The length of time it takes me to write a post ranges anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. Like I said, I hop on my writing the second I get home from work. Sometimes I will start the next day’s blog post before I go to bed the previous night just so I don’t have to spend as much time on it when I return home.

Q. Where do you get your blog post ideas?
A. Pretty much from everywhere. I read a lot. I have much of my life documented to the point of every small detail. I also do a lot in my free time that translates into blog content. I become inspired with ideas from my work, my family, and my friends. Social media and current events play a role. Food is always a great source for my ideas. Of course my readers provide suggestions as well.

Q. What are your favorite blog posts to write?
A. No question, my features I do on people. These are always special for me to write and then special for that particular person to read. The posts I do on people are the most raw, passionate pieces I do. Of course Thursday Rundowns are fun too because they are so random and easy to write. From feedback I have gathered I also know that my readers really enjoy those particular posts as well.

Q. Can you get a little more specific? Are there any posts that specifically stand out to you?
A. Most recently, the series I did on the Sean Carty saga registers high. Not only did those posts bring in a crazy amount of traffic, but they helped (at least a little bit) a man retain his job. The post I did on former Montana athletic director Jim O’Day also is a favorite of mine. If you want some more specifics, check out this post I did at the end of last year chronicling my top ten favorite posts from 2014.

Q. Do people actually read your blog?
A. Although I took a swipe at my readership numbers in this blog post, I do somehow have a dedicated following. Although not huge by any means, my site routinely garners a four digit number of views per day. This of course inspires me to write often.

Q. What is your blogging schedule?
A. I am pretty good at blogging five times per week, Sunday through Thursday. I am now in my fifth year of writing Don’t Blink.

Q. When are you finally going to give Don’t Blink up?
A. Good question, I don’t really know. I would think that when the day comes that Sidney and I have kids my free time to author a blog might diminish. But right now I am all in.

Q. Speaking of Sidney, will she ever takeover your blog again?
A. You bet she will! Look for her next post in a couple weeks.

Q. Any advice to wannabe bloggers?
A. Go for it! Just hold yourself accountable and stick to a schedule. Don’t get discouraged if people aren’t reading it at first. It takes time to build a following. Besides, if you are writing your blog solely for other people you are doing it for the wrong reason.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to add?
A. Yes, I would like to say one thing…Don’t Blink.