stinewriting

Just wondering: about prompts and challenges

I am just wondering what people think about the whole prompt and challenge thing in relation to the host. I ask this because I host Simply 6 Minutes and I try to read and comment on everyone who participates. I also like to show my appreciation for participating by sharing and reblogging. I know it is not required but it is what I like to do.
I also know that some people do a “roll call” at the end of the week and mention all the people who participated. I like that too.

But what about the blogs that don’t ever acknowledge your participation? Do you continue just to participate? As most of my followers have seen I ping back to each prompter or host. Does this mean that the host is not even looking at the responses as they come in? I don’t mean to be a jerk but I have noticed on a few of my posts that I have provided pingbacks to the person who is hosting has never even “liked” one of my posts. I don’t think I need a comment but if you’ve never even visited my post, what is the point?

50 thoughts on “Just wondering: about prompts and challenges”

  1. I always try to answer all the comments people leave, and follow most of them. If someone does a pingback, the right thing to do is thank whoever did so, even if it’s just “Thanks for the pingback!” I admit, I miss sometimes, but do as well as I can.

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  2. From the perspective of a host, I think it’s important to read and acknowledge the participants’ posts. I appreciate it when people join the challenge, and I try to let them know. I also like to share their post of social media – mainly that means Twitter. I can get caught up in other things and I may not always get to everyone’s post right away, but I do get there (I don’t think I’ve missed anyone).

    I visit the people who simple add a pingback, but when people leave their link in a comment on my blog, I try to respond with something there as well. I do that to try and encourage others to view that post.

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  4. Hi Christine, I haven’t been a regular participant lately. Not writing much atm.
    From my perspective, I really appreciate feedback and part of blogging is about the gratification of people reading and commenting on my words. Where else will I get that 😁
    I always try to read all the stories in the prompts I write to – Simply 6 and Friday Fictioneers are my most regular.
    It should be enough that you provided the opportunity for us, in fairness. But also, it can feel self serving of the host (this is not you) when they don’t interact with their contributors. You got us to follow you, mission achieved.
    It makes a difference to me that you acknowledge participation, I try to acknowledge you too.
    Did that help at all?
    Cheers, Trish

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  5. I admire everyone that participates.. time doesn’t allow for me but wish it did. I do love reading a lot of them and comment etc even tho I don’t but sometimes I just comment on the ones that also follow me as a non “player in the arena” . If you are running the show tho, it does seem that the host should be getting back to people. Not sure that’s useful Cbristine.

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      4. Me neither. I stopped the year the kids told me they were not having their pictures sent on cards…Hahaha, I have sent a few here and there but honestly I don’t have a long list of people to send them to. Most people I text and wish them happy holidays.

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      6. You know once in a while I try to write in cursive and find it so hard! I remember my mother always had such beautiful handwriting. Back then there wasn’t all this internet and phones, etc. I had nice handwriting as well, but now if I write anything it is a note or something. It’s almost like my hand forgets how to write in cursive.

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  6. I respond to prompts from a few bloggers who NEVER like or comment on my responses (e.g., The Daily Spur and Your Daily Word Prompt). I don’t know if the bloggers behind these prompts actually read any of the responses. Yet I still often use their prompt words in my posts. As to my prompts that I host, I do try to read each post where there’s a pingback to my prompt post. I also like the response post to at least acknowledge that I have read it and, if I have time, I will leave a comment. Of course, the operative word is “try.” I’m not always successful.

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  7. The ones I participate in generally do comment or like and also do a roundup, and it’s nice to be acknowledged, but I have one where it’s never been acknowledged. I think they just put it out there because they know people are interested.

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      2. When I first starting blogging I pretty much followed every blog I came across. Then, maybe six months ago, I was on the phone with WP trying to redo my entire blog because I was following over…..drumroll…..12,000 sites! I couldn’t find the ones I wanted! All I got was news and things that I didn’t really have an interest in. Now I follow the ones that I am familiar with or ones that some of my closest WP friends follow.

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      4. I have found myself lost for over an hour on Mr. Linky, reading responses! I think I like that the best because it is easy to navigate back to the main list. That really is my only pet peeve, when you click on one thing and can’t get back to where you wanted to be.

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  8. I agree with you. I make a point of reading every pingback to one of my posts or challenges, and although I don’t list participants, I appreciate my reader’s contributions. I don’t always comment on the participant’s post, but I do read them and hit the like key, it is only right if someone has taken the trouble to respond.

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  9. I follow the rule that if hosting
    1 at least do a like
    2 I always comment on each post
    3 the roll call thing is so difficult but others who do so are awesome
    If doing a challenge
    1 I expect a like to at least to acknowledge my effort
    2 I love a comment
    3 I do wonder why those who host a challenge actually do so if they don’t give a rats about those who participate. I tend to not do anything after a while and even stop following as why bother.

    Doing a challenge is usually dependent on my time or the theme offered. I don’t write often but do lots of photo challenges. I do think my addiction to challenges does need feeding 😂

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  10. Commenting and liking is a common courtesy, but I know that it can be time consuming. Recently I’ve also had the issue where I can’t track down posts. I see pingbacks but even when I search I can’t locate the post. So I think people’s reactions aren’t necessary an indication of them, but more of their lives

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      1. I don’t know, when I started blogging I was afraid to comment. I worried about others would perceive me. Even now if I don’t get a response I don’t comment again.

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      2. Hahaha, I know what you mean. Especially when I make such a specific comment. I always think “did I read that wrong and now I have upset the writer?” but I have actually had a few comments that weren’t necessarily negative but they were honest! Hahaha.

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  11. I think it’s good manners to respond and also let’s the host know he/she isn’t playing to an empty room. You are a fantastic host! I appreciate the time and effort you put into this. Also though, I find this site to be extremely non-user friendly and I’m pretty computer savvy. It may be that others haven’t figured it out yet …. Regardless – you do a fantastic job and thank you!😊

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