I've spent the better part of the past year contemplating whether or not to shut down my blog. I know that may come as a surprise to some of you, as I haven't mentioned it here before, but it has been something I've been seriously considering. It's primarily because I feel like I've lost my blogging mojo - this space has turned into an endless cycle of me bitching about being sick, bitching about classes/my insane schedule (25 classes per year!), or promising to blog more. Plus, there's the guilt - I always feel like I should be posting more often, blogging about more interesting/substantial topics, commenting on other blogs more, etc.
Last weekend, I finally had the opportunity to meet the great Maggie (from professorial confessions) and to chat with her about her decision to end her blog. What she said made a lot of sense & I recognized some of my own reasons in her explanation. Oddly enough, although blogging starts out as an enjoyable pastime, it can cause a lot of stress (feeling obligated, but not always having the time), uncertainty (feeling unsure about the persona you've created), and worry (job-wise).
On the other hand, blogging has led to some amazing opportunities, both personally and professionally. When I started blogging (back in 2004), I never imagined that I would meet other bloggers who would eventually become some of my closest friends. Out of my 264 facebook friends, approximately 45 of them are bloggers (not counting those I knew before they started blogging), and I've met at least half of the group in person (and I'm nowhere near done meeting people - in fact, I have another meet-up next month!).
How does this all relate? Well, before last weekend, I was definitely leaning toward shutting it down, but after an awesome night out with a group of amazing people (all of whom I met directly because of blogging), I decided I'm not going to stop. I don't want to leave the community I've been a part of for the last 4.5 years... I want to continue reading, writing, learning, growing, and meeting new people (as cheesy as that sounds). There is just so much awesomeness in the blogworld and I'm not ready to give it up.
However, I do feel that I need to make some sort of change. The move to the new site was a step in the right direction - now I just need to get myself together and get out of the blogging slump. In order to do this, I've decided to clean out my draft graveyard. I went though the hundreds of drafts I had started & never finished over the years and whittled it down to 90 possible posts - be prepared for some random topics to pop up during the next couple of months. :)
So yes, I'm back and am recommitted to blogging. I promise not to bitch about any sicknesses anytime soon... unless I get food poisoning again because it's just so awful it must be blogged. :)
16 comments:
I think about shutting my blog down pretty much every day (thanks for visiting!). Sounds like blogging has been an amazing experience. Glad you are continuing!
Glad you're continuing! I'm a relatively new reader and I've enjoyed exploring your postings.
Ending a blog is a big decision. Don't make it without careful thought.
My first year was one which I didn't get any comments, but I kept posting and eventually people came and they commented.
Love ya, babe. Glad you're sticking around.
(ha ha... my captcha is "baderses"... we ARE bad-erses!)
I am glad you are still blogging. It's hard to let go of something that has been such a great experierence.
Don't be afraid to blog about being sick. It happens!
For me, I've had to cut back on my Facebook time as it has interfered with blogging.
I know what you mean when you just want to stop but I am glad that you decided to stick around.
I'm really happy you're going to keep blogging. I love reading your posts--you always have great things to say.
K
I'm so glad you're sticking around. You were one of the first bloggers I read, and I would miss you just terribly. I guess then we'd have to meet in real life, eh?
:-)
I'm glad to hear you'll still be around these parts. Yet, I do understand your thoughts. I've considered that same thing lately, but like you, I like this community. I like having this space and I'm doing my best to blog, mainly about really random stuff, on a daily basis. I haven't done so well this week, but it is what it is.
I'm not offended by your posts about work or being sick. It is what is happening in your world. Don't feel bad about letting us know. That's what we're here for! If you can't bitch about it here, where can you go? :)
I know what you're saying -- I used to post 3-6 times A DAY! I felt I had so much to say and my blog was a good place to drop these words/thoughts.
Then I slumped a little bit. Work, personal stuff, and so on, then the guilt of obligation, and well, you end up contemplating whether or not keeping the blog is worth it.
But I decided to stick to it and I'm glad I did. I don't post as often as I used to, but I do enjoy it. The brain dump (lol) can be very therapeutic for me! :)
See you soon! :)
I'm glad you decided to stay. Don't underestimate the value of having a forum in which to bitch, moan and whine. It's cathartic and therefore good for the soul.
Seems like many of us are going through this. Glad you've decided to figure it out and stay with us!
I've almost shut my blog down countless times. But then I keep deciding I'm not ready yet.
I have noticed that the trend in blogging now is to post less often. Some bloggers who used to post every day now post about once a week. Their readers get used to that, and it's fine.
I'm comfortable with my own decision to stop blogging (for now), but I'm glad you're continuing! And I love the idea of clearing out your drafts, and re-energizing your blogging mojo :)
--Maggie
I've thought about this, too, since there's so much I'm doing right now that can't be blogged at all. Glad you're continuing!~
I think blogging is like the rest of life, sometimes we're 'in the zone' and sometimes we're not. You and I have been blogging around the same length of time, during that period I've been the sassy, independent single woman, the overstressed, overworked career woman, the boring 'Mommy' blogger and the sporatic, senseless updates blogger. During the times when I have considered shutting down Princess Girly Girl I remind myself that I started blogging for me, not to entertain the masses. All of these phases I've gone through were due to places I've been in life, and my posts have reflected that. Those were the feelings I felt I needed to 'get out of my brain'.
I've finally stopped feeling 'performance anxiety' about how my readers view my posts, and I'm finding that I'm getting back to that sassy single woman phase again. Blog for you...we'll still be reading. :)
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