Did I mention that I didn’t mean to take a “blog-cation”? Then why, you may be wondering, has it taken so long for me to get back to blogging?
I’ve been asking myself that very question. In part, it’s because I was waiting for life to slow down enough to get it “right”—you know, write a bunch of blog posts ahead of time, get a schedule in place, and so on. For some reason, that never happened. Perhaps my goal is too lofty. I want a schedule; I want to post regularly and well; I want to engage with others online; and, since I can’t seem to find the time to do all those things, in my all-or-nothing way, I’m not blogging at all.
I think that part of the issue is that I don’t want to give some nice speech about how I’ve been so busy, but NOW I’m back to my old blogging ways–and then fall down on the job.
The simplest answer would be to stop blogging, of course. But I don’t want to. The break was nice, but after a bit, I kept thinking of stories I wanted to tell and noticing posts and articles I wanted to share. I simply don’t have time to blog as much as I was blogging earlier this year, not if I’m also working on creative writing and working on income-generating types of writing.
I don’t have the perfect answer, but then, perfect anythings—especially answers—seem to be rare. I will blog as time and inspiration coincide, and I have no idea, yet, how often that will be. Not very often for a bit, because as I start getting a little time for myself after months of craziness, I’m finding that it’s time to return to my languishing novel.
Photo Courtesy of mrsdkrebs on Flickr Creative Commons
Otherwise, I’ll never get any sleep!
I’ve struggled with this too, but I’ve mainly used my blog to connect with other writers and stay in the loop on YA fiction, so I maintain regular posts for that. Even if I’m just posting reviews of books I’ve read. Sometimes I’m envious of more dedicated bloggers, but I try to just show support to them and keep up with the overall community when I can. I suppose it’s all what you make of it
I know! The green-eyed monster rears its head in my house occasionally, too, but I keep reminding myself that I don’t have to do a good job at both writing fiction and blogging. When blogging started replacing my fiction writing, I could tell there was a problem!
My problem is the other way about…my novel has been languishing in a folder, and I’ve been concentrating more on blogging instead.
I’ve decided to make November the month to ‘put my writing first’ and I’ll be trying to get back to the novel. Good luck, I did wonder what had happened to you
Yay, you! I’m trying to do that this month as well–put the novel first, that is. After months of having WAAAAY too much freelance work I feel like I’m starting to figure out how to tame my schedule a little. That said, I still worked through my creative writing time to finish a paying project last night. I guess it’s all a process!
Good luck on that novel!
Cheryl:
I was SO glad to see your new blog posts. For months I’ve kept your blog up on my home page, but was sad every time I saw no new posts. As a writer/blogger myself I know exactly what your struggles are with time to blog regularly. Part of my writers’ association is a group of six ladies, including me, who annually or bi-annually go on writing retreats together. One of them is a Supreme Blogger: one who keeps herself to a steady schedule of posting as well as writing her trilogy and homeschooling her daughter. I never seem to be able to manage more than one big project at a time!
The key, perhaps,is to blog as often as humanly possible but not to obsess about it when you can’t. It personally doesn’t bother me if another blogger states “I’ll be posting irregularly for now”…then I know not to keep looking every day/week, etc.
So brava! to you and welcome back!
Sarah Gunning Moser
Cheryl:
I was SO glad to see your new blog posts. For months I’ve kept your blog up on my home page, but was sad every time I saw no new posts. As a writer/blogger myself I know exactly what your struggles are with time to blog regularly.
I am a part of a writers’ association and participate in a sub-group of six ladies, who annually or bi-annually go on writing retreats together. One of them is a Supreme Blogger: she keeps herself to a steady schedule of posting as well as writing her trilogy and homeschooling her daughter. I never seem to be able to manage more than one big project at a time! But I admire her and draw inspiration from her nonetheless.
The key, perhaps,is to blog as often as humanly possible but not to obsess about it when you can’t. It personally doesn’t bother me if another blogger states “I’ll be posting irregularly for now”…then I know not to keep looking every day/week, etc.
So “Brava!” to you, and welcome back!
Sarah Gunning Moser
Hi Sarah, thank you so much for the lovely note! I had no idea this site made it to someone’s home page. You just made my day
I know you are right about the not obsessing part…it’s just hard not to do! I really enjoy blogging and connecting online, so I get bummed when I can’t meet my personal standard for how often and how well I would like to post. I’m taking a deep breath, though, and allowing myself to do a little less. And now that I’ve had a break, it’s nice to discover that I still enjoy this blogging process–I know I’m here because I want to be, not out of any sense of obligation.
I’ve gotten a lot of joy out of your site as well. I found it when I came back to blogging and started my current blog back in April of this year.
As I started that blog, I declared it an experiment hopeful that my readers would learn as much from my misses as they did from my hits.
This summer a virus seems to have hit most of the bloggers that I admire and follow. I believe I went nearly two months without a post to my own blog although I was busy with two group blogs at that time.
I finally came up with a editorial calendar that I’m comfortable with yet always and forever tweaking. I have a theme for each day of the week, but I have a goal of only posting one to three times a week myself and welcoming guest bloggers to fill in on one of my themes if they feel so moved.
I think this is something that my readers enjoy, and it is something for which I don’t have to apologize.
Glad you are posting. We will take you as you come.
I’ve gotten a lot of joy out of your site as well. I found it when I came back to blogging and started my current blog back in April of this year.
As I started that blog, I declared it an experiment hopeful that my readers would learn as much from my misses as they did from my hits.
This summer a virus seems to have hit most of the bloggers that I admire and follow. I believe I went nearly two months without a post to my own blog although I was busy with two group blogs at that time.
I finally came up with a editorial calendar that I’m comfortable with yet always and forever tweaking. I have a theme for each day of the week, but I have a goal of only posting one to three times a week myself and welcoming guest bloggers to fill in on one of my themes if they feel so moved.
I think this is something that my readers enjoy, and it is something for which I don’t have to apologize.
Glad you are posting. We will take you as you come.
Thank you! So glad you stopped by!