This week I read an interesting article on blog fatigue over at
Shrinking Violets Promotions which coincided with my own feelings of blog fatigue. When I checked to see how long I've been posting here, I was surprised to see that it's been 2 1/2 years already. At the same time, the list of blogs I follow has also grown tremendously. Thankfully I got dialed into Google Reader a while back which helps. But lately my enthusiasm for blog reading has waned. I've become overwhelmed with trying to keep up with all the posts on my blogroll. And so I've been leaving fewer comments.
As for this blog, I finished the "Partners on the Path" series (love you all dearly!) and have been posting fewer author interviews. Which leaves me with this one feature, "The Most Interesting Thing". Posting once a week feels good for me.
What about you? What are your thoughts on blog fatigue? How do you manage? Any tips or suggestions? I'd love to hear from you.
Blog fatigue is inevitable. Before the The Author-In-Training, I blogged about knitting and cooking for about five years.
ReplyDeleteThe blogging cycle goes in waves. There is a surge, then an ebb. But those who really enjoy doing it, or have it as part of their routine, remain.
I believe a regular blog schedule is a good idea, whether it's weekly, bi-weekly, semi-weekly or monthly. As long as it's regular and consistent.
I'm with you. I'm gunna host #wipmadness this month, but otherwise I only plan to blog weekly on my own. I realized I spent about 140 hours blogging rather than writing. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI have a low-key attitude. I don't feel like I "have to" blog, or that I have to be brilliant every time. I view it as a place to talk about what's on my mind and keep my connections with other people. Occasionally I have special features that are more work, but I don't feel pressure to have special features all the time. I figure if a person gets one chuckle, or one "aha" moment, or one good book recommendation, from a blog post, that's enough.
ReplyDeleteI used to post more often, and I visited tons of blogs. Now I post once a week and I visit when I can. People are nice and they understand. Last fall, I took a break for two or three months so I could keep my head down and write. I found I missed interacting with bloggy friends and came back refreshed.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great weekend, Angleina!
I just saw how I spelled your name, Angelina! Sorry about that. Finger muscle spasm... ;)
ReplyDeleteI appreciate all your thoughts. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know the feeling well. And it does seem like I've been reading similar sentiments along the blogging trail I follow. People questioning the value of it, asking if blogging is passe, would their time be better spent on other marketing pursuits. I definitely know that when I'm feeling down or discouraged, it's way harder to blog and that's unfortunately mostly how I've been feeling of late. It's just part of the ebb and flow of the writing life, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI guess I handle blogs as I do magazines or newspapers; I read headlines that interest me, follow basic "stories" as they unfold here or there, and check in on my favorites now and then to see what's up — but I never try to read EVERYTHING. For my own blog I've really loved how the disciplined practice of posting once or (at most) twice a week has evolved into something that I think is sincerely helping my writing and editing skills grow. I actually quit using anything like google reader because I found it harder to edit my choices of what to read. Instead I bookmark blogs I like and check in now and then as well as using RSS to scan headlines occasionally.
ReplyDeleteI guess the key, for me, with blogging is to remember that editing is not only a good practice for writing. It's also a good practice in time management.
I do once a week too. Good to visit your blog again!
ReplyDelete