It seems I’m in a bloggy slump. There’s no other way to describe it.
I don’t want to write.
I don’t want to read.
I don’t want to comment.
I don’t want to document my life in photographs hoping they’ll provide the perfect visual to my clever anecdote.
I’ve been struggling lately, suffering a kind of blogger’s crisis, an existential dilemma in blog terms. If a bowling ball strikes a pin in a crowded bowling alley and nobody blogs about it, does that mean I didn’t break 100?
It’s been a year since I started blogging. In May my blogoversary squeaked by unnoticed and I started to wonder why I was still doing it – contributing my own share of noise to the vast chattering empty, clinging greedily to every little comment nugget one of my posts generated, staying up for hours trying to keep up with my Google Reader.
Somewhere along the way, I think I lost my bloggy identity. Maybe it’s the pressure to produce, the pressure to participate, to join in and be funny and hope beyond hope that someone will notice, it’s taken away some of the fun of blogging for me. It’s become too much like work. Somewhere between now and then the fun got sucked out of blogging.
I think I need to take a step back.
It doesn’t mean I’m sliding off the bloggy radar, it just means that I need to examine my motivations and figure out what I really want to put out there instead of just adding to the noise, instead of just talking to hear myself talk.
In the meantime, maybe you could share your stories. I can’t be the only one who feels like they’ve lost their blogging mojo. So many people on my Reader seem to slip off the map. Do you know any? Are you one of them? How did you get the magic back? Reignite your bloggy spark?
Maybe there’s hope for me yet.
Holy crapoli dude, people are falling off the bloggy map left and right. I’ve already told you that I’m among the ones losing my bloggy mojo but it seems like everyone is funkified these days. Maybe it’s the FL heat, the fact that you’ve got a bunch of kids home from school for the summer, the fact that a blade of grass moved on the side of the road (oh, that’s not it, that one explains why nobody can drive here in FL). I dunno. I say take it easy but don’t give up. It’ll come back to you. Don’t make me quote that Yo Gabba Gabba song. KEEP TRYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING, KEEP TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYING, Don’t give up, never give up. That show is very insightful when it comes to blogging strategies.
Even when I find I have time to blog, I sit at the computer and just feel too tired to think! I just don’t seem to have the time to blog anymore. I’ve noticed less comments lately, too. I think everyone is outside, enjoying summer!
I think it’s just summertime! I have several people who use to follow me and I them and they are no longer blogging. Some days I do some days I don’t. I blog when something comes to mind or I made something…etc. I started blogging for family that’s out of town to keep up with what we are doing and I have tried my best to stick to that. We I get tired I just take a few days off…then I end up missing it and I come right back to it!
Oh, it happens to me regularly.
And then someone says something stupid, and it all fires up again. Maybe I’m just too opinionated to stop blogging?
Hope you figure it out–I’d hate to lose you.
Blame it on the summer time! You’re surrounded with kids, more work, and less time to yourself. Of course, the mojo has to suffer. (I’m not going to ask about your sex life.
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Just post when you have something to say. Don’t feel expected to post. I used to update every day for the entire first year and then thought who the hell cares how often I update? Just me.
Measure yourself up to the big league bloggers, Dooce, Amalah. They post during the week and even then, not every day. (And you can measure yourself up to them. I find your humor to be right up there.)
I would hate to lose you in the land of blog, you’ve become one of my absolute favorites.
That happens to me too sometimes and I will let it go for a while. Then I reappear as if nothing happened.
I agree that many people slip off the map. I think bloggin sounds like a great idea at the time and then turns out to be a lot of work (like most other things). I hope you will be able to work through the funk since I enjoy coming by and I will miss you.
I’m losing my bloggy mojo as well. I’m trying to stick with it, even when I know i’m not producing my best work, but like you said it can be exhausing, trying to be funny and interesting. Really. But you rule, so don’t give up!
One, it is summer. Not a lot of people will choose hanging out on the computer over enjoying nice weather.
Two, I like to write, so I write. I’ve given up on trying to be a part of this or that, or adding the name of my blog to links. I don’t have time to contribute to every weekly whatever and it distracts me from why I started blogging — updating my family or just enjoying sharing my writing and photography.
I’ve decided to just do it for myself, so I feel like blogging, I do. If I don’t, I don’t. I only recently decided to take this course of action because I did feel like I was writing about things I didn’t care to write about just to “fit in” and draw people to my blog (I have some ads up so the extra money would be good, but at the same time I’m not going to “sell out” just for a few measly dollars a month. I have a real job for that! Har. Har.)
My advice is not to take it too seriously. Have fun with it. If it isn’t fun on a particular day or week, then don’t do it. No one is making you blog. However, I enjoy your tales and writing, so I may force you to continue.
Just kidding.
And I wanted to add, like Anne said, if you do choose to blog one day, you don’t have to apologize for not being around. There may be others who haven’t been around their blog either. Life outside the blog world happens. We all choose to put up a post when we feel like it. Lately I’ve put up too many really. Some of them I probably should have worked on or saved for later, but some of them I’m adding for me to have to look at later on.
You and I are a lot alike. I met you in the “blogosphere” last year when I began blogging around the same time (July). And interestingly, when January rolled around, I found myself less attentive to my blog. My desire to visit tons of blogs, comment, and write about “whatever” was beginning to drain. So, I have stepped back from my blog some. I post about 3 times a week to “keep it up” but I am concentrating more on my main site. For me, writing articles about girls and helping parents is my passion – not necessarily becoming the “it” girl chatting it up about nothing. Somewhere along the way I got caught up in the high school drama and now I feel I’m doing what I really love.
I think it’s wise to do the same thing for yourself. The blogosphere can be a wonderful place, but it can also be a lot like “high school.” Personally, I really enjoy reading your blog and I can completely relate to your sense of humor. I know lots of us mommies can! Good luck with your “reflection.”
Been here. Still here. Bloggy slump galore. Don’t know what it is. I’m lucky if I get ONE blog post up per week.
I’ll be peeking in every now and then to see if you got your groove back! You are one of my FAVES. I would hate to see you disappear.
Wow. I could have written this post. Selfishly, I hope you don’t stop blogging b/c every time I come here I like you more and more. You’re funny and snarky and I love it.
Sometimes it hits me that I have spent a LOT of time blogging, and for what? Vodka Mom and Dooce reign the mommy blogosphere (I enjoy their blogs, that wasn’t meant as a snipe). It’s been a good way to get in the habit of writing daily, but I already spend 8 hrs a day on the computer at my office. Why would I want to go home and sit there for more? (Apparently I do.) And commenting? When I read a post I like I’m all for it, but it’s time consuming and there are times I feel like I have to leave a comment b/c someone came to my site and isn’t that just forced virtual chit chat? Ugh.
I say take a break, even if it’s just going down to a few posts a week. I’m about to. You’ll get your mojo back, promise.
You are not alone with these blogged down feelings. I started my blog to promote my book. Ahahaha! (Hysterical laughter.) Now I do it to amuse myself, and to connect with bloggy friends I’ve made, like you, My Dear. But when I’m busy, the blog gets short shrift, and I assume bloggy friends will still be there if I only blog once or twice a week. My advice – don’t feel pressured to blog. Write when you feel like it. And you don’t have to comment on every person on your blogroll’s blog every time. Comment when you feel like it. Read other blogs when you feel like it. We should be having fun.
Bloggers just wanna have fu-un!(Sung to the tune of “Girls just Wanna have fun”) Bloggers, we wanna have fun.
I go through those periods. Sometimes I post total garbage and am totally disgusted with myself afterwards. Sometimes I just wait for inspiration to strike.
this is a really hot summer in the whole country. i think no one really feels like blogging. myself included. it might be slow but i’m confident we will all find our grooves in the fall when our schedules are more regimented. i enjoy your blog immensely, so please post something occasionally – if not regularly.
I can understand how you feel. It is hard to come up with something especially for me in the summer. I’m not interacting with some of the not so nice Moms at the kids school and just being home with the kids can be kind of boring blogwise. I would sooooo miss your posts if you did stop. Your blog and the comments you leave on our blog always makes me laugh. I know when I come to your blog I’m not going to see lots of cutesie pictures and happy fluff. I want humor and sarcasm. Oh…and zombies, of course.
Take a break, recharge, but please come back!
I’m confused. Are you saying that you don’t write solely for my viewing pleasure?
Honestly, I am experiencing what you describe more and more. For me, the biggest hurdle is commenting. “Visit my blog and then I’ll visit yours.” It is all a bit insane. There are some sites that I visit (like yours) purely because they make me laugh or I feel that I can relate in some small way.
When blogging becomes like work, it is time for a break. No one is getting paid here. The activity needs to be worth your time.
I hope that a break will be helpful to what ails you too.
xoxo
Francesca
I haven’t been where you are yet, though there are times I feel pressured to post something, when I really don’t feel like it. I have noticed a slump in the blogosphere and I really do think it’s due to summertime. Everyone’s out having fun with their kids, going on vacations and just enjoying quality time with their families. That’s what summer is all about!!
I would be sad if you stepped away for a little while because I truly enjoy your blog. Your posts always put a smile on my face, just because a lot of the time I can totally relate to what you’re saying, esp on the whole 2-yr old child level.
Then again, I do understand completely if you do need a break. Blogging should be fun….when you feel like you’re just putting stuff out there to entertain others rather than feeling fulfilled yourself, then it kinda takes the fun out of it.
I’ve had a couple temporary blogging slumps. Right now I’m in more of a commenting slump – I’m enjoying the writing I’m doing, but the reading and commenting is just feeling like work.
Uhhhhh, present company excepted, of course.
I hear you chicklet. Just take a break. I was kind of on a forced one for the past month, but I think I needed it. It can be a lot of pressure sometimes, trying to keep up and keep the readership coming. And ditto what Keely said. All ofit.
Yep. I’m with all the rest. I was just wondering yesterday if there wasn’t better ways to be spending my time. I may take a long break too. Hope to see you back though!
Oh boy have I slumped… and then got my mojo back… and then slumped again. Some days I remember every cute little thing the boys say or do and other days I can’t remember their names! Some weeks I couldnt be bothered reading, writing, commenting, being civil. Other weeks I pick back up and I post and post and post and catch up on reading what’s been going on in the super exciting blog world and comment for everyone. But I do this for ME. It’s my blog, it’s my time.
I have a huge backlog of photos I want to post at the moment but blogger is making it difficult and my brain couldnt be bothered writing words to go with them. So they sit there. Other times I have stories I want to post and I can’t find a single photo to go with it. Other times I just couldnt give a crap about blogland.
I read your blog because you make me pee myself laughing. If you stop for a while, I’ll wait for you… racing to the loo is the only exercise I get lately, your blog is keeping me looking this good!
I agree that summer is partly to blame for the lack of blogging. I barely have time to breathe let alone try to write something witty and intelligent. But, as for me, I know there is more to it. I feel the same way you do about it becoming too much pressure. I got to the point where I was checking my blog multiple times a day to see if I got any more comments. And then, if I didn’t I would feel bad and wonder why so and so didn’t comment, etc. I realized that I was writing what I thought everyone else would enjoy instead of what I wanted to write.
I don’t need that stress. I am not going to give it up completely (and I am sure I will write more in the Fall) but I am not forcing myself to find a topic to write about. And if I can’t totally keep up with other blogs, that’s ok too. I will just do what I can.
As for you, I absolutely love your blog. YOu make me laugh all the time, so I hope you don’t quit, but I understand the need to step back and reevaluate. Good luck!
Dang gurl, lol.
I get into those slumps. They suck. I let them work themselves out. Like right now…I can’t think of anything to say to you. Mostly because in addition to slumps, my memory is shot. So although I know I DID get out of the slump, I can’t for the life of me remember how .
Just stopping by to say hi and hope you had a good 4th of July weekend. Here’s hoping you get out of your froggy dump, boggy hump, foggy bump or soggy crump soon!
I started blogging in 2006 (maybe even 2005, I’m not sure as I deleted the first blog I started). Every so often I just get sick of blogging, it becomes a chore and I can’t force myself to the computer so I don’t blog for a month, sometimes several months. At these times I can’t even bring myself to read other people’s blogs. It’s like I’m on major blog overload. I’ve just learned to take a break at these times and try not to sweat it (I have a tendency to worry about losing my readers when I don’t blog). Sometimes we need some downtime, and if blogging feels like a chore, maybe that is a clue (at least it is to me, though it took me a while to figure it out) that we need to just let it be for a while. I’m sure you’ll come back to blogging when the time is right.
you of all people know where I am coming from as you’ve heard m y crazy rants on the phone a few times over but I know where you are and I have been there and am still there. I just got a quick spark and wrote again today. Don’t know when I will be back but I know that the page is not going anywhere – take your time hun, this Fl weather sucks and is making things all wonky so just know you are loved and when you are ready, we will be here and if we’re not, we are prolly on our own hiatus but will be back soon…CARINOS!!!!
Hello old friend,
If anyone knows what you are talking about it’s me. As you know I have been off the blogging map for quite some time. I am still trying to catch my family up with what has been going on around here. You know, when I started this blog, I did it with intention that only my family was going to see it. And then, sometime last year, I wanted to share and get a blogging family involved. And do you know what happened? My family hated it! They weren’t that into it. Quite frankly, even though I enjoyed it at first….I got to “meet” casey, stinky bee, you and sprite’s keeper….I just couldn’t keep up. My life is crazy busy as it is and I must have been nuts to think that I could have enough energy at the end of each day to write. So, I stopped. I stopped sharing with my family and I stopped sharing with all of you. Then after awhile I started to miss it. I don’t miss blogging every day. I miss blogging about my boys and sharing with people (mostly my family) what they’ve been up to. So, I went back as far as I ended my last post and started to play catch-up. And you know what? I’m happy again. I don’t have the pressure to post every day. I only blog about the kids again and what’s going on with us and I set my own pace. I check in with you guys when I can and I don’t feel bad not leaving comments. I still feel like I’m a part of your lives, but I don’t get too emotionally involved. So take care of you first and don’t worry about us here. We’re here….sometimes.
If you get a chance…when you get a chance, check us out….we’ve got some really good news!
OMG woman! STILL in a slump? Get your ass up and out of it already! lol. No funny kid stories? No bad driving stories? Weather? Movies? anything? Anything at ALL? lol