State of the blog: a meta post
So you've probably noticed I haven't been posting much lately. There's no specific reason for that, really; I just haven't felt like I have as much to say, somehow, which kind of bothers me. Something about having shifted from still-learning mode to full-time job mode, or possibly it's because a lot of my linkblogging and briefer thoughts have gotten siphoned off into Twitter. Or maybe it's just that there's been less posting among the community of bloggers I started out with. Or perhaps all blogs have a finite lifespan; mine turned six in July, which is verging on elderly as blogs go.
I'm trying to get back into writing more, because I miss it, even when I can't think of anything to write about. But I've also been looking at my (steadily dropping) visitor stats and wondering how many people are still reading, and if anyone besides me is getting anything out of it.
I still like having a blog as an impetus to think and get words out, and I don't think this one is going anywhere anytime soon. Ideally, I'd be working more on various writing projects in my spare time, and I'd also manage to post about them. (I suspect at least some of my current blog-angst has nothing to do with my posting schedule and everything to do with my motivation to pursue interesting projects, and my fear of becoming boring now that I'm starting to settle down.) But I'm a bit betwixt and between at the moment, and wondering how much of my energy to devote to blogging. So I thought I'd say something about it, and if you, Readers, have any advice on reviving a flagging writing habit, or dealing with the haunting fear of being dull—or if there's something you think I should consider writing about—I would love to hear.
Ah, it comes and goes, I find. I think most of us old-timers have found our visitor stats dropping (and of course they always drop when you post less) — facebook & twitter now pull in most of those people who used to show up lonesome on the net & suddenly found there was someone to talk to. For a while we were surfing on the crest of a wave, but it’s passed us. Just us deep-sea critters out here now 🙂
Dale’s words are wise. I have noticed a lot of people with blog angst lately. I myself have only been blogging for a year, and I have been worrying that I am getting boring. I’m hoping it’s just a phase. I can’t believe that twitter and facebook could have the same creative possibility as a blog, where one chooses exactly one’s own format and content. We really write for ourselves, I think. I make art (etchings, etc.) as well as my attempts at writing. I learned long ago that I would not always make a good piece of art. But when I selected some of my best to put on my blog I was pleased that I had kept going.
I’d have to agree with Dale, too, though I find Facebook much less satisfying than blogging. Perhaps I’m just wordy, but I find it hard to say much worth reading on Facebook.
Perhaps when it comes to blogging that less is better if you really try to say something important to yourself. Obviously some of your old followers continue to check in regularly (thanks to RSS feeds(.
I’m still reading, Amanda! But it’s understandable that momentum will flag in the face of other projects and ideas and work and life. Now that my course blog is just a personal blog, my energy has definitely diminished: I was writing long posts with lots of links before, perhaps because I thought I had a captive audience at the time (some of the students in the seminar), but now I’m barely able to post a link to some news story every couple weeks. So it goes. But as long as your blog lives, it lives happily among my bookmarks. 🙂
I’d really love to hear more about the work-life balance, and what your work is actually like. Hard to write about maybe… You’ve got a LOT of work to do if you intend to become boring. I don’t see it happening EVER, let alone soon!
Ah, I’m glad I’m not the only one. I’m glad you’re all still out there. And I like the wave/undersea analogy, Dale.
Jodi: Thanks! I’ve always been cautious about blogging the specifics of my work life — not that my job is classified or anything, but I’ve heard too many warnings about publicizing even fairly innocuous details about one’s coworkers and work environment. But I do have a few posts in my head about the joys of selecting, now that I think about it.
Keep writing!! This is one of the blogs I count on. Your thoughts stimulate my thoughts. I hate the mindlessness of Facebook and Twitter.
I’m often looking for new posts in the world wide web about this topic. Thx.