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Welcome to our weekly BlogAnon meeting where we confess a particular blogging sin and turn to you for support, suggestions and that blogging bond so we know we're not all alone. Don't be shy. Read along and let us know if you identify with us this week.
A couple of months ago, I discussed Guest Posts in one of our BlogAnon posts. I had intended it as a way to share my opinions on them, but also to invite any of our dear readers to volunteer for providing a guest post right here. No one took the bait that would have allowed us to be lazy and not have to come up with a post idea - smart folks, you readers!
What it did lead to however was an invite to me to provide a guest post for one of our favorite folks, Matty @ Matty Thoughts. I took one of Matty's thought provoking posts about defining one's legacy and sought to answer it through my post. You can read it now if you like - it is up over on his blog as we speak.
But this post isn't all about self-promotion - though that is what guest posts are all about. I believe strongly in their power to introduce yourself to a new audience and build new blogging relationships. However, this post is more about Matty.
I know Matty. I met him. In person. I've shared that story before here too. He is a very cool guy. He writes fun poetry in his head while he mows his lawn - that John Deere is one of his favorite escapes! He found blogging due to a softball injury that ripped up his knee and caused him to be homebound for an extended period of time. The blogosphere turned him into an adventurous cook for his just as cool wife, Mary. I got to meet her too. We have bonded over Faulkner and Matty tells me she is quite the gardening expert so I will be picking her brain about how to grow more than weeds. Matty and I have bonded over baseball and blogging. And photography - he has a photo blog too featuring his terrific visions of his part of the world.
So when Matty fell off the face of the blogosphere I was more than bummed. He just went into blogging hibernation for a while. I tapped on his e-mail door and asked him what the heck was going on. I have a habit of doing that with blogging friends that I make. It seems Matty had gotten busy with his real life and just didn't feel all that much like blogging. I had this exact same conversation just this week with another blogging buddy, Cardiogirl. She stopped posting without warning and left me without anything to chuckle about for weeks at a time. So I e-mailed her too to make sure she was doing well and simply avoiding the blogosphere for happy reasons, as was the case.
I wasn't trying to guilt either of them back into blogging for my entertainment purposes, I just wanted to be sure that my friends didn't need something from me to help them through things. Matty has returned to blogging and has found his groove again. He jump started himself by overhauling the look of his blog. This got him back into the world of blogging without actually having to blog. Then he got excited about things again and eventually made his return a short time later. Part of his new blog overhaul was a desire to incorporate the voices of those who come to visit him. Thus the guest post.
We all go through blogging funks. Sometimes it is because we can't think of anything to say. Sometimes we have too much to say and it hurts to get it out. Other times we are ill, or disrupted by technical issues, or would just rather play with our pets, our kids, our friends. But don't ever stop because you don't think anyone out there cares. Whether you realize it or not, the blogosphere introduces you to people who like what you are all about. They may be too shy to look you up when you go away, but they do miss the virtual visit. On behalf of the shy bloggers, keep up the good work. Take a break, recharge, and then come back. Blogging is good for the soul. Not to mention the fact that I have nothing to read during my lunch break without you.
What do you do when blogging kicks your ass? Have you ever gone on blogging hiatus? What brought you back? What do you do when a favorite blogger stops blogging?
15 comments:
I sometimes email bloggers and ask if they are okay and get no answer and one wonders.... I can see going into hibernation, but people actually do care, although I can see not having the mental energy even to let anyone know. And yet when I'm not around for some reason or other I think no one will notice, but Margot (one of your Quirky Girls!) does - yay for Margot - it makes me feel very good!
When blogging kicks my ass, I try to remember why I started blogging in the first place and then try to get back to that place where I am excited to write my next blog post.....or I read something that inspires me to get back up and running and out of that blogging funk.
Yes, I have gone on a blogging hiatus and have done so more than once. Three things brought me back.....1. the longing to achieve my long-term dreams and aspirations, which my blog is a huge part of that and also 2. Other bloggers including you. There are a few people that I knew read my blog at least every now and then, if not frequently so I felt like I was doing them a disservice by going on a hiatus so when I found your movie meme, it was right in line with my interests and career pursuits so it gave me something to do and made me adhere to a schedule of sorts. Also, 3. The news brought me back, particularly stuff like Netflix's service changes and the Sony CD plant that closed in New Jersey.....those were occurrences that I felt strongly about and how else to get people talking about those news reports than blogging?!
When a favorite blogger stops blogging, I stop reading their blog. Sometimes, I comment on their most recent post to see if they will notice it and return and if they don't, then I start reading their older posts, just in case I missed any and I comment on those as well. I'm not one to contact bloggers and ask them "where the hell are you"? LOL so I just take a more subtle approach as an active reader via the comments section.
These days, I've been able to make some cool blogging buddies though and if they ever went on a hiatus, I would email them for sure!
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I totally did not come here for this meeting today, lol.
I stopped by to notify you that The Bumbles Blog has WON the Overlord Award!
You can pick it up on my "Overjoyed with the Overlord Award" post:
The Madlab Post
Believe it or not, I'm still alive and kicking. You know I've been in a blogging funk for a few months...dragging myself out for a post here and there. For a while I was even keeping up with my buddies without posting anything myself, but that seems to have gone by the wayside, too. Maybe I'll try the whole redesign thing, or maybe it's just time to put up a new header. I haven't even been getting out to take any pictures...our weather has been ghastly until the last few days. (I hope you guys weren't affected by the tornadoes!).
I guess I've been feeling like I don't really have anything interesting to say these days. Bleh. Mostly I'm just lazy. I will try my darnedest to get myself out of the non-blogging morass I've put myself in.
Hope you're having a good start to summer!
that's the thing I like best about blogging . . . the friends. But sometimes life happens and blogging can be neglected. I've found that people who are interested in you as a person just show up when you get back online. It's a great community.
Kaye, I completely agree with you. Friends, whether online or off are one of the great rewards in life. Back when I was working I saw loads of people every day. When I retired I missed that until I started blogging. Now I check in every day with all my blogging friends and I like that.
There are days when I'm not online much. Sometimes it's because other stuff is happening or we are traveling or whatever. There are a couple of times when I took a week or so off with no posts. (Once was when my mother died and I just couldn't think or write.) Usually I put something up on my blog so others know where I am or what's going on.
I also like writing my posts in advance so I have the opportunity to be gone without missing a beat. I have an upcoming week's trip to Disneyland and all the regular posts will be there. I just won't be about on other people's blogs, visiting. Maybe I'm just an obsessive blogger but that's how it works for me.
Kaye, I completely agree with you. Friends, whether online or off are one of the great rewards in life. Back when I was working I saw loads of people every day. When I retired I missed that until I started blogging. Now I check in every day with all my blogging friends and I like that.
There are days when I'm not online much. Sometimes it's because other stuff is happening or we are traveling or whatever. There are a couple of times when I took a week or so off with no posts. (Once was when my mother died and I just couldn't think or write.) Usually I put something up on my blog so others know where I am or what's going on.
I also like writing my posts in advance so I have the opportunity to be gone without missing a beat. I have an upcoming week's trip to Disneyland and all the regular posts will be there. I just won't be about on other people's blogs, visiting. Maybe I'm just an obsessive blogger but that's how it works for me.
It does mean so much to know that people care when you suddenly stop blogging for whatever reason.
I have been going through a whole bunch of issues at once and basically stopped doing anything with my other blog. (other author had tech problems, I already had a blog, am sick, then my laptop crapped out, etc)Rather than list all of those excuses in a blog post, I just decided to make a full stop for a bit. The comments left and emails I received helped me focus on just what my goals were and sure made me feel less alone in the universe.
You know, my family always laughs at me for treating my online buddies like real buddies. Thing is, when I disappear, they are the ones that call, email, facebook stalk, etc. They keep at it until I surrender and ask for help. That is the true meaning of friendship in my book.
Molly, you are too kind. But thank you.
I could feel my blogging hiatus coming on long before I ever took it. I was losing interest, plain and simple. Although I did read and comment from time to time, I think I went 2 or 3 months over the winter without posting. So after a few emails and a phone call from blog friends, I jumped back in with a new look on my blog. Even still, I sometimes find it difficult to come up with posts that I think people will have any interest in.
When I notice that friends haven't blogged in a long time, I drop them an email to let them know I've noticed and to ask them if everything is okay without sounding nosey.
Funny that you mention poetry. I haven't come up with a good one in a while, and I will just happen to be mowing the lawn tomorrow. On John Deere. Maybe he will inspire me.
I've had a few in the past disappear and now, I have a few who are doing the hiatus thing. I sure hope they come back because I miss their "voice".
Sometimes I feel like just taking a break, but then I would really miss it. Blogging is cathartic for me and I like the exchange. Sometimes what gets to me is not having the time to get around to the blogs I like. There just isn't enough hours in the day. I think that wears me down.
I've sent the email as well, encouraging blog friends to return. Sometimes I think they just need a jolt.
I have taken several brief breaks from blogging for various reasons. Some breaks were unplanned, but life just got overwhelming. Some breaks are because I have nothing worth saying (then again, sometimes I blog even WHEN I have nothing worth saying). Some breaks are because I'm in a bad mood and just don't want to put out the effort.
Whatever the reason, it usually only takes a few days - week tops - before I'm curious about the blogosphere and can't wait to get back.
I am a terrible emailer. I have 2 accounts, 1 personal and 1 for the blog and there are over 600 messages in each one that need attention. So, why am I here commenting? It's so much more fun!
I find it more fun to go through my Reader, but then it takes me awhile to realize that a loved blogger has been away. One of my first blogger friends stopped blogging and I still go by every 6 months or so and leave a message begging her to come back :)
I've only met one blogger face-to-face (twice) and wish I had the time to seek out other area bloggers.
I have not met any bloggers face-to-face. My husband would probably freak out thinking I was going to be kidnapped or something. He's very big into safety and the world is full of crazies!
Anyway, blogging can sometimes feel like a chore, or that no one is listening, or life gets in the way. Whatever the reason, I do try to post something every now and agin to let people know I am alive. On the other hand, it feels great to totally diconnect for a day. Nothing against my friends, but I have always been one of those people who could shut themselves up for a day and not see another soul. I like my solitude.
Rambling again, it's good to know there are people out there that care. THanks Molly :)
I love blogging but unfortunately work gets in the way. (I work at night after bedtime, which is also my reserved time for blogging) sadly, hubby hasn't won the lottery yet, as he promised, so my poor blog has been pushed to the back burner. I actually put out a call today to a few long time fellow bloggers/readers asking if anyone would be interested in guest posting. I've got one solid confirmation. I count myself lucky. :-D I'm really digging your blog! and Matty? He is all sorts of awesome, isn't he?
I have hiatuses every now and again. Usually due to life getting in the way. I get really sad when a blogger whose blog I really enjoy stops blogging. That happened a lot when I first started blogging. I would find these really cool blogs and then a few months later they would disappear. I definitely had a knack in the early days for finding blogs that were in their last days. That hasn't happened in a while though.
Look at that, I'm only eight months behind in reading and commenting on blogs. I've been feeling that funk for quite a while.
What's interesting to me is that I tend to drag my feet on replying to comments. Not good for business but where I'm at these days.
So how have you been doing these last eight months?
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