A post over at Borepatch's place prompted a response from me which began to take on a life of its own. Since that's his blog, and this one's mine, its more proper to put my thoughts here.
Go read his post, and then please come back. If you'd rather, try this: it seems he's been feeling "weary, stale, flat and unprofitable" ... a feeling I most definitely share, and have been feeling for some time. If you're one of the few long-time visitors, I'm sure you've noticed that my posts have been shorter than of old.
I've been feeling the same 'staleness' for awhile now. One thing I did recently was to remove Sitemeter from my page. Not surprisingly, I'm happier without it, and can go back to writing whenever/whatever I feel moved to contribute. And not to, for the inverse reason.
It works for me, but that doesn't mean I won't stop writing altogether, down the road. I finished my book today, and a great weight is lifted off my shoulders. Perhaps I've turned a corner, but only time will tell. I can't quite imagine giving it up altogether, but ask me again in a month.
Cheers!
John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
10 comments:
> I finished my book today
Congrats!
Mine is about 90% done - hope to finish it up within a few weeks.
http://tjic.com/writing/
A lot of times I'm just phoning it in, don't feel inspired. I try to go by the rule of posting at least once per day, just so the readers have reason to keep returning. I usually let them know if I'm not feeling up to it, however.
As I told Borepatch, it's YOUR BLOG!
Do it for your reasons - or don't.
Of course, I'm new at this compared to both or you.
And, I sometimes have blocks.
But, I post daily, and keep a pad handy to jot down future subject ideas. Mine currently has 18 not yet used.
gfa
I've had the same thought cross my mind as you about removing the meters, Rev. Paul.
Take the meters out. If you choose to Blog, do so. I enjoy your posts. If you don't want to do it, I understand. My Blog is rather mundane and lacks the snark or wit or skill with the written word others display. No matter. This HAS been worth it to me! I would have never "met" so many great people without this medium. You I consider one of them.
Those meters were offered to me by someone - and after a little contemplation, I decided against it. First, I didn't want yet another stat just to get hung up on. How many people are reading? Where are they from? But more importantly - I didn't want to break the veil of anonymity those who come to my site have. Their location, their IP address...that's really none of my business. Even if they don't know the stat counter...I know it is there.
I chose not to know - and I think I'm much happier with my blog without it.
I never got into the thing about visits drive the posts. Oh, I've got sitemeter on my page, but I never check on it. Soimetimes months will go by before I bother to check on the visitor reports. The comments may all come from a small clique of friends but I know that there are others and relatives in the four corners of the US who check in to see what I'm up to and where I may be going.
As many have said, I write my blog for me. Sometimes there are exciting things to say, sometimes it's (sorta) routine. If even I get bored with the routine, I don't write.THat's okay, too.
Congratulations on finishing the book. That is a huge accomplishment and you did a great job with it.
Blog what you want, when you want. Me, I am working on curmudgeon. I only check my stats when it occurs to me, and then only in order to point and say "someone from the Faa checked my blog! Eek! This is why I stay anonymous!"
"Being a professional is doing all the things you love doing on the days you don't feel like doing them"
"Being an amateur means never having to say you're sorry"
So are you writing for you and simply willing/desirous of sharing your thoughts with others...or do you write because of an obligation of some sort to others?
I read you because I enjoy your writing, long or short. In a sense, you're my preacher. But I don't pay you, you don't owe me anything.
I'll keep dropping by while your site is open. (I even poke into TJIC's old site...just to mess with the counters)
If you take time off ... well I wish you a pleasant interlude and hope to catch up again with you sometime.
Q
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