Blog BURNOUT
I am so farkin’ burned out on blogging it’s not even funny. I’m not even talking writer’s block, I’m talking burnout. There’s plenty of stuff to write about (thanks, Mac, for handling it!), I just don’t feel like writing. I’d rather read and comment. NO, this doesn’t mean I’m quitting, I’m just bored with this shi’ite and I’m seriously questioning why I bother with it. I’d get a LOT more sleep, I’d get to read actual books more, and to be honest, I’d probably just take better care of myself in general–and maybe, actually, have a LIFE.
Somebody please remind me why I do this shi’ite.
Watch, there won’t be a single comment on this post from anyone who has some advice other than “take a break.” “Taking a break” doesn’t do any good anyway–I’ve tried it before. I want to know how bloggers with a fairly consistent readership deal with this.
I’m just looking for a way to spark my interest, because the things that interest me are honestly done better elsewhere, and when others are doing it, it means I don’t have to.
PLEASE, for God’s sake, this is not a pity party. I’m not fishing for compliments or pity. Don’t make me gag.
Thanks a lot, Clay, you’re going to get me disqualified!
dingo says:
You are not the only one. You probably have a much larger readership, so the pressure for you to produce is greater. I get burned out from time to time also and am constantly asking why do I do it. I probably don’t change a single mind and it is easy to get lost in the war of information/misinformation.
But in the end, I still do it because I learn alot from both the bloggers I agree with and the ones I disagree with. And I do it because if I don’t, I can’t complain about how what I think needs to be said doesn’t get said.
So buck up little camper… you’ll make it up that hill.
tommy says:
There are several that do what I do much better (WuzzaDem immediately comes to mind), but I have finally decided that if my role here is to provide the measuring stick against which he is graded, then so be it. But then the name of my blog kinda summarizes it all doesn’t it?
But then I have a small readership so I can do whatever I want and no one notices.
Have you tried cat blogging? It’s quite helpful.
Vinnie says:
I’ve taken Rusty’s advice to heart:
“Dude, it’s just a blog.”
“The blog will be there tomorrow.”
Failing that, you could go out, get drunk, and wake up the next morning next to some trucker named Barney.
That’s what I’d do if I were single, only it would be Bertha, not Barney.
TheOtherBill says:
You do it because you can.
You do it because you feel you have something worth saying.
You do it for me.
(OK, whodafug am I?) Nobody, everybody. I am people who come here because you can make some sense out of our confused thoughts, shed some light on something we’re not to clear about. People who come here to read and say “You go, girl!”, likewise the people who come here and say “what is this right-wing-nutcase-B*** talking about?”. Because whether you know it or not, we need you. Sure there are others who can do it, some better. a whole lot that are worse. I have 7 blogs in my RSS reader. You’re one of them - the fourth I think. And I’m a fussy SOB. I appreciate what you do, I’ve even hit your Amazon tip jar (and I’ve only done that for two bloggers, ever).
That said, I understand burnout. You’ve chosen some good people (go Mac) to offload a bit of the pressure, so lay back and read.. but please keep commenting!
I (we) need you, even if you don’t write every word, to at least know your opinions om what others say. I don’t believe a lot of what I read, not until I get to build up, through experience, a certain amount of trust and respect for someone else’s opinions (Which, BTW, was how I found this blog in the first place). I appreciate what you do. I wish I could do it, but as you can see, my talents do not lay in the direction of the written word.
I hope you can read what I’m trying to say, no matter how poorly I may have put it.
Don’t go away, we need you. Please.
Feisty says:
Just post like one or two things a day only. That’s what I do. No problems getting laid and no problems with burnout.
MCPO Airdale says:
How about a daily post on your hobbies? You could write about tieing flies, making golf clubs or customizing handguns.
E-r-r, those are your hobbies, right?? :oops:
J Rob says:
Been going through the same thing myself the last month or so. Hang in there, Beth.
Clay says:
I’m a relative newbie but here are my suggestions…
1. Change your topic.
2. Get more help and be the boss of the blog or editor.
Hardcore Conservative says:
Turn the computer off for a few day don’t even check your e-mail:sad:
Jeff H says:
Vary your timing and your subject matter. Lay off the politics for a couple weeks, post some funny or just totally mundane stuff. Your readers love you and stick with you.
Just my 25 cents’ worth…
The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns says:
OTA and Friends
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dougrc says:
For gawds sake, quit your bitchin’! If you’ve got something to say, then say it; if not, don’t! The world’s not gonna end if you go off and hide a while, or even if you quit all together. You are funny and entertaining as all gitout, but Beth darlin’, give yourself (and us) a break! Only the mentally unbalanced should be doing the same dang thing day after day after day! Take your little one and go play…until you’re tired of that and can’t wait to come back and tell us ’bout it. You’ve already laid it all on the line for us once when you joined the service, you don’t owe us anything else.
Howard Larson says:
Sounds like the mission statement needs refreshing. You had one, maybe not written out, when you started. If time is an issue, cut back. Don’t write until something is just busting to get out.
Larry says:
I’ll tell you what, you quit when I quit :cool:
RTO Trainer says:
I don’t know. I “lost my voice” after I came home from Afghanistan. The elections got me going again for a while, but I’m back to letting weeks go by with no new posts.
I go back to Afghanistan next year and I’ll probably just fake it until then.
There’s plenty I care about and write about (I’m working on some articles for Army Communicator) but most folks dont’ relate to that stuff.
Preston Taylor Holmes says:
You do it for Harriet.
No, wait…
You do it for Natalee.
No, um, hang on…
You do it for Hewitt. Lleyton Hewitt, Australian tennis star.
No, that’s wrong too.
You do it because you give a shi’ite about the direction of this country, which is overrun with liberal pussies and that pisses you off.
Just take some time off, then come back and take somebody’s head off. Mac will steer the ship.
l. says:
Since clearly taking a break is not working- perhaps guest blogging at a few dozen other places will work. And you could go on a vacation here, leaving it to others to guest post at. :lol:
The Commissar says:
well, this is interesting.
dont be a slave to your schtick (or theme or whatever) or your readers.
How’s this? Do your reading and commenting. Then come back and go thru your browser history. Then blog/link to 5 or 10 of the items you read. Dont worry about adding your brilliance to them. Just blog ‘em.
Wild Thing says:
Beth, I am a new Blogger so what I say may not matter that much compared to someone that has done this for a year or more. As you said…..
” I want to know how bloggers with a fairly consistent readership deal with this.”
I am going to answer you if it is OK.
When I had a business of my own, I created it, worked at it 7 days a week and from 7:00 till 2 or 3 in the morning the next morning. Sleeping only 4 hours or so a night if that. I did that for 4 years straight. There were times I sat and just cried, bawled like a baby. My husband would say why don’t you quit, and I answered while I was sobbing……….. “I can’t I love it so much, I am just tired like you cannot believe.” So I do understand how you feel even though it was a business and not a Blog.
Before I started to Blog I went to many Blogs, bookmarking the ones that impressed me a lot. I notice everything, how a person runs their Blog to how they design it …oh hell just about every detail. But the main and most important thing of all is the personality of the person that has the Blog. Beth you have a contagious personality. I know you said you are not fishing for compliments but this is pure fact. If I start to kiss up I will announce it first OK?!
Your joy about good things a person can feel through the cyber air, your anger is felt too when you are ticked off at something and it is always something that ticks me off too. And I admire your honesty in how you sound off about things.
Everyone burns out from time to time it does not matter what it is, a job, a vocation, running a Blog, a business…… anything that a person throws themselves into a lot especially if it is over a long period of time.
You have a very popular Blog and it is because of you, it is a part of you. Your interests, opinions, thoughts, how you feel about what things should be and are not etc.
Beth I mean this with all I am. As a newcomer to the Blogging world , you would be missed more then you realize. You touch lives in many ways. You made me feel welcome and that meant a lot to me.
Like someone said above my post, maybe post just fun stuff, something funny that happened to you, anything that is not stress related. Whatever made it fun for you in the beginning go back to that place in your heart and mind and maybe that will help.
Just one last thing, my husband was in a business for many years where he could never discuss politics or he would never work again in a profession that he loved. I was in it too for 10 years and I had to get out of it because I could not stand not to say what I felt about things happening in the world.
I went to forums and posted my heart out. But it still was not good enough. Having a blog a home online where you or any owner of a Blog is one of the best examples of freedom. It is all yours and if you want to just ask your readers for funny family stories for the day, or what cooking catastrophe they have ever had etc., anything for a break into whimsy and fun with no pressure…………………..anything that will lighten your day it might help.
You love America Beth and it shows in your Blog. You are needed like crazy, not crazy and needed. America is changing so fast and not in a good way. It needs all the warriors it can get.
((( hug))) to my new cyber friend
Just another cyber Warrior
Aaron's cc: says:
Beth… if you remember my email, I’m almost at the point of asking you to join me in creating a Bloggers Anonymous Blog. But it’d have to be limited to people who have at least achieved Large Mammal status. (I peaked in the mid-30’s last year, but dipped into the mid-100’s during each of my hiatuses.)
I feel like Michael Corleone… the blogosphere keeps pulling me back. :sad:
Probably not in my best interest but it’s harder than crack to break this habit.
There’s also a point that you and I can agree on… you learn a lot of valuable geeky stuff by tweaking your blog and the investment in THAT is very hard to walk away from.
David says:
“Somebody please remind me why I do this shi’ite.”
Cos someone has to keep the issues fertilized!
:wink:
The Ugly American says:
Well, I would email you this but I can’t find your email addy on your page. Prolly cause I am a newb.
Anyway you definintely helped inspire me to make this post today and you are in it. This seemed like the best place to let you know about it.
http://therealuglyamerican.blogspot.com/2005/11/bloggers-are-nice-freaking-people_08.html
At least the ones I have come across are. If it sounds like I’m a little geeked up in this post it’s because I am! I have been completely blown away by the friendliness, and helpfulness of all the bloggers I have interacted with.
Thanks for being you MVRWC
sincerely,
The Ugly American
Jody says:
HAH! So not the person to give any advice on this subject matter, so I won’t. But I will say, do whatever you feel like doing, even if it means NOT doing this for awhile…Mac will pick up the slack (and I might even help him too)… ;) Read some books… watch some useless TV and see a few movies… shop… suprise Miss Princess with a “hooky” day from school and just go to lunch together and have fun…take a road trip…
You’ll still have your faithful fans and friends who will be cheering you on no matter what you do…
Jeff H says:
Um, Jody? Is that you? Telling Beth you’ll pick up the slack around here?
I thought you were the slack around here…
:wink:
Clay says:
Take a look here Somebody is thinking of you.
Karl Elvis says:
You know, a while back I blogged about my blog burnout.
Couple days later my server crasheded, the hard disk totally toast, not in any way recoverable. I lost at least a month of archives, AND a month worth of archives for several blogs I host on my server.
So you know, watch out when you blog about burnout. Someone is lsitening.
The Gray Tie says:
Ya know, the cure for blog burn out is simple. Start another blog of course! :wink: In stealth mode of course, then on the second day of the new blog you blow your stealth identity and just come right on out with yourself. Yes, that’s the answer to blog burnout. I mean really, I don’t think I’m addicted to blogging at all, no, what I’m addicted to is creating the damned blogs and coming up with all of the cute, or not so cute, graphics and designs and stickers and CRAP! :roll: