This has been a wonderful experience for me. In my wildest dreams, I could not have expected to have gained so much from a whim. I've met so many wonderful people, and learned so much from them, I've even had people link some of my posts to their sites. I've had publishers ask me to read their books and post on them. I've even been Blog of Note. But I have to wonder - how long do I do this?
Have you thought about this? How long do you plan on keeping your blog?
33 comments:
As long as there's something to say and with the adoption blog there will always be something to say.I believe I must be up to around 1,000 posts by now.
Maybe adjust your frequency to when something of note or emotional impact strikes you?
Everybody has a story and I believe it doesn't have to have a shelf life.
I haven't blogged because I am swamped to the point of ridiculousness(its a word now) ♥
Yes, I've wondered about this. Mostly, I blog to stay inspired, otherwise, I get depressed. But sometimes I do wonder how long. Then the question fades with a new inspiration.
For me, it's as long as I continue to be interested in photography and I can't see that ending any time soon. Blogging can become a chore when we impose rules on ourselves.. a schedule.. how to reply to comments.. how many we visit.. etc. I genuinely enjoy this and until they become feeling like tasks more than do occasionally, I hope to keep at it.
I don't do Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking so blogging is IT for me. I'll keep at it as long as I enjoy it. I hope you will too.
when it becomes a second job or a chore i will close the door...
I love these comments....all so true.
I think the key is to not try to force it. If I don't have anything to share, then I don't. Or sometimes, I will just talk about something that's on my mind. But at any rate, I will do it as long as I am having a good time with it...and as long as I am making myself happy. It is like weaving. I long ago stopped making rugs that I thought would 'sell'. I make rugs that I love! And funny, but THEY sell.
It's a win/win.
I agree with most of your commenters that when I run out of things to say and/or share, I'll stop and especially when it becomes a chore.
Nancy, good question. And all of the comments are spot on. But why do we feel the need to close down? Can't we just post when and if we feel like it? I don't know what I'll do with my blog. It certainly isn't the cooking blog it once was. And you know what? That's okay. Life is evolution. And as long as we are evolving we are life.
Closing my blog would feel like withdrawing from a real community for me, so I imagine I'm going to keep going with mine indefinitely. I used to worry I'd run out of things to say but when I do there's always photos — and then life has a way of presenting new ideas, inspirations and situations to write about.
I recently asked that question (or one similar to it) on my blog, since it seems to me that although I love to write and read blogs, I myself impose restrictions on myself, when I read an especially brilliant one I feel inadequate; when I try too hard to be someone else, I lose my own voice; and when someone is having a hard time, I feel their pain.
So I am struggling with these questions myself, but I cherish my community and wouldn't want to lose it, so I'll keep going for the foreseeable future. Thanks for this thoughtful post, Nancy.
As long as you enjoy it!
I'm going to keep on blogging as long as I enjoy doing it.
Ideally, I'd like to do something every day. In the real world, that's not going to happen, unless I force myself (at which point, the project loses its fun, and I've reached the age when I won't do it if it's a chore). Life does get in the way of blogging, sometimes.
Suggestions: post something as often as you feel like it, with posts as long as you want to make them. Relax, and enjoy.
I have to agree with each and every one of the comments. In the last few weeks, blogging has seemed like more of a chore than it used to be, but after some reflection I realized I was tying myself to an arbitrary posting schedule. (I blame my Type A personality!)
I've decided to now worry about the frequency of my posts. Strangely enough, that's "freed" my mind and now I have more ideas.
Your post is timed perfect for me.... I've been wondering about this also. I'm in my 2nd year, and part of my wants to stop come Dec 31st. I feel I'm getting boring, even to myself. But others say they like to hear from me. Maybe I need to change from daily blog to only a weekly blog in 2011.
Well since my blog is my personal life journal made public mine will probably go on as long as I live..or can see well enough to write. :-)
My blog is sort of a journal for me, a chronicle of my life and interests and thought for generations to come. I know the names of my ancestors but going back, after a generation or two I really don't know anything about the individuals. that's sort of why I started. I guess I'll keep it up as long as I'm interested.
Difficult subject, since I have gone into Blog Coma once or twice myself. It is more or less a Public Journal, and one that demands occasional entries. Not so much for others, although I am always tempted to make it that way, but for myself. It helps me keep track of where I am going on the inside.
Or, more importantly, where I ain't going. EFH
I've been thinking the same thing lately...and then decided to post less and only when I felt I had something of value or a subject that I was really passionate about rather than trying to remain on an everyday schedule. I felt I might be taking too much time of others by posting everday. And then there's the thing where I spend so much time visiting and commenting on other blogs...I wasn't able to find the free time to go out and live life to even find a topic of interest. I felt glued to the computer. And it also started cutting into my other pleasure of reading books. As of late I have been embracing the art of idleness to find my creativity and imagination...and it's making all the difference.
Thanks for your blog BTW...it is most enjoyable to visit. And I hope you'll continue to be around for however long you are enjoying yourself!
Yes, I have thought about it a lot lately, and I've been blogging for only eighteen months. Keeping going pretty regularly, three posts a week at least, and trying to find something interesting, thoughtful or amusing to write about is not easy and rather gets in the way of 'real' life.
If it weren't for the encouragement from other bloggers I'd probably give up. Thing is, of course, that other bloggers expect you to comment on their blogs, which takes up an inordinate amount of time.
I love writing, so I'll probably continue for a while yet, although the pressure to collect followers and comments is getting to me.
We are all convinced that we have something worth saying, even if it is only the most mundane and boring stuff, so we say it. and say it again.
O dear, o dear, there I go again, having doubts.
I will keep blogging as long as it is fun for me and I am enjoying it! I really enjoy the interaction with my blogging community and I would miss that very much. And I don't think that I would ever run out of things to say or post about! lol
Blog of Note? Congrats, I didn't realize you had received this honor!
I'm still having a pretty good time after 3 years but I never did try to post every day and I do enjoy visiting a few other blogs. I've gained a few good friends I'd really miss if I didn't put in a regular appearance ;-)
I've been thinking about that very same thing lately and wondering if I haven't "shot my wad," so to speak.
I may just need a hiatus.
I've lost one grand blogging friend just last week. He had to shut down shop for what sounds like personal safety issues after having worked very hard at hiding his identity. What a sadness...and a worry. Another (twentysomething) blogging friend quit earlier this year because she could not shake a stalker, no matter how many times she changed her blog name and url. It's awful that they were wells of creativity that silenced themselves for reasons other than just feeling it was time to stop their blogs.
I am grateful that I feel safe blogging. What a strange thing to say, but after the experience of my two friends I do think in those terms. My posts now number 602 and I think I have at least that many more in me. ;)
I enjoy it too much to even think about closing down my two blogs.
Hey, have had a few times when I was tempted to just shut down my blog. But its a way to keep contact, so I try to keep going with it. I do agree with others, at times our priorities change and what we find useful or enjoyable changes. Then things like blogs become forgotten.
Lydia - The stalking thing is really scary. I've been very fortunate so far.
You will never run out of words to say as life continues to change daily and people love to read.
A lot of folks have gone over to Facebook because it is a fast and easy one sentence or two and to find old lost friends.
I'm on there too but blogging is my preference.
Hugs, Rose
P.S. Don't stop writing!
I've been journal keeping since the age of 13 (still have all my books)and for now, blogging has taken the place of that.
I write about my life, not to entertain, (i wouldn't be good at that anyway)or to share my thoughts or opinions (there are many that do that already) so i write about all the things i want to remember.
Maybe someday i'll switch back to my book journals, i do miss them.
But i'll be forever grateful for all that blogging has added to my life. (i just reached 200 posts and 2 years on my blog and i thought that was a lot! oops! not really i see!)
I have the same dilemma, blogging takes much time and focus away from other things I often should be doing. The rewards often exceed the efforts which makes that all and fine.. BUT, there have been some times I've felt a wee bit jaded and all written out, too. That's when I take a break. I don't know I could ever entirely walk away - but I do need to "rest" ocassionally, to come back fresh again.
I would hate to lose you from here. You would be very sorely missed.
I've been blogging here for two years, but before that I wrote an on-line journal for people to follow for almost three years, so altogether I've been posting something almost the whole time we've been on the road - 5 1/2 years. I blog because I enjoy it and I love to write.
Just post when you want to!! Enjoy yourself!!
Do you still enjoy it? Perhaps you want to go in a new direction or with a second blog? I have two going and sometimes I think I should consolidate but they are different and I like the idea of keeping things separate. I don't think either of mine are as focused as they need to be but that's what keeps them interesting to me. They've taught me to write more concisely and use a headline to, hopefully, attract readers. I've been lagging of late in reading other blogs as I'm always focusing on my own. But, I learn from other blogs as well.
Like many others who've commented I say keep 'em coming as long as it's fun and doesn't feel like a chore!
A few of the times I've been in a blogging rut have been because I tried to impose a schedule on myself and got frustrated about not being able to keep it!
But I have so many things to write about I don't think there's much of a chance of my going completely silent anytime soon. I just wish sometimes I got a bit more feedback from my readers, it does make one feel the effort to post something was worth it (well, certain posts that require a lot of research, editing etc) when you can strike up a conversation with people about it afterwards!
Anyhow, you keep it up! I don't see you running out of steam any time soon! ;o)
Post a Comment