Oh yes – more blogging about blogging… I’ve decided that this is what happens when you have writer’s block or just feel a little overwhelmed by life and it affects your motivation to write. You fall back on blogging about blogging.
But it is something that I’ve been thinking about lately since I’m trying to find a good balance for the time I spend online. I mean – I spend A LOT of time online, reading other blogs and writing for my own sites. And still I’m sucky at keeping up with FaceBook and Twitter (top of ignored to do list: create a FB fan page for each blog and try AGAIN to be interested in Twitter…)
I guess it’s just all about priorities. And what it really boils down to is this: when I have a free hour to myself, I really prioritize catching up on Project Runway episodes. Yeah – so that’s where I am right now in the blogging motivation department.
But I also think that this is the result of the pressure that I put on myself to perform. When I started The Big Piece of Cake almost two years ago, it was supposed to be a creative outlet for writing. It was something that I liked to do, so I created a place for it. And I LOVED it. I was just writing for fun and wasn’t in the least bit concerned about who was reading. But now it feels like I have to come up with something significant every time I sit down at the computer, and I don’t know about you, but I find that stressful. Not at all what I had in mind when I started out…
SO (if you’re still with me because blogging about blogging is incredibly boring..) I’ve had to make some decisions about where I’m taking this. And the answer is: absolutely nowhere.
I’m so not cut out for the superstar blogger world (if nothing else, my apapthy for Twitter has pretty much sealed the deal on that) – so I’m going to stop trying to perform. This blog is small potatoes. It’s an indie endeavor compared to the Oscar level success stories I’ve seen develop over the past two years. The corner book store compared to Barnes & Noble. A Mom & Pop shop compared to Target…
I think I need to go back to just writing for fun. And not get so hung up on trying to “say” something every time I write. Blogging is a genre of writing that’s ultimately very conversational. With all of the commenting that we do, we’re really just talking to each other.
From now on I’ll be writing more and pontificating less. I may not always have anything important to say, but I think that’s okay. There is no pulpit here at The Big Piece of Cake. I’m thinking less lecture and more “group.” Pull a chair up to the circle, why don’t you? Kate – do you have anything you’d like to share today?
From now on, you can expect to see more short posts (shut up IRL friends – you still have to read the long ones) about nothing much. AND if you like looking at pretty pictures, come visit me at Wishing True. I’ll be doing a lot more there now (about 2-3 posts each day).
I’ll also continue to post my fiction writing – but don’t worry, I don’t expect more than a handful of you to be interested in that. Seriously – don’t feel like you have to read it. Because I’m totally not reading your attempts at poetry either.
So to summarize one of the longest posts about nothing I’ve ever written (who am I kidding – this is practically a caption compared to some of my other gems…): more/shorter posts and less pontificating/self perceived brilliance at The Big Piece of Cake and more pretty pictures and “cool stuff” on Wishing True.
Oh yeah – and FaceBook fan pages and increased efforts to tweet…eventually.
Or something like that. We’ll see. No pressure…
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ELSEWHERE:
On Wishing True…
Fantasy Styling from Mrs. Lilien
I love your blog, you always come across as friendly and real. Those are superstar qualities to me! :p You'll probably write even better if you're not feeling pressured :)
I'm like you — always agonizing, which is silly considering that blogging is something I do purely for fun.
But we follow you because we like YOU. Deep thoughts are always welcome, but never necessary!
I'll always be here ready to read your posts, Kate! I go through periods where I don't know if I want to keep on blogging, where I sometimes feel like I have nothing left to say, when I feel like such a tiny fish in such a huge sea of greatness… I actually get really down in the dumps about it, but the next day, I'm okay. :) I guess it is like that for a lot of us. :)
You're not reading my poetry?! Oh that just made me laugh. Me…poetry. I kill me.
I think you're superwoman anyway!
I'll be back xo
Bravo! I read blogs [as do you] and interest level of the blogger and readers comes and goes. Some bloggers feel the need to explain the disappearance, others don't.
[For the record, you've never come across as a pontificator… I hope that I haven't.]
I'm trying to reduce my online time, because I find myself WASTING so much time online. Makes me feel icky at the end of a day if it's not balanced. In the same breath, there are parts of it that I enjoy. I think with the increase in blogs, the number of people Facebooking, and social media in general, online addiction [big word] or "balance" [overused word] are and will continue to be big topics for a long time.
You do a fantastic job. I'm just relieved you're not making an exit. I was a little worried at the beginning of your post. Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh… Ohhhh… whew.
I'm sure that most of your readers are happy to read whatever you feel like writing about – I know I am!
I love this approach! I always feel like I have to write something super important or meaningful or inspiring. But that's too much pressure! Have fun!
I started out wanting to write big important posts too, but that soon gave way to just chit chatting about my day. For me, blogging is really about connecting with other mommies. Just hearing about other peoples day to day struggles helps me to understand that I am not alone.
I can so relate to this. How do those success stories happen and why didn't it happen to me? (waaaaaa!) There does come a point where you realize it isn't worth the work it takes to get there (those others must be super lucky somehow) and that your children and husband and house need you. I reached that point almost a year ago and my blog is dying a slow death. I used to care but I'm caring less and less, now. It's all very sad.
I have been feeling the same way for awhile now. I have been blogging for more than three years and find my thoughts behind the process have changed a great deal. I used to approach it from my old world as a newspaper journalist and so I thought I needed three or more fresh entries of some level of greatness a week. Now there are days I log into my blog and wonder what I am doing there! I still sometimes put too much undo pressure on myself and really, it's silly. I have the same boring free Blogger template and no ads or thoughts of greatness, so goodness knows the only books I will be selling at my job are those written by other bloggers! I think your approach is perfect. The Internet can be so exhausting some days and seriously, it's the last thing in the world we should be getting so worked up over.
I feel the same way…I have nothing to say half the time and then if I want to make a point, I get all tangled up and scrap it. I've been worrying a lot less lately myself and remembering that I started for fun and that's sort of where it needs to stay. Good for you Kate!
Not reading your attempts at poetry! Ahahahahaha! Thank you for that. I don't have much to say in general, but it seems to work for me. Blogging loses a lot of its fun when it starts to be work.
my potatoes are much smaller potatoes than yours are! but i sure love to read your blog and write mine, too.
i like the idea of losing the stress and just enjoying what we do.
I like my small potatoes.
I don't want to be a big time blogger and I just write what I want.
Do what feels right to you!
I love that you posted this. I have been trying to write a post about a certain topic for a select few readers and it has given me such bad writers block I am shocked. The best writing happens when it isn't forced!
I love your intense thoughts… I love your light and cheery thoughts!! Keep them all coming, but enjoy it!
I also love twitter. Sorry… I just do. @aliholden if you change your mind.
xoxoxo
I so agree with you. And I still don't understand twitter and I don't have a FB page for my blog either. Oh well. I bet the sun will still rise tomorrow.
I never thought you pontificated Kate! But good for you for taking the pressure off yourself to always say something profound. And I'm not a twitter-er either. I tried it once and just didn't get it – I don't even have an account anymore. I'm definitely not destined to be big time either, and I'm perfectly okay with that!
I really like you Kate. You don't pretend to be anything you're not. Even behind a screen you are sincere and honest and yourself…just a few of the qualities I like about you.
I say you do whatever you want. I know I have. It looks as though I'm down to one post a month now. Eeek. I tried to be a good blogger where I reached out and got to know other bloggers and all that, but I found it hard to keep up. Then things happen like your computer crashes and you have to start from scratch again. Also, since we're pulling up chairs and talking sometimes I think it's all a bit of a game and I don't want to play it. I graduated high school 18 years ago and I don't want to go back. Ya know what I mean?
Whatever you've got to say….I'm here.
I have SO been feeling that blog malaise. And it does seem, when I have some free time, that I SHOULD BE BLOGGING! But most of the time I'd rather go read a book lately.
I love your posts no matter what they are. (I didn't even think "blogging about blogging" was boring.) Although I guess I'm going to have to scrap all that poetry now.
I know exactly how you feel. Either it's a job or it's fun and easy, let's not try to squish into a new category in the middle.
I think you are at your best when you're not "trying" to say something and are just sharing your thoughts.
I don't know why I put trying in quotes…I always feel like your posts are natural and warm so disregard my quotation faux pas!
And I loved the poetry line too…I unfortunately have tried poetry. :)
First, I love your blog! Second, I could have written this exact post a week ago. I started mine for the same reason – a creative outlet. Now, I feel pressure to "perform" every post, otherwise I risk losing readers. But I'm taking a step back. I'm not going to blog as much, and I'm going to stick to visiting the blogs I really enjoy. Hope you can find a bloggy balance that works for you!
As a very tiny spud myself, I know where you're coming from. I actually decided at some point that I don't want to have ads on my blog. And that helps make things easier, less pressure, etc. Sure, I hope people read and enjoy but the number just isn't important.
I've loved reading it simply because you are a mom of 3 toddlers as well. I laugh to see someone else experiencing the same things and find I can laugh about it because I see it from a different view.
I haven't been blogging because naptime is spent catching up with my DVR instead. Not productive, but ehh, it's what I feel like doing.
So whether it's your fiction series or just your experiences as a mom, you are great wtih words and I enjoy reading it.