Today is Insecure Writer's Support Group day! I love this group so much. Seriously, when new people ask me for advice in the writing world, "Join the Insecure Writer's Support Group" is always something I tell them. Big, big thank you to Alex J. Cavanaugh, writing ninja, IWSG founder, and all-around awesome guy. Also, big thanks to this month's cohosts:
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Okay, here's the thing, I'm thinking about shutting down my blog.
I'm so ashamed. :(
I don't want to shut it down, but I feel like I don't have time for it anymore. Not sure why, either. I seriously have no idea where my time goes. (I blame a lot of that on my four kids, though.) ;) I want to keep in touch with everyone, and if I do shut it down I will continue to visit blogs.
I don't know. I haven't made the decision for sure yet. Mainly because, while I know I probably should, I just don't want to!
How do you find time to balance things? Any tips?
To talk about something happier, any big holiday plans? This is my favorite time of year. :)
I don't think you should shut it down, but maybe go on a hiatus for a bit and see how you feel. Everyone understands that life happens, but I've heard from so many people who've quit that they came back to blogging and regretted shutting down the first time. And don't feel ashamed! I have no idea how to balance things either. Let me know when you figure it out. Hope you are having a great holiday season. :)
ReplyDeleteNO! You can't do that! I have the same struggle with four kids and a crazy life. I have decided I will maintain the balance by setting a certain amount of time for the blog and then going on to something else. I will visit who I can and move along. And if I want to post once a week, twice a week, once a month...well, it's my blog...I'll do what I want!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Liz, just post when you can. Please don't leave. Don't make me have to give you the pouty black girl face (stolen from 'pouty bat face' in Hotel Transylvania). Please stay, post once a month, take a break like Ilima said, but don't go.
ReplyDeleteAw, I'd be sad if you went! =( Though I can understand the time suck(especiaslly w/four 'childerns'!). My best advice- sleep on it. It always works for me. =)
ReplyDeleteNo, don't go!!! I suggest following Leandra's advice. :) And then, maybe taking a step back from blogging as often. That's what I've done. I've gone from three days to two days, and soon, I'll be going to one day a week. I gave myself a break last week, and I'll take a few more breaks this month. I would rather do that than shut down.
ReplyDeleteBut you know what you need to do for your family, your health, and your writing. Just know, if you go, you will be missed.
It's hard. We wonder where the time goes, and it seems to just get lost. Maybe post one day a week and limit the time you use. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteMary Montague Sikes
Why not post less often, or just when you have something you really want to say? I'd miss your posts if you went. Time does seep away sometimes though, and it can't be easy with 4 kids needing you.
ReplyDeleteYou can always reactivate it, and you don't lose followers.
ReplyDeleteAw, I hope you don't shut down your blog. I always enjoy reading your posts! I can understand the feeling, though, since time is always so elusive. Maybe wait and see how you feel about this after the holidays. Everything always feel more overwhelming this time of year!
ReplyDeleteTake a well deserved Holiday Break to think about it. Maybe set some guidelines like to blog once a week instead of pulling the plug. Good Luck.
ReplyDeleteA lot of folks are cutting back lately. I'm on hiatus right now, and plan to reduce the frequency of my posts when I return. Do what you need to do.
ReplyDeleteDon't shut down! It's totally fine to take a hiatus, especially since this is a busy time of year. Maybe during a hiatus you could find some time to write a few blog posts ahead of time so they'll be ready to go when you come back.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I nearly shut it all down myself. Then some strange force took over my body and my brain and I left my old blog and website for a brand new two in one website and blog. Go figure. Ultimately, you will do what is best for you. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteI know just how you feel, only for me it's because I feel like I'm not giving my blog the time it needs to be successful, and I just can't give it anymore time than I do. I would miss you. :(
ReplyDeleteOh but I don't think there's a one of us who hasn't thought about that. I have cut way, way back on the amount I post, for the very reasons you gave. I post once a week and , for now, that's enough. Most readers are other writers and have little time for visiting either. Once a week is enough for readers too. Follow your heart!
ReplyDeleteNot that I comment here often (or ever at all!) but if you go through with taking a blog break, put up a final "I'm on vacation, leave comments below!" post and then continue to visit your friends online at your leisure.
ReplyDeleteI hate to see a fellow blogger throw in the towel completely!
Just ween down and see if that works. I'm having to do that, and may only post twice a month soon. Good luck in your decision.
ReplyDeleteM.L. Swift, Writer
I know how you feel. There are days when I wanna shut ALL of it down. But then I'd really miss my bloggie friends. I've given myself permission to blog only once or twice a month so it's not a major time-suck. And usually i find myself blogging more anyway. The good thing is you don't have to make up your mind, simply don't blog for a while and see if you wanna come back to it. It won't go anywhere. :)
ReplyDeleteWell i think everybody else said what I was going to. So I won't repeat. Okay, maybe. Just step back. See how that goes. You're a busy woman and you've got lots of writing stuff going on too. Give yourself a break sometimes. With no guilt. :)
ReplyDeleteAww, I'll miss you on the blogosphere, but perhaps I'll still see you on Twitter, I hope? :) At least Tweeting doesn't necessarily take up as much time as blogging, since writing a couple Tweets every now and then is less time-consuming than writing a whole blog post.
ReplyDeleteI'm not the best person to give out advice on balancing stuff, though, seeing as how I really am a workaholic; therefore, my life revolves around my work and everything else is pretty much just squeezed in if it's possible to do so.
=(
ReplyDeleteSo here's my thoughts: cut back. Once a week. If that's too much, once a month. I was on a once a month schedule once upon a time, and it worked. Of course, it gradually increased to every other week, then once a week, then twice a week, and now I'm at 3 times a week--and have even done every day posts for my release and the A-Z challenge. Crazy stuff. I guess what I'm saying is, it doesn't have to be an all or nothing deal.
You know, I totally relate. I was just talking about this with a friend the other week. I think, as other people have suggested, you can cut back. Every time I'm tempted to not post at all I tell myself I'm a writer and, if nothing else, writing a blog post is a good way to keep my writing fresh and think outside the box of my current WIP
ReplyDeleteI shut down my blog once and I totally regret that decision. Keep it, just don't post when you can't. Such a better option. We all have low times, like the dry bout I've been going through recently. It's hard, but just keep plugging away!
ReplyDelete