Hello! Yes, I missed posting last Thursday. I didn't forget, but I was busy rushing off to the RNA Summer Party and couldn't find the time during the day to pen a post.
And, to be honest, lately I'm just not feeling the blog love. Back in the day (say, 2009?), I used to live for blogging, spending hours each night reading and returning comments. There was a tight community of writers and blogs were updated regularly. Fast-forward to 2014, and things have changed. Facebook and Twitter seem to be where it's at, and I've noticed some bloggers - me included - just aren't posting as frequently. Some have stopped altogether.
It's fair to say that after five years, the blogging well has run a little dry. Sure, I can post photos and relay my London exploits (and I will!), but there's only so much you can talk about your daily life before things get a little, well . . . routine. I've never been one to advise on writing, or publishing, or anything of the nature, simply because I don't feel I have the expertise and others do it so much better.
With the lack of time we're all facing these days, Facebook and Twitter seem so much easier to catch up with all my blogging buds. I don't need to visit individual pages and leaving a comment is simple and quick (no word verification, the bane of my existence!).
I'll never stop blogging and I'll continue to fill you in ad nauseam on my life here, but it seems the times have moved on from the blog.
Or is it just me?
And, to be honest, lately I'm just not feeling the blog love. Back in the day (say, 2009?), I used to live for blogging, spending hours each night reading and returning comments. There was a tight community of writers and blogs were updated regularly. Fast-forward to 2014, and things have changed. Facebook and Twitter seem to be where it's at, and I've noticed some bloggers - me included - just aren't posting as frequently. Some have stopped altogether.
It's fair to say that after five years, the blogging well has run a little dry. Sure, I can post photos and relay my London exploits (and I will!), but there's only so much you can talk about your daily life before things get a little, well . . . routine. I've never been one to advise on writing, or publishing, or anything of the nature, simply because I don't feel I have the expertise and others do it so much better.
With the lack of time we're all facing these days, Facebook and Twitter seem so much easier to catch up with all my blogging buds. I don't need to visit individual pages and leaving a comment is simple and quick (no word verification, the bane of my existence!).
I'll never stop blogging and I'll continue to fill you in ad nauseam on my life here, but it seems the times have moved on from the blog.
Or is it just me?
No, not just you. I for one never could get myself posting with regularity, and keeping up with reading other blogs as well is just such a time suck, as interesting and fun as everyone's insights can be. I'm also just slooow when it comes to writing. I can't dash things off as quickly and cleverly as others can, so I tend to go M.I.A. in the blogosphere and am finding Twitter a much easier way to keep my finger on the pulse. :)
ReplyDeleteNot just you. I feel the same. You may have noticed i haven't posted something of my own in yonks!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, Talli!
ReplyDeleteIt has waned, but I've noticed it's more with those of us who've been around a long time. New bloggers keep cropping up and they are the ones who continue the excitement.
I'll never stop, but I have scaled back so I can write and take care of other things.
Post when you want. You know I'll always stop by!
I hear you on that blog thing--a thing I used to love so much--get so much support from, is getting harder and harder. I have my 5th anniversary next month and am wondering if I shouldn't change how I use it. It will take some thinking as to how it can still be good a nice side thing, but I think it may work best as a Facebook supplement or something... it is just too much work to keep doing what we once didn.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not just you! I went through a similar thing for most of last year, but after I did A-Z this year, I started to enjoy it again. A break is a really good idea!
ReplyDeleteIt's not just you, Talli, I just noticed I haven't blogged for a couple of months, despite saying I was going to do it more regularly. I used to be passionate about it, but tend to go on FB more now (still haven't got to grips with Twitter!) I do make time to read my favourite bloggers, but don't always leave a comment, just 'like' it on Facebook, if it's linked. Maybe it's a time issue - or laziness.
ReplyDeleteNo, it isn't just you. I recently quit fb and have been blogging and visiting so much more. I've noticed blogs that used to be packed with comments aren't anymore right across the spectrum. However, I am so much happier than I was with the speedy rush of fb that I'm going to keep on trundling down this nice slow avenue of friends. I think it is good.
ReplyDeleteI find most of my blogging friends are now on FB. I tend to only post interviews because of limited time but drop the odd piece of news in for good measure.
ReplyDeleteMost definitely.It was a fun time. But one of the biggest complaints we all had was that it was a time-suck, as well. Between regular postings, commenting, and the eventual projects (blogfests, promotions, blogfets:), blogging was almost like a non-paid, part time job. Which is why I'm not surprised Facebook and twitter took the lead. Still, I try to catch up when I can and post once a week or so. Like you, I don't think I'll ever stop completely.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely not just you!
ReplyDeleteI don't blog as much as I used to...and frankly, I wouldn't mind if the bloggers I follow blogged a little less. It's really difficult to follow a lot of blogs when everybody's posting 3-4 times a week or even more often. Nobody should post just to make a quota.
I could be happy posting once a week, too. Happy to see I'm not alone in feeling this way.
I posted about this recently as well. Even though I've changed my blog focus through the years, it still gets tiresome coming up with fresh ideas regularly, and like people mention, blogging is so slow compared to Facebook and Twitter. Facebook is now where I find most of the blog posts I visit, like yours today. It caught my eye due to the subject matter. Of course, when you post photos of London I always like that, too!
ReplyDeleteThey always say it goes up and down and I think that's true. I think the 'blog' will always be around because it is simply more personal and truer connections are made.
ReplyDeleteI tend to post from my regular blog three times a week, and at present that's a schedule that suits me.
ReplyDeleteMy photoblog, on the other hand, is a daily thing, but it's entirely different in its pacing, and doesn't take up a great deal of time.
Definitely agree with you, Talli - I keep my own main blog going as I post information and do interviews at times but I prefer FB these days. I will keep my blogs and continue to visit others but I don't feel the same pressure to keep posting as often as before!
ReplyDeleteHi Talli .. having never (yet) got into FB or Tw ... my blog is my focus - though I can see that changing ... after I built up some followers and the A-Z kicked I just posted when I could and that's been the way it has for the past 4 years or so .. I love the A-Z ... but can understand the time thing ..
ReplyDeleteKeeping in touch and relationships don't change despite the lack of immediacy .. and you with the little one will definitely have other interests now .. just enjoy this 2nd year .. cheers Hilary
I've been blogging for 9 years now, and I've seen the shift in blogging come full circle several times. I blogged like a maniac when my series was coming out, then hit a deep slump for almost two years. The joy eventually returns, so give it time.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you are saying. My output has gone down as has my readership. Just lately it occurred to me that I didn't have to write big, dramatic posts all the time. I just blog now for fun and enjoy keeping up with some people in blogland that I have known for years.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point, Betty. Sometimes I think I try too hard to come up with topics and then get discouraged when I can't!
DeleteYour life has changed. You have a family now with all its energy contained by the grace of love ... and the duties that go with your new life.
ReplyDeleteAlex may have a point: any activity loses momentum after a few years. Perhaps you can come up with a twist to your blog that will spark your interest again.
Twitter is too short to be of any true meaning for me. Facebook is basically a cyber-scrap book. Blogs are fun for me still because they are a meeting place for those with shared dreams.
Enjoy where you are now in life --- it is flashing by faster than you believe. Excellent post as always. :-)
Thanks, Roland. You're right about life changing! And I may come back to the blog with a new point of view in a few months. I'm going to keep posting for sure in the meantime!
DeleteI think concentrating on putting out books is much more important and I've been rather lackadaisical regarding that aspect of my life. Maybe if my indie book had sold more copies, I'd be more motivated to write the sequel. Either way, you write great books and blogging is just one little step in your marketing plan.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, the Desert Rocks - the priority right now (for me) is on writing, and blogging is one piece of the marketing plan. And thank you for the kind words!
DeleteNot just you! I'm here now, but I only blog like once a month now. Twitter is my playground :)
ReplyDeleteI love Twitter, too!
DeleteHi Talli! I think you got out of the groove when you had your darling little boy. Once you lose the momentum, it's difficult to regain. Many of your followers would have stopped coming by during that time. Once lost, it's hard to get them back. I've been blogging for 7 years, and I see the argument for Facebook and Twitter for being 'where it's at', but honestly, I see both Fb and Twitter as book promotional schemes and author like pages these days, nothing much of the depth I like. I'm on most social media and blogging is where it's at for me, but I find it harder and harder to interact with other bloggers. It can get to the stage when you feel you're blogging to yourself as unless you visit a ton of blogs, you won't get the 'comment love'. Which is too time-consuming at times.
ReplyDeleteLooks like I'll have Alex and Roland to interact with for some time as I know they feel the same about blogging.
(Your comment about not writing craft advice is a little precious seeing you have published traditionally and indie-style, with best-sellers to boot. I'm sure there is a market for such posts if you wanted to pay it forward).
Denise
Denise
Ah, oops, an 'audience' for such posts, not 'market'...
DeleteThanks for the comment, Denise! I think you're right about momentum. Once you slow down on the blogging and comment front, it's very easy to lose that sense of community. To be honest, I think I started losing the urge to blog well before Baby TR - I kind of felt I was running out of new things to say, and that I'd covered practically every thought in my head! When I blogged on the Writer's Guide to ePublishing, I did cover topics on publishing and writing and the like, but I wanted to keep my own blog more 'me' focused and less on writing topics. I may regain the momentum at some stage and I'll certainly keep blogging, but right now I fell more of a sense of community on Facebook.
DeleteIt's so hard to find the time for blogging - not just writing the posts but commenting too (which I've been RUBBISH at lately).
ReplyDeleteI hear what you're saying and feel the same in certain ways. I can't see my well of source material ever running dry, but my passion has waned. Partly is because of computer issues that sometimes slow me down and take away my efficiency to comment and the commenting is such an important part.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to figure ways to economize my time and sync life, writing, and blogging to a balance.
All the computer stuff is such a time suck and I don't do nearly as much as a lot of people do.
Hope you reach a happy place in reconciling blogging with everything else.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Talli, you started something! After reading your post, I wrote about it on my blog--and then another author, Lorelei Bell, wrote about it on hers!
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Talli!! You were one of my first-est best-est even if you didn't like the birds chirping and waking you up outside your window-est blog that I followed waaaaaaaaay back in the day! LOL!! And your blog is so pretty and you are all published and are a super mum with super baby and blogland will be a little cold without you! So there! Take care
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