Sabbatical, Sabbatical
Okay…so maybe killing off this blog was a bit premature. One month off was enough. Look for the return of regularly scheduled insights on the web writing life and ‘net business coming soon!
Simplify, Simplify
Thoreau once wrote “Simplify, simplify” and those words have hit home as my personal and business life have reached a break-neck pace so far this year. Even though I’ve been fighting this decision for weeks, the time has come to let this blog go. I’m shifting attention to the other parts of my business, particularly the Sell Your Writing Online site since I have a responsibility to the subscribers.
It has been a great joy and exciting adventure writing about web writing, and I’m glad I’ve been able to inspire and commiserate with many of you along the way. Like I said, it’s a decision that I’ve been fighting for several weeks but the time has come. You can only ignore your intuition for so long before it yells in your face!
I’ve decided to turn this site into a static resource for web writers. Hopefully, these changes will be made in the next few weeks.
Thank you for your support and I look forward to interacting with you in different venues!
Geekiness and Blogging Burn Out
Although I’ve been afraid to admit it, I’m burnt out on blogging. Well, on writing in general. It’s not writing’s fault at all….it’s entirely my own for overbooking my own schedule and foolishly assuming that I’m some kind of content writing machine. (”20 articles? On Christmas Eve? No problem!”) Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit…but the thought of having to write more at the end of a long day of writing has been less than appealing.
I really don’t know how some writers who blog do it consistently enough to develop a post a day, or even several. Maybe they aren’t freelancing? Maybe they don’t have kids? Maybe they are just cooler than I am and I should bow down now? Whatever the reason, that’s neither here nor there.
I began to think about why I started blogging, and what this blog has evolved into. And I realized more and more that it has become less about my voice and more about self-imposed rigidness (”Do I have anything profound and worthy to say today?” - normally the answer is no) Then I realized I don’t blog more because I’ve made it work and not fun. And I keep comparing myself to others. And worrying about whether what I am writing is interesting.
Here’s where the geekiness comes in. I am a big Stark Trek nerd. On second thought, maybe I’m a medium sized Star Trek nerd. I watched The Next Generation just like any other good Gen X/Echo Boomer crossover did, and cyber-stalk Wil Wheaton (aka Wesley Crusher).
Just as I am having these thoughts today about being burnt out on blogging and writing, I read Wil Wheaton’s post today. In a wonderful rambling account of his movie watching habits in the last two weeks, he has this gem:
“….write what you want to, write what’s on your mind, and don’t worry about who is reading it. It’s such simple and logical advice, but clearly isn’t easy to absorb and put into practice, because I need to remind myself about it at least twice a year. I used to worry a lot about wasting people’s time with my blog, but now I save that obsessing for my books.”
He also had some good insights on your 30s which, having just turned 29, really spoke to me.
So what’s the point? Maybe there is none. And maybe that’s the point in and of itself - in an attempt to be “lesson-y” (aka high and mighty) like other blogs, I lost any drive to blog at all. I suppose I just wanted to bring this passage to light for any other web writers who are feeling their muse has taken extended leave in the Carribean while they sit staring at a blank screen.
A new motto to ponder: blog more and worry less.
I have not fallen off the Planet Earth…I promise!
I was totally ashamed when I logged in today and realized it had been nearly 2 weeks since my last blog post! I knew it had been a while, but I didn’t think I was that far behind. I don’t know how that I happened. Well, actually I do.
In the past two weeks, I’ve been:
-celebrating my daughter’s third birthday
-putting an offer in on our first house
-dealing with a fried motherboard and a loaner computer
Not to mention updating, organizing and overhauling Sell Your Writing Online and trying desperately to catch up on my client projects.
Yep…I’ve been a busy little bee! But there are more blog posts to come this week.
Speaking of that loaner computer, it’s my dad’s laptop and I had to show off my mom’s “creative” approach to fixing the problem of the letter displays flaking off the keys. Just in case you all want to save $10 on keyboard decals, you can always use this DIY approach.
Festive, isn’t it? I think my husband and I are going to treat him to some proper decals before we return the laptop on Friday.
Start ‘08 off right with quality writing classes
If you need a kick in the writing pants or just want to re-find your inspiration, check out the writing classes that Hope Wilbanks will be offering in the new year. See the details on the classes.
Anyone know a good Wordpress tweaker?
I need help! I’m not looking for a custom template, I just want to tweak this one….but my attempts to do so have obviously screwed things up, as you can see from my header.
Can anyone help me out or know someone who can?
If you build it, they WON’T come
Unlike Kevin Costner, we bloggers don’t have the luxury of building a blog and having it filled with dead baseball players, I mean, visitors automatically. At first, we all blog to no one. But eventually, visitors start to trickle in. Before you know it, you have a community of followers.
My promotion for this blog has been on the back burner for a while. I know there are those of you out there who are regular readers, but how did you get here?
I’ve mainly used signature links in forum posts to “advertise” my blog. I’ve commented on other blogs, too, and also joined My Blog Log. Other than that, I’ve been a lazy blog promoter.
How have you promoted your blog and what has worked best for you?
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