I knew it was too good to last. I just knew it.
January and February were both really good reading and blogging months: I was getting lots of great reading done, I was scheduling ahead of myself on the blog, I did some major housekeeping going through all of my tags and categories, I had reviews written in advance, some discussions on the go… It was all looking peachy.
March landed, and everything seemed to go down the drain. I got into a reading slump or two, the blog took a bit of a hit, and even worse – it’s rolled into April as well. I’ve been debating what I should do when it comes to scheduling and content – what content I should keep and what I should get rid of, how much time and effort I can realistically put in to blogging along with my other commitments (the ones that pay bills!)… Then, I stumbled upon Ashley’s post called Lessons Learned From A Three Year Blogger, and it really struck a chord with me.
This is just one of many posts I’ve seen over the past couple of months that talk about using filler posts on your blog, about creating original content that you’d want to read yourself, and about taking a step back to really think about what you want your blog to say. Ideally, I like posting Monday to Friday, and when things are going well it isn’t too much of an issue because I enjoy doing posts like Top Ten Tuesday and Tags – so, they’re here to stay for now (though I need to get back to posting my TTTs in the morning and not at 9pm like I did yesterday…).
But where does that leave everything else?
Well, I want my blog to have good, steady and original content. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen all by itself. Blogging really does take much more effort than I think we even give ourselves credit for. So, I’m taking the plunge. This weekend, I’m dedicating some time to my blog – I’m going to get on the ball with the collaborative features (Brandie, Stef and Joey, get ready for some emails!), I’m going to branch out a little topic-wise (brace yourselves!), and I’m going to write up the 30-odd posts that are sitting in my drafts… OK, maybe I won’t write up them all this weekend, but I am going to make a serious effort. This Book Geek is getting her mojo back!
Over to you – have you ever had a mini-blog meltdown? Ever taken a step back and completely re-jigged what you do? I feel like I’m having a blogestential crisis so any and all opinions are welcome!
Confessions of a Book Geek 
I’ve definitely gone through something similar recently. I just haven’t had the time or energy to dedicate to the blog and this led to me feeling very ambivalent about blogging. Now it’s the Easter hold and I have a bit of time before school goes back, I’m trying to get ahead with blogging and get my ‘mojo’ back. Best of luck with your blogging hangover. Hoping mine shifts soon.
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Uhhh, those are EXACTLY the words I was struggling to find!! Ambivalent about blogging… I think I have felt that way for 4 or so weeks now, but I’m emerging from my cocoon and ready to get scheduling! I definitely have some ideas swirling round, so I need to get them typed up and maybe even attempt to take a photo or two (!) and see if I can pull myself out of this mini rut! We can do it!! R x
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I think you’re getting on the right track with all the changes you have planned. 🙂
It is nice to be able to post on a schedule (like Monday through Friday) but it’s important to not FORCE it to happen. If it happens, that’s awesome. But if you worry about skipping a day, or two, or three, blogging is going to be stressful and you’re going to be disappointed in yourself. It’s good to accept that you’re not ALWAYS going to be able to post, and that’s okay. The universe will keep turning in your absence, and your readers aren’t going anywhere. 🙂
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Thanks, Ashley. I really needed a boot up the bum and your post just came along at the right time to make me think of WHY I started this blog in the first place and that I need to get the words out of my head and on the page/screen, as opposed to just putting up “easier” posts just to post something. Does that waffle make any sense?? Lol I’m definitely going to be less concerned about the frequency but work a little more on the quality of the content – or at least try to, there’s no guarantee my content is “quality” at all lol! R x
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I went into a horrible reading slump last year (3 weeks, THAT’S LONG), and I felt I couldn’t post anything so I went into a 2-week hiatus, which was really refreshing 🙂 You’re not at all a bad blogger. I’ve had those times when I couldn’t post anything, but that’s okay. Because one thing I learned while blogging was to not let the blog RUN YOU. I mean, YOU RUN THE BLOG, and not the other way around. So if you can’t seem to find the time to blog and feed your readers, then it’s okay because we all understand that life gets in the way 🙂
So take a step back and don’t stress about it. Book blogging isn’t like school where you’re obliged to do stuff. It’s about having fun! It won’t be fun if you’re always stressed right? 🙂
Jillian @ Jillian’s Books
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I’m just slumping all over the place at the minute, Jillian! I’m not feeling too bad about not posting as frequently, when I first started blogging it felt like I HAD to have something up Monday-Friday, but the first time that didn’t happen, the world didn’t end and I felt OK. I think I’m getting more agitated at the lack of effort I’ve been making lately when it comes to original content and not just participating in memes. When I don’t post as frequently I see a drop in the number of views the blog gets too and it can be difficult to not let that get to you. BUT onwards and upwards from this weekend, right? Thanks for commenting! R x
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I HAVE MISSED YOU!!! I can definitely tell you’ve been busy lately, and I get that. It’s part of life, and I totally understand. I’m actually being a really bad blogger lately too…I haven’t done any reviews and that’s shameful. I need to catch up on that. I was in a really bad book funk and wasn’t feeling inspired to do anything. Can you send some of your blogging mojo my way?! Lol.
Don’t stress about it! Blogging is supposed to be for fun, and when it becomes more like a job, it loses the fun! Do what you can do and know we’re all going to be here. 🙂 xx
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Ah, you make me want to cry! Lol I miss posting more frequently, and I miss actually writing something from my brain!! I’ve probably been more distracted lately than busy as such, and I’m just about to hit a busy patch when I decide I want to revamp the blog. My timing is terrible lol I found out on Monday I passed my last exam for this Health and Safety diploma, and now I have a thesis to write by the second week of May… If I have hair left by the end of May it will be a miracle. I’m telling you B, this weekend I’m HITTING it!
I was reading We All Looked Up, and I was enjoying the writing style, but it was slooooow, I still haven’t finished it, and now I don’t know if I want to. Hmpf. I’m having a quiet weekend this week, I’ll make a start on my thesis and I’m definitely going to schedule on the blog – I’ve a couple of ideas for posts, but they’re time consuming… ah well..
Aw, thank you. It’s nice to know even when I disappear for a little while all of my fellow Book Geeks are still here when I come back 😀 R xx
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I haven’t been having a good blog lately. I intended to review the last 2 books I read, but didn’t and now it’s too late (I have to review before I start another book. Idk why, but I just can’t do it once I’ve immersed myself in a new book). I enjoy TTT and rags occasionally, but I don’t want my blog to be completely those.
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I find it really difficult to go back and review books when I’ve moved on to a new one – my thoughts aren’t as fresh and I generally don’t take notes when I’m reading a physical book, so it makes writing the review more difficult. I don’t want my blog to be completely memes, tags and even reviews – I want to write more content, so I’m going to give myself a kick this weekend and see if I can get the creative juices flowing – here’s to both of us!! R x
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Good luck! I’d like to do some original content, but I’m not very good at that. I would settle for just actually reviewing the books I read.
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Ditto! We will get on it. For my discussions or rants, I generally respond to a hot topic in the community at the time and throw my two cents in! R x
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In May it will be four years since I started Blogging, and I’ve seen so many bloggers come and go. My Blogroll is almost a memorial to my early days and contacts, and I here little from any of them, yet I have new followers who comment although no doubt they will find better ways to spend their time in due course. Content is always a bit of a problem as we both know, but something seems to come out of the brainwork one way and another. I’m delighted to see you still Blogging, and congratulations, because I know what that means 🙂
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It’s a shame when a blogger “leaves” the community, but nice that you have a way of remembering them too. I reached the first year mark this month, and I finally decided to buy my domain, which made me feel more committed to it, but I’m struggling at the minute with finding time and inspiration for good, original content. I know I have it in me, I’m just going to have to dig a little deeper… Thanks for commenting, Peter, and for your words of encouragement!
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I have been going through the same thing the past two months! We need to remember not to let this stress us too much- since we do it for fun!
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Very true!! A couple of posts, but especially that one of Ashley’s, gave me the jump start I needed to actually DO something about how I’m feeling though. And ironically, even the post about feeling like this has gotten a good response, and is making me feel better already! R x
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Almost three years down the road, I’ve had a HUGE blog meltdown because I wasn’t producing the content that I wanted to produce. I felt like a blog clone and was no longer happy. So, I changed my blog name, changed my review policy, and changed my content to include books I want to read and subjects I would want answers to or am curious about. I changed my playground in a sense, too. I kept a few older things that I always posted, but outed a lot of things. I’ve never been happier. I no longer feel overwhelmed and have made so many more book friends. Yay to your mojo coming back home!
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Thanks for commenting, Kathy! Blog clone is a great way of putting it too! I have ideas sometimes, even wee ones, and I let them float through my head instead of putting them down and developing them into a post – that’s one thing I want to work on for discussions. The other thing I want to do, and have done before, is really put the legwork into a post – you know those ones that need time to develop, or research to accomplish. I want to actually think about things and write something meaningful. So while I’ll be keeping the Top Ten Tuesdays, and the Tags, I’ll also (hopefully) be sharing a bit more of me and my thoughts on the blog too, as more of a creative outlet, and branching out topic wise to include more things that I do in my life! Here’s hoping mojo is on the way and doesn’t need a sat nav! R x
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I don’t like giving myself too strict a schedule because then I end up panicking that I don’t have a post done on time. When I first started doing discussion posts, I planned to do it every week and then quickly realized I’d be stressing out every week trying to get it done and I didn’t want my blog to be a place to stress. The same thing goes for reviews. I’m trying to let myself have more freedom if I can’t,for whatever reason, write a review for a particular book. I think a part of the stress is trying to balance your wishes with what you perceive your readers’ wishes to be. Blogging is an ongoing learning experience and I’m not sure any of us have mastered it yet, which I suppose is equally reassuring as well as disheartening for those of us who need everything figured out (Type A personality, anyone?).
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I used to have a strict schedule like that, and I remember the panic when I thought I wouldn’t be able to stick with it. I’m much more relaxed about it now, but I became too relaxed for a little while and was hardly posting anything. A little more effort required, me thinks! I find I can’t plan discussions etc. in, they just kind of happen. I’m going to try and get better at writing my post ideas down so I have a little resource pool to fall back on. I haven’t finished a book in a little while, so I’m really review light at the minute, but I’m hoping that will change by the end of the month. That’s an excellent point about balancing your wishes with that of your readers – and sometimes I’m OK with just blogging for me, and if someone else enjoys it that’s great, and sometimes I want to make more of an effort and actually feel like a “blogger”, does that make sense? R x
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It does make sense! My blog is mostly for me, but I’d be lying if I said I’m never influenced by other bloggers or readers.
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You can do it! I haven’t found the time to do some advance posts, but I’m at least inspired to write a review as soon as I finished a book. Looking forward to reading your posts!
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Every now and then I get a burst of inspiration and will schedule three weeks or so in advance, but it rarely happens!! I love when it does though, it feels so good to have posts scheduled! Thanks for your encouragement, Joy! R x
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My first year or so I really struggled with this. But this year, starting right after New Years, I’ve really made a commitment. I have posted daily for the last 3 months or so (which is a HUGE accomplishment for me), and I’ve been getting more creative about what I’m posting. I’ve committed to being more engaged on other people’s blogs too, and it’s been very good for me. I’d like to start getting into collaborative features more now that I’ve sorted out my own preferences & schedules.
Great post!
~ Liza @ Classy Cat Books
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That is a massive accomplishment! Well done!
I’m trying to branch out a little too, and dedicating a little more time at weekends to getting posts written up. I find when I’m scheduled ahead of myself I love blogging so much more! I’m a big fan of collaborative features, they usually take longer to do, but they’re fun and usually make for great posts! R x
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I started My blog a year ago, with my own domain name and everything, I figured if I paid for it that it would give me insentive to keep things up. However I have let things slip and don’t post as often as I should I am trying to get my own blog ball rolling once again as I really hit a slump. so here it to updating more often and making the content your veiwers want to read.
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I finally took the plunge and bought my domain name about a week ago – it’s made the blog feel more like “mine”. I think we all go through peaks and troughs with blogging, and reading! I know I had a couple of really good months there, but life and my mood in general meant I fell off the bandwagon – but even posting about that helped me get my mojo back, now I just need to get some more reviews up! Thanks for commenting, Emily, here’s to you finding your blogging mojo! R x
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I wish I could give advice but I am still going through my blog crisis and am not out the other side yet. I AM TRYING THOUGH! A new full time job as a manager is not helping though. I AM EXHAUSTED!!! But… here I am visiting other blogs and I HAVE MISSED IT! ❤ It's nice to just be back and reading other peoples blogs.
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I think it happens to all of us at some point, Charnell. That’s what I’ve noticed anyways, and I think part of dealing with it is to not get stressed out about it, as hard as that is. This is a super supportive community, and I’ve noticed that when you bounce back, 99% of those smiley book-loving faces are still here waiting to chat. That’s pretty amazing. You definitely are trying, and doing well. I always click on to one of your new posts as soon as it comes up in my reader. Your new job is massively important, so it makes sense it would be taking up a lot of energy. It’s nice to have you back too ❤ R x
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I KNOW exactly how you feel, I promise.
I had to get away for everything and I pretty much picked up and left for six months. I was in and out but never really here. So at the end of 2014, I kicked ALL my memes, expect STS and thought up a bunch of new ones. I didn’t want to post as I went, so in December, I still had no content because I was getting Jan ready to be a kickass month. So if you want to take a break to post some amazing content, I suggest that. I would rather wait and post AMAZING stuff than stuff I don’t 100% believe in.
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It’s great to know so many others can empathise!
I completely agree with you too – things are a little sporadic around here while I kick my ass into gear and do some scheduling! Thanks for commenting 😀 R x
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Reading slumps really hurt my blog. I never have my posts done up in advance… I’m really really bad at that. If I have something scheduled 24 hours before it’s supposed to go up, it’s a miracle. And I’ve been doing that for 3 years, so I guess it works for me?? I totally agree with the post from Nose Graze about posting what you like to read. That only makes sense. Even if it means not posting as much as you would like to. Quality > Quantity, ya know? I post on average 2-3 times a week. That’s pretty much all I can handle and still have my blog be fun 🙂
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I wish I could schedule more often, when I’m on the ball I LOVE it, I love knowing I have two weeks worth of posts ready to go. If it works for you, keep doing it your way!! R x
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Oh, I definitely get it! Sometimes, it is just so HARD. Especially with life getting in the way, and you are just too drained to go on. And I kind of need to know if you got 30 posts done because if so, you are my HERO. Scratch that, if you got THREE done, you are my hero 😉 I have spent all weekend (well, as much as I could!) working on it, and I haven’t gotten 3, OR finished commenting from the week. The struggle is real, I feel your pain. Try to give yourself a break when you need to (and I will try to take my own advice hahha).
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HHAHAHAHAHAAH. Nope. I didn’t get them scheduled. I got a couple done, but not as many as I would have liked. I was stuck though because I was in a reading slump too, so I didn’t have any reviews to schedule as I was all caught up. Pleased to report I’ve since finished two books, and I’m halfway through a third, and this is a bank holiday weekend in the UK, so I WILL be getting scheduling done this weekend! Let’s do this!! R x
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[…] Ashley @ Nose Graze shares her lessons learned for 3 years of blogging *warning* this post inspired my blogestential crisis! […]
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[…] Confession: I’m Being A Bad Blogger […]
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I have been blogging since 2009. I know that blogger burn out is real. These days, I post when I want (which is almost daily anyways now), and I post things I want to read. I am not wining any popularity contests anymore, but I am really excited about my blog. I find it really hard to schedule posts ahead of time. Usually I am happy to have them scheduled for the next day, or in 6 hours when I wake up. The thing about reading burn out posts is that, for me, sometimes it causes burn out. I try to look for the little gem of advice buried within the post now and not take to heart how people feel in the midst of it all.
This too shall pass.
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Wow. 2009?! Go you! One year felt like an achievement for me, because I think by then you know if you’re going to stick it out for a good while or not, and you get more comfy in your space. But, to blog for that long, I’ll get back to you when I know how that feels! Lol R x
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I’ve been in a horrible slump lately. I just haven’t been able to keep up with everything and I can’t seem to work up the energy to try really hard (I’m just getting through the July discussion posts now, for instance!). Hope it passes. Sigh.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
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It happens, Nicole. Probably more often to me than I would care to admit, but we catch up and keep going!! The joy of blogging! R x
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