The online community of writers is such an important resource for all of us. Writers share a ton of industry information, are supportive when we hit writing or industry snags, and offer tips and friendship through their blogs.
But sometimes, we all get a little burned out.
I was skimming through my Google reader and read this post writer Anne Annie ran on her blog, in favor of “slow blogging:”
BUT, and this is a big BUT—blogging takes a humongous chunk out of your writing time. Bloggers are usually advised to post every day. AND run contests and giveaways to bring in more followers. AND post on all their followers’ blogs. AND generally let the blog run their lives.
Which makes bloggers carry a little wad of guilt around any time they’re doing something else—like nurturing offspring, earning a living, or actually working on a manuscript. How many blog posts have you read recently that consisted of apologies for not blogging?
So I’d like to take this opportunity to say YOU DON’T NEED TO BLOG EVERY DAY. If you want to do a daily blog, and it’s not taking away from your creative work, that’s great. But if you’re just starting out, I recommend a once-a-week blog like this one, or even once-a-month.
Anne starts out her post being very supportive of blogging and gives reasons why writers should have a blog—so she’s definitely pro-blog.
I think, though, that writers are juggling so much anyway, then being creative on top of it—and then want to have a daily blog with top-notch content. I think that’s doable, but it’s tough to maintain.
If you’re a blogger who needs some ideas from time to time (and I think we all are), then here are some useful articles I’ve bookmarked (many from months ago) that I think are helpful:
The Massive List of Ideas for Blog Posts—from The Abundance Blog
10 Sure Cures for Blogging Burnout—from WordCount
The 9 Essential Posts that Every Blogger Should know—from NorthxEast
Need copyright-free images? 30 Free Image Resources on the Web: These sites are great—but make sure you’re in the copyright free section…sometimes there’ll be other sections.
Hope these help! I’d also add that if you find yourself leaving a really long comment on someone else’s blog post, that’s a sign that you might do well to write your own post exploring the subject—and link back to the original article that inspired your post.
Have you got any other blogging burnout ideas or thoughts?
My suggestion is to NOT post daily. Consider one’s followers as well. If they follow 100 + blogs, how can they possibly keep up with daily posts everywhere? I think daily is too much and will bring on burn out from both the blogger and the followers. It’s a personal choice, and no one should feel guilt or stress over how they choose to manage their own blog. Which means, if you want to post daily go for it, but don’t feel you HAVE to post x- amounts of times.
I know a certain Elizabeth Spann Craig, who not only blogs daily, her content maintains the same high standards every day. If she can do it, it can be done!
Taking breaks.
Scheduling posts.
Not feeling pressured to do ANYTHING pertaining to blogging unless you want to.
Teresa
Elizabeth – Rayna is right! Your own example shows that it can be done. But I do like your resources – thanks : ). I think everyone needs to step away once in a while, too, if burnout becomes a problem. Even a bit of a change of scene can be helpful.
I only blog a couple of times a week and that works for me. I do find it hard to keep up with the others I follow, but I’m learning to not feel guilty as long as hit their blogs at least once a week. :)
My burnout remedy? Allowing myself the luxury of not feeling guilty when I don’t post.
I also may have reached the point where I don’t measure my self-worth by comment traffic. That’s helpful too.
:)
I’m bookmarking this post. This is all great information that I can really use. Thanks so much. I don’t know how you post every day.
Sometimes I’ll write posts ahead of time and then schedule them for a day in the future. That way, I have the day off blogging and can focus on writing. I love blogging though, I find it gives me a surge of energy.
CD
Thanks for the pointers. I post 3 original blog posts a week, have 1 guest a week, and share photos on Fridays which are up all weekend.
I’m not burned out … yet. I find coming up with blog posts keeps me in ‘writing’ mode. I’ve been blogging for 4 years, so when I burn out, I’ll find an old post and revamp or republish, because I think my readership has changed over the years, so it’s probably new to a lot of folks (or they’ve forgotten it)
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
I usually post about four blogs a week, although this past couple weeks its been almost one a day. Guess I had a lot to say. I’ll tone it back down to four a week since I have so much other stuff going on at the moment.
Stephen Tremp
These links are great! I like to prepare my posts on the weekend. Then I have the week to comment on blogs and, more important, work on my writing.
That was good advice about leaving long comments. I have felt that urge, when writing a longer comment, to write up my own post about it, and often have done just that. I feel like I’ve given a sneak peak to the blogger that inspired it. I’ve settled into posting 3X a week, and that feels just right. Blogging has enhanced my writing and my writing motivation!
I only blog once a week, but I’m always looking for blog ideas, so thanks for the links. I have a strong admiration for you and other daily bloggers – I honestly don’t see how you do it and do it so well.
You blog is an example of a really fabulous blog. I was just reading a post where the author is following so many blogs that she has divided them up into days. She doesn’t go visit each one each day, but one day of the week. I think that’s an idea that can help manage your time and keep you from forgetting bloggers.
Helen
Timely post, Elizabeth. I talked about the blogging challenges this morning.
I love blogging, and I want to stay connected with this community of writers, I just need to be realistic with what I can handle right now.
I’m edging towards posting once or twice a week rather than three times, until after the new baby is here.
I give you credit Elizabeth for posting as often as you do. When I started my blog, I tried to post everyday, but did not have the time or the ideas. Now I post 1-2 times a week. Thanks for the resources!
Thanks for the links. I post every other day, although I tend to check the blogs I follow every day. However, some days I am a proud slacker and miss a few!
Karen–I think you’re making a good point. If you *want* to blog daily, that’s fine, but don’t expect people to be able to swing by and *read* it daily.
Rayna–You’re nice! And you’re doing the same at Coffee Rings Everywhere!
Simon–Another good point. Comments come and go…there’s really no rhyme or reason to it.
Journaling Woman–Well said!
Margot–A change of scene can really help, it’s true.
Clarissa–I think of it that way, too–like a writing prompt almost.
Jemi–There are only so many hours in the day! And everyone understands that since we’re all in the same boat with writing, blogging, and having a life at the same time.
Stephen–You’re on a blogging roll!
Laura–That sounds like a schedule that makes a lot of sense!
Carol–You’re so welcome! I’m not sure how I do either. :) But it does get me in writing mode.
Mary–And then the blogger who inspired the post is happy, too! It’s a great way to get inspiration and to pass on great blogs to other readers.
Jane–And I really admire your Monday post! It’s always very well-researched and informative.
Helen–I think that’s the *perfect* way to keep blog commenting from getting too crazy!
Terry–I like the way you’ve set yours up–and you have the weekends off. If I ever change what I’m doing, that’s probably the direction I’d go in.
Jessica–Everything I read says that as long as you update your blog once a week, you’re keeping your readers and getting ranked well on Google. :)
Alex–Now somehow I can’t put “slacker” and “Alex” into the same sentence! You’re always so on top of things.
Tamika–I think that’s a really good idea. I remember how tired I was during my last pregnancy–seemed like I slept most of the day!
Much as I love blogging, I can’t manage to write more than one post a week, or occasionally two. I’m such a perfectionist I’d rather take the time to produce my best – and of course, there’s the WIP to write as well. I take my hat off to you more frequent fliers, though!
Glad to read that so many people are not blogging every day. I feel so guilty if I don’t but I’d really rather be working on my book when I am not working at my paying gig. I think I will set a schedule and only update three or four times a week.
What I have been doing a lot lately is using material sent to me by other writers. I use book reviews sent by Carl Brookins and some humor from a humor writer, Tracy Farr. Both send me content to use for the added exposure it gives them. My readers seem to enjoy those posts, especially the humor.
Elizabeth – what a terrific post, thank you!
I don’t blog every day, and have no schedule. That takes the pressure away, I think, and leaves just the fun back >:)
Cold As Heaven
I’m a recent arrival to the blogosphere ( http://lawandconversation.com/ ) and have only even more recently found my focus–literature from a lawyer’s perspective. I’d love to be posting daily, but I just can’t–Elizabeth is inspirational and shows it can be done, but I’m certainly not Elizabeth! A friend reminded me, when I was feeling bad about that, that the Blog Police are not going to come to arrest me for not posting as frequently as others recommend. Then again, I think I should post with some frequency if I want people to come read my blog. So now I’ve publicly committed to posting twice a week and anticipate that I’ll often post 3x. I’m finding that when I cut a chunk from a post I’m drafting as off topic, that chunk can form the basis of another post, enabling me to post more frequently. And if the posts are short, it seems far more likely that those who drop by will read them!
Helen
This is awesome. Thank you! There are definitely times when my creativity runs dry or I get out of touch with what bloggers are reading and I need ideas. This will help so much!
I laughed when you commented about really long comments. I’ve caught myself writing long comments a few times. Then went, why am I writing this here when it isn’t entirely relevant and would make a great entry on my own blog?
And yes, it is hard for readers to keep up with following several blogs who post daily. Less to read means more time to comment and participate.