That feeling.
But I got busy with other things and before I knew it, I was finding myself trying to remember if a day was a blog day or not. It doesn't take long.
What I have noticed, however, is feeling more pressure than I ever did when I was cranking out a post a night. Now that I've offloaded my quantity issues, I'm struggling with quality issues. I feel as though every post must earn its place. I'm tossing ideas around in my head wondering if they're worthy enough to throw out there. Before, I'd be grabbing at every passing thought trying to extrapolate 500 words from it. Now, I'm discarding more posts than I'm writing - before they're even written.
The jury is out as to whether this is a good thing or not. On one hand, I do have an ongoing document on my computer that contains a whole lot of snippets - ideas, thoughts, fragments. Most of it will never see the light of day on this blog, but some of it may turn up in other forms (heavily fictionalised, for instance) down the track.
On the other hand, I spent a considerable amount of time the other night fitting the names of my favourite blogs into the tune of the Twelve Days of Christmas before trashing the whole thing as ludicrous. (Despite 'Frills - In - The - Hills' being gobsmackingly perfect for the 'Five Gold Rings' line.)
Quality versus quantity. Sometimes less is more pressure.
How often do you blog? Has your pattern changed since you started blogging?
[image: hautegreenhutch/etsy]
Sometimes I blog all day a bit like a collage adding things that I want to remember like this morning with the cakes I made it does not have to be prose or extremely interesting to someone else.
ReplyDeleteOh! Frills in the Hills *does* fit perfectly! And is now an ear worm.
ReplyDeleteOver my blogging years I have done pretty much every schedule possible. Daily, weekly, Tuesday/Friday, rarely, etc. These days I have settled down to a minimum of three a week, usually written in advance on the weekend, with occasional bursts of productivity during the week. And now and again I don't even make the three a week, but That Is Life.
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ReplyDeleteIt's three times a week for me following 2-3 memes. I don't think I could manage more, yet I wonder if I might be more prolific if I kept the juices flowing more regularly. Who knows. I've a number of posts done or barely started that will probably not see the light of day either. I'd like to be more organised about editing and scheduling in advance but sometimes I just have to follow the inspiration whenever and wherever.
ReplyDeleteAh, this post is so timely for me Allison. I am quite irregular with my blogging at the moment. I'm finding it difficult to keep up with churning posts out every day, because I like them to be a substantial piece... ie. quality. To achieve this, I have to limit the number I do each week. Add to this, the hectic nature of life around this time of year and it just seems enough for me to post every couple of days... or take a break over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteAlso a timely piece for me! I just wrote a post today about how I'm going to try to write more posts -- but much shorter than my usual 2,000-word bruisers. I've found that because I usually only write one long post per week (or, ahem, every 2 weeks as the case has been lately) that I focus way too much on nit-picking and editing and then double-guess everything I do. I'm hoping that by writing more, I'll actually spend less time freaking out about each detail. Or, at least, that's my hope! We'll see!
ReplyDeleteI'm dealing with this in reverse. Having completed NaBloPoMo, I've decided I want to blog more often and am having to get used to the idea of letting go of my perfection a bit more. Not that my quality has ever been that good! :)
ReplyDeleteTinsenpup, no way, you're one of my faves!
ReplyDeleteThis has been and still is my constant blogging issue. When? How often? I think its important to have a schedule and show up when you say you do.
I think the experts who say 'you should blog daily' are referring to the building side of blogging. My struggle with this is I don't think my regulars really need to hear from me 5 times a week.
To me, 3 times a week seems perfect (although I am yet to fill the gap you left on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.)
I blog when I feel inspired. the only schedule I have started following is a photo post on Wordless Wednesday and today I am going to start motivational monday. that's it. keeps it simple, keeps it fun.
ReplyDeleteNot so surprisingly, I blog every day over at You learn something new every day. Some days are harder than others. You can tell I've had a slow-learning day when I post something like 'Snakes don't have toes' at 11.59pm.
ReplyDeleteI did every single fecking day last year, for a whole year. Never want to feel THAT pressure again. Mad.
ReplyDeleteNow I am at about 5 times a week - but I have had a lovely spell of guest posts, which brings relief.
I am planning on moving to 3 or 4 posts a week for the first half next year.
And then after that, who know? ;-)
Al, can I suggest you don't need to stress about quality? Or stress about your blog much at all? It's tops.
xx
I want to see that 12 days of Christmas song!!! x
ReplyDeleteI have to say I agree with you here.
ReplyDeleteThe less you post, the more you want to pull out something that has everyone talking. I guess because you're not giving your readers more to comment on you feel like you need to make what you say count and it can be hard. Especially if you're having an off day when it's your day to blog.
As I've become more involved with my work, activities at my son's school (p & c and school council)and dealing with my mother becoming a widow, I find that I have less time to blog. At first I thought I should be 'growing' my blog in readership and income but then I realise that it was my hobby, not my life. My life comes before the blog and if some days I put up a small post with a music clip to reflect how I'm feeling, then that's ok.
ReplyDeleteI was actually thinking to myself that your three times a week schedule is working a treat! I reckon your blog has gone up another notch (not that it even needed to!). I am no professional. Like everything in my life I follow no routine and fit it in when I can :-) x
ReplyDeleteWooo!! A bit of pressure there from Sister C! Gone up another notch!
ReplyDeleteI think if you're a fan, then you're a fan. I have always pretty much loved every post Al ... now they are less frequent but just as good. I don't think you need to worry too much about taking them up a level!
I started out wondering if I could think of enough stuff to post everyday, and I did for quite a while, although there's not so much in words, I tend to use a lot of photos. I still post most days, only missing one or two now and again, but I don't feel the pressure to "make it worthwhile". I just put up whatever pops into my head. I'm not trying to be a "writer", I'm just enjoying being part of the blog community.
ReplyDeleteI have found my rhythm at the moment and blog four days a week and Saturdays for I'm Grateful for...
ReplyDeleteIt's working for now, so will go with that for now.
I too have so many drafts and bits and pieces clogging up my blogging folder!
And I so want to read that Twelve Days of Christmas piece!
It feels as though we're all going through a bit of a patch at the moment - I thought it was just me!! After a year of blogging nearly every day, I'm now struggling to get my thoughts on the hard drive once a week. This is mainly because my best posts happen in my head. I guess I just don't want to write drivel. Maybe I should stop altogether then, ha!!!
ReplyDeleteThis blogging thing can drive you nuts if you're not careful. I'm also thinking about how to continue this thing at the moment.
ReplyDeleteDuring 2010 I had a yearly plan.It was stressful for a lot of reasons.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it goes against my personality type, I'm aiming for a go with the flow approach to 2011.
I would really love to read your Twelve Days of Christmas post.
I used to just post whenever I found time...but sometimes weeks would go by and nothing. So I started writing tons of posts and scheduling them. One comes out everyday, occasionally I have to log in and change the order to fit my mood, but now when I get the writing urge I just write rather than save it for another time. I schedule!
ReplyDeleteI'm now into week 3 of blogger burnout from blogging every day... but I'm still writing magazine articles behind the scenes, running a business and dealing with the end of the school year. When I was blogging once a week, it was about quality, in just the same way as it was blogging daily...
ReplyDeleteI might miss your daily posts, but there has certainly been no drop off in quality! I'm sure you're getting a lot of other important stuff done now too, rather than replying to all our comments!