I met a great writer recently who just put up a post on his blog potentially “putting it to bed.” He had been at it for over five years and had started feeling drained. I don’t think he’s officially shutting down the site, but he’s stepping back to see how (and if) he can get back to the writing he had originally set out to do.
I really want to give him a hug.
When you set out to write something like a blog, your reasons could be all over the place. You wanted to write because you have passionate opinions around a certain topic. You thought blogging would get you to try something new. You just love the act of writing on a regular basis. For me, I started my site because I had an opinion about a pretty specific area (generational issues). You have probably noticed that I don’t exactly stick to that topic religiously. In fact, I haven’t written a truly “generational” post in a while.
Everything evolves over time. We get new jobs, we gain new interests, and we often drop things in the process of picking up new ones. Sometimes it sucks to make room, but we have to. Unfortunately, even if we are ecstatic about the new possibilities, we still mourn when something old must be given up.
What might be the most frustrating for writers is that readers see this process of evolution. Especially if it’s a blog, readers are front and center to our highs and lows. When I feel like I’m wandering, they see it. It drives me nuts, but there are times when I just don’t have the energy to put discipline back into blogging.
I want you to know I am not shutting off my site. I am not ready to put this to bed.
But I can honestly say that I understand why writers need to step back and look at their work. You want to assess if you’re sticking to what you had set out to do. The struggle you see is that sometimes people aren’t sure if it’s okay if things are different. The original motivation may have been honorable, but it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice something new or better to hold on to your first intention.
It’s okay when the time for closure has come. When you put something to bed, you have to remember that there is a morning that follows.
Emily, this is such an important post and valuable perspective. Blogging can be both uplifting and exhausting. So often, it’s those who comment who do the most to keep bloggers going. Their feedback mostly stokes our motivation but also drain it. Your suggestion that our blogs often need to go on hiatus is terrific. This way we bloggers can rejuvenate our energies and the experiences that fuel what we write. Thanks for this great piece! ~Dawn
Thank you Dawn. I know for me, leaving school gives me a chance to take another look at my blog. While I was too busy with papers and exams, posting was something I wanted to make sure I kept doing, but I didn’t put much structure around the posts. I think I’m in a position to do that again, but I want to make a good decision. Just like we do performance reviews for jobs, this is a good time for me to do that with my blog. Thanks for the comment!
I’ve had thoughts very similar to those expressed in this post. My own blog has been neglected and updated only here and there, but it’s gotten to a point where I can’t force anything and I feel motivated to write about very few things.
While I would like to think that we’re taking breaks in order to explore new things and to allow ourselves to find new inspiration, I guess that only time will tell. Also, life gets in the way, and my own has definitely gotten in the way for the past year or so. It sounds as if you know what that’s like, wrapping up your MBA and moving to Fort Worth. I hope you enjoy your time there. It’s a great big small town.
Jake, I think you’re right: when you start feeling like you have to force the writing, perhaps it’s not what you wanted to do. There’s a tricky balance between exercising your writing skills and forcing the issue. Perhaps that’s why writer’s block ends up feeling like a self-perpetuating cycle. I know the writer from that blog I mention above suddenly felt like he had more direction once he wrote about losing his way a bit.
And yes, I’m enjoying Fort Worth right now. I live across the street from a bakery, life’s pretty awesome.
Totally agree with your input! Although I have to say that I find it hard to let go of something that I worked hard for. I understand that something new and possibly better has come but its just so hard for me to let go.