We've discussed blogging slumps before but have you ever seriously considered throwing in the towel and quitting blogging? If so, what changed your mind? Did you discuss it with other bloggers?
Yes I have , and it was more so this last year. I wanted to throw in the towel and not review any more books. yes I have been blogging for 6 years , and the last 3 have been about books. Yes I got talked off the cliff from Karen, but I am still thinking about it. I wanted to enjoy reading when its not a job, and I know that I am stressing out from piles like this --------------------------------------------->
But having a good friend in which i could discuss my feelings helped alot. I did send many emails to her talking about this. I enjoy making contacts and reading the books. But this last year was a tough one with staying and blogging. We emailed alot about this topic , and I know that whether or not I am still blogging ...she is still my friend , and so is borrowing the books . So I am at a crossroad with keeping this hobby up and still reviewing books. I do think the book blogging community is great and all the new authors, and friends I have made...but yes I am at a crossroad with going on with blogging. I hope that this answers the question.
I do finally get why so there are so many get burnt out from this.
Why would you give up blogging ?? Did someone help you too ?? Do you get burnt out too ??
Thanks karen and Pam for this topic
It's so exciting when you first start and you want ALL the books lol I think we all hit this point at some time and have to learn how to step back some and not worry about it so much or try to read every single book.
ReplyDeleteEither way you go Julie I'm here for ya! xoxo
xoxo you Karen
Deletestill not sure
There have definitely been a few moments this past year where the blog simply overwhelmed me and it lost some of its luster for me, but like you, I had some blogger friends at the ready to listen and offer suggestions. I've never thought of quitting entirely, but I definitely considered some extended breaks just to give me time to find the fun in it again. Ultimately though, I just kept going and eventually got out of my rut:) I'm so glad you had Karen there as support, and I hope moving forward you simply do what makes you happy:)
ReplyDeleteBlogging friends are the best and yes books do help
DeleteI'm right there with you. I've just decided to cut back on the number of books I accept for review. Right now, I'm almost caught up on review books and when I'm done I'm going to just read books for fun that I've had piling up for awhile. Hopefully that will make blogging fun again.
ReplyDeleteI have stopped the review books being emailed about. Hoping that it becomes fun too.
DeleteI definitely agree with you. I know that my blogging friends will always be my friends and that also takes the pressure off. I totally get about being overwhelmed too, but to be honest, I was always overwhelmed by the books I wanted to read. I do hope you decide to stick around, but I get that 6 years is a long time.
ReplyDeleteYes so many books and so little time. I do too hope to stick around and its the friends are keeping me put.
DeleteSix years is a really long time, so totally understand you wanting to quit. Glad that Karen was able to talk you off the cliff! Like Buckeye Girl, I want to get to the point where I can just read my own books for fun. Love ARCs, but the pressure just isn't worth it.
ReplyDeleteyes totally right about the ARC's but not always worth it. LOl
DeleteI'm there a little bit. Not that I want to give up blogging, but I'm tired of talking about only books.
ReplyDeleteYes I think its always about books :)
DeleteI get stressed from huge to read piles too. i have had to cut back on what books I accept for review, even if they sound really interesting!!
ReplyDeleteYes I stress myself out more with books than I think publishers would LOL
DeleteI totally get the stress, and I think you should congratulate yourself on 6 years of blogging. That's amazing, truly, and I hope you stick around.
ReplyDeleteYep...been there, dragged myself out of the hole. Once I accepted that I was doing the blog for myself and not for anyone else the pressure was relieved. Glad you are still her!
ReplyDeleteGlad I am here too. Yes need to drag myself out of it too LOL
DeleteI bet it gets tiring. As an author, the blogging/marketing aspect gets overwhelming too. I'd hate to see you totally give it up, but I wouldn't blame you for taking a long break or cutting back. YOU have to come first, so just do what's right for you:-)
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to read this response - not because you're thinking of giving up blogging, obviously, but because it's so nice to know I'm not the only one who's been struggling over the last year or so. I love the book blogging community and I've made some brilliant friends, but my blog itself has lost its sheen somewhat. When I look back at the previous year's posts I can see the difference - my writing is more involved, more considered, I reviewed more thoroughly and wrote more discussion posts. At the moment I just don't want to write reviews at all, it feels like a huge homework assignment hanging around my neck!
ReplyDeleteI decided that before I made a decision I should maybe try doing things a little differently around the blog, so that's my current project. Rather than reviewing 'properly', I'm writing ongoing reading journals every week with only a mini review at the end of each book, to keep the bookish conversation more organic and intuitive as I read. It's already saved me feeling like there's tremendous pressure to review really thoroughly at the end of a book, because I've already talked about it, considered different points, and quoted from it as I've been reading.
Will it stop me giving up my blog in the end? Maybe, maybe not. I'm still working a LOT, I still have lots of DVDs and box sets I want to watch alongside my reading (I already cut off my small supply of review copies, I don't need any more!), and I'd still like to remind myself what it feels like to read and enjoy a book WITHOUT constantly thinking about how I'm going to write about it later.
thank you for you comment and nice to know I am not the only struggling.
DeleteI'm glad you've kept up blogging even though i don't comment on your blog as much as I should. But I can understand the temptation to give up. I'm not really in a slump right now as much as I am a plateau. I'm super busy studying for the bar but trying to keep up the blog. I may take a few weeks break in mid February when its really close to the bar exam.
ReplyDeleteI know you as busy and totally get the plateau with blogging. Good luck on the Bar exam.
DeleteI can understand that wanting to quit feeling. I did quit blogging back in 2011 because the stress of it all and my own personal life got to me. I decided to dip my toe in again this year and tell myself to go slowly. Sometimes I wish I hadn't left though. My only suggestion would be take a break, because we'll all be here when you get back.
ReplyDeletethat's what makes me afraid that I won't come back at all.
DeleteI know towards the end of last year it really crossed my mind to stop blogging. I had to ask myself why I was blogging. What I came up with was a compromise. I am not posting nearly as much, but I am still trying to stay in it. I know it isn't the best compromise, and I know I should blog more, but I just got tired. It stopped being fun, and I didn't want that to happen.
ReplyDeleteWe've talked about this a lot--I know it gets hard. I really miss being able to just read a book for pleasure, too--and not having to worry about all the politics and accidentally hurting this or that author's feelings.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're still here, though, and thank goodness for blogging friends to talk us down from the ledge!