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20 October, 2008

To NaBlPoMo or to not NaBlPoMo

It's almost November. Can you believe it? I know, neither can I. Barely 2 months until Christmas. Yikes. I am the furthest behind in Christmas shopping that I have ever been. It's a bit frightening really. And I haven't even started making my Christmas cards! Good God, there will be some late nights ahead. The good news is that I have 3 new Christmas stamp sets. I know, I know. You are beyond thrilled. As you bloody well should be because if I have your address I am sending you a card. And if I don't have your address send it to me okay?

So have you noticed that my posts have been a tad sporadic? Once upon a time (or two or three times) I said that blogging reminds me of high school (so does plurk, twitter and facebook) and when I start feeling like I am reliving those days I have the need to do a runner. I was not a popular high school student and I am not a popular blogger. This is okay, mostly. But sometimes I feel like I am on the outskirts of the popular group just trying to be let in.

And then I realize that because I don't have the talent to be an A (or B, or even C) list blogger I would have to work to get there. And frankly? I couldn't be fucked. I don't have the time to comment on every blog, or even regularly read blogs. I don;t have the time, the energy, or the skill to blog everyday. I think it's great that people can do it, I assume they are either super organized or on speed or something. But I can not do it. When I was trying to do it I was sacrificing the things that are truly important to me- spending time with my girls, reading a good book, having sex, cleaning the house. Um, not that cleaning the house is important to me. But it certainly keeps the peace around here when it's clean.

I think I also forgot that I was blogging for ME. I began to want comments. I found myself competing with other bloggers to see who got more comments. Not only in regards to my own blog, but with others. Why does Blog A get so many more comments than Blog B when Blog B is so obviously the superior blog? Why have only a handful of people dicovered the sheer comedic genius that is Squishy Tushy? Why does Random Mommy not get 40 or 50 comments on her thought provoking posts? There are so many other bloggers I could name who are absolutely fantastic who do not get the credit they deserve. It took me some to relaize that they are not searching for it.

And I should not be searching for it either. Over the last year or so my writing has changed. It has become less honest, less me. Sometimes I hide things that I never used to hide. It has taken me some time to remember who the most important person reading this blog is- me.

So I am challenging myself to post every day in November. I may post a whole lot of crap. I may not. You can be guaranteed that shortly after midnight on November 1st, I will be posting Halloween photos. Whew. One post down, 29 to go. If I find that I am not posting for myself, if I am worrying about the lack of comments, about the fact that I am feeling guilty for not getting to blogs I enjoy then I am seriously going to have to reassess whether or not I should even be blogging. I many just have to open a document called A Question of Sanity and write it all out there.

See you in November. Or earlier probably. But only when my girls are in bed. And not on nights I would rather have sex. And not when I am reading a good book.

20 comments:

Unknown said...

I can relate to almost each and every word you wrote here and really couldn't have said it better myself (or even admit some of those things, actually - especially about what you were giving up to reach those blogging goals)...the whole blogging without obligation thing is easier said than done in my opinion.

I hope to see you in November and look forward to reading you...I really do enjoy your blog :)

~ Jen

Anonymous said...

Good for you! I agree that once you decide that the rat race takes the fun out of blogging, it changes everything. I too felt for a while the pressure to become bigger or more read.

Now? I don't care. The posts that get the fewest comments are the ones that are the most important to me, my letters to Little Man. And it used to make me sad, until I remembered that duh, I'm not writing them for the blogging community. I'm writing them for him and for myself, and that nothing else should matter.

I've actually considered closing comments on most of my posts a la Dooce, so that I wouldn't be tempted to go back to my comment whoring ways.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I forgot that was coming up! Glad that you'll be joining the troops. I would say I'd give it a go but I think I'll be a little tied up... having a new baby and all!

random_mommy said...

Chills... I got chills.

I refuse to comment unless I have something to say, and I completely appreciate when others don't comment on mine. I won't be the person who comments for you just b/c you comment for me, etc.

And I couldn't have said it better. Dear... you find me thought-provoking?!? I should write more gross sex stories... ;)

debi9kids said...

OH! I can so relate! I have such a hard time reading al the blogs I want to and leaving comments. There are so many great bogs I have found, and yet, I never have the time.
I do blog every day. Wanna know my secret? I pre-post LOTS of my posts all on Sunday evening. LOL I wait until all of the kids are in bed and then I get busy....

Little Nut Tree said...

Ha - this made me laugh - funnily I don't really comment much but I do read your blog... this I had to comment on!

I think you could be writing this on behalf of so many people... we all get caught up on this sometimes. Sometimes all the time.

Good luck with November!

Anonymous said...

I love that you got the Twilight widget up. I can't get it to work right. And, kudos for trying to go every day in November. It nearly killed me last year. I comment as much as I can, because I know I appreciate them and I want to offer others the same consideration - it's the same reason I respond to comments via email. I don't expect everyone to feel that way, but it's my way and it works for me.

CanadianMama said...

Can one of your posts be about your stamp sets please! Stampin Up! I assume?

That Chick Over There said...

I've stopped commenting as much lately (in general) because I just don't have as much to say as I used to. Frankly, it's because I'm in a big, massive black hole of depression, but that's beside the point.

I used to be upset when I didn't get many comments. I don't care as much now. I know other people are in similar situations as me and that if someone doesn't comment it doesn't mean they aren't reading.

Cynthia said...

Man...good luck to you. I did it last year, and it was hard! I don't know if I'm going to this year???

Rachel (Crazy-Is) said...

I don't always comment either. I don't wanna just say, yeah I know how you feel or whatever. I also feel like I am holding back on my blog. And, I know that I need to change that. Because I am not blogging for others. I am blogging for me.

I've thought about NaBloPoMo, but I don't think I will do it.

Frannie said...

I started having the best blog (for me- and what I want) when I gave up trying to "gain" comments. I just write about how my life is going and I don't care if people like it or not. Or it they comment. There was a lot of freedom in giving up the desire for comments. a lot of freedom!

Julie said...

I love that you'll be posting more - I always love reading your posts.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm. I totally agree about the commenting thing - I mean, if you work hard and comment on a lot of blogs it definitely ups your exposure, but meh, who's got time for that?

I find I'm much more sporadic these days - I blog when I feel like it and don't stress about the comments. I like it better that way. And as you say, I'd much rather get lucky than write a post too!! x

Bethany said...

I'm wondering- which comes first, the sex or a good book?

Bren said...

Get out of my head! I've been feeling the same way about blogging/commenting. Just last week, I took down the BlogHer code because I just don't care anymore. I don't get enough traffic to make any money from it and I really don't give a shit if I lose the linkys from BlogHer. It's not what my blog is about. Remembering what it is about rather than trying to keep up with everyone else makes it much more enjoyable!

sallywrites said...

It's ahrd writing every day though..... for all the reasons you mention at the end!

Anonymous said...

My reading time has been limited over the last 6 months. I think it will be better come winter but who can tell. You have to do what is best for you. I am signed up for NaBloPoMo also.

Debbie said...

A great post here, Emma.

I've gone through periods where I've worried about people liking my blog. Wishing that I was funnier or smarter or a better writer. It's during those times that I get writer's block. Right now - today - I feel free of that worry.

I'm actually happy that I don't have many readers (or rather - that many to read). There's less pressure that way. And I never feel like it's highschool as a result. When I write on my blog I wonder what my friends might have to say. People like you, Joy, and Dawn, and the half a dozen other people who read my shtuff.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe I'm THIS LATE in commenting here on this one!!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

Perhaps one of the nicest things ever said about me... even if I don't believe it to be true.

But now? HOLY MOLY PRESSURE. Thanks much.