The Pending Block
Sometimes I wonder about the future of blogging. I’ve come across so many talented writers that simply get burned out after a while and retire their blogs. Some formally announce their departure and others just fall off the face of the earth.
This week Beth closed down her blog. Beth was frequently the first every morning to comment here on articles I posted. He blog was mostly about books, but it was about her as well. It’s sad to shelf a Canadian friend like that. Boo7, another Canadian, used to be a regular, but then she fell in love so we never hear from her any more.
I correspond with other bloggers out there that are having a hard time getting the creative juices flowing. I suspect there may be many more deciding to take a break. There are a few that I read that are just going through the motions and they haven’t yet realized that they’ve dried up and should take a break.
Think of all the blogs that have folded up shop in the last two years here in Astoria. I seen a few that posted for a week and never returned. I think the most comprehensive list is at dried salmon. There are blogs there that haven’t seen the light of day in years. I wonder if their creators ever think of them. I have a lot of respect for Auntie who shut her blog down on a high note and then returned unexpectedly with even more gusto.
I guess blogging is something that either works for someone or it doesn’t. I feel good about doing it and hope to continue. And I know Auntie is sick of hearing it, but I have the same fears as all the bloggers I correspond with. I fear that I will run out of ideas after I close each article I write. What I write today (Wednesday) will be posted on Saturday and as of right now I’m out of ideas. It constantly haunts me that I will have to suspend what I do here. I fear that I will lose touch with those that read this blog on a daily basis. I also fear that one day I will announce that I’ve run dry, closing down the blog and then suddenly get hit with a hundred new article ideas after the barn door is closed.
posted by The Guy Who Writes This at 4:00 AM
12 Comments:
You can always take a short hiatus, Guy. Take at least a few days and wander about doing other things. Stick some notebook paper in your pocket and write down whatever occurs to you. I always carry a notebook at work for important things and alot of them end up in my blog. It's not a job. It's a hobby. Relax. You are a natural at this.
Remember a couple of years ago you used to take Sunday off? And then you couldn't contain yourself and began posting on Sunday, if I remember correctly.
Don't stop. I have a feeling you would die if you ever stopped. Take a break or start a different blog.
To me, it's a personal challenge to take ten minutes (or more) out of my day and write something, anything. If that means my posts are drying out and that I need to stop, I guess I missed the boat.
But I don't think so.
Gosh, you have me all concerned that I am boring and not worth reading now... because, of course, your entire post was all about me.
Dammit, sarcasm does not write well. Know that I'm being sarcastic!
for me it's a time commitment that just ain't happenin right now!
i always look forward to reading yours though.
I hate it when blogs just disappear from the 'blogosphere' without any prior warning. Kind of like when I went to ORblogs to ping and browse around and found that Paul shut that down. I found Miss Jaggy thru that site, as well as a few others, and I always loved to scroll thru the Home page to feel the pulse of what makes our great State tick. Anyway, with THAT said, I think since I first hit the "Publish Post" button in April 2005 I've only come across writer's block a time or two. That's been when I'm totally overwhelmed with what's going on in "real life", the things that go on beyond the screen. One example was right after my Dad died. I have a couple of "Taking a Break" graphics stashed away in Photobucket that I resurrect when I'm feeling too stressed to write. I always add a little post with it to let the reading public know I just need a time out for whatever reason. But that rarely happens because this is where I come to decompress and relax at the end of the day on the days when I have enough time to blog! Lately, since I began taking care of my second grandson as well and with my various health issues this year...well, some days are better than others, that's for sure. As to keeping the creative juices flowing, I just keep my eyes and ears open every day. I might read something on another blog or something from an encounter I might have while out walking the grandbabies or news clips, sound bites, whatever. Some days I have too MUCH to write about, ha! But I'm an old wind bag anyway. Once upon a million years ago I used to keep up with about 25 snail mail pen pals without any problem. I HAVE to write. My life is empty without it.
If you ever close down your blog, you can always come back - the barn door will open again! ;)
You're lucky in a way, my friend. You not only have a whole state to write about, but a state of mind, as well. I, on the other hand, picked a rather narrow subject for my ramblings. I do still, however, carry oregon in my mind wherever I go. Gets me some funny looks here in the lead-bible belt, believe me. No matter if you expand your horizons or contract them, there will always be something there... some story worth telling. And if you stop suddenly, you'll get constipated.
I think I'm in that going-through-the-motions stage. *sigh*
Thanks for your kind comments one and all. You'll be happy to know that I now have the blog covered through Wednesday.
Auntie, if I ever start another blog I'm not giving the address to anyone. Yep, that bad...
Jaggy, you're doing just fine. I love seeing some of your discoveries and it makes me relive those same discoveries when I was your age.
g, while I have you hear, any word on why the criminal background site you gave a while back doesn't have any data any more. That was a cool site.
Kris, that reply was a blog post. Thanks, Darlin. I can tell you're feeling better.
Barn door, eh. I'll be out grazing with the ponies.
Darev, your blog is fun and scary at the same time. You have one f...ed up job, but I'm glad you can handle it with a level head. Now I wouldn't want to see your sister in that sort of a position. DANGER!!!
Syd with TLF and K hanging around, the stories just happen, and you post several times a day. If you ever quit blogging I'm going to call you every day for an update.
Yup, now that I have that super-sized gall stone out of me I'm feeling GREAT, Guy! You know, I've been turning it over again and again in my mind, thinking you and your writing style remind me of someone and I finally came up with it last nite in a wakeful moment. Gene Hill! He wrote WONDERFUL books as well as having a long-running column in one of the hunting/fishing mags..."Outdoor Life" or "Field and Stream". Both of you share a rather whimsical, narrative way of expressing yourselves, even tho your topics are so different. Sadly, he passed away several years ago but I'm pretty sure we still have a couple of his books around somewhere. "Mostly Tailfeathers" was one. In fact, as I was telling Dear Hubby about you and asking Dear Hubby if he could remember which magazine it was that Gene wrote for he said, "You know, I've got to look up his books and read them again." They are THAT good.
when jp morgan bought wamu, all records were erased just to make sure there are no records. those bank bastards.
not sure guy. i am no longer the notorious hooligan "g". when the daily a isn't hanging my ass out to dry, the only other place i could turn to was the criminal search site.
a real void in the world.
Kris, I'll have to read some of his stuff, too. I think another blog friend of mine was talking him up recently as well.
g your past will follow you for some time to come, but at least they only mentioned you three times so far this year. You can hope for less in 2009.
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