In the age-old battle of finding balance in our lives, I have been discussing with other bloggers the idea of quitting blogging. These women feel that the passion for blogging is now gone and that their lives would be better off without it. Typically, a blogger will say she is done but invariably comes back, even if periodically, because she finds she misses it. When thinking about this situation, which appears to be happening more and more often within my circle of blogging friends, I am led to the question I know many of us have been asked at some point in our blogging careers: Why blog?
What drew us to this line of interaction? Are we all secretly hoping to become writers? Is blogging filling a void? Are we using this forum as an alternative to journaling? What is it about blogging that becomes so addicting?
Most of the people with whom I’ve discussed this question state that they do it for the camraderie. However, I personally feel I have gotten closer with people and have made more connections via Twitter rather than through my blog. My followers on Twitter and my followers on Blogger reflect this difference. So, what keeps us wanting to write?
Let’s face it. We were all readers prior to the advent of the Internet. Blogging has not suddenly made us readers. If the Internet were to disappear tomorrow, we would continue to read, and I guarantee most of us would continue to write our thoughts on books in a book journal of some variety. To say we blog because we read is, in my opinion, a misnomer. Yet, what compels us to come back time and again?
In my experience, most people who find out I blog either explicitly ask the “why blog?” question or, with a raise of an eyebrow, imply it. How do you answer that question? For me, I have never developed a satisfactory answer other than “it was something to do after I graduated with my MBA”. As far as answers go, it is a very poor one. What keeps me coming back time and again, even though I may invariably spend more time on my computer than I do with my husband these days? Why do I want to blog when I have very little time to myself these days and need to do other things? What makes me constantly think of topics and questions to pose to my readers, search out the latest gadgets to make my blog more user-friendly, and personalize it to my specifications? Why blog?
I open these questions up to everyone. How do you answer the question? What keeps you coming back, fine-tuning your articles, inserting your voice into this online journal? Does it take the place of journaling? Are you seeking exposure for a future novel? Please share your thoughts!
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Kathy – I feel you have a great attitude about blogging! I love how blogging is, for you, a natural extension of book journaling. In answer to your questions, I am not certain if there is a right way or a wrong way to blogging. The most important person to care is you. Your blog, your rules – at least that is the philosophy I have chosen to follow. The key, for me, is enjoyment. As long as we still enjoy jumping on and blogging, then we are doing it for the right reasons!
I just started my blog at the end of January. I was keeping track of my books in a journal. I put down my feelings about the book and things that were happening in my life while I read the book. The blog thing seemed so cool and I had to try it for myself. I love findiing that perfect book and telling everyone about it. Of course, my poor friends weren't so interested in hearing about my books, so I figured I would see if others out there would be interested. I have the worst memory, so I have to keep track somewhere. I have too many books on the TBR pile to read so-so books again.
Since I am so new, I haven't experienced burn out. I have felt some self-doubt though. Am I doing this right? Do people care? There are so many blogs out there, what can I offer? But then I realize that I enjoy this and as long as I do, then I will keep at it.
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I think you are correct. I know I have never had a desire to write a novel, but I have always enjoyed writing for the sake of writing. it comes easily and naturally to me, as I suspect it does for most of the bloggers out there!
I would think that all bloggers have a certain passion for writing just to sit down and write about books (and other topics) regularly as they do. Probably at least a quarter to a half of book bloggers I have met online are authors or aspiring authors.
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I haven't experienced any of the burnout either, but I make sure to try to take a day off once in a while. I love it so much that I am always thinking of articles, books to read, and ways to make my blog more readable.
You know, as I have gotten more involved in Twitter, I've made more friends and had more visitors. The key is networking. Get involved in other book blogging events, the read-a-thon, Book Blogger Appreciation Week, Bloggiesta. The visitors will come! I promise!
I understand your discouragement. I really wish I could find more time to blog but work is definitely getting in the way these days. The more I interact on Twitter, I do really think it is all about the connections. It's just taken me a while to figure it out!
I think blogging is all of those things!
I find that if I am watching TV at the same time as blogging, it takes me so much longer to write posts or read through other's posts. It is one of the reasons why I like doing so from the peace of my office. Although my husband is now making comments about hiding myself away, I probably need to adjust that thought process.
Suey – After reading everyone's responses yesterday, I'm inclined to think the same thing. It is a creative outlet. I wonder what I did before blogging too! LOL!
My husband thinks I spend too much time online too. Most of the time, I do try to limit it, but when I get behind, then I try to focus on catching up. And if I weren't online, I'd be reading. I'm not certain there is a difference.
I love this story! Thank you for sharing. Writing for passion. Do you think all bloggers have that passion for writing? Or is it unique to the individual, do you think?
That is a very admirable goal, and I do believe that writing reviews not only helps you hone your writing skills, networking with publishers and authors will help jump-start your writing career because you have already made those all-important connections!
That's a great philosophy, Trish! I've only just begun to realize how Twitter and a blog are interconnected. I love everyone's reasons for blogging!
Nothing like online peer pressure to get you started with blogging, eh? LOL! It is a challenge, isn't it? I've never thought about it from that angle before. I do like the fact that I have to stop and think about what I read. That is why I do think I would continue with a reading journal if I ever decide to stop. It does the same thing for me.
Thanks, Florinda! I hear you on the numbers issue. I realized today while reading through these comments that blogging fulfills my need to write and actually form sentences rather than crunch numbers all day long. I did not start writing in a reading journal until I started blogging either, but I do think I would continue to keep one if I were to quit tomorrow. I like how it requires me stop and think before diving into the next book!
Congrats on five years! That is amazing! So you have never felt the desire/urge to quit?
Jen – It is intellectually stimulating. I work with numbers all day long, so the opportunity to read and write about it is what keeps me coming back. The community is a great side-benefit!! And I agree that even when it is stressful, I still love to do it!
I know you are not alone. Several members of my online book club migrated to book blogging long before I ever considered doing so. It does seem like the natural progression for book discussions.
I'm with you, Kara. It is fun! And looking back at old reviews is an exercise in hilarity and growth, or at least mine are!
Actually, I saw your post and someone else's in the 45 minutes I was going through my Reader and started thinking about it. I was also talking with someone on Twitter about quitting (her, not me) as well. If I were taking a poll, I would say that I have two people who blog for the book discussions, either with others or through writing about what they read. It makes sense.
Thanks, Amy, for your thoughts! I put these questions out there to see if I could answer them myself. And I am curious what keeps people blogging when life gets too hectic. I agree that it is a great way to hone your writing skills and to be able to talk with others about books. It definitely does not happen IRL for me!
for me, blogging is a way to process what I think about. I have always communicated better through writing than speaking and blogging allows for that. The fifth anniversary of my blog just passed, (though I posted like once a quarter at first) and I can't imagine a life where I didn't blog. Getting caught up in organizing community events is what begins to become time consuming, trying to keep up with everyone as the circle of friends expands and the pressure to be all things to all people is when you know you have to start relaxing and just be what you can be and do what you can do. 🙂
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I've never really asked myself this question. I began blogging when I found an online forum discussing books and they were all blogging. But then I expanded to a bigger blog and I had no idea that it would end up like this. I guess I just like discussing books with anyone who will listen. And I think it's nice to know that there are people out there who do listen. Much better than writing in a personal journal like I used to do.
And I think twitter is definitely better for forming relationships, but there is only so much you can say in 140 characters so there is a place for both.
Great post.
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Plain and simple…I think it is fun. I don't have a lot of followers or those that comment…but I still plug away at my little blog. I like reading my reviews and seeing how my blog has changed over the year. I also join a lot of reading challenges and that keeps my going with my reviews.
Hmmm… great post! I only started blogging in January but I had been around reading book blogs for quite some time before that. For me, one reason is that my blog is a way to keep the writing skills halfway decent in anticipation of going back to school. Mainly though it is the ability to discuss books with others. Perhaps I would prefer a book club format where we all just have a free-for-all discussion about a certain book, but I'll take what I can get 🙂
My friends don't read very much so I always felt like the odd one until I found all you amazing bloggers who read as much and MORE than I do.I love knowing there are others and reading up on other people's thoughts on books.
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