Cutting back…
I once read a blog post (I forget by whom) about reaching your limit–about maxing out the weight you could carry on your shoulders.
I’ve reached that point, and I’ve been refusing to admit it to myself for a long time…but it’s now started to affect my writing–and that’s just not okay. I’ve been getting slower and slower at answering blog comments; getting slower and slower at getting blog posts up; forgetting to answer emails; losing sight of all twitter mentions; clawing to keep Pub(lishing) Crawl running smoothly; and basically drowning in that fickle creation known as The Internet.
Some days I love the online world. It’s a place of fluffy Lisa Frank koalas.
Other days, it sucks me dry like a Vampire Koala From Hell (with lightning coming out of its eyes to boot). And more often than not, I find the online world to be the Vampire Koala instead of what Lisa Frank intended.
It’s not that I don’t love my online friends (I have truly forged more relationships via the inter webs than real life…some might call this sad, but I consider it wonderful). Nor is it that I don’t appreciate all the online interactions–I rely on those to not go stir crazy in my writing hole…
But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. And, as everyone knows, too much of a good thing turns that good thing into a Vampire Koala From Hell (with lightning coming out of its eyes to boot).
So, starting today, I’m cutting back the blog. I write 4 times a week, and it’s getting to be hard. Not to mention, it takes at least an hour per post (usually more). I’m really, really, REALLY sad about this. I thought I could stay consistent with my blog–keep on pounding out these posts and interacting with all you lovely people for the next bazillion years.
But alas. The time I spend writing the blogs and answering comments is time I should be writing other books or editing on a deadline. I am, it would seem, unable to tune out the internet when it’s in front of me… What I need, actually, is one of those awesome metal shells a là Colussus. Then the internet’s ALLURE would just bounce off me like bullets, and I could SLAM THROUGH my backed-up emails with ease.
Alas, I don’t have that shell, and since I haven’t yet figured out how to grow one, I’m going to have to take a different route: cutting back the blog to 3 times a week.
It’s not a huge jump, but I think it’ll help. Book recs will come on Monday, or–if I haven’t read any books that week (sadly, this has become the rule lately instead of the exception), I’ll post about something else. I’ll keep the Pub Lowdowns since I think that’s a valuable resource for writers and readers alike, and of course, I’ll still answer comments (just not as promptly as I used to).
🙁
I’m sad about this. I hate admitting defeat–even if I know it’s better for me and my readers in the long run. And, who knows? Maybe I’ll have to cut back even more in the future…or maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll find more time in the day and come raring back with a vengeance!
So, please accept my apologies, and please tell me: do you have an Internet Breaking Point? Have you reached it?
♥
March 7, 2012 @ 10:35 am
You have to do what’s right for you, Sooz. And we’d rather have more books than blog posts from you. Always. You’re not admitting defeat, by the way. You’re simply attempting to balance out all that you do–and gosh, you do a lot! No-one can blame you for that. That’s nothing but brave, if you ask me. All the best, dear. <3
March 10, 2012 @ 1:50 am
Aw, thanks, Laura! Truly–I much prefer to think of it is as brave than defeated. 😀
March 7, 2012 @ 11:47 am
Blogging 3 times a week is still an incredible commitment, especially because I imagine you will have lots of promotion coming up for SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY!! I totally understand where you’re coming from re: internet time suckage. I haven’t been on Twitter in ages. I love it, but I can easily lose an hour of writing time just scrolling through, and considering I work a full time job and might only have an hour or two to write a day, that is not good! Mac Freedom is my new best friend when it comes to battling my internet addiction. Anyways, I’m glad to see that you aren’t disappearing all together 🙂
March 10, 2012 @ 1:50 am
Yeah, I’ve just been not even turning my computer on until the late afternoon. It helps a LOT!! And….yeah, I bet once the full promotion for SS&D hits, I’ll have to (temporarily!) cut back even more. :-/
March 7, 2012 @ 12:24 pm
Yup. I reached it before this February when I had to revise intensely. Right after my one-year-blogaversary. I now blog about twice a week, sometimes once a week when it’s really busy. I think that’s fine.
March 10, 2012 @ 1:51 am
Yeah, I’m in the middle of revisions for book 2…and it’s so hard to switch gears from WRITEWRITEREVISE to BLOG! They’re just such different parts of my creative brain!
March 7, 2012 @ 1:55 pm
I think this is a trend. Most of the writers I know have cut back. I just cut back from 3 days to 2 days b/c I want the writing time. I think we’ve all realized that it’s okay. 🙂
March 10, 2012 @ 1:53 am
Good! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one–and that no one’s judging me for it. 😉
March 7, 2012 @ 2:37 pm
Please don’t see this as admitting defeat. You are taking charge and admitting what works for you – just exactly what we love our plucky heroines to do! I love your blog – the quantity doesn’t matter as much to me as the quality. And you have great quality.
March 10, 2012 @ 1:55 am
Oooh, good point! Our plucky heroines certainly know when to back down and reevaluate, so I’m just mimicking my characters. 😉
And thanks for saying my content is high quality–that truly means a lot to me. <3
March 7, 2012 @ 3:22 pm
That picture is hilarious. But yes, I totally understand what you’re saying. It seems like blogging burnout is the norm these days. I’m certainly feeling it too. It’s certainly not admitting defeat to cut back or even take a break. It’s doing what you have to do to make sure the writing stays the focus. That’s like the opposite of admitting defeat. 😉
March 10, 2012 @ 1:56 am
Yes! YES! Writing IS the primary focus, and….well, 3 times a week is still probably more than anyone wants to hear from me. 😉
March 7, 2012 @ 4:06 pm
Yes, yes, yes, and YES. I hope cutting back helps for you as much as it has for me. <3
March 10, 2012 @ 1:57 am
Me too! But honestly, just knowing I have to write one less post has already seemed to help my stress immensely! And having people realize that I WILL still answer comments…just not as quickly–that helps too. 😀
March 7, 2012 @ 4:41 pm
Frankly, I like the koala pictures will satisfy my blog post cravings for at least a week. Hilarious!
Seriously though, I think this is a smart move. When a blog (or anything social media-y) starts feeling like a chore and it’s not your primary job that you absolutely love and get paid for, it’s totally understandable to take a step back. Good luck with the internet shield!
March 10, 2012 @ 1:58 am
Huzzah! I’m so glad the Vampire Koala has filled your blog cravings. I do try, 😉
But you’re right: I’ve got to be smart, and smart means clearing a little off my plate so I can write/revise more. 🙂
March 7, 2012 @ 4:45 pm
Your koalas are amazing, but that aside, I completely understand and you have to do what’s best for you. I know exactly what you mean about getting burned out on Ye ‘Ole Interwebs. I have never maintained a blogging schedule because I know it will just cause me more stress and worry (I simply blog when the inspiration strikes). The fact that you are tackling three posts a week is still incredible.
So, go you! Writing & family first and foremost. Everything else after…
((hugs))
March 10, 2012 @ 1:58 am
True, true! I should put that on my wall–Writing And Family First–because I definitely forget…and my poor husband gets forgotten more often than not. :-/
March 7, 2012 @ 6:52 pm
I think we all have to admit that the Internet is defeating us sometimes. There’s a lot you have to do, between blogging and other Internet things, plus the actual writing/revising/other writerly things. I don’t think you’re admitting defeat, you’re just pacing yourself!
March 10, 2012 @ 1:59 am
Nice way of putting it, Arianna–I like that. I’m just pacing myself…and that’s true! I *am* just figuring out my stride, and before I was definitely pushing faster than I could maintain for long distances.
Okay, enough with the running analogy. I think I took it too far. 😉
March 7, 2012 @ 7:57 pm
I can totally relate–I wrote 13 posts last January, and this January I posted twice.
Blogging is so much fun, but such a time suck. Gotta focus on the important stuff!
March 10, 2012 @ 2:00 am
It just takes so long to write and then format each post–much longer than one would expect!! And you’re right about focusing on the important stuff. I’m trying to find that perfect balance still…
March 7, 2012 @ 8:25 pm
I just cut back to 3 from 5, too! But just for the month of March. In April, I’m doing the A-Z thing, which is posting 6 times a week. I’m a little nervous. Blog posts take so much time to make them worth reading! I think after April, though, I might go back to 3 times a week. It’s just that this online presence thing can be a full time job if we let it! It’s easy to forget that it’s the writing that’s the full time gig.
March 10, 2012 @ 2:01 am
Oh WOW! 6 time a week! My head spins at just the thought–but GOOD LUCK!! I’m sure you’re up to the challenge! 😀
March 8, 2012 @ 3:21 am
Oh, dear. Well, in the long run, I think books > blog posts. I think you are an awesome person not to have buckled under the pressure before now. You’re definitely my hero. <3
March 10, 2012 @ 2:01 am
Awww, pfft. You’re makin’ me blush. <3 <3
March 8, 2012 @ 4:36 am
I understand completely. Sometimes you have to do this to kind of thing to recover. Maybe it takes six months, maybe six years. I started going back to school in late Jan. and I’m struggling to find time for everything. I’ve had to disable my facebook account a couple of times. Do what you have to do. 😀 Laura had it right: we’d rather have more books than blog posts from you. Take care!
March 10, 2012 @ 2:02 am
Thanks, Erica–and you’re right: we just have to do what we have to do. I’ve just stopped turning my computer on before 4 in the afternoon, and amazingly, this has increased my productivity at least tenfold!!!
March 8, 2012 @ 9:53 am
It’s okay! I reach my breaking point when I overdose on something I rely on to keep me going. For example, I recently just realized I turn to fanfiction whenever school starts becoming stressful (maybe to revisit the characters I loved reading/watching and seeing them in different situations, haha!). But then, I start to gorge on it until it actually starts becoming a hindrance to my schoolwork, which was what it was supposed to be helping ease along. That’s kind of when my mind starts to feel frayed with all the added mental stress and I realize I need to cut back/stop. Taking a break from writing your blog will probably refresh your imagination and replenish your enthusiasm for blogging. So please don’t be so hard on yourself 😀
March 10, 2012 @ 2:04 am
Oh, I’m SO the same, Rae!! I always overdose on video games that way. “I’ll just play Zelda to relax…oh, crap. A week just passed and I accomplished nothing except beating the final boss.”
March 9, 2012 @ 1:57 am
I’m glad you’re taking this time back for you, Sooz. <3 <3
March 10, 2012 @ 2:05 am
Thanks, Kat!! <3
March 9, 2012 @ 4:06 am
Good for you, Susan! You do SO much– and it is incredibly healthy to know when to slow down. I’m glad you’re listening to that inner voice! Can’t wait to read SS&D!!! SO EXCITED for you. Enjoy your new home!
March 10, 2012 @ 2:05 am
Thanks, Happy!!! And you’re right: it IS healthy to know when to slow down…and I’m at that point now. Hopefully cutting back here will help me find balance in other parts of my life too. 😀
March 10, 2012 @ 6:00 am
Don’t be sad – be grateful that you’ve realized you need this break before you fell over the ledge of exhaustion! I made that same realization and I’ve been a totally different person since. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you can do it all, but everyone is human. 🙂
March 19, 2012 @ 10:02 pm
So, so true, Amanda. I definitely fall into that trap–especially when it comes to promising other people I can help them out with X or Y…and soon enough, all my me-time is gone. I’ve GOT to learn to say “no” more.
March 10, 2012 @ 2:16 pm
Oh goodness, I reached mine ages ago! I was only blogging twice a week, and that was too much. I cut back to once a week, and that suits me perfectly. When things hit hard, I make it once a fortnight. Everybody’s pleased to see me when I get back, and nobody seems to mind when I need to pause. I’ve found I can stay in touch effectively using a combination of blog visits, twitter and facebook, and I catch up with lots of people instead of just hoping they come to my website. First and foremost, write books. I guarantee, in a year’s time if you ask any of your fans whether they’d have preferred to see more blog posts or know another book was coming, they’ll pick the book!
March 19, 2012 @ 10:03 pm
Very good point, Amie–I think my fans (once I….actually have some) will prefer my books to my blog posts. And I have a feeling I’ll cut back even more once SS&D releases. For now, just the 3-days-a-week has opened up a shocking amount of time!