When I started The Writing Journey just over a year ago, this blog was something of an experiment. I’d run several blogs before, with relatively little success in terms of garnering subscribers. Some were personal blogs, devoted to a particular hobby. Others were attempts to blog in a certain niche area, in hopes of generating revenue via advertising or affiliate income.
The Writing Journey was different. Sure, I ran Adsense in the early days. And yes, I’ve found a handful of affiliate programs that I can really believe in to promote over time. But this blog was more about giving back: sharing my experiences as a professional writer, and helping other Internet writers achieve their dreams.
Through this blog, I’ve met many other Internet writers. I’ve formed business alliances, landed writing gigs, had the privilege of mentoring several writers, and just had an overall good time.
Unfortunately, late last year I let the passion slip a bit. Writing my regular blog post became something of a chore. I found myself struggling to find something more interesting, more useful, more inspiring than what I’d posted before.
A day or two without a post turned into a week, a week turned into a month, and a month turned into three. I broke the number one rule of blogging.
And what is the number one rule of blogging?
To blog successfully, you have to post consistently.
Now, I don’t feel too terribly bad about all of this; after all, this blog has primarily been a labor of love. Not blogging hasn’t horribly impacted my bottom line. Still, I’ve missed it. And, I’ve missed you, my readers.
I’ve also realized something: not every post has to be profound. Well-written, yes. Useful in one way or another, of course. But some of the most important lessons about being a professional writer are the simplest. It’s not nearly as important that I be clever in a post as it is that I post to begin with.
At any rate, without making any grand pronouncements of broad commitments, I do want to let you know I’m back. It’s been a long, cold winter, but I’ve missed you all. I hope to get back into the habit of consistently writing here, of interacting with you and helping you achieve your dreams, even as I’m living mine.
25 comments ↓
Bob,
Welcome back – I read this and thought, “yup – I know how that feels”. I should post more too, even if it is just a picture of the toast I ate this morning
We start off with a bang, then we get busy doing other stuff, but you know what? You’re still here. We’re still here.
Hey, your blog is still in my feed reader, and that’s where it is going to stay – whenever you do write, it is something worth reading – so there!
Of all the email notices I get and feeds that I subscribe to there are few blogs that I really jump to when something new is posted.
Yours is one of them.
It’s great that you’re back. I hope this means you’ll be tweeting more, too.
It’s nice to see you back! I totally know how you feel. A three month break would be a heartbreaking nirvana.
Writer Dads last blog post..To Strengthen the Character of Our Memory
Welcome back!!! I have been missing your posts. It can be hard to write regularly but the key, as I learn the hard way, is persistence (this is my fav chapter on Think and Grow Rich. I can send you over a copy of the e-book that I have.)
I just hope that you always can find inspiration. I hope to be reading more from you.
Denniss last blog post..Is Writing Replacing Spoken Words?
@Brett – Somehow I *knew* you’d be first to comment. Good to hear from you, and good to know I haven’t lost a spot in your reader!
@Pamela – Your comment made me smile. Really big. As far as Twitter, I’m more into Facebook at the moment. I know there’s a way to integrate the two, and as soon as I explore that I’m sure you’ll see more of me on Twitter!
@Writer Dad – I wouldn’t say Nirvana, but heartbreaking for sure!
@Dennis – Successful blogging, like successful writing, is more about perspiration than inspiration. I’ve been perspiring, just not here as much!
Thanks for the comments, all!
Welcome back, my friend. I’ve missed your words too.
James Chartrand – Men with Penss last blog post..The Magical Whiteboard and the Fruits of Labor
It’s true. After the first month of running Fiction Matters, I’m as successful in traffic as I ever was running a fully-staffed online magazine. The trick is two or three posts per day.
Bradley Robbs last blog post..Apple Sued Over eBook Patent
I added you to my bloglines after reconnecting with you on Facebook.
Eager to read your posts in the days ahead!!
Donnettas last blog post..Our Redefined Life
@ James – Thanks. Means a lot coming from the Pen Man!
@ Bradley – I’ll disagree slightly with you. I think the key is consistent posting. Two or three times a day for some blogs is, well, excessive. For others, it works fine.
@Donetta – Thank you. Congrats on the recent adoption, by the way!
I can totally feel you on this:
“I found myself struggling to find something more interesting, more useful, more inspiring than what I’d posted before.”
Perhaps a better attitude than the forcing of posts just for the sake of posting?
Either way – you can always take the middle ground which is consistent posting, just not overwhelmingly frequent.
Looking forward to what words you’re going to be sharing next.
Bamboo Forest – PunIntendeds last blog post..Why Do People Clap in Movie Theatres?
I’ve been wondering where you’ve been off to. I missed your well written posts.
I’m glad you’re back.
Trishas last blog post..Writing Samples: Promotional Material
Welcome back! Sometimes it is hard to find the motivation, but its out there. My blog only updates once a week, but it’s pretty easy to tell from the spike in traffic I get every Sunday that it’s enough. I never miss a sunday though, no matter how difficult that may be.
The prodigal son returns, and teaches us… Well done, sir!
Carlos in fabulas last blog post..Advice for broke/bored writers
Bob,
I guess it is because I’ve always enjoyed reading your stories – they seem to parallel my life a lot – so I can’t help but jump right in to say hello!
Brett Legrees last blog post..i am what i am, i am who i am. a guest post by eyeteaguy.
@ Bamboo – You get to the point, with a blog, where you have all of this self-imposed pressure. You assume that because you have 1,000 feed followers (or 3,000, or 20,000) that you’ll lose them all if you don’t outdo yourself every post.
Then, you stop to realize: you’re totally full of yourself. No one expects perfection; just effort and relevance.
@ Trisha – I’ve been here all along. Just quieter than normal!
@ Invoker – I think weekly is a good schedule for some; The aforementioned Men with Pens like to do MWF; some blogs like techcrunch update several times daily. As a blog reader, I think 3-5 times a week is best, but I certainly don’t forget my weeklies either.
@ Carlos – Heh. I’ve always thought of myself more the elder brother in that parable, but why not?
@ Brett – No doubt about it – you and I have some interesting parallel histories.
Good to have you back. I thought you must have taken on a big project. Looking forward to more from you.
Evans last blog post..Valuing Suffering
@ Evan – Thank you! You’ve been one of my loyal readers from the very early days of this blog, so it means a lot to hear you say so.
[...] can’t leave out the #1 rule of blogging (we’re guilty) [here] discussed at The Writing [...]
Well, you are not alone. I had a blogout for the last three weeks, but hope be back and post more consistently.
Juttas last blog post..Bamako (movie)
@ Jutta – it happens. This comment thread proves, though, that you can take a break and still have readers when you come back!
Glad you’re back, Bob. I, too, wondered if your workload had eaten your time and desire for blogging.
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[...] Writing Journey came back around the end of March writing about blogging. Bob tells us The Number One Rule of Blogging and then went to takes on Copy Blogger. Nah – nothing that scandlous. Don’t Blog If You [...]
The number one rule of blogging is also the hardest rule to follow. Welcome back Bob. Keep us inspired.
Michael Sorianos last blog post..Free WP Theme – The Clam Shell
I was also wondering – what happened to “The Writing Journey”? Last post was about the ultimate freelancer – 3 months ago!
Michael Sorianos last blog post..Free WP Theme – The Clam Shell
I know that one! It’s happened to me just recently, and yeah it’s amazing how quickly days turn into weeks turn into months. I’m trying to find my passion again, and get back into that habit.
What you said, “I’ve also realized something: not every post has to be profound. Well-written, yes. Useful in one way or another, of course. But some of the most important lessons about being a professional writer are the simplest. It’s not nearly as important that I be clever in a post as it is that I post to begin with.” Really speaks to me. That’s exactly what’s blocking me now, I have all this information to share, but it’s the thought that it has to be profound, perfect before I can publish it.
So, thanks for permission to ‘just post’!
Donna Miller | Healthy Recipess last blog post..Raw Granola and Almond Milk
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