Over the past few months, I found myself having a bit of a blog crisis. I'd lost a bit of my motivation and started questioning whether it was worth the time it required. I continued to struggle until I got an email from Blurb saying all blurb books were 25% off for a couple of weeks. Work was slower than usual so I decided to get at least one more year of blogging off the internet and onto paper. Once I got started I decided to push through and over 6 days of very intensive computer time I got 3 years worth of blogging and photos ready to be printed.
The process of putting together these books helped me remember why I started blogging in the first place - to make a record of my life and travels and to share it with friends and family. Reading back through my posts, I remembered the struggles I'd overcome, the good times, and the experiences I'd had. I realized that I'd accomplished my original blogging goal, I was reminded that blogging for me shouldn't be about the numbers of followers or comments, it was about giving me a creative outlet and building a tangible record of my memories. Of course, I can't discount the fact that along the way I've discovered a love of photography and become a part of an amazing and supportive blogging community.
I won't say my blogging motivation is back at full strength, but it's strong enough to keep me going. How do you get past those periods of lagging motivation?
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Gone Tomorrow
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Using papers from Sunkissed and Just Saying by Jesse Edwards.
23 comments:
I usually take some time away from it. It is such a time suck. Sometimes even after a day away I have a great post pop into my head and I can't wait to write it down.
My blogging has evolved into a different thing over the last year or so...I know what you mean about the phases. I think it's okay to let it take a backseat every once in awhile. That was hard for me for a long while because,I think, I was thinking about the readers...all this while thinking that part didn't matter as much as I think it did. I think that blogging when I can and want to instead of doing it as what became a ritual is now easier and I find that the people who I was hoping to still see visit my blog do. Makes it even feel more true, you know? I will say though that as summer ends I feel a bit excited to start blogging again...here's hoping for five more hours in the day ;).
I'll read whenever you are around and when you aren't I look forward to seeing you on Instagram! Enjoy the day!
I hope you'll share a photo or two of your Blurb books when they arrive. It's long been on my to-do list to create a book of my more meaningful blog posts. I've been blogging for so long, it seems a bit overwhelming.
Thanks to your blog posts, I've learned quite a bit about the world through your beautiful photos and journaling. I'm always glad to see your name pop up in my Reader.
I need to work on more books! I have one, and I love it - but they are so much work!!! When does that discount expire, maybe I should work on mine again!
I want to do more books too! I think that I tend to blog a lot because I'm alone all of the time in a strange town where I don't know anyone. Haha!
Jamie, you are so right on..it is like a diary of your days, as well as your friends, family and loved ones see what you are doing..a way to share and hone our skills..and if someone thinks we do a good job, that's great, but most of all it is a record of your life! IYou should be so proud of what you have accomplished..bravo❤
Hi Just saw this post on my google reader. I have to admit I don't remember ever commenting before. I did feel the need to today.
I too have been wondering the same thing. I think us bloggers question it more often then not. It is a struggle to stay motivated when so much goes on in our real lives. I feel guilt when I don't have the time to visit so I don't post as much as I'd like. I too have met some incredible women that have made it all worth it.
Ok have rambled on enough for a first comment:)
Good luck in your journey!
x
Carole
These are beautiful!
I actaully just don't blog when I'm not feeling it. Usually after a week or two I feel the urge to blog again and it all come back. : )
I'm definitely the last person to have a motivating idea... ;-) But I do love reading your blog and looking at your wonderful photos when you take me on a tour around the world and finding new or remembering forgotten songs! :-) Hang in there, Jamie!
There really is something to be said for putting a book together from the blog, and seeing the effort and love that goes into our posts... all in front of us. Powerful stuff. I love your space here :)
love the contrast and sunlight in your photos!
i blame my iphone & instagram for my blogging whoas. i don't like to re-post instagram photos on our blog, but don't have many pics using my 'real' camera so posting is light. also, it's been a tough year for us and i don't feel like writing about it, but try to keep visiting our blogging friends to maintain the relationships.
i'm trying to keep my flickr account updated. which is where i pull content from for my annual blog book. yours sound wonderful and it really is so nice to pull a book off of the shelf and flip thru it. so worth the effort.
I am struggling lately as well. I have lost my focus and seem to be all over the place. After I do the show this weekend, I am thinking a break is needed. Hopefully, I will reenergize. If you find the magic answer, please share.
I look forward to seeing your books!
I have to say I struggle more with the demands of my life than ever before and that leads to less of what I love. I need to put myself back on top where I go and get on with it.
Loved your photos and words. Thanks for that.
and I would love to do a book.
I just might in the new years.
xo
Amazingly enough... Blogging can be a difficult thing. I go through those phases all the time but somehow keep on doing it because I have the need to connect with those people who seem to like what I talk about. Sometime I take a day off and then get back into it in full swing... Hope you regain your motivation and keep,on posting such beautiful images!!!
You are amazing! It takes a lot of time and effort to put Blurb books together, but as you have found, it is so worth it for many reasons.
Although I am not sure if it would be effective for all, I deal with any lack of motivation by just doing something else and not worrying about it. I enjoy blogging too much to let it become a job, so if I have to forget it for a while, that's what I do.
xo.
Beautiful pictures
Glad it has motivated you to keep going. I sometimes feel guilty like right now when I have been to busy to blog Normally I would post out some days but to busy for that. I always look forward to your post and travels
and you meet so many cool people through blogging, so you have to keep it up ;)
i think i just take the time that i need to when i need it. not sure i could give it up...but rearranging priorities helps! i'd miss all of you too much :)
Hi Jamie,
Love that last capture!
I was burned out with blogging this summer, so I took a break by posting less frequently and turning off comments. I had a wonderful break, which gave me more family and studio time - both of which are very important to me. Came back from it feeling rested and in a blogging mood. It shouldn't feel like a job!!!
Happy week to you.
"I was reminded that blogging for me shouldn't be about the numbers of followers or comments, it was about giving me a creative outlet and building a tangible record of my memories".
Yes.
Thanks for this post, I've been feeling similarly lately. I like Anna's idea in the comment above to turn off comments for a while, but then it becomes a double edge sword. Part of what I like so much about blogging is engaging with the people who comment...and that takes a lot of time.
Take a short break and you will feel the urge to write and post again. :)
It seems that I'm not alone in the 'to blog or not to blog' struggle, but (as usual) you and others manage to word it more eloquently than I ever could ;) I like the point of it being a journal of your life, and turning it into books is a great idea. I suppose it's always in the back of my mind that my kids might sometime want to read my words, especially if I couldn't tell them stuff myself for whatever reason. My grandmother had alzheimer's, and I see it developing in my own mother...and sometimes it feels like I might slip into that world as well, one day. It would be nice for my kids to have, not only my words from the posts, but also the interaction with all my amazingly kind internet friends to look at. Maybe it will one day let them get to know me as a person...instead of just as a mom :)
it seems like a lot of us have been struggling with the blogging lately! i've been in a deep lull and i'm not sure i'll ever get back to when i was blogging 5 times a week and sometimes every day! but, i know it will be there for me when i'm ready.
it's good to hear you made those blurb books. that's awesome, and seems to have given you some of your mojo back :)
Incredibly beautiful images Jamie. Just got back from holiday which is why I'm late commenting!
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