I’m sure you’ve heard the statement, “Blogging is dead.” It seems to circulate the interwebz every few months. I gotta say, I never thought it to be the case. Until now.
My change in perspective has to do with my own approach to blogging. Most of you have no doubt noticed the change in my blog. Since summer, I’ve cut waaaaay back on posting. Part of it had to do with juggling three novels at once (never want to do that again–talk about skirting the edge of burn out!!!!) and some struggles I was having at the day job. Initially, I thought I’d be back in business by fall. Well, that didn’t happen. Deadlines got pushed out for various reasons, the day job stuff didn’t lessen, and my creativity took a nose dive. I pulled back to completing the essentials while letting the extras slide.
I hate the idea that my blog became an “extra.” I know I’ve lost readers. I know it’s because I’m not actively reading and commenting on others’ blogs. I also know I can’t keep it all up anymore. The momentum I’d gained with my first releases, New Pride and Shifting Pride, has ground to a halt.
And I don’t know where to go from here…
Sure, I’m still actively writing and will have 3 new publications in the coming year (Endure’s sequel, Evoke, with Etopia Press, The Zodiac Collector with Spencer Hill Press, and a sekrit project). WOOT!
I love my stories. I’m proud of my publications. And I’m hopeful for the future.
Getting back to blogging…
One thing is for certain. I’m going to have to reinvent part of myself. And when I say myself, I mean my online presence, my platform. I’ll have to try new ways of connecting with readers.
I’m not sure what that’s going to look like, but I’m considering it part of the process, part of the journey, if you will.
How about you? How do you keep your blogs going? Have you reinvented yourself? How’d you do it? What’s your favorite strategies for reaching readers?
Author Laura Diamond--Lucid Dreamer 
Awh Laura you have a tonne on your plate. I don’t blame you for thinking of diversifying your efforts. Why not do a mix of your favorite places with no pressure on being their on certain days. Like Pinterest :0) Take care!
I had to do this too. I post only once a week, on Mondays. Meaning, a post actually written by me. Any other posts are guests. But I do try to focus on writing really informative and/or interesting content on those Mondays. The reason I focus on that, is because I don’t think blogging is dead. I think commenting is dead. My page views are growing every day. I really think people are just after good reading material on blogs now. Kinda like newspapers, and that the interaction and relationship forming is done via places like Facebook and Twitter. So don’t give up. Just keep writing good stuff. And once a week is enough, I think,
I completely understand your situation. My blog has never been one of those reliable blogs that sports a new, exciting post three times a week. The reason for me is, I can barely find time to write books let alone blog posts. If I dumped all of my creative juices into blogs rather than books, I would never have a new release. I feel my readers would tell me it is more important to write books for them instead of blog posts for everyone.
After the death of my step father in February, my writing momentum has slowed way down. Part of it has to do with reassessing my life, and drawing a conclusion I want to be more involved in my kids lives on a daily basis rather than being glued to the computer. So of course what do I do? Join the PTO of course. Well, become the president, actually. Secretary of my RWA chapter? Sure, why not. I don’t have enough going on already. But you know what? In the end I feel like it is an even trade. My life for my blog. In the scheme of things, which is really more important?
So here I am, really only posting on my blog every once in a while, and in the meantime, kind of ignoring the ripple effect it is having on my book sales. It’s sad, too, because I, like most other authors out there, don’t have the resources to invest in a publicist. Not while making peanuts in sales anyway, because I traded that for having a larger chunk of my life back. But guess what? I wouldn’t trade it back for anything. Not unless I could have my cake and eat it too. In that case, I’m just about always down for cake.
I say, do what makes you happy. If moving on from the blog feels like the thing to do, than do it. If you still feel something here, some small spark, then try blogging less frequently as you venture out into other arenas to try to connect with readers.
Believe me, I think we’re all up against the same thing, trying to find ways to connect with readers. It is getting more and more difficult to do. There are so many writers. Honestly, readers must feel overwhelmed! Just as overwhelmed as we feel sometimes on the other side, trying to reach across the void and be heard by someone, somewhere.
This issue came up not only here but elsewhere online this morning that I happened to see so I blogged my own take on it in response not only to this post but to the other FB posts that I saw.
I don’t think blogging is truly dead, not yet. I think that it is, as with all things in life, what you make it.
I hope you find your ‘happy place’. I do still follow here even if I don’t comment as frequently as I did in the past here or on any blog (and I explain why that is in my post too) If the time has come to move on, you’ll know.
I just wish you happiness and joy in the journey. *huge hugs*
xoxo
bru
Congratulations on your next three publications!
I’m hopelessly burned out on blogging, too. Have been for a long time. I do miss Mental Health Mondays, but I certainly understand that blogging must come at the bottom of your writing pile.
Best of luck to you, and to your online re-invention!
Man, I hear you. I feel like I had some things happen that threw a cramp in my pattern and I just can’t get back in the swing. I am posting 2-3 times a week (usually one guest) but it is the ‘getting around’ that got hard and if you don’t do that, then the visitors trickle, too. I’m also not publicizing like I used to.
No worries. I think a LOT of people are doing the blog burnout thing. Like, is it worth the time invested? I find myself connecting more with my writer buddies on Facebook these days. I’m trying to keep up with the blog visiting, since I like reading people’s posts, but it IS quite time-consuming.
I feel as though you just stepped inside my brain, read my thoughts, and jotted them down here. I’ve been thinking lately – and mentioned it on my site – that I’m planning on reinventing my methods on my blog, too. I plan on becoming more personal, sharing from my writing journey as well as my life journey in general. Less promotion. Not quite sure how it’s all going to work out, though.
Congrats on your next three publications! I am in the midst of reinventing my blog . . . down to two days a week, doing more interviews that “me” posts, and it seems to be working, keeping some of the momentum, but I’m doing a little less work, and enjoying it more.
I let it slip too. Life just got really busy and I ran out of things to say in large chunks. I’ve grown to like twitter and FB instead. I do like hearing news about those that I started this journey with, though they don’t know it. =) I hope you keep us posted, even if it’s just once a month.
It’s tough to keep all the balls in the air, that’s for sure. I’ve gone 3 and 4 weeks without a new post. There’s just too much else going on sometimes. But I don’t think blogging is dead. I keep at it when I can, and I look forward to your posts when you can get to them. Hang in here, Laura! And I can’t wait to learn more about the sekrit project!