My main goal for the upcoming blogging year is to....keep blogging. Seems like a no-brainer right? But I've been hit with blogging burnout in a big way and several of my go-to blogs haven't updated in ages (sparking feelings of sadness but also a tiny degree of envy).
The biggest reason for my burnout is simply this crushing sense of obligation I have to get to certain books that have come for review. I'm afraid to count them, but yes, I am very, very behind. I hate letting authors down though, so if you are an author (or publicist) who sent me a book ages ago and I still haven't read it and you still care that I get to it, please e-mail me (lenoreva at hotmail dot com) and I will put it on the front burner. As I strive to reach a better balance of review books, bought books and classics borrowed from the library, some review books may have to wait a very, very long time to be picked up.
In any case, I will still be attemping to continue to post at least 3 book reviews a week most weeks. And of course, I will still feed your Emmy and Finn addiction on Tuesdays.
Though it is still a ways off, I want to let you know now that I will be taking a blog break for two weeks in November while I am in Africa.
Thank you for your continued support of my blog. It's really all the friends I've made and the awesome sense of community that keeps me going, even when the going gets tough.
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18 comments:
I'm just now trying to get back to blogging regularly again myself!
I feel you Lenore. That is my goal too, to keep blogging August was hard for me because I had so many technical problems and it just felt like so much work to get everything back together. To start posting again right away seemed like way too much so luckily I couldn't because of my trip. Being marooned gave me an excuse for a complete break but I am still not fully back in the flow. We should do or week when you get back. No pressure.
And where are you going in Africa? I hope the generic continental mention means several countries. Were we trying to name all 55 (?) for nothing?
Ladytink - I noticed you haven't been as active. Sending good blogging vibes your way!
Nicole - That's one of the reasons I haven't switched over to self-hosting. I would probably quit for good if I had to fix tech problems!! I am going to Kenya and possibly Tanzania. Actually, we are meeting our friend who lives there TODAY to discuss our plans.
Many have mentioned the "balance" issue in their posts. My balance problem involves review books, but also trying to balance blogging with life.
I hear you with the obligations and a very, very long time!
I've noticed that lots of people are writing about the need to find balance. That's a great goal. Reading and blogging should be fun and stress free.
Africa? How fantastic.
Oooo.. my husband went to Africa and LOVES it...
Where are you going ?
Just keep blogging fun, and you'll be okay even if that means taking an occassional break. I'm seriously jealous of your trip to Africa.
Have a wonderful trip! I would miss your posts terribly if you took a permanent break, so I hope that some time off recharges your batteries, so to speak, and you come back and enjoy blogging again!
I do sympathize with the review pressure / burnout, Lenore. I find it comes in waves. Sometimes I'm able to just accept that I won't be able to read everything, other times I feel guilty and pressured. What I try to keep reminding myself is this: every review that I do post is one more review out there in the world, directing people towards books. Even if I can't review everything, I'm doing the best I can (though this may be small consolation for the authors whose books line my TBR shelf... sigh!).
Better to take a few weeks break--even a month than to lose you permanently.
One of my favorite bloggers (non-book) just came back after like 6+ months of not posting and my heart almost exploded with joy. :)
I know what you mean about the burnout... but I hope you'll keep at it, because I love your blog.
For me, it helped to give myself permission to not post for a while. Posting when I want to instead of because I feel I have to makes it fun again.
Although I can understand how the sense of obligation you feel to authors whose books you got review copies of makes that much more challenging.
Lenore, Thanks for stopping by my post today and leaving a comment and telling me you were feeling the same way. It does feel crushing sometimes...and it helps to know we aren't alone. I hope you will keep blogging and find a way to balance things because I love your blog. I envy your trip to Africa! I hope you'll share your experience with us...I have always wanted to go there!
It's extremely easy to get overwhelmed by blogging, to try to balance that with our other interests and hobbies. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you won't disappear entirely, because I enjoy seeing you around. Hope Africa goes well!
I can relate to the blogging burnout as I've been going through that recently. I am working on finding a good balance and taking a break sometimes helps. Your trip to Africa sounds wonderful. You've had some amazing travel adventures.
I am feeling this angst also and I don't post nearly as much (or well) as you do.
Why are you going to Africa? You are very lucky - bring back pictures (or tweet them) if you can.
I love your professionalism.
Lenore, I'm by no means a book blogging expert since I've only been doing it since January, but starting out I decided it was going to be hard enough to post regularly since I had an infant too. So I decided not to answer requests from authors or publishers to read a certain book. Sounds harsh, but that way I don't feel obligated to read or review anything, and I do it for fun only. And I don't have to feel bad about saying no either.
Anyway, I know that's probably way further along the spectrum than you're looking for, but I just wanted to say that I think you have the right idea about needing to set boundaries that work for you, regardless of what other people want from you.
I'm working on striking a better balance too. For me, that means picking up a book from my TBR just because it looks good. I feel like I haven't had time for that lately. Hope things get better for you!
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