Greetings!
If you have followed this blog for any amount of time, you will know that I have struggled with the amount of time I devote to my new found addiction: Blogging! On October 19th, Jane's Jewels will celebrate it's very first birthday :) This past year has seen me go from posting numerous times each and every day, to posting once a day, to taking weekends off, to posting only on Tuesdays, to taking the entire month of August off (actually, I thought I was 'done'), to blogging every second day, but with the comments section turned off ... Whew!
Part of the reason for the no comments option of late, was that I felt I was falling into the trap of judging each post's worth by the amount of comments it generated. Not good. That being said, I know that my experience is not unique; other bloggers I've followed have expressed these same concerns, many struggle with dry spells and some have even chosen to stop blogging altogether.
Therefore, after much consideration, I've decided it is time to reopen Jane's Jewels to comments - ultimately because I believe a blog should be a shared experience; a conversation (hopefully) - that's partly why I started blogging in the first place - it's certainly not an online diary - which is what I think a blog turns into once it shuts out it's audience and all exchange. For my part, I promise to try to keep things in perspective!
Part of the reason for the no comments option of late, was that I felt I was falling into the trap of judging each post's worth by the amount of comments it generated. Not good. That being said, I know that my experience is not unique; other bloggers I've followed have expressed these same concerns, many struggle with dry spells and some have even chosen to stop blogging altogether.
Therefore, after much consideration, I've decided it is time to reopen Jane's Jewels to comments - ultimately because I believe a blog should be a shared experience; a conversation (hopefully) - that's partly why I started blogging in the first place - it's certainly not an online diary - which is what I think a blog turns into once it shuts out it's audience and all exchange. For my part, I promise to try to keep things in perspective!
Jane's Five Commandments:
-I will not obsessively check my stats.
-I will not judge my blog by the amount of traffic or comments it may or may not generate.
-I will not spend inordinate amounts of time online.
-I may not reply to comments everyday, but this doesn't mean I don't appreciate them.
-I will not eat, live and breathe my blog!
Do you also struggle with the amount of time you spend online?
There's so much out there; I just discovered Pinterest today :)
Do you also struggle with the amount of time you spend online?
There's so much out there; I just discovered Pinterest today :)
Yes, yes and yes! I'm taking break this week and then coming back to a three day week, I need to focus less on my blog to enjoy it more but yet I'm not quite sure how to do that yet. I'm relieved to read others feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone, Jane! I feel the same way, and I follow the same commandments. But it's been over two years since I started blogging, and I finally have things under control. I check my stats no more than once a week (sometimes longer if I forget), I answer my comments when I can, I pre-schedule the majority of my posts, so some days I'm barely around at all, and I dedicate a specific amount of time on the internet, and no more than that. All that to say that you can enjoy a blog while still having a life. Just dedicate a specific time to it, and then step away from it when time's up.
ReplyDeleteHurray! I'm glad your comments function is back on. I like commenting on the great things people write -- like you say, it makes blogging a bit of a dialogue. And don't feel obliged to respond to comments. I don't, unless someone asks me a direct (non-rhetorical) question.
ReplyDeleteNow I can give you some feedback on this lovely blog. You make it all so interesting. I'm happy you have the comment section turned on again.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the new voices that will be heard here.
As the two previous comments say, set yourself workable limits and work at your blogging with in these perimeters.
Glad to see your back to posting. Always enjoyed the uniqueness of your blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your all your encouraging words everyone - I really appreciate the support and understanding :)
ReplyDeletewhat we canucks do best... yack! ;) lol
ReplyDeleteGlad your comments have returned. And you'll have no trouble keeping your blogging commandments now that you've found the amazing time suck called pinterest!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and glad you are back. I spend way too much time online. Oh well, it keeps me off the streets.
ReplyDelete