Sunday, June 26, 2011

Losing Focus...

Ah, blogging... A skill I seem to be having some difficulties with lately. I have to admit, when my computer broke and I couldn't blog... I wasn't as upset as I expected to be. I was initially when my computer died and I was worried I was going to have to buy a new one, but once I calmed down a bit I was very easy-going about the whole thing. I am not sure what is wrong with me this month. I am having a hard time reading, too. I just seem to be in a strange mood and I can't shake it. I keep thinking I should blog, but I don't. I keep thinking I should read, but I seem to be crawling through everything that I am reading.

This has been happening to me off and on for my entire blogging career. I sometimes wonder if it wouldn't be better for me to stop blogging entirely, but I always talk myself out of it. I do enjoy talking about books and interacting with other bloggers, but lately it has felt like a chore. I think part of this is because my numbers where there reading wise at the start of the year, but quality-wise I am lacking all around. There are some books that I have loved, but mostly I have read a lot of books that are just okay. As this trend has continued, I have started to feel more apathetic about everything. And, I am having a hard time concentrating on one book. Right now I am reading Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, listening to American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and rereading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I feel like I am making little to no progress in any of them despite enjoying all of them.

So, I have been thinking lately. For the first part of this year, I have been following along with all the changes that Amanda has been making to her blogging experience, and I sort of agree with her. This blog has never really been a personal blog. I chat about life-stuff once in a while, but it is predominately a book review blog. I am starting to think that I need to branch out in life a bit more. I was trying new things at the beginning of the year, but at this point I am back to the same-ole-same, and it is starting to wear on me. The things I normally enjoy doing are become a chore because it is all I seem to do. There is obviously a problem there... I am having that problem with books. I feel like I read the same thing over and over again.

I obviously need to make some changes... Now to decide what they will be!

19 comments:

  1. I can't stand it when my joys become my jobs. When my husband and I were cycling yesterday, something I love to do, I said, "Look! I'm getting even stronger and faster now!" and he said, "If you keep it up, you'll improve even more by July. Just make each ride a few minutes less." Wait a minute. When a ride becomes a job, when a book or a blog become a job, it's time to rethink the purpose.

    I completely agree with you about making the necessary changes to find your joy again. Perhaps it's adding photographs? Adding another interest into some of your posts? I know for me, I have to quite accepting review requests, because I'm reading what every one else wants me to read, not what I want to read.

    You'll find just the thing for you, I'm sure. Don't forget, we've been doing this a lonnnng time, too! :)

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  2. I've been revamping my approach to blogging, and it's made the whole thing much more fun! So play around a little, try some new things out, and see what makes you look forward to the computer. :) I as in a reading slump for all of May, so I empathise. I hope it ends for you soon though!

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  3. I certainly hope you don't stop blogging as I would miss you doing so, but I'm 100% behind the desire to do new things. I have yet to implement all the things I'm wanting to do since I did the blog facelift, but even doing that has re-energized me and I've been enjoying what I am posting about. I decided last year that I was not going to feel pressure to blog about everything I read and not to feel pressure if I take the occasional break from blogging. As Bellezza said, it should be a joy and not a job. I look forward to whatever changes you decide to implement. In the meantime I strongly suggest letting go and enjoying yourself.

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  4. Kelly, I say just do whatever sounds like fun at the time. Some ideas will work for you, some won't. But please don't let blogging become something you hate, because I just couldn't stand it if you quit!!!

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  5. Well you already know that I completely understand the way you feel. I will definitely still be around no matter what you decide to do going forward, and of course on Tumblr too. :)

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  6. Change is good - as long as that change doesn't include not blogging! We'd miss you. :)

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  7. Sorry to hear you're not enjoying things as much :( I do hope that you stick around but you have to decide what works best for you and makes you happy!

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  8. You know I'll be here no matter what you decide to do :) I'm the same as you Kelly...I've really just been getting into blogging again since a year and a half ago!! It just comes and goes :(

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  9. Gee, Kelly, here I am, Miss Bad Blogger of 2011! I mean I think I've written only about 20 posts all year! I did wonder if I should quit, when I could not write anything for the last several weeks, but I hung in there, waiting to see how I really felt. I started blogging because I love talking about books. There is a competitive edge to blogging that I have to be careful not to become caught up in, and I think your other commentators have really got it spot on: write what you love and are enthusiastic about. It's not a race, not a job, not a competition, and no one is grading you. Though the book critics out there seem to think we're a threat (or not), really I blog just because I love reading and want to share what I've discovered. I know you've been blogging longer than I have, so I hope that you are not thinking you always have to be creative or original on here. I'd prefer you to keep blogging, because I enjoy what you have to say so much! I'd rather you be happy though, and if it means rehauling your blog and blogging, then I'm a little excited too about that. I hope that will make it more fun for you!

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  10. There seems to be a lot of this sort of thing going around, doesn't there?

    Bottom line: Do what makes you happy. If that means making your blog more personal, go for it. Same goes for dropping it completely.

    I've finally decided to stop worrying about it. I'll post when I feel like it and it'll be whatever I feel like posting and that's that. It's a hobby, for pete's sake. Enough obsessing over it.

    I do hope you stick around in one form or another, however.

    cjh

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  11. When I look back to where I started blogging, my content has changed a lot. A big part of the reason why I don't review every book I read any more, why I have cut down drastically on the number of challenges I participate in is to keep things fresh and interesting to both me and my readers. It took me ages to stop feeling guilty about the fact that I don't review everything, but now I am okay with that!

    Blog what you want to blog about, short posts, opinion pieces, something completely different! Whatever you want!

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  12. umm obviously my blog is not "just books".. when you limit yourself you can easily get "burn out". I never did read fast enough to have just "a book blog" but that's ok too.. I hope you stick around ! I have seen many come and go over the years though.. life changes no matter how hard we try for it not to.

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  13. Whatever you do just stay true to whatever makes you tick!!! I'll read it no matter what!

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  14. Oh, I know, I know. I think I'm just spreading myself so thin on all the socialmediatimesucks! but when I take a break from my book blog, I always come back. I don't really force myself to write reviews but need to be in the a fun mindset. Do what you feel is best for you and don't worry too much. These things ebb and flow.

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  15. Everyone seems to be re-evaluating their relationship to blogging lately.

    I agree with all that's been said about it: do what makes you happy. We'll see what forms that that takes, but the primary thing is to enjoy what you're doing. ^-^ I hope you'll find ways to make blogging more enjoyable to yourself soon!

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  16. K, I understand how you feel. I've posted two posts in the last two weeks and though I think about it, I'm not really worried. I think everyone's right and you should experiment and find other ways to blog.

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  17. Do what you need to do, take a break, don't put pressure on yourself.

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  18. I know how you are feeling. I have been going through similar feelings. I took one month off (march-April) and it was a great thing. Refreshing.
    Like Carl, I have decided that I do not need to blog about every book I read. Also, I blog when I have time vs making the time. Well, I still make the time but the time comes more naturally rather than forced. Anyway, liked CarrieK. said, change is good, but just don't stop blogging all together - many people would miss you.

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  19. Thanks everyone!!!!

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