Thursday, May 29, 2014

Bloggy Pressure

 Bloggy pressure is a disease. It spreads fast and never really goes away.

Can my fellow quilty bloggers relate? Maybe you are having writer's block - you want to write about something but don't know quite what. Maybe you are just getting excited about your blog growing (I know I am, though I don't mention it often - I just reached 700+ followers on Bloglovin'. Thank you so much for your support, it really means the world to me).  Maybe it's about "competing" with the other blogs out there (though personally that's not something I think about much - I'm totally being honest). And then... you start thinking about what you can do to make your blog more exciting and popular.

 

Like tonight, I came home and thought, hm... I should blog tonight! About what, though? I already blogged about my project this week. I'm not gifting anything this week or surprising anyone. I'm not starting any new projects (though the night is young... hehe).  I actually broke away from another quilting obligation on my computer (you'll hear about it this weekend - yes, I'll have a reason for a blog post!) to write THIS post. Because I felt like it was that important.

I'm not going to try to come up with a new linky party. I'm not going to force a new series. If the idea pops into my head, I will see how it pans out, but I won't force it. I promise. Otherwise, I wouldn't be staying true to my blog and myself. Sometimes I blog five times a week, and sometimes one, and whatever it ends up as is a-okay. Being myself is so much more important than how many times I blog this week.

Not to get all serious and all... but do you feel the bloggy pressure sometimes? How do you deal with it? This time, I wrote this post and I feel much better. Next time, maybe I'll get off the darn computer and start that new project! ;)

*Edit - this post was not written to reference anyone at all in particular except myself, because in the past, I have tried to brainstorm and it felt forced.


21 comments:

  1. The only time I feel like I'm competing against other bloggers is during the Blogger's Quilt Festival. Every time I have these mixed feelings about it...and do it anyway. I keep telling myself I'm doing it to gain a bigger audience, but it's so competitive! Ah well. And the whole number of followers thing! Whenever I get down on it (as though it has any effect on my process of blogging?) I realized that a year ago I had like 30 and now I have like 300...and that's kind of a reality check for me. But this blog post...I feel like you're not saying something. Like you're talking about your feeling or thoughts on something specific, but very intentionally avoiding the subject directly. No? Hm. Remind me of the HIMYM we recently watched where Lily keeps asking Robin "Where's the poop, Robin?!" I smell poop.

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  2. On Feedly you currently have 127 followers! The pressure your describing is the main reason I'm shying away from creating a blog. In the end I think you can't force a post. It just won;t come out right.

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  3. Funny that post should crop up in my reader just as I turned on Blogger Dashboard to prepare a post to publish on Sunday! Yes, I feel the pressure. Having moved six weeks ago and not read any blogs (even my absolute favourites) in two months, I feel the pressure to read, to comment, to let my online friends know I'm still around. I'm also feeling like it's all too hard and I should just close my blog down. After all, I don't think anyone's particularly interested and why would they be? I'm publishing once a month at the moment (to keep my linky party current) while trying to get my new house to feel like home! I nearly posted that I was closing it down but it's a coolish grey day outside, I haven't had enough sleep and I don't make big decisions on days like this unless I absolutely have to! Thanks for your honesty, it was a great post to read and respond to!

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  4. I definitely feel blogging pressure sometimes. I'm in the first day of the new bloggers get acquainted hop this year, and the first thing I thought when I found out was, "Good. That doesn't overlap with when I'm out of town." The second thing I thought was, "Crap. I need to make a solid post every day between now and then to beef up my blog" (which won't happen, by the way). It's interesting because I've been in discussions with bloggers recently, and they say that they don't like blogs that post just to put up a post, so I actually think you're really on to something if you're fine with blogging 5 times one week and one time the next. I think we all understand that the reality is projects have an ebb and flow to them, and it would probably actually be easier to keep up with all our quilty friends at a reasonable pace if we weren't all posting due to blog pressure.

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  5. I hear you - and for a long time I felt I was making things to blog about, rather than blogging about what I made. More recently though, I blog when I have something to show or say - whether it be once a week or several posts in one day (!?!) I completely disagree with the notion that you need to blog to a schedule, and fully believe that people who want to read your blog will do so regardless of how frequent or infrequent your posts are. And staying true to yourself is so important!
    On the competition thing, I honestly do struggle with that from time to time. It's hard not to - but at the same time I also think that not everyone has the same taste in what they're looking for in a blog, so what appeals to some people might not appeal to others. I've thought about changing my approach to blogging to make it more attractive or popular or whatever, but I think I would rather stay true to myself and write honestly (which is what I've always striven to do.) Sorry for the essay Jess, but this is a great post and touches on a lot of 'taboo' stuff that no one really talks about in blogland :o)

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  6. I have neglected my blog recently but am slowly getting back there. I used to look at the stats regularly but rarely look at them now. I blog when I have something to show rather than making something to blog about. I feel I have a healthier approach to it now, and try to notice what beautiful things are around me. Love seeing your gorgeous quilt!

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  7. I think for me the pressure is on myself. I only have a small blog and I just want to create and share it whether anyone else is out there or not. (Bonus of course, if someone is out there and responds...I do get a little high on that). I do sometimes do things too quickly so I have something to say and I think my work suffers. I want to be getting better not have stacks of eh....! I do know that if I don't blog something I feel I am letting myself down. I want to be out in the mix of blog world and learning and doing all the time but I should know by now I can't do it all. I am glad you put a voice to this subject and a place to vent.

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  8. This resonates for me. In fact, it rings true in a kind of "I'm speechless" kind of way. I don't feel like I create to share, but I do sometimes feel I don't make the 'right' things. Like not enough full size quilts, but smaller projects is where I am right now. I won't lie - I look at numbers quite often. The last few months they have very much affirmed what I do, but compete? I don't really feel that right now. Anyway, thanks for sharing....

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  9. I'm happy to say I don't feel the pressure at all! I do have a whole bunch of blog posts I'd like to sit down and write, but I just don't get to them. I do enjoy connecting with other quilters through blogging, so maybe I'll post something today! Thanks for staying true to yourself!

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  10. Blogging is one of the "I need to get to this" things on my list which is sad, because I truly love to write and I enjoy blogging immensely - it should never feel like a chore. Lately, however, I'm in the busy season of my life - we all have them, and mine just happens to be April and May every year. Not a day goes by where I don't think about my neglected blog and not a day goes by where I don't wish for time to just sit and write for it but, the things that really have to be done get in the way. The pressure comes from me, however, as I want so badly to be able to turn my love of quilting and fabric and writing into some kind of a job, even if it's just a small job on the side - you know, heeding the advice about doing what you are passionate about! I really enjoyed reading your post and reflecting on what you said; truth and transparency make for some of the best reading, I think.

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  11. Blogging isn't an all or nothing thing. You can do it as you see fit, as you have things to say. Some of my favorite bloggers post more sporadically, and I am always glad to see those posts, as a result. I was just thinking today how I am comfortable calling myself a "blogger," even though my stats aren't soaring, I don't post all the time, and my unread posts number is like in the thousands. Keep making, Jess. You're one of the good ones. This is a touching, encouraging post.

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  12. Posting what you want to post, when you want to post is what makes this blog feel genuine and enjoyable. If you were trying to follow a schedule, or posting out of obligation, it wouldn't be you. I think the fact you have 700 + 127 + email # followers means you're doing something right. And if you were one of the "bigger" blogs, you'd get more comments, and less time to reply to everyone (which I love about you), and even less time to sew, so less things to talk about - a vicious cycle! Keep doing you, its working. :D

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  13. Oh that's great! Well you have some interesting things to say on your blog and nothing wrong with that. Actually I just commented on Jess at Elven Garden's post about quilting and pressure. I think it depends on what role quilting plays in your life. In mine it plays the role of a destresser and so I don't feel any pressure to compete with anyone. I just do my own thing. I also started my blog as a means of sharing what I sew and now that I have other outlets to share the same I feel even less inclined to blog. Well my 0.02c :) But its great. Your blog truly reflects who you are.

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  14. I can't have bloggy pressure because I don't have a blog!! But as a reader, I say, "Blog when you want to and when you feel you have something to say, and don't worry about pressure!" :)

    I have a request for when you get around to it...updated pics of your sewing space, sewing tools, and stash. I'm always interested in others' sewing spaces!

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  15. Hahaha yes! Like this morning when I was beating myself up that I didn't have something fresh up today? But I agree. I aim for a certain frequency and from there, let it be. I don't want to feel like I'm scrambling, so I try and forgive myself when there's a week I just don't have much to post. Congrats on the growing stats btw!

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  16. I blog when I have something to blog about, and if I go months between posts, that's all right. I do it mostly for myself as a way to document my quilting journey. I follow a ton of blogs and I can always tell when a blog is forced and I hate it. Don't waste my time blogging about nothing just to have a post that day. I read so many blogs, I promise, I won't remember which blogs I read today and who has been absent! (That may be just getting old too!) No pressure to blog - too many other pressures telling me what I ought to do to add another one!!

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  17. Thanks for starting this discussion! I think it's wonderful for us to honestly share our thoughts and feelings about blogging. I think you are onto something - blog when you feel comfortable whether it's once a week, or every day! You do amazing work and just think of all the people who notice your blog but never comment or follow. Congrats on the number of bloglovin' followers. You are on a roll!

    And I would add one more thing - since most of us creative types are women we are naturally prone to bouts of self-doubt and feelings of pressure no matter what we do. Here's a virtual hug for ya!!

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  18. I second (or third or fourth) the notion of blogging only when you feel you have something to share or say. Blogging, and even quilting, is only part of our lives and sometimes all the other parts are more important/demanding. If we blog for fun then we shouldn't feel pressured to post all the time. Besides, I follow a bunch of blogs, so it's not like I have nothing to read if one blogger doesn't post anything for a couple of days.

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  19. You can blog for me if you want :p I think it's more important that you share meaningful things (like this, and quilts of course!) than blog every day. I get kinda irritated with bloggers who post one picture and a sentence and pass it off as a blog post every day... come on that's what IG is for! Blogging should have at least a few thought provoking things in it, or a story of some sort :) You'll always have a reader/commenter no matter what you post even if I get to it days after lol! <3

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  20. Hi Jess! It's always good to discuss about this. I think most of us feel sometimes presure about blogging. I feel that mostly when I don't have time to join some fun events for us quilter -bloggers. I don't press myself to post - I relly want to post few times a week, but if I just can't find the time, I leave it because I prefer to do my best with each post and not just send quickly one photo. I can't know for others but I prefer longer, good posts even not so often. If I don't know what to post, I start to pick photos (and there are always lots of them waiting) and then the story just come.
    Good Luck with 'no-pressure'! x Teje

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  21. It's funny you posted this now. I've just spent the last couple of weeks with limited internet access as my mum had been visiting and taking over my computer. I could read stuff on my phone but was limited in posting/commenting so it kind of turned out into a mini-blogging break in a way. It was actually kind of nice! I felt bad that I couldn't reply to comments on my blog right away (I had some posts pre-written and scheduled) but having the time away put things into perspective a little because I tend to find I do spend more time on the computer checking out blogs, and blogging than I do actually SEWING and that's what my blog is about sewing! And how can I blog if I don't sew?! As it is now, I've just spent 2+ hours straight on the computer catching up on blogs and comments. I'm telling myself to get up and do other stuff (even the laundry, if I don't go and sew, lol) but I know if I don't do it now, I'll only come back in a little while and sit here for a few hours again :/ I am terrible!

    The posts of the blgos I read will still be there, even if I'mnot the first person to see/read/comment on them so I don't need to refresh my reader every hour to see updates and it doesn't matter if I'm not the first one to link up on a linky.

    Personally I don't want to blog too often though sometimes I get a bit excited about something I'm working on and I want to post it for WIP Wednesday and then have it finished for TGIFF. I guess that's where instagram comes in handy because I can share a quick WIP shot without posting on my blog everyday about it -- because then I wonder if people lose interest in projects if I post about a WIP so much that the finish doesn't matter because readers are bored of seeing it, or have seen so much of it that they can figure out how the finish looks and aren't interested in a new angle of the same quilt?! And then I thik if I don't blog often enough people will "forget" who i am/my blog.. and I don't know. I do know I shouldn't be on the computer all the time though :D

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Let's start a conversation! I love comments and I'd be happy to reply to all who have an email address accessible. Thanks for commenting!

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