I was at lunch with a friend last week and she asked me what I’d been writing lately, and did I have any recent publications? Rather sheepishly, I told her that I’d been investing most of my creative energy into writing for blogs. And I haven’t had much left over time for writing stories, poetry, or academic articles.
After chatting with her I started wondering about the amount of time I’ve been spending on the blogs. I mean, I love my blogging community–I’ve found great friends through this medium–but I’m wondering if I don’t need to better balance my blogging efforts with ‘real’ writing?
So how do you all strike a balance in your lives? Are you so addicted to blogging that nothing else gets done? Or do you discipline yourself in such a way that you can do both?
I often blog about stuff I find in my research for other publications. Also, the publication I am working on now grew from several years worth of developing ideas and writing for blogs. I guess I could seperate spheres, but that would be too dificult, I would likely have to choose one.
I’ve weaned myself away from my blogging addiction over the past year. Ironically it came about when I started this blog. I no longer had time to be on FMH 10 times a day, like I had done before. Now my blogging energies are focused here at exponentblog, and because it’s a smaller blog with fewer commenters, I find myself spending much less time blogging.
I definitely struggle with the “balanced blogging” thing. I’ve frequently suffered from the delusion that I can “just quickly” check a few threads and then get back to work . . . and before I know it, an hour is gone. So I’ve found that sometimes I just have to stay away altogether, because I don’t seem to have the ability to blog in moderation. Ideally I’d like to be a bit less all-or-nothing about it, though.
Balance? Bloggers are supposed to be balanced? 😛
It’s taken me years to learn how to balance, but I have switched from blogging about everything to more focused posts, limited to the same topics I read and write about in other venues. I use my blogging to reinforce my passions, interests, service and social networks.
Since I just recently got the blogging fever, I am still trying to figure that out myself. I am pretty good at establishing a “blogging” time of day and limiting myself to that 30 minutes or whatever. I also try to keep my posting to short entries or related to things I am already writing anyway (like my poetry), and leave my more personal, thoughtful writing for a smaller audience (myself). But believe me, it’s tempting to spend lots more time than I do–just exploring, finding and commenting. And I really appreciate people who do spend the time posting their personal experiences in more meaningful and thoughtful posts.
Interesting responses. When I first read Jana’s post, and her question about how one maintains balance between life and blogging, I automatically assumed she meant writing on one’s own or designated group blog. It didn’t even enter my mind at the time that people spent large amounts of time reading other people’s/group’s blogs! But of course I know this, from perusing some of the more heavy traffic blogs like T&S and FMH.
I only update my personal blog about once a week. All week long I store up ideas, and just unload it all at one time. It’s a good way to review the happenings, and process, and it’s cathartic to boot.
And I only post a piece here every other week. Generally I have topic in mind, and let it stew until the day before, at which point time gets a little crunchy.
As for reading other blogs? Well, mostly when it’s a really slow day at work, or I’ve got a stretch of days off in a row. There are certain topics and bloggers (not all of whom I actually agree with) that/who I am very invested in, and generally surf based on those criteria. It’s the only way I can be timely about reading the vast amount of info that’s out there. Am I missing out on things? Of course. Do I miss it? Mmmm … not yet.
My latest idea to cut down on my blogging time is to keep reading all my favorite blogs and only comment when I feel especially, especially moved to.