I created this Thursday category, “No Help Here” in order to provide you, the cool kids, with any sort of dieting-related “advice” my warped mind could come up with. Every once in a while it works out that way, most other times I simply try to write a joke or two, or even review a product.
I need to turn the tables today. No, I’m not asking for diet advice, jokes, or product reviews. I need your help, or at the very least, your answer to my short, one-question reader poll.
What’s on my mind? Well, the blog itself.
I am (and have been for a while) experiencing what’s known as blogfunk. It started as a light case of blog fatigue, but it simply hasn’t gotten any better. If you yourself are a blogger, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you don’t run your own blog, let me splain: imagine entering a running race with no finish line. Think you’d get tired around mile 196? I know I would.
So I need a little direction from you, my twelve loyal readers: any advice? Here are the poll options:
- I can’t start my day without a little Fridge action! You just have to keep this going! Remember, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few! Or the one!
- Well, do you have to post every day? If it would help, you could maybe post three times a week?
- If that’s too much, Charlie, I’d be happy with “when you feel like it.” It doesn’t have to be at regular intervals, as lame and un-Charlie-like as that is.
- Sounds like you need a vacation. Take some time off, and we’ll be here when you get back. (Yeah, right. 🙂 )
So that’s it. Sorry to play Debbie Downer today, but it is what it is. Leave a comment below. To sweeten the deal, I’ll randomly choose one lucky commenter to fly the blog solo for one year. 😉
on May 21, 2009 at 7:56 am
I know exactly what you’re going through Charlie. I’m zapped for daily ideas at the moment as well.
I like the idea of #3 “when you feel like it”. I know it’s not regular, but you writing is very good and It think as routine driven as you are, it wouldn’t be too much time between posts.
One other thing to think about is to get a regular guest poster to take on some of the “off” days.
on May 21, 2009 at 8:24 am
I know exactly what you are going through. Keeping a blog going is hard work. I think my last post was Apr 12 (blush)… Eventually people stop e-mailing and commenting to say “Where are you?”
Ultimately, it’s up to you. If the blog has stopped making you happy, or giving you satisfaction, maybe a break or scaling back a little would re-energize you.
on May 21, 2009 at 9:07 am
I’m smellin’ what you stepped in. I struggle with that sometimes too. It also gets a lot tougher to do another post when people don’t comment as much. Or maybe that’s just me. (aside: sorry for not commenting as much).
Anyway, if you force yourself to blog each day, your blog will feel forced. And that’s not fun for anyone.
So, at the risk of sounding hokey, do what is healthy for you. Eat a grilled PB&J and watch “The Princess Bride” again. Or not. Blog…or not. If you feel like you need a break, take one! Personally, I’ll be here whenever you come back. If you’d like, you can get some big name bloggers to guest blog on yours for a week or so – kind of as payback for interviewing you on their sites. They get more readers and you get…well…a break.
Just know that I think you’re mahvelous.
Also, did you know that Feline AIDS is number one killer of domestic cats (waaa waaaaa)??
on May 21, 2009 at 10:41 am
You definitely shouldn’t blog every day if you’re not feeling inspired to do that – that’s an unrealistic pace to sustain. I’d scale back to something more manageable (weekly? dates during the month ending with 3 or 5 or 7? the possibilities are endless!), and the idea of guest bloggers is a good one, too, especially if you want to start by taking a vacation and then try a scaled-back schedule …
No matter what, though, remember that new entries from you do brighten up our mornings!
on May 21, 2009 at 10:51 am
I honestly don’t know how you “every day” bloggers do it…I like to post when the thought strikes, although I do try to get at least 3 in per week. Maybe if you cut down you will get back to enjoying it. I would miss you if you left blogging forever, though.
on May 21, 2009 at 10:55 am
I think that 3 times a week would be more than enough. I have no idea how you manage to come up with a post everyday… maybe a posting less often would give you the free time you need to come up with more ideas.
on May 21, 2009 at 11:13 am
Can I have 2 votes? If so, options 2 and 4.
I like the 3 posts a week goal. Just don’t get burned out and stop completely!!
on May 21, 2009 at 11:13 am
Here’s what I think–maybe do a bit of all of the above. Do serious posts a few times a week and maybe just a quote, picture, or such the other days? I like wordless wednesdays and fun quizzes or links to great websites. Good luck and hope you get out of the funk!
jen
http://www.bodaweightloss.com/blog
on May 21, 2009 at 11:18 am
It’s hard to blog every day so I say 3 posts a week or when you feel like it Charlie. At least maybe 1 post a week so we can see how you’re doing in Onederland.
on May 21, 2009 at 11:30 am
I agree with everyone above – its easy for me to come up with posts because I am writing my life as its happening – good think I like making lots of food! 😀
Maybe scale back to 3 times a week, and if that seems too much, post when you feel like it!
Just have people subscribe and then we’ll be notified when to read! 😀
on May 21, 2009 at 11:44 am
Dear Charlie,
I’ve been hanging out on your blog often but have never commented before and now seems appropriate —
First off, I’m with most everyone else in saying take the break if you need it and then blog three times a week.
But if you do take that break, please please please come back to us! Your journey is inspiring and has reinvigorated my personal weight loss goals. I certainly credit you (at least partially) with the fact that I’ve started losing weight again after a long haitus at 240. It’s nice to know that somewhere out there I have camaraderie.
So I just wanted to let you know how awesome you are.
on May 21, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Well the selfish me would vote #1, just because I love coming and reading this blog every day :).
But really if your not enjoying it as much, then better to cut back a bit and just post whenever you can or feel like it.
on May 21, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I’m with the rest of the group. Do what suits you, but do not abandon us! I love your blog and I’m currently reading your book and loving it too!
on May 21, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I am relatively new around here, but I agree with the majority. I like your blog, I like stopping in, I would miss it…and you. But it doesn’t HAVE to be every day, do what feels right for you.
on May 21, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Ahhhh self inflicted blogging responsibility. GOT TO LOVE IT. 🙂 Check out my post today and the realization I made as well.
Blog when you want to with a goal of 3 a week. My bet is just relieving yourself of the pressure will renew your motivation. It has for me.
Oh! and consider a Wordless Wednesday every now and then. They are fun, less time consuming and ease some writing blues (at least they have been for me) while letting your readers know you are still around.
Chin up my twin it seems we have even more in common then we thought. :~P
on May 21, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I started “Friday Fun” a few weeks back:
http://www.backtothefridge.com/category/friday/
And will probably do that more. Trouble is, I even turned that into a big production. The next installment of Friday Fun will be tomorrow. It will be much lighter!
on May 21, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I like to pop in every day and see what funny things you have to say, but I agree, do what’s best for you!
I have it easy, because like Biz, I am just posting things that I am making, but I do feel sometimes like sometimes the things I make aren’t “blog-worthy”
But like everyone said, don’t go away completely, that would be bad!
I like what Roni said!
on May 21, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I’m going on vacation for 3 weeks and won’t be able to read your blog. So, if you need a break, do it now and be ready to roll when I get back! 🙂
on May 21, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Get back to work you lazy bum!!!!! What are we paying you for?
on May 21, 2009 at 6:30 pm
I definitely know how you feel Charlie. Blog fatigue is a common thing amongst us bloggers. Take a break, go out and enjoy life and come back when you are inspired to blog once again.
on May 21, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Take a vacation and blog when you feel you have something important or really funny to say.
I love reading your blog but it won’t be fun if you’re not happy.
on May 22, 2009 at 6:18 am
I do enjoy your blog and have always been a tad envious of your ability to come up with, and expound upon, a topic every single day. By all means, scale back if you need to. But please don’t quit – I would miss your humor! And please don’t enter me in the solo blog flying contest…
on May 22, 2009 at 7:08 am
Just cos people dont comment it doesnt mean they dont read!
Just thought I’d mention that 🙂
As for your motivation? If you leave I will get on a plane and come looking for you…………..but by all means, do what makes you happy,
tusc 😉
on May 22, 2009 at 7:28 am
I think you should do #4, and then #3 🙂
I think you are funny as hell, and a super nice guy. I feel that my husband and I would hang out with you if this was real life and not blog life. I think you should pretend you’re still in school and take the summer off. We spend most of the summer up north at our cottage, and leave our laptop home (gasp!) so my blog reading will be sporadic at best. Writing this blog shouldn’t be stressful and if it is, you need a break!
on May 22, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I’m feeling it too. I blogged only twice the last two weeks and usually I aim for 4 per week. Do whatever makes you happy, we as readers would love to see you continue (some days when I’m bored at work I wish everyone would post FIVE times a day), but only if it’s good for you…
on May 22, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I love your blog, Charlie! I’d really miss it if you stopped blogging, and so would a lot of other people. I think daily posting has got to be a lot of pressure, though. (And Austin probably has only so many burger joints to review.) Maybe take a vacation from it (hopefully not too long), then come back and post semi-weekly?
on May 22, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Well, that figures. Over the past several months, this has to be the first time I have missed a whole week of Charlie posts. Now he up and does this: run out of steam.
I was wondering how long he could keep up this pace. It doesn’t surprise me that the funk set in.
So anyway, write when you are inspired to write. If that is 3 times a week, great! If, some weeks, you can only get yourself to do one, so be it.
Regardless, those of us loyal to your writing (and not here just to promote another blog), will continue to visit to have a laugh and see how you’re doing.
Damn it man! Snap out of it!
on May 23, 2009 at 6:01 am
Take a break if you need to, and I’ll totally be here when you get back. Does that work with life too, can I do that with my blog and my life? Anyway, gotta do what’s best for YOU!
on May 23, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I have no idea what your going through as I am not at all a writer. What I do know is that I just found your website this past week and I love it, I actually went back and read every single post and was actually laughing out loud at times. I’d love it if you kept writing every day but as I don’t pay for the service I can’t really expect you to do it just for me. I guess I could always go out and buy your book if I want to read more from you. Anyway, I will be a loyal follower if you keep going 🙂