July 13, 2015

A SLOW BLOGGING UPDATE.

image via Unsplash.
That unanounced break last week? That was just the break I needed. I needed to force myself to take a break to realize that grace is something that I need to give myself. I needed a break to step away from blogging, to break my cycle of needing to blog for others, and to let myself write with abandon.

So I took that week to do blog-free things. I read books, I surfed the web for classroom ideas, and I wrote some snail mail (amongst other things). And I realized that I love writing and cannot give up blogging (you can't get rid of me yet!). 

But I also realized that I need to choose quality over quantity. And that even though I want to blog on a regular schedule, it's just not the season that I'm in anymore. I want to write to evoke thought, not pageviews. And while I know this will affect my pageviews, I'm okay with that.

I've told some of you this already, but I actually envy the bloggers who blog on their own time. Who don't apologize for taking a break. Who come in and out of the blogging scene on their terms. 

It's what I've always wanted and yet the pins on Pinterest told me that "you have to post on a schedule for your readers! it gets you more pageviews! it gets you more business! it gets you popularity and status!" So I listened to the "experts" and blogged on a three posts/week schedule. 

And it worked for some time. But like everything in life, seasons come and seasons go.

Now I'm in a different season and I'm at the point where I need to give myself grace. That it's okay if I don't post all the time. That I don't want to blog to be popular anymore. That I WANT to get back into my blogging roots. And I want to be real. I want to be a writer again, not a blogger. 

So what does this mean for you? It means that I won't be here on a MWF schedule anymore. I'll do it every now and then, but it won't be something you'll be able to rely on. 

I've toyed with the idea of being a weekend blogger because there aren't many of those (or any that I really know of). A blogger who pops up on the weekends to give you something to read when everyone else is taking their break. 

But like everything, it'll take time and some thought (and lots of prayers!). So we'll see how this goes. 

And I'm grateful for all of you who tag along. 

30 comments

  1. Good for you! :) I hope you'll still do The Circle, because I like that one, but I totally get if you stop. Linkups are a lot of work! People don't realize...

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  2. proud of you kiki!
    you are revitalizing yourself and really getting back to your roots (as you said!) and that is beyond fantastic.
    take your time, live life, write for the love of writing, and don't worry about "pleasing readers" we will always be here! <3 <3 because we love YOU (not just your blog!)

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  3. Haha I totally get you with this! I even toyed with the weekend blogger bit, though I didn't have a name for it...but even that didn't keep up well because I guess I was trying to do it for the wrong reasons :P

    Great post.

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  4. I love this! I have been not really in the blogging scene lately because of how time consuming it is and giving myself grace to not do it has been the best decision ever! It doesn't matter what others say - you do you!

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  5. I'm so excited to see what you come up with!!! :) There's just something about blogging when you have something to say and staying quiet when you don't.

    For one thing, it means that when you DO post, your readers will know they better listen up! :)

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  6. Your thoughts are music to my ears! I suppose I've unexpectedly become a "weekend blogger" since I mostly end up posting once a week around Fridays. It was unintentional but it usually takes me a week to come up with something worth sharing and to do it well. It's so hard to not get caught up in the business of blogging but just knowing that you are fighting those feelings too encourages me to not be disappointed in myself for being "mistakenly" content with whatever my blog is, or isn't. And honestly, I don't know how some bloggers do it. I feel like I spend a good bit of time getting things together, writing, making graphics, etc. But I also read a lot, watch movies, cook every day, clean our home, run errands, and garden. I think if I engaged in the blog-o-sphere as much as I "need to", I'd never have time to actually turn the laptop off and live! Keep it up...we love you! (please don't get rid of bits & pieces altogether...i love those!)

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  7. Agreed. I've been craving a break and now that I've (finally) taken that pressure off of myself, blogging has become SO much better. Less is more, that's for sure!

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  8. Oh! A weekend blogger is a great idea! I feel like I don't have anything to read on the weekends :)

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  9. You said it! I got so caught up in pressuring myself to post 3 times a week that I forgot how much I loved blogging and how much I enjoy it, too. Less is more AND like you said, there IS something in staying quiet and only posting stuff that you're proud of and that's worth everyone's time. :)

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  10. There's nothing wrong with weekend blogging! I honestly feel like there's this unsaid pressure where people HAVE to post in order for people to read their blogs (either that, or I made that up myself, haha). And I don't want this pressure to ever get confused for my love of blogging or love of the blogging community because I love both.


    And like you said, we have to LIVE LIFE. I'm not a for-profit blogger mainly because I don't want this hobby to become a job or something that I dread (what I sort of felt when I made myself post 3 times a week). That said, there's so much more to life than blogging--and sometimes we have to LIVE instead of blog. :)


    So thank YOU for encouraging me and supporting me this whole time--it's such a comfort to know that people understand where I'm coming from and are still sticking around, too!

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  11. That's kind of what I was thinking! I don't really know if it's something I'll end up doing, but it honestly sounds like something I'd like doing. There's something about weekends that are relaxed and as a reader, I'm always looking for more content on the weekends. :)

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  12. I kind of love the idea of a weekend blogger - I like to read posts with breakfast and on the weekends I don't get that!

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  13. That's exactly what I was thinking! There's something about weekends that are so much more relaxed and I love the idea of showing up on weekends. I don't really know if it's where I'm headed, but it's something I'll keep in mind! :)

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  14. It certainly would yes! haha


    Glad your mind is getting some ease :)



    No problem, rest assure it is my intention to stick around :)

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  15. I feel like I wrestle with these seasons every so often - or maybe all the time. Quality, quantity, quality, quantity, quality, quantity. Back and forth it goes, rarely finding a peaceful mingling.


    And I hear you on the yelling Pinterest pins - it's like they know! ;)


    Also, I need to do some major backtracking!
    What's new? :)

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  16. I definitely wrestle with quantity vs. quality, too. Some days I'm all about writing and writing and writing and other days (especially when I feel drained or have writer's block), I feel like silence is better than a fluff post. If only we were able to do both quality AND quantity. :) But I think if I had to choose, I'd go with quality through and through.


    Also, I feel like Pinterest pins DO know! It's almost a little eerie, haha.


    And what's new...well, right now I have a terrible case of summer brain! :) I have a new job that I've been prepping for and am really excited for the fall to start up. What about you? are you teaching this summer?

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  17. I just love your heart Kiki! Your space is beautiful, well thought out, and a place I love to be! You've created a great following and people who care a lot about you- and I say girl, take that break- get back to what you REALLY want this space to be!
    I am praying for you as you decide what that is my friend!
    And I'll still be reading along whenever you post!

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  18. Good for you, girl! Unapologetically doing what's best for you, for your writing. I'm proud! What does this mean for the circle linkup? (Selfishly asked, but it's bc I do love it!)

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  19. Thanks, Julie! It's so encouraging to hear your words--it's like an affirmation that I'm doing what's right. :)


    As for the link-up, it's still going to be around! I have co-hosts lined up through the rest of this year and will definitely keep it going on its normal schedule!

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  20. Thanks, friend! It has meant so much to get all of this encouraging support that just shows me that I made the right choice. It was really nice to take that weeklong break to just process all my thoughts and step away from blogging--it was one of those "distance makes the heart grow fonder" moments! :)


    And thanks for sticking around, too! It means SO much to read those words!

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  21. I can definitely relate to this, because I have been struggling with the same thing! I am ready to focus on quality instead of quantity right now too (and stop reading all those articles about what bloggers *should* be doing)!

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  22. I'm proud of you for taking some time away, and i would totally love to read your blog on the weekends, especially since no one else posts then :) Hope you're doing well my friend, i do love reading your blog it is by far one of my favorites! <3

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  23. You're not alone, friend! :) I actually have found this to be true with a few other bloggers in the community this week--and it's such a comfort to know I'm not alone! I think that there's this unsaid pressure that we all need to be sponsored or have to do this or that to be a "real" blogger, when really we really just need to focus on ourselves and our own blogs! :)

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  24. You know, you aren't the only one to say that about weekend blogging! I thought it was an odd idea, but the more I think about it, the more fun it sounds. There's something so relaxing and laidback about weekends, right? :) I hope you're doing well, too! I miss our emails!!!

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  25. Ah, summer brain! I feel ya there! :)


    And yes, we are open all year round, so no break for this teacher.
    But we are taking a little trip to Nashville in a few weeks so I'll take that as much summer vacation. ;)

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  26. So good to know that I'm not the only one who gets summer brain. I seriously feel like I've got a terrible case of summer brain--especially when it comes to remembering the date!


    Enjoy that trip to Nashville! That sounds like a fun trip!!


    As for weekend blogging, I'm still not so sure about it. I love the idea, but it just seems so weird because no one else does it!

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  27. Exactly. It's frustrating at times to see Pinterest and feel the pressure (even though I'm ultimately the one who's putting the pressure on myself) to have to post just to be consistent and considered a "good" blogger.


    I love what you said about having blogging become a chore--that's the main reason why I refuse to go into the ads/sponsorship part of blogging!

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  28. I love this post. One of my favorite recently. I want to be a writer not a blogger. I also want to be me and write authenticatelly.

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  29. Thanks, Jessa! I wrote a lot of the bulk of this post for me to help me process the change. I hoped that it would be relateable to others and have been so grateful for the like-minded bloggers out there (like you!) who understand and support me along the way. Keep blogging--authentically, that is! :)

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