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6 Ways to Beat the Blogging Blahs

We all go through times when we wake up in the morning, take one look at the clock, and pull the covers back over our heads wishing we could spend the day cocooned away from the world.

We have those days (or weeks!) when it’s hard enough to force ourselves out of bed, much less make ourselves sit down in front of our laptops and try to come up with something witty and interesting to say on our blogs.

Most of us have had the blogging blahs at one time or another, those times when we run out of things to say. Or if we have ideas, we feel like no one really cares what we say, so why bother.

Since consistency is important in building a web presence, how can we make it through those blah times? How can we persevere through the gloom to other side where everything is all sunshine and roses again?

1. Change our expectations. 

The fact is, once the initial newness and enthusiasm of blogging wears off, we go through an indefinite amount of time where blogging isn’t fun and games anymore and may never be again. All of us go through the reality phase, where we wake up and realize blogging isn’t as enjoyable as it was at the beginning. Suddenly blogging is the four-letter word—WORK.

2. Accept blogging as part of the job. 

So once we’re hit with the reality that blogging is actually WORK, then it’s time to just roll up our sleeves and treat it as part of the job responsibilities that come with being an author in the modern age.

We have to show up for our day-jobs whether we feel like it or not. In fact, we’re not only expected to show up, but we’re also expected to be there with a professional attitude and work diligently, every day, whether we’re in the mood or not. Professional writers should expect no less of themselves.

3. Change things up a bit. 

If we’re bored with our blogs, then chances are high that our readers will be too. Take some time to brainstorm and make a list of things we can do to change the tone. Write about something different. Have a guest poster. Be creative and do something fun. Post about something controversial. Stir up discussion.

4. Dig deeper within ourselves. 

I'm always on the lookout for ideas and posts that move me in some way. I figure if the topic is something that interests me, then I’ll be able to write about it with more passion and enthusiasm. If it’s not anything I care about, how can I expect to convey it in a way that will make my readers care?

5. Find a way to engage in community. 

Blogging is most fulfilling when we have people reading our blogs. If we’re pouring our hearts into our posts and not getting anyone reading or commenting, then it gets discouraging to want to keep at it. It’s at that point we have to ask ourselves, are we sitting back and waiting for others to reach out to us? Because you know, that rarely works in real life or online.

If we want to make friends, we usually have to make the first move and reach out the hand of friendship. When we begin to genuinely engage others, we’ll find them engaging us back.

6. Re-evaluate our blogging schedule or take a vacation. 

Rather than letting the blogging blahs derail us entirely, there may be times where we’ll need to step back, take a hard look at our schedules, and decide that it’s time for a change. I had to do that last fall when I decided to cut back from three days to two. Or we may need periodic breaks throughout the year. Everyone needs a vacation and writers do too—even from blogging.

So what about you? Have you ever hit the blogging blahs? What did you do to get yourself out of the slump?

36 comments:

  1. Great advice, here, Jody!

    I'm still having a lot of fun with blogging, but am also learning a lot.

    Finding a realistic blogging schedule has been a big one for me. I now post regularly, just once a week. While that may not sound very ambitious, I've come to realize my schedule is such that weekly is as often as I can realistically develop a quality post.

    Finding ways to actively engage with others has also been both fun and challenging. Some weeks I do better than others. I love the interaction, but other matters press for time.

    Thanks for sharing the wisdom of your experience.

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  2. Joe, I truly believe that a consistent once a week is better than a sporadic "whenever I feel like it approach" especially if you can pour yourself into that one post and really make it valuable and engaging. I've seen too many bloggers over-extend themselves and get burned out. So it's best to know what we can realistically handle! All the best!

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  3. Thanks for these points, Jody--advice well taken :-) I've found that setting a monthly goal works for me, instead of set days. I aim for 6-7 posts a month. A month with a vacation scheduled, or family coming in? Maybe only 3-4. You're so right, we need to re-evaluate periodically, regroup...it's work, but still can be fun :-)

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  4. Perfect timing—my blog posts have been infrequent of late and I was looking for strategies to get back in the saddle. I think this weekend I will write a few to keep on hand so that I can post them throughout the week. Thank you for the advice!

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  5. Yes! Once I changed my schedule so that I didn't just write about writing, the blahs don't come nearly as often.

    It's much easier (and more fun) for me to post on faith and romance 2 our of the 3 times a week I post. Plus, it's hopefully more engaging for my readers. I like having three different topics to choose from.

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  6. I had the same experience as Katie. I started off just writing about writing. But since I'm a newbie to novel writing, I didn't have much to say that would be interesting to others. So I expanded to talk about faith and about life in general. Then, I also started asking fun questions on Fridays, making for a lighter-mood post before the weekend.

    And I have found #5 to be so, so true. I engaged other people at their blogs and, surprisingly, they have begun to engage me right back. I didn't do it because I was trying to lure them to my page; they just naturally became interested in my blog since we were becoming friends. I've loved the support I've garnered from the online writing world!

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  7. There have been times where I didn't post anything because I was suffering from blogger's block. I felt like I'd run out of things to write about. But one thing that helped was learning to be more observant of what was going on around me rather than just tuning out with my iPod; before long, listening to the way people talk and writing down funny/weird things I saw made it easier for me to come up with topics for blog posts again.

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  8. Thanks for this! I needed to read it today! :)

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  9. Thanks for the solid advice, Jody. One realization most helpful for me is understanding that material comes from just everyday life. Not every post has to be new, breaking ground. Sometimes reiterating the basics and lending insights on the relevant issues hit the nail on the head.

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  10. Hi Jody,

    I've been reading your blog for awhile and often relate to your posts. I got out of the habit of blogging the last couple months due to a manuscript deadline. I had to put nearly everything in my life on hold. Now I am wanting to get back and keep up a blogging schedule, but so many neglected things need attention, like paying bills, reconnecting with family, getting back to my other writing projects.... And I also know I need to take time to rest and rejuvenate. Anyway, it's good to know other people also fall in a slump now and then. Thanks for your post.

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  11. Oh yes, I definitely get the blogging blahs from time to time. Case in point, this week I'm taking a mini-hiatus to refresh. :)

    Great tips as always, Jody! I'm amazed at how you come up with relevant posts week after week.

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  12. I especially like the tip to accept blogging as part of the job. I often think of blogging as an "extra" thing to do--that's when I get in trouble. Thanks so much for this advice, Jody!

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  13. Hi everyone! Mary brought up a great point. I think there are definitely valid reasons for some people needing take an extended leave of absence from blogging. Our efforts to blog come at the expense of other things in our lives.

    However, if we take an extended break, we have to remember that when we come back, we'll likely have to start building our following again from the ground up. It will take time again to re-enter the community and re-establish friendships.

    I've had particularly busy seasons too, and it helps to have my blog list ideas, sometimes recycle older posts, or even cut back days, rather than cut it out altogether. Although it takes some commitment, I've found it's better than having to rebuild.

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  14. What a timely blog for me. I have been swallowed by the blogging blahs since the arrival of the new year. I was blogging four days a week, but began to question the whole idea. It was taking too much time away from my writing on my WIP. At first I was thrilled with the number of views on the stats page, but eventually became disillusioned with it all. I began to question why any one would want to read by blogs and have only written three blogs this year. I'm still in the funk but hope to use your tips to shake it all off and get back to it. Thanks for the help!

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  15. Yes, after six years, I am on a break from blogging. I hated for my blog to not be inspiring and I felt myself being a bit down about things so it was time to step away. I don't like reading depressing blogs so why would I want to do that to my readers:))lol

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  16. The original intent of my blog was to help me become visible online, to meet and interact with other writers. I assumed writing-related topics would be of the most interest to those people, but because I’m not a published novelist I didn’t have a lot of writing expertise to share, so many of my posts were on more generic topics.

    Now, three-and-a-half years later, I’m surprised to realize those topics are among my most popular posts. It seems readers and writers are ordinary people, too, and are just as willing to read my occasional mental meanderings as they are my thoughts on writing. That allows me freedom to be myself and I believe that, and posting consistency, are probably the two most important aspects of blogging. So far, I haven’t experienced the blahs, but if I do, who knows… maybe it will provide inspiration for a post!

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  17. I get the blahs quite often, but telling myself it is a job really helps me to stay with it. My biggest challenge right now is finding a schedule and sticking to it. And you are right, sometimes you just need a blogging break!

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  18. Thanks for chiming in everyone! Tim brings up a really good point too. I don't think blogging should take away from writing our novels. I try to schedule in a couple of times a week to write up my blog posts for the following week. Scheduling in the "blog prep time" really helps it from taking over my writing time.

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  19. Jody - Thanks for reminding me that if I'm bored, my reader probably is too. Ooh, that hurt!

    Your suggestions are helpful, especially #5 about engaging in community. I find that reading other people's blogs, posting a comment, and especially participating on LinkedIn provide fruitful conversation starters that make me want to dig deeper.

    And that leads me to a suggestion I didn't see here - READ! Whenever I'm really stuck for an idea, I pull out a nonfiction book and start reading. Within 15 minutes, I'm usually "talking back" to the author, and there's my blog post!

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  20. Michelle, That's a great suggestion! I totally find blogging ideas from reading widely--usually other industry blogs. They spark my thoughts and writing posts about the ideas helps me think through how I feel about them, if that makes sense!

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  21. Great tips, Jody. I find myself in and out of these seasons, and it depends a lot on what else is going on in my life. One thing that really helps me is to take breaks. I think I am due for one soon. :)

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  22. All good advice and so true!! I hit a brick wall when my hubby was so ill these last couple of months and ultimately died of his Multiple Myeloma Cancer on January 26th at home with his family around him.
    Blogging was a wonderful outlet for me these past 7 yrs. of his battle. I do hit snags but since most of my postings come from photos of wildlife in my back yard, I am constantly provided with new material. I keep up with 5 blogs now including my original poetry and Christian blog in addition to the main ones. And the Lord has provided me with so many interests from writing to crafting, I stay enthusiastic. Taking a mini-break really helps. Thanks for being here for all of us "would be" writers. Hugs, Kerrie

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  23. Great advice!
    I'm in a blogging rut right now, so this post came just in time! I've been dreading blogging recently, and this post has given me some ideas.
    Thanks! :)

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  24. Excellent post, Jody. In one of your comments you talk about having to rebuild after taking a break. I am experiencing that because of 2 reasons. One, I took a month off to focus on editing. Two, I switched from blogger to wordpress, which I am beginning to think was a huge mistake. I like the format better on wordpress, but I think you get more traffic from blogger.

    Anyway, it has been a learning experience, for sure!

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  25. Great post!

    For me blogging is like exercise.

    I've been an athlete my whole life, but it hasn't been easy. It often feels like I'm just 'going through the motions'. But, a day off can lead to a week off, or a month off, etc. And before you know it, you're winded getting out of bed.

    My weekly blog post is mandatory, because I can't let my blog fade away. I trick myself with the 'slippery slope' argument. It seems to have worked so far ;-)

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  26. I haven't hit the blogging blahs recently -- not since I landed the focus of my blog a few months back. And since I limit my blog to 100-300 words.
    The best part of blogging isn't me and what I have to say -- it's the conversation that flows back and forth. Love it!
    But, I did just change my schedule up a bit. I'm deep into book #2 and needed to find more time to write. So I dropped off my T/Th blogging days -- at least for a season. We'll see if I pick them back up.

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  27. Great tips, Jody! I went through that initial stage where it was fun to blog, and then I realized that it was a commitment whether I wanted to blog certain days or not. Thanks for the perspective. Blogging is part of our job as modern writers. Even if we don't get paid for blogging per se, it is part of our work and we need to respect it as such.

    Happy Friday!

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  28. Jody, I've settled into a twice-a-week schedule for blogging, but even at that I sometimes absolutely run dry. I tend to fill those empty spaces with interviews and the occasional book reviews, although there are truly times when I want to say, "I give up. There's nothing there. Talk among yourselves."
    But it really is part of the job, so I try to find a way to soldier on.

    I appreciate your sharing. Nice to know others sometimes feel this way.

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  29. Great advice, Jody. I just had to change things up for myself for some of these reasons. Not the blogging blahs per se, but the time portion.

    After much deliberation, I "closed" Fiction Groupie and moved all my blogging to my author site. It was hard because I had about the same number of followers as you do, and that's tough to leave 3 yrs of building behind. But I did feel like my writing-only blog had run its course.

    Beyond wanting to be on my own domain, I was itching to put some variety into my topics. I still love talking about writing, but doing it three times a week can be tough. (I know you know! lol) So I have renewed enthusiasm now because I have a few days where I can talk about other things and tap into new areas and still do the writing posts 1-2/wk. So I think keeping things fresh can be important if someone's feeling that blogging slump.

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  30. Very appropriate post for me! I was just thinking about the WORK of writing. Blog posts or novel writing.

    I've been trying to wing it lately and write "whenever I have time," but I've found that - as much as I hate structure - I need it! I need it in my professional life, my personal life, and my blogging/writing life. When I tell myself I'm going to wing it, I end up not doing it. I'm a reward and consequence type person. Even if the consequence is the guilt of knowing I've missed a scheduled writing time, that's better than nothing. Setting and sticking to schedules is something I'd really like to improve on this year.

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  31. Hey everyone! Am appreciating all of your feedback on what to do when you have blogging blahs! Some great suggestions!

    Andria, I find that it really does help me be more consistent in my blogging when I schedule my blogs ahead of time. I do mine on the weekend. Then when I get busy during the week, I don't feel under pressure to come up with something to say when I'm tired and stressed.

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  32. Thanks Jody! Today is one of those days for me so I really appreciate this list. :)

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  33. I've definitely experienced this! I keep a folder with ideas, and refer to it often :D

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  34. Don't make me dig deeper (#4), Julie! It's painful! I'm pretty happy with my blogs being a resource, but I have started to notice that I get more hits when I'm a real person, not a library.

    Oh the pain.

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  35. Mary & Jacqui, I agree! It's tough to open up and dig deep! But people are attracted and inspired when we're open and real!

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