These posts are meant to bring about some conversation, discussion, and perhaps even a debate. These discussion posts can occur at varying days of the week, mostly depending upon what's scheduled on the blog and what I feel like discussing.
Well, this seems like a pretty relevant discussion post, doesn't it? A few of my blogging friends, as well as myself, are getting back into the swing of things. We were on unintentional hiatuses and blogging breaks. We were dealing with school and college applications and juggling everything else in life. Blogging has to take the back seat sometimes. But now, most of us are slowly coming back. We're aiming to come back stronger than ever, my self included. I may have overestimated and may overwhelm myself now that I'll be posting on three blogs and a YouTube channel, but I also know that I'll probably be putting YouTube on the back burner for now, using it more for mini-reviews and book hauls, and I know that I can cross post on Lit Up Review and will be stepping down from full time to contributor once the school year is over. I also know that dance is ramping up as competitions are coming up and rehearsals for everything are becoming more intense and longer in length. But nonetheless, I intend to keep it up. I'm excited to be back and excited for all that's new.
But it's also hard. So hard. It's hard to remind people that you're still here. Even though I've maintained my Twitter presence, it hasn't been at the same level. I haven't been talking to/keeping up with many of my blogging friends. I haven't been talking about books and blogging and reading so much as school and dance and life. And that's okay, but it makes it hard to get people to remember your tiny blog. It's hard to regain your audience, let alone start expanding it again. I think it's definitely easier for a larger blog than my own. I'm taking it one step at a time, but sometimes it makes me sad that I'm working harder than ever on my blog and on my posts but that because of timing, people aren't going to be seeing some of it. That's okay, but it's a tough feeling.
I guess what it comes down to when you're coming back is being patient and taking it slow. There's no rush to get back to the level you were at before. Maybe the blogging break even made you rethink how you run your blog. My long break/hiatus certainly has. I'm not posting nearly as much, but it makes me feel a bit better and under less self-made pressure.
But being on a break often also impacts your reading. I've been reading so much less (as is evident from my Goodreads), and it's taking me two, three, four times the time to read/finish a book. I've become even moodier with my reading over my hiatus. I went through a time where I only wanted to read contemporary. Now, I want some action and excitement that you don't usually find in a contemporary novel. I'd like to reread books, but I'm not that quick of a reader, and I could be using that time to read a new book that I could review. Perhaps that's part of the problem, but it's one that I need to compromise on.
The good news about taking a break is that if you've read, you have a bunch of books you can write about for your blog! I've written a few reviews already, and I have many more that I'm drafting up. Yeah, it's weird because some of these I read over the summer or in September/October, leaving me to forget all about the book. But being on break made me regain my love for blogging. It's not that I ever lost it, but it lost some of its initial sparkle, I guess. The one year anniversary of this blog (as in at this URL) passed in January, and I wanted to do something for it, but time didn't allow for it, and I knew many people wouldn't see it anyway. I'm okay with that. I'll celebrate my other blogiversary! Anyway, I'm more excited than ever to write reviews. Before my hiatus, I was honestly sort of dreading every time I went to write a review. I wanted to talk about books, but I felt confined. Nothing like having nowhere to share your thoughts (other than 140 characters on Twitter) to make you want to review the heck out of all the books you've read!
I think coming back is about taking it slow. It's about re-embracing your blog and the community. It's about reflecting on changes and getting used to new habits. It's about re-establishing yourself. It's about reconnecting. It's about sparking your passion again. It's about catching up (ahem, I need to update my archive and Goodreads reviews). It's about reading books you own but haven't read because you can't get ARCs from publishers when you're on a long break. It's about finding your vibe again. It's about jumping in and just saying hello! I'm back and better than ever!
But it's also hard. So hard. It's hard to remind people that you're still here. Even though I've maintained my Twitter presence, it hasn't been at the same level. I haven't been talking to/keeping up with many of my blogging friends. I haven't been talking about books and blogging and reading so much as school and dance and life. And that's okay, but it makes it hard to get people to remember your tiny blog. It's hard to regain your audience, let alone start expanding it again. I think it's definitely easier for a larger blog than my own. I'm taking it one step at a time, but sometimes it makes me sad that I'm working harder than ever on my blog and on my posts but that because of timing, people aren't going to be seeing some of it. That's okay, but it's a tough feeling.
I guess what it comes down to when you're coming back is being patient and taking it slow. There's no rush to get back to the level you were at before. Maybe the blogging break even made you rethink how you run your blog. My long break/hiatus certainly has. I'm not posting nearly as much, but it makes me feel a bit better and under less self-made pressure.
But being on a break often also impacts your reading. I've been reading so much less (as is evident from my Goodreads), and it's taking me two, three, four times the time to read/finish a book. I've become even moodier with my reading over my hiatus. I went through a time where I only wanted to read contemporary. Now, I want some action and excitement that you don't usually find in a contemporary novel. I'd like to reread books, but I'm not that quick of a reader, and I could be using that time to read a new book that I could review. Perhaps that's part of the problem, but it's one that I need to compromise on.
The good news about taking a break is that if you've read, you have a bunch of books you can write about for your blog! I've written a few reviews already, and I have many more that I'm drafting up. Yeah, it's weird because some of these I read over the summer or in September/October, leaving me to forget all about the book. But being on break made me regain my love for blogging. It's not that I ever lost it, but it lost some of its initial sparkle, I guess. The one year anniversary of this blog (as in at this URL) passed in January, and I wanted to do something for it, but time didn't allow for it, and I knew many people wouldn't see it anyway. I'm okay with that. I'll celebrate my other blogiversary! Anyway, I'm more excited than ever to write reviews. Before my hiatus, I was honestly sort of dreading every time I went to write a review. I wanted to talk about books, but I felt confined. Nothing like having nowhere to share your thoughts (other than 140 characters on Twitter) to make you want to review the heck out of all the books you've read!
I think coming back is about taking it slow. It's about re-embracing your blog and the community. It's about reflecting on changes and getting used to new habits. It's about re-establishing yourself. It's about reconnecting. It's about sparking your passion again. It's about catching up (ahem, I need to update my archive and Goodreads reviews). It's about reading books you own but haven't read because you can't get ARCs from publishers when you're on a long break. It's about finding your vibe again. It's about jumping in and just saying hello! I'm back and better than ever!
So to all my friends on the same boat, welcome back! I/we have missed you! :)
Hey! I'm so glad you decided to come back and continue blogging. I completely understand where you are coming from (as I personally juggle school, blogging, work, and life). It can get tough at times, but please remember to blog because you love it. Don't allow blogging to become stressful. If you have too much going on, do what you can. Don't think anyone will stop reading your blog because of your occasional hiatuses. Then they are not true followers like so many of us are. I am truly glad you are trying to get back into blogging and just remember school is almost over and then you should *hopefully* have some more time to blog. Stay positive, you got this! :)
ReplyDeleteHey Klaudia! Aww, thank you so much! <3 I'm definitely doing this because I love it; the hiatus made me want to blog again so badly! Sometimes you need a step away, you know? I can't wait for what's to come. :)
DeleteI LOVE YOU JESS.
ReplyDeleteI actually have not too much to say to add. You wrote it perfectly. When I came back, everyone made me feel welcome and though I was afraid to be forgotten, I still remember you telling me that that isn't possible so I'm here to extend the same amount of kindness and understanding <3
Love you, Nova! <333
DeleteThank you so much! Let me know if you ever need anything. *hugs*