Comments on:

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:05:00 +0000

Scott, I’m not so much suprised as frustrated. What’s frustrating is that these are writers we’re talking about. Writing is our bread and butter. Blogs should showcase our talents, not our ability to cut and run the minute things get boring.

I attribute it to lack of original focus, or some insecurity that makes a writer think he/she has nothing to say, which is complete hogwash – we all have something to say!

By: Nikki

Nikki — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:35:00 +0000

Shew! Well I feel better! Whenever a few days go by and I can’t get to it, I have panic attacks. It’s the feeling of having your party waiting for you at dinner only to arrive and find that they’ve gotten through the appetizer and salad part of the meal. Awful, Awful feeling.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:55:00 +0000

Yea, but Nikki? You update your blog pretty regularly. I’m talking about blogs that have been dormant since Christmas! Only half joking – I removed some links from my Favorites because there’s just nothing new going on. If you haven’t posted since May and you have no medical reason for it, then why have a blog exactly? I think it would reflect badly – clients see that and wonder if the writer is prone to stalling and dropping things mid-sentence.

By: Nikki

Nikki — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:25:00 +0000

I think I might be bad too… My problem was that I got tied up with writing project in parts of July, I found that whenever I did have time to blog, I also had time to clean… there is that clean sock issue that seems to be important around here.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:53:00 +0000

leigh, we miss you! I was hoping you were okay. Thank you for the update. Kathy and I were worried. 🙂

By: Damaria Senne

Damaria Senne — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:17:00 +0000

I like Devon Ellington’s blog. I haven’t figured out why I do (I don’t mean that in a bad way:-) I just stumbled upon it one day, and found myself going back to read on a regular basis and haven’t really analysed why I find it compelling.

I also like Jane Yolen’s blog. She reminds me tha you’re never too experienced/well-known to be rejected, and inspires me to work harder at my my career.

By: alicia

alicia — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:50:00 +0000

I get frustrated when a blogger doesn't update for, um, ever - even though he or she was super active up until the blog's death date. Makes no sense to me.

Then, before I clean up my links list and whatnot, I find that although the blogger hasn't updated in forever, they still have me listed in their links. I start to feel guilty. What if they come back? Will I ever know? Will they be pissed when they see I've deleted them?

Oh, the agony.

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 13:38:00 +0000

This is a good post. There have been several that I followed--only to have them fizzle.

I think it happens because people get too busy.

By: Scot Herrick

Scot Herrick — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 05:00:00 +0000

You're really not surprised that blogs fizzle out, are you? With millions of blogs, of course a lot will flame out and die.

Having said that, developing an audience is critical for a writer. Doing that through a blog is usually by having a tight focus around a topic.

I asked a great blogger once how to start focusing on a new topic if one got bored with the initial one and the answer was...just start writing.

So bailing on a blog and not writing any more is really a motivation issue. On the topics chosen, they can be changed, even if it means discontinuing one blog and moving to a different one.

Good topic, thanks for writing about it.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 00:04:00 +0000

I'm one of the "bad girls" whose blog went nowhere around April. As mentioned on my former blog, I have a lot of medical issues (which is why I started freelancing). I had surgery a few times and have just been miserable in general lately health-wise. One prescription improves one problem, but then gives me headaches. The headache medicine fixes the head problems, but makes me sick to my stomach. I take an anti-emetic for the nausea and it gives me BAD double vision. I am sure a lot of you know what I mean! So, I do apologize for "flaking" on my WOW blog.

I'm also changing my focus to something entirely new and am putting the finishing touches on a new blog to be launched this week. I'm going to be concentrating on proofreading and editing as opposed to writing. I will still query reputable publications, but no more Web writing for me. I'm tired of the focus on quantity vs. quality.

In other news, I've accepted a FT temporary job with a major health care system in my area. It's not at all writing-related (it's an HR Coordinator position - my college major was HR), but it will be steady. Much as I look on every job site, I haven't found anything paying more than 15 cents per word and I can't live on that rate.

I'll still be freelancing and blogging on the side because, with a bill-paying job, I can put my freelancing money into painting and furnishing my very empty-looking apartment once and for all!

Sorry for the long comment. :0)