Want To Get Your Blogging MoJo Back?
Towards the end of last year, some of my favorite bloggers stopped blogging.. and I miss them.
So, I thought I’d see if I could help them get their blogging mojo back.
Over the next few weeks and months, I would like to provide some writing prompts, which I hope will entice you back to the blogosphere. I am working on some ideas now but would love to hear from you. Have you lost your blogging mojo? Can you pinpoint the reason why? What do you think would help you get it back?
Brilliant idea 🙂
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I just started, so didn’t loose much as yet. But looking forward to your challenges!
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I can’t help but take this personally 🙂
I wish I could tell you what would get my mojo back. I’ve come so close to announcing I’m ending my blog but didn’t do it. I’ve seen so much happening that I could comment on but just haven’t felt like it. I’ve also thought a lot about going in a different direction but haven’t felt like that either. I will follow your writing prompts with great interest but am not sure I will act on them. I guess I’m just taking a break. XOX
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I can only speak for myself, but one deterrent to regular quality blogging is to spend considerable time on a post and get little response. I appreciate those who stop by my blog and love feedback and dialogue, but my numbers don’t warrant the kind of time I used to spend on one blog post. I love doing it, but it competes with the fulltime job and other writing projects, so time is limited. I love blogging, but I have to prioritize and be realistic. I share this because I wonder if others, like myself, haven’t lost their mojo but don’t have the give-and-take to warrant the time and energy. Despite what I just wrote, I look forward to your prompts and will gladly participate. I think it’s a fun idea.
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Eileen you touched on something important. Time is limited and I should devote more of mine to poetry. But I can’t seem let go of blogging completely.
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Like Jackie, I continue to see things I want to write about, but it was time for me to stop focusing on cancer. While we’ll never get far from cancer, the devastating loss of James and his son left me needing to reach for something new and to challenge myself in new ways. I do, however, miss the weekly interface with everyone. XOXOXO, Brenda
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That’s a big part of it for me too, Brenda. I feel myself moving away from it like you and Katie and Lani.
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Thanks so much for your responses. Jackie, I didn’t mean to make this feel personal – so sorry if it came across like that. I totally get that many bloggers feel as if they have “out-grown” (for want of a better word) a medium that fulfilled a need at a certain time in their lives. Brenda, it is so good to hear from you again – I have to say I do miss your voice in the blogosphere. Eileen, thanks so much for sharing your insight – it’s an important one. We tend to pour our heart and soul into our writing, and yes, it can be disheartening sometimes to find all that effort is not reciprocated when it comes to reader response. However, you would be surprised at the number of people you do impact, even if they don’t ever leave a comment. So, my plan is this. I don’t want to make the prompts cancer-focused. I plan to post some prompts on the blog from time to time, and if they strike a chord and you feel motivated to blog about it – then go for it. I guess they are primarily aimed at those who still want to blog, but feel as if they have run out of ideas or inspiration. Thanks as always for being open to the idea.
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I do like the idea of non cancer related prompts. I know for me the journey through cancer has many twists and turns and some of them I don’t especially want to write about or just can’t find the words. But I do love writing and like others have said don’t want to focus on cancer…but on life maybe? I will await your prompts and look forward to the responses. Ax
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Yes I think some interesting prompts would feed the blogging mojo!! I think it is right to say that a blog can fill a need but then this can change..
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Your mileage may very but when I’m feeling really uninspired what helps me is to get out of my own head and do something for someone else. It can be reading and leaving a well-thought out comment on someone else’s blog or writing a review or a letter to an author that I really admire. And somewhere in the process of doing that I get my own inspiration back.
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Marie, as always you have prompted great discussion. I have an idea for a different direction bumbling around in my head and may float it here. You have created such a wonderfully supportive community.
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I have to say that I am a Lurker to the blogs, I’ve really never been able to express how I feel about any of this, it definitely helps me to know that there are people out there that can express it, and that I’m not alone. I don’t know if you know how many “lurkers” you are helping when you are blogging.
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Emily, I am just thrilled that you “revealed” yourself. Your comment means so much to me – thank you!
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dear marie,
my first response to reading about your idea to help restore bloggers’ mojo, then read their comments was to break down in tears. I thought of all the bloggers who work so hard to write their posts, then see there are 0 responses – it breaks my heart. I think of how they must feel, of how it must hurt them inside, of how discouraged they must feel, especially the ones who keep trying but to no avail. I think of those who have fallen away, and I always wonder if they are okay, wonder if they will ever come back, wonder if they are burned out, are they sick, are they back in treatment, or worse, have they died. I think of how exhausting it must be to be sick, to feel afraid their lives might be ending, and how they might be trying to spend time with their loved ones. I think of those bloggers who have been terribly ill from treatment, but who still do all they can to carry on, to tell their stories, to use their blog to help them as a kind of therapeutic exercise, but still have a strong desire to enlighten us. I think of others who generously give time and space to fellow cancer sufferers, so they can tell their stories and perhaps garner some support. and I think of those who have decided they need to step away from cancer now having attained a good QOL and want to get back to their re-invented lives and just forget about cancer, even if for a little while.
and I want to tell ALL of them how grateful I am to have the privilege to read about their lives with cancer, to hear about their thoughts, feelings, opinions, to see their photos, to have a glimpse into their lives when they share about their families, their work, the books they read, to read their poems, to pay witness to their suffering, to be invited to join in conversations about oh, so many issues, to become empowered by their incredible activism and advocacy, to be able to partner-up with them to further the causes they bring to the forefront, and cheer them on.
marie, I think what you are proposing with providing some writing prompts is so very kind and generous, and a wonderful idea. as always, your empathy and desire to help others is shining through.
much love and light,
Karen xoxo
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Karen, we all love you for the kindness you have shown in responding so thoughtfully to our blogs. Your comments have meant so much to us. When I think of the blogosphere, I include you in our group – you are a vital part of what makes us tick. Thank you for your unwavering support especially at a time when things aren’t easy for you xxxx
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I am new to this and following and appreciating your blog. I’ve got what I’m calling a “pre-blog” on Facebook and it will launch as a full blog on-line on June 5. It’s called All About Thriving. Right now I’m practicing and gathering an audience. I went through BC treatment in 2012. I’m an attorney and a former author/journalist, keeping the day job and re-turning to writing. Thanks for your blog which I mentioned on my FB page the other day. Sara Diamond in California
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I seem to keep plugging away at it. I have so many things I want to write about yet, but time constraints hold me back too. I try to do two posts a week, but sometimes it is hard to keep up and I am not an organized person, so that doesn’t help… My policy is that if someone comments on a post of mine, I try really hard to reciprocate before venturing out to posts of others. And yes, I miss the bloggers who choose to stop blogging for whatever reason too…although I also understand. And I absolutely agree, Marie, that Karen and all the regular blog readers are vitally important! We love our readers!
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Nancy, I am surprised at your comment – you strike me as being very organized and methodical, and your blogging schedule is consistent, regular and always adds something of value to the blogosphere. Glad you are still blogging my friend 🙂
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Marie,
Such a big question, and one I’ve been pondering myself of late. The reasons my blog posts have slowed to a trickle are as varied as the days on which I don’t blog.
Too busy? Check
Uninspired? Check
Bogged down? Check
Redundant? Check
Unnoticed? Check
I would venture to guess I have at least a dozen posts at some point on the road to being posted that are sitting here on my laptop. Why don’t they get posted? Most because they no longer feel relevant by the time I get back to them. Some because they are too personal and too unrelated to cancer to share publicly. The truth is having metastatic breast cancer is the least of my worries these days…
And like others, I have plenty of projects to keep me busy, and a growing desire to get out from behind my keyboard and monitor to see and engage with “real” people.
Would prompts help? I don’t know – I suppose some would. On the other hand, we may, as with the Kellers drama, saturate the market.
It does occur to me that if there are enough of us who would like to write the occasional post and who would like to generate more dialogue, that perhaps a communal site that would offer one-stop-reading would be of interest.
I look forward to seeing what comes of the discussion.
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Now there’s an idea Lori! My brain is kicking into gear on that one!
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I have blogged less because Les has been ill for at least fourteen months. It’s not that I don’t have the time because we do stay home mostly. Well, actually, there have been lots of doctor appointments, etc., so maybe I really don’t have time with all my other chores. But I don’t want to whine about my life as a caretaker and it’s been hard to put my mind on other things.
I was inspired to post this week partly because of Les’ surgery Monday. Thank you all for your support. The surgery went smoothly. Time will tell if it disrupted his ongoing heart failure.
And I’m so excited about offering my third book, This Path We Share: Reflecting on 60 Years of Marriage. That will be TOMORROW on Valentine’s Day. It will be FREE as a Kindle download. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BT4P0SI. Please join the fun. Love, Lois
(I only give this information because Marie has already helped by posting on FB. Thank you so much, Marie.)
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I agree with many of you stating the time investment vs the lack of response is disheartening. I feel like blogging is a full time job without lay and benefits. I am struggling to grow my blog visibility and don’t know how. It was great in the beginning but seems like once I was “cured” no one seems to care. My posts have gone from information on my health to helpful information/support for other survivors. My audience needs to change from family and friends to other survivors. I need a different audience and don’t know where to get it.
I also struggle with the thought of re-designing the blog or starting a completely new blog. But I don’t have the ideas to get started.
So frustrated.
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Thanks everyone for your comments – I see that some of you like Stephanie are feeling disheartened at lack of comments. Most readers don’t comment – I am just very, very lucky that I have such wonderful readers that do. But I understand that it is an issue for some, and I am working on something that may help you not just with writing content, but with increasing your readership. Stay tuned!
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It’s so ironic that you posted this while I was in the middle of writing a difficult post that I had to clean up and get out. I also have started a whole bunch but left them in the drafts folder. I think Lori’s list about be busy, bogged down, and redundant also applies for me.
Sometimes I am about to write something and I get so involved in everyone else’s blogs that I find they have already written about it so well. You really covered Kellergate brilliantly. and I found myself trying to put my thoughts in comments although I must admit I had plenty of thoughts about it. I agree with you and Nancy about how beautifully Karen contributes with her insightful comments and how important the comments are.
Marie you have such a special gift for uniting the community and I love the picture of Who Stole my Mojo? Thank you for all that you do.
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Oh Susan, I just read your latest post and want to say thank you for sharing your truth and vulnerability with us. You are a very special part of this community – always so kind and supportive, and even now, when dealing with your own struggles, you still find the time to encourage us with your comments. You are very much in my thoughts today – will follow up with a private message. Much, much love to you x
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This is a great idea, Marie. It may not get everyone writing but it will help some so I think it is a worthwhile endeavor.
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I’m in! I feel like I just emptied my head…I still do one every few months but I miss it!
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Hi Marie, some prompts would be welcome! Lately, I’ve just wanted to write about other topics, not just cancer. That’s part of why I wrote this week’s blog on my dental adventures — to give a shot at humor writing and a different topic entirely.
I consider you one of my mentors because you really pushed me to be more consistent with my posts. With a few exceptions, I’ve been able to post once a week. Karen, Nancy, Eileen, and many others have been wonderful about leaving thoughtful comments. Like so many bloggers, I do love comments, but a lack of comments is not the reason that I can be sporadic in my writing. Truth be told, while I would love a lot of comments, that is not why I write. I write because I’m a writer who needs to express herself to the universe. It’s about the process of putting together quality blog posts that keeps me writing.
What makes writing consistently a challenge for me is being overwhelmed by my lack of time. My job requires many hours per week — I love my job, but I can’t do a good job unless I put in the time. Then I’ve got a daughter who brings home oodles of homework and demands attention. And I’m trying to get a book published and starting another one. Plus I want to keep up with my oil painting and exercise. So, it’s really hard to eek out even one blog a week, but I’m trying.
I can’t picture stopping blogging, for I love writing. But I can see it going in another direction in the future.
Thanks for bringing this topic up. This discussion is important.
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Pingback: Mojo Monday | Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer
I am new to your site and do not have cancer although it has touched my life with breast cancer in the family.
I so get why many of you do not want to blog because you are tired “whining” or wish to write about something other than cancer. I am lucky in that I have a blog title which has allowed me write about anything. Last November we lost a great friends young boy to leukemia. We were, and still are, reeling and devastated. The blog was there for me to vent, and I got wonderful support from those who read.
However, before and since Dan died, I was able to write about a lot of other things, because whilst anyone is grieving or living with cancer they are also doing other “normal”, everyday things, so I personally think any of you who have blogs which feature your health, are being even more helpful by showing those who read that that is not all that is in your life, (although many days I am sure it is).
As for your mojo, your blog is your friend. It is there as an outlet, not a pressure. Write what you want when you want. If people read that is wonderful, if they comment even better.
I write most days because I love it. Finding time can be a nightmare but for me the end result is satisfaction.
For those who don’t feel up to writing today, what does it matter? Maybe tomorrow you might feel inspired, and if not maybe just reading and commenting on others writing for a while is all you wish to do. That’s fine too.
Now what will I write about today, my life in one word…. busy, fun, sad, lonely, happy, mad, blessed?
Loving your site by the way!
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Blogging mojo — hard to blog when the stage IV lunar module has landed again, but I will try as I feel up to it. xoxox
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