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| "ROBIN, it's my turn to blog now!" |
Looking at the list of blogs in my sidebar, I'm struck by how many of them last published a post several years back. With the exception of those who announced they were calling it a day, I find myself wondering why these bloggers gave up the ghost, so to speak. Did they just lose interest, weren't getting enough hits, or have some of them died? (In one instance that's exactly what happened.) If you're in my blog-list and haven't published a post in some time, what's the reason for it? Too busy, or just can't think of anything to write about? At least take the time to assure everyone that you're still alive.
23 comments:
Pop Culture Safari - my blog - is on hiatus for 2020 as I complete work on book! I'm tweeting, though, @PopCultSafari, and continuing to blog on my Beatles site, which is related to my book: wwww.glassonionbeatlesjournal.com
Nice to see you're still around, jf. Good luck with the book.
Hi Kid - I'm another one in the category you're talking about. For the last couple of years I've had enough work coming in to make writing a full-time career, which has been my long-term aspiration since about age 14! As well as averaging two popular-science books a year, there are a couple of magazines (How It Works and All About Space) that I do feature articles for almost every month. But it means I don't have the energy or inclination to keep up the old blog, which would feel like a busman's holiday now. I do have a rather different blog on my website (andrew-may.com), but that's only for the occasional "publicity" related post. So I won't be offended if you delete that link in your sidebar!
Ive noticed lots of the blogs that interest me (comics, footy, music, animation etc) packing it in for the reasons you mention with the addition of trolls and abusive comments by others just wearing folk down. In addition I think some folk who have blogs just run out of ideas ( I imagine after years it's not easy). I fancy doing a blog at some point but work and other issues are taking up all my free time, but one day.
At some stage, AM, I might have a purge of non-active blogs on my blog-list, but ones with an interesting back-catalogue of posts will probably be spared. That means yours should be safe for a good while yet.
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Sometimes I wouldn't mind some abusive comments. McS, because at least it shows people are reading the posts. Absolutely no comments at all can be worse. What subjects would you cover on a blog of your own? Comics, footy, music, women?
Probably general nostalgia focus on comics music wee stories of when I was a kid avoid footy although love it, it's the west of Scotland after all
Got a name in mind for what you'd call it?
Andrew didn't mention the reviews he writes for 'Fortean Times' magazine which I buy every month. That's how I know he's still alive and kicking :D
Gasp! You actually buy a real magazine, CJ? I thought you were a digital reader?
Thanks Colin - glad to see you're still a fan (of Fortean Times, I mean). I've got a Forum article in the March issue of FT as well!
If I remember, I'll keep an eye out for it in WHS, AM.
I'll look out for it, Andrew.
Kid, I've never bought a digital magazine, only physical ones. In fact, I buy a lot fewer e-books nowadays.
Well, you know my grasp of modern technology isn't up to much, CJ. I thought e-books WAS digital technology. Haven't you bought Conan digital comics to read?
Thanks to both Kid and Colin if you do buy the magazine. You may be particularly interested in this issue, in fact, since one of the feature articles is about a huge collection of nostalgic 20th century packaging material - sweets, crisps, bubblegum, cereal boxes etc!
With the exception (mainly) of the third item on the list, I'm interested in all of those, so I'll definitely be looking out for it.
Kid, yes I did recently buy the e-book version of Savage Sword Of Conan Volume 2 (featuring #6-11 of the 2019 incarnation of SSoC).
Fortean Times also has an occasional feature about brave pets who do extraordinary things to save their masters' lives etc. You'd probably enjoy reading about it :)
I'll definitely consider buying it, CJ - once I've had a wee shufty through it first in WHS. (Frugal Scot, remember.)
It seems every year I post less and less. In my case it's just time constraints: demands of work and family, etc. I'm lucky if I can crank out a post once a month these days. The spirit is definitely still willing.
My comments have been getting sparser and sparser as well. I'm still in the habit of checking my reading list/ dashboard every day, though, and have wondered the same: what's the story with the blogs that suddenly become ghost towns? It's like a series where the next issue just never appears and is never officially cancelled...
That's a good way of putting it, McM. Maybe they're in the same position as you are, but I do sometimes find myself wondering if some of them have passed away. My blog-list might be inhabited mainly by ghosts. How would I ever know? Glad to see you're still with us anyway.
My blog (Friday Blues Fix) is on hiatus for several reasons. A few years ago, we moved a parent into our house with us who was suffering from dementia. This required quite a bit of caregiving on our part, more than we originally anticipated. After about six months, I had to shut the blog down because something had to give (I also work as an engineer, which pays, and as a music reviewer, which doesn't but I receive products in the mail to review, so felt obligated).
I started the blog over again a couple of times for short duration and it seemed like my audience expanded somewhat, but the last time I tried to restart, my audience dwindled away to almost nothing (was never really high in the first place). I never had much feedback with comments the entire nine years I blogged, so I really didn't know if it was worth the time and effort to write a post once a week (I don't know how you folks post nearly every day) if no one was even reading it.
I was disappointed because I love this music and I wanted to share it with others, but apparently, there's not a lot of interest. I never had really gotten a lot feedback or appreciation about it, so I guess it was a waste of time, even though I did enjoy doing it.
I think I've commented on your blog in the past, G, but now I feel guilty for not doing so more often. My only excuse is that I'm unfamiliar with most of the music you talk about and therefore there's nothing interesting or constructive that I could say.
All I would say is that if you enjoy doing the blog, do it for that reason alone just when you can, as it's sometimes good just to express yourself even if no one responds. They might not comment, but one of your posts could encourage someone to give an album a try, and result in a life-long convert.
I don't know, Kid......most music blogs I read, especially blues blogs, didn't have many comments. I understood your reluctance to comment because I'd never really seen any mention of blues music on your blog, but I do appreciate your efforts and your support.
I do enjoy writing, when I have time. It's just been really hard the last three and a half years. Taking care of our new household member was very difficult and time-consuming. During the holidays, my wife was diagnosed with cancer, so we've been dealing with treatments, sickness, and upcoming surgery for her. Hopefully, when all that is done and she's back to 100%, maybe I can resume blogging, if there's an audience for it.
It wasn't so much that I was reluctant to comment, G, it was more a case of me just not being able to think of something pertinent to say. I know how difficult it is to look after an elderly relative with Alzheimer's 'cos I'm in that same situation myself, but being hit with your wife's illness must have been a double-blow. Hopefully, things will get better for you and your wife before too much longer, and please pass on my best to her.
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