Q is for Quitting

The day has arrived! This month for the A-Z Challenge I've been talking about blogging tips and there's a few times when I've alluded to this post and now the day is here!

More than a blogging tip, I'm going to share a personal story of my struggles with blogging hoping you guys won't make the same mistake.

In December of 2011 I quit blogging.





I was completely stressed out with blogging. I had just found out I was pregnant, and I was having major writers block.

After taking a couple of weeks off, I figured out how much I missed everyone and how much I wanted to be blogging again. So I started this blog.

Big Mistake!

If I could go back I would have stuck with my original blog and I wouldn't have quit. I would have just slowed down and figured out my priorities.

If you don't read anything else read this:

One of the best things you can do as a blogger is not stress yourself out if you don't get everything done. You don't have to apologize to anyone either, life happens. Just do what you can, but don't quit. I regret the short time that I quit every. Single. Day.

What keeps you going?

Comments

Alex J. Cavanaugh said…
That's what I tell anyone who posts that they are thinking of quitting. Don't quit or delete your blog. Just take a step back for awhile. Because starting all over from scratch is much more difficult.
My blogging buddies keep me going!
April 19, 2013 at 6:34 AM
Suzanne Furness said…
Excellent advice! I guess we all have days when we feel like this.
April 19, 2013 at 7:14 AM
Cindy R. Wilson said…
Blogging is a commitment, and if we stress ourselves out about it, it can become too much. I've taken a few blogging breaks - for babies being born or for other personal reasons. But I quit at the end of last year because I wasn't balancing it right, and I was totally stressed. It ended up being a huge blessing because in that time I wrote a novel, queried it, and got an agent. I don't regret quitting blogging, but I do try to remember why I stopped in the first place so I can balance my time better in the future. Have a great weekend!
April 19, 2013 at 8:33 AM
John Wiswell said…
I'm still considering restructuring how I blog. I don't think I'd quit entirely, but scaling back to 2-3 times per week on specific days feels more reasonable. There aren't enough hours...


John at The Bathroom Monologues
April 19, 2013 at 9:14 AM
Anonymous said…
Thanks to #atozchallenge I found your blog this morning. I appreciate the tips you have written throughout the challenge for other bloggers. I will add a question I think we all need to answer. What is the purpose of all this time, writing, trying to build connections? In my case it was a novel I'd written set in a vicarage garden in the Cotswolds. So....gardening topics gave me a focus to write about and I could spread my wings from there. I appreciate the focus of your challenge posts, which are helpful.
April 19, 2013 at 9:33 AM
ilima said…
This is great advice. A step back is probably better.
April 19, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Rena said…
I've thought about quitting, but mostly when I've felt like abig failure. Then I realize that it's unlikely to help me out to quit because I failed. But taking a step back is a great idea, and great advice.
April 19, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Carrie-Anne said…
There were times when I took a rest from writing new pieces for my old Angelfire site. That's possibly a good thing, since it gave me somewhat less files to have to find and recover after the entire site was deleted without any advance warning.
April 19, 2013 at 11:37 AM
Mina Burrows said…
Really good advice.
Sometimes its okay to take a break too. And it sounds like you had a ton on your plate. :)
April 19, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Luanne G. Smith said…
Blogging burnout is real. It happens, but it's been my experience that a few weeks off is enough to recharge, get some priorities worked out, and feel caught up again.

This is the longest break I've ever taken from my blog! But the A to Z month is a good time to do it since everyone is so busy with their own blogging anyway.

Hope you're having a great time at the conference!
April 19, 2013 at 1:21 PM
Livia Peterson said…
Awesome advice, Jennie!

I'll never quit blogging because I love the friends I've made and the friends I've met from this blogging community has kept me going.

I may take a break if life gets in the way, but I won't quit blogging.
April 19, 2013 at 1:23 PM
Sheena-kay Graham said…
What keeps me going is all I've accomplished since I started blogging and my readers and blogging buddies I'd never want to disappoint. I have no blogging regrets with my blog Queendsheena. Sorry you quit before but glad you're here now J.A.
April 19, 2013 at 2:11 PM
Cynthia said…
With my blog, I try not to put too much pressure on myself to deliver a certain output. The key word here is TRY because this month I've been putting all sorts of pressure on myself to get my posts up on time.
April 19, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Mark said…
Yeah for not quitting, we're all here rooting you on! :)
April 19, 2013 at 6:09 PM
Krista McLaughlin said…
Quitting is definitely a temptation for us when we are worn down, but I'm so so glad that you didn't quit Jen. :) Really, I am. You are still writing and blogging and someday, you're gonna be published. :)
April 19, 2013 at 10:16 PM
Unknown said…
In the words of Dori the fish : Just keep swimming.
April 20, 2013 at 3:57 AM
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