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Monday, January 09, 2012

The One Where I Admit That I Dislike My Blog


I was seriously about to break up with my blog. Put up a last post and say "It's been real. See ya on the flip side."

You see, me and the blog took a break from each other over Christmas and it turned out that I liked the break. I liked it a little too much. I liked not thinking about whether the blog was getting comments I needed to respond to. Or whether the blog needed updating. Or whether the blog had a broken link. Or whether I'd written this post for this certain day and-- oh my-- would the world stop turning if my Thursday Thought wasn't there by 6am?? Or whether the blog was in some other state of need that ate up my time and left me grumpy and unfulfilled.

But I'd promised the blog that I would come back after the break. And because I always try to keep my word, I came back. And you all read the posts I dutifully put up last week when I came back. You even read my clever idea about going through a book that was very New-Yearsy in subject matter. You might've even bought said book and eagerly anticipated going through it here each week.

Somehow along the way my blog went from passion to production. I wasn't getting on here because I couldn't wait to share something with you (the way I started). I was getting on here because I said I would. And because I'm a writer and we writers are expected to develop "an audience." But somehow, in trying to develop my audience like a good little writer, I started boring myself-- and probably you guys-- to tears.

But not any more. I hereby declare there will be no more themed days. There will be no more perfunctory posts. (I do love me some alliteration.) There will be no more me writing what I think you want to hear or what I think someone "out there" expects me to say. Instead I'm taking back my blog and making it my own-- less expectation and more passion.

So, my apologies but I won't be discussing that book here after all. I changed my mind because I'm a woman and that's what we do. (Although I do love that book so, truly, you should read it and be inspired.) I just don't love the idea of robotically showing up week after week to discuss it, making something I love become something I'm working on. Again with the boredom.

Instead I will be talking about my life and my friends and what I think about food and writing and reading great books and how my faith impacts all the different little tributaries of my life. And I'll be talking about marriage and kids and family and how most of the time I feel like a great big failure at all of it. But I try. I get up every day and I try. Mostly I just bake them stuff because that seems to make them happy. So I'll share the recipes and you can try the same tactic.

I'll be talking about all of that. And probably more. But I can't promise it'll be Monday through Friday. And I can't promise you'll always like what I have to say, or the way I say it. But instead of this manufactured, mass-produced product, what I share here will be one-of-a-kind: handmade, with love.

Those are the things I like best anyway. I hope you do, too.
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30 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this post. Thanks for being real. It's encouraging and maybe just a little inspiring...
Sarah

Anonymous said...

Good for you Marybeth. I will enjoy your posts even more now because they will be from the heart and to me that is always better :)
Have a beautiful day!
Janet

Amy said...

Yay! I've been reading your blog for years, and I learned much more from the earlier days when you were sharing about your family, your homeschooling, your recipes, and how you did it all than I have from the thematic days. Seemed more real then - and like maybe you were having more fun? No criticism intended - just happy to hear about the change!

Valerie at Home said...

Thank you! I do like your writing about your life and I missed that. And don't worry about getting something up every day. A few meaningful posts is better than a bunch of auto-pilot ones.

BethA said...

Way to go, Marybeth! I've come to the age where I believe that if you're not enjoying what you're doing, don't do it! I think your new approach sounds great and I will be happy to hear your random thoughts. We will feel your joy, I know. All the best. See you in blogland tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

Sounds great Marybeth. I've been reading your blogs since 2009 and always loved hearing about your family and what you were making for dinner, etc. You are an amazing woman and even though I am old enough to be your mother I still looked up to you.

Miranda said...

I admire your courage to evaluate where you are at and adjust accordingly. Last year I only made 1 blog post between January and August (I was really busy) but it turned out to be the highest ranking post on my blog. Passion for what you are writing makes a difference. I appreciate your honesty and hope you will post more than I did :)

Ellen - SkoMomma said...

I might not comment much, but I'm always here reading your posts. Keep up the good work. I just picked up Write it Down, Make it Happen at the library and I plan to read it at your suggestion.

Zibilee said...

This post is awesome, and I love that you are taking back your creative space. Do what you do for you, the rest will follow. I can totally understand your desire to be more than just a mouthpiece, and have long struggled with that too. This year, I am posting what I want, when I want, and being less guided by outside factors. I am glad to see you will be doing it in a way you love too. And I will be reading it. Thanks for the honesty and the candor today, Marybeth.

merlin said...

Wow, I believe everything happens for a reason, to question nothing, for it is meant to be. However, I only found your blog before Christmas, took your book promotion to heart, purchased the book, a rare treat for me, hoping to be inspired each week by your guidance and the book, have been filled with anticipation, logged in this morning to see if you had a tease about the upcoming discussion, and BAM: it is over before it started. Hmmmm.

Arlene said...

It's good to have the old MaryBeth back with us. Looking forward to your posts.

Anonymous said...

I love hearing about your life and your family and your faith and your writing. Oh, and I love food!! I'm glad you decided not to quit your blog. I would miss you! Even though we've never met, I find you and your bloggings to be such a source of encouragement and friendship!
Erin

Anonymous said...

Great idea! Authentic is BEST!

Kim said...

Amen Sister...Welcome back to sharing your everyday life with us Marybeth!!!

Karen HL said...

Sounds like a great idea. I enjoy reading after you and have fixed several of your recipes. Blessings, Karen

Anonymous said...

Good. For a minute there, I thought you were going to say "bye-bye" to the blog. And I would miss it!

I look forward to hearing more from you. Keep up the good work.

Melissa Scott /realmom8 said...

Sounds wonderful to me, too! God will bless you, I just know it!:)

Nicole T said...

Congratulations for following your passion and not allowing something to continue to be a chore! I honestly will now look at your email posts with more enthusiasm as I prefer the randomness over the structured....

RoseAnn said...

I so understand where you are coming from--an "intentional living" example for each of us. Congratulations on listening to your heart and sharing it with others.

Anonymous said...

This, what you just wrote about here, is what blogging is all about. I look forward to it.

Rachel said...

looking forward to this :)

Wendy said...

There's that girl we love! I completely understand where you are coming from. I've felt captive to my blog for a while too, so we are experiencing a temporary separating before we decide if we can move forward together or need to split up.

Thanks for the book idea though. A friend and I have been looking for something like that to work on with just the two of us. We're starting this week.

In the meantime, can't wait to hear more about real life.

Jill said...

Your post today is exactly why I subscribe to your blog - - -because your writing is so real and from the heart and inspiring. It is so inspiring, in fact, that I decided to launch my own blog, qeeunoftheeasymeal.blogspot.com, as a place to share my own journey as mom, wife, cook, and woman of faith. In planning my blog writing, I have struggled with trying to fit the "mold" of other mom bloggers who seem to write with themes, post daily, tell of their perfect lives, etc. Your post of being real was encouraging to me because that's what I feel I can bring to the blog world - realness. I pray that your year will be fulfilling in new ways that you never imagined. BTW, I did get the book and have started reading it! ;-)

Judy said...

I love anything and everything that you write on your blog. I especially love the Psalms that you post for us. It has always come just when I need to hear it. You do what makes you happy and we, your loyal fans, will love it, because we love you !!! :)

Jenny said...

Yay!!!!!!!!! You scared me for a second. It sounds like you have a wonderful plan of taking back your blog. It is YOUR blog, after all. :)I love your "voice" and look forward to hearing more.

Pam said...

Good for you, Marybeth! And this post, as real as it is, has helped me. I've sometimes wondered if coming up with themed days and Bible studies, etc. was something I should consider for my blog. But you hit the nail on the head. That's not what I want to do, but it would have become something I felt I needed to do, especially once it's started. And where's the fun in that? So, I'm sticking to what I enjoy doing. Sharing about my life, one day at a time.

I'm very excited about the direction you will be going on your blog. I'd love to hear more about your family, friends, and what's going on in the moment you feel inspired to write about. So what if there's not a specific theme running through. Yet, there will be a theme. YOU! The posts will reflect what's going on with you : ) And I'm excited about reading about that. I know it will inspire and encourage.

Can't wait to join you!

New Year Blessings,
Pam

Ariel Allison Lawhon said...

*grins*

seesawfaith said...

I love this. I just back-read several days and as I went from today (Jan. 14) to this one, I just got happier and happier with what I was reading. You go girl!

Arlene G said...

So glad to read that you are going back to posting whatever is on your mind Marybeth! I enjoy your insights on everyday life!

awcamp said...

Glad you're back!! The real you, who is so much fun, so honest, inspiring,
a wee bit goofy and outspoken. But that's what I love about you and your writing.