Another Change in My Blogging Schedule, and the New Path Forward

/ saraletourneau
supernatural-disappointed

(*disappointed sigh*)

This wasn’t the post I was hoping to share with you today.

Some of you might recall from this post 2 weeks ago that I’ve had to cut back on my blogging recently. This has been on all fronts: visiting and commenting on other people’s blogs, replying to comments here, and (most importantly) writing my own posts. Typically I had time to prepare posts about 1 or 2 weeks in advance of their intended date. This explains why I’ve still been able to post new articles despite not having much blog-writing time. But today, the trickle-down effect has finally won out.

So, the new Chronicling The Craft I’d been planning to post today to celebrate 10,000 words on The Novella? It’s not done. And a return to the Character Evolution Files with File No. 15? That won’t happen soon, either. In fact, apart from my commitments to DIY MFA and Writers Helping Writers, I don’t know when I’ll be able to return to a “routine” blogging schedule.

But I’m not quitting this site. Nor am I going on a hiatus. So, let me briefly explain why this change came about and how life at this site will change in response.

Why I Need to Change My Blogging Schedule Again

In short, life offline has made my current blogging habits unsustainable (again). My day-job workload unexpectedly increased in January, and it will remain hectic for the foreseeable future. In response, I’ve had to consider my priorities (creative writing, self-care, social / home life, blogging, etc.) and figure out a new way of managing my time.

Unfortunately, the only way I can maintain my previous blogging habits and schedule is by compromising my novel-writing time or quitting DIY MFA or Writers Helping Writers. Neither step is one I’m willing to take. I may be a writer and a blogger, but if I had to weigh one’s importance over the other, my role as a writer comes first.

ursula-tough-choices

So… yeah. :/ But like I said, I don’t want to give up this site entirely. Of course, the question I’ve had to ponder was, “What do I do now?”

I’ve always believed in “quality over quantity,” but with life as it is now, writing a blog post at the length or quality I’m used to could take weeks. And while I could always go to a more sporadic schedule or take an indefinite hiatus, how many readers would come back when something does post? You guys are important to me. Your comments, feedback, encouragement, idea-sharing, collective geeking out – it all matters to me, and I don’t want to lose that.

The New Blogging Schedule, Starting This Week

So, how do I move forward with the blog now? Here are my thoughts:

DIY MFA and Writers Helping Writers: My top blogging priorities going forward. On Tuesdays when I have new articles at either site, I’ll share the links here like I have been. These are commitments I can keep, since my DIY MFA column runs every 5 weeks and my Writers Helping Writers posts are once every 3 months.

Weekly Writer Wisdom: On other Tuesdays, I’ll share a quote image about writing, reading, or creativity, as well as questions to prompt discussions about our writing, favorite stories, and finding or maintaining inspiration. I’ll also share the images on Facebook and Twitter at 11:00 am Eastern on those Tuesdays with the hashtag #WeeklyWriterWisdom. Readers can then comment here at the blog or on social media and/on sharing the images on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Thursday Thoughtfulness: Starting this Thursday, I’ll share a quote image about other topics I’ve covered at the blog, such as compassion, courage, self-confidence, finding one’s purpose, etc. Like with Weekly Writer Wisdom, readers can join in by answering questions related to the quote and sharing the images on social media. These images will post on Facebook and Twitter at 11:00 am Eastern on Thursdays with the hashtag #ThursdayThoughtfulness.

Monthly Writing & Reading Update: As time allows (hopefully on a monthly basis), I’ll share a brief update on my writing projects and books I’ve recently read. Consider this a combination of the Chronicling The Craft progress reports and my seasonal reading posts (without the giveaways, though). When they do post, they’ll be in place of a Weekly Writer Wisdom or Thursday Thoughtfulness.

What’s Making Me Happy This Month: Not only did I enjoy linking up with Leanne Sowul for this series this past December, but I’d like to continue it on a monthly basis so we can discuss other things besides reading and writing. But like with the Monthly Writing & Reading Updates, this will be on an “as-time-allows” basis and in place of a Weekly Writer Wisdom or Thursday Thoughtfulness.

Other Articles: Also on an “as-time-allows” basis. These are my lowest priority, though, so I can’t make any guarantees of when you’ll see them. I might end up using some of these ideas for Writers Helping Writers or DIY MFA, too.

Sadly, these changes mean that series such as Chronicling The Craft and the Character Evolution Files will be ending. Believe me, it hurts to make these changes, and I know readers will miss both series. But with offline life the way it is now, I have to find a new way of blogging on a consistent basis; and this lighter, more “personal” plan seems to be the best path forward.

stitch-lilo-hug

Yeah… A Stitch-hug would be nice right about now.

Because, Like I Said Earlier, You Guys Mean the World to Me

I’m sure this news will disappoint a number of readers. But I hope it doesn’t deter anyone from coming back, and that we can continue communicating, sharing, and learning from one another, just in a different way than we had before. I also hope that my blogging friends don’t feel as though I’ve been avoiding their sites lately. I’m still visiting and commenting, but I can’t do so as often as I had before.

Most of all, and as always, thank you for your continued friendship, encouragement, and support during this time. You all inspire me to be the best writer I can be, and I hope I’ve been able to do the same for you. ❤

22 thoughts on “Another Change in My Blogging Schedule, and the New Path Forward”

  1. My dear Sara, you are such a kind-hearted person! I sympathize with you completely. I’ve been facing a similar crisis lately where I’m trying to balance writing, work and family and social life online and offline and it is beginning to overwhelm.
    You need to focus on dong what is best for you and we will be here to support you as always and encourage when we can.
    I look forward to seeing whatever posts you bring. You are right, I believe to prioritize DIY MFA & Writers Helping Writers, and the insight you bring to both is invaluable.
    You are always an inspiration! Stay well and best of luck with your Novella. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah… it’s so exhausting to think about that it almost makes you want to take a nap, doesn’t it? (*lol*) (*blushes*)

      But thank you for understanding, Faith. I hope you can soon find your own balance in things so that it doesn’t wear you down as well.

      Liked by 1 person

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  2. It’s always hard to give up or cut back on things you love, but you have a clear sense of your priorities so it seems like changing your schedule a bit is going to work out. I had to forcibly cut back on reading and blogging when I had to go back to work full time (after being a stay at home mom for 15 years!) and I HATED it. It literally took me a year to finally accept that I could no longer read 3 books a week and get a blog post up every day. But things work out:-)

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  3. Sara, I TOTALLY understand! I went through the same thing this week, figuring out what to cut from my life in order to make room for the more important stuff. For me, that meant sending in my resignation for coaching gymnastics. Though I love the sport, the pay is terrible and often the work is super stressful (it just takes one kid having a bad day for the whole class to be torture). That said, do what you have to do to make time for yourself! No guilt, no apologies, we understand. 🙂

    PS – I will still refer to your Character Evolution files on a regular basis. Those posts are gold!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you, Heather. 🙂 I remember the comments you left on some of the earlier Character Evolution Files, so I’m really glad you’ve found that series so helpful.

      Sorry that you had to give up gymnastics coaching, btw. Though I can definitely understand why, given your reasons.

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  4. You – very sensibly – have looked at your commitments and decided to prioritise. As you have stated – you are above all, a writer. So if the blogging needs to adapted and tailored to fit your life, so be it. I think to make the decision now is much better than suddenly ‘going dark’ then popping up a few weeks down the line to explain what has gone on. Wishing you well in your endeavours, as always, Sara:).

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Exactly. And I don’t think I said it outright in the post, but I also feel a sense of responsibility to my readers. If I go dark for a while, they might not come back. I don’t want that to happen, but I also know I can’t keep up the habits I’ve managed to keep for so long.

      Thank you for understanding, Sarah. *hugs*

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. Your blogging alone looks like a full-time job to me! Have you considered cloning yourself? The writing, reading, tea drinking and character evolution could be done by four different Saras!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Awww. Thank you, E. (*returns the Stitch hug*)

      Yeah, unfortunately this change is necessary. I’d love to continue pursuing some of the ideas I have for blog posts… but it’s impossible when you don’t have the time to write them. But people have been understanding and supportive so far, and I can’t ask for more than that.

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  8. I think everybody understands your decision, Sara. If you tried to keep going, you’d probably end up exhausted and burnt out.
    To be honest, I admire that you were able to post so often. I set myself a “post a week” schedule and it’s still hard to keep up with at times. But for the same reason, I don’t feel upset with the change in your schedule because I don’t expect people to have time to post often. I usually check my reader on WordPress (that’s why I love WP) to see what’s new: this way I don’t miss anything no matter how rarely someone posts.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I already was, to a degree. (I’ve had a bad habit of burning myself out for as long as I can remember…) But I feel more relaxed about things now that I’ve made that decision, and I’m glad that you and everyone else has been so understanding. Then again, this struggle with blogging schedules is probably something all bloggers go through at some point.

      Thank you, Joanna. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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