Is Your Blog Trapping You or Helping You Fly?

I’ve been looking at this debate for some time, as I see more and more bloggers talking of burnout and writers starting to rebel against the endless demands of what you must do to succeed! To settle the matter, I took a few hours out to read and properly absorb both sides of the argument. It is complex when it comes to the publishing industry. At the end, all I could do was make up my own mind about what was right for me. I have placed as many of the arguments here as I can (without this post being novel sized) so you can also make up your own mind. Don’t follow the herd: do what works for you!

A full discussion of the arguments for and against blogging can be found in “Phoenix Thriving: Conquering Stress and Burnout in the Blogging Life.” Phoenix Thriving is free with for a limited time if you buy a copy of “Phoenix Rising: Conquering the Stresses of the Writer’s Life.” See below for details. In the meantime, these are the clear warning signs on when you need to stop and rethink blogging.

When you find yourself filling in posts with anything, as you just want it done  and are tired, drained and over it!
Having no direction: which is sometimes apparent in writers with multiple blogs, unless they are for multiple purposes… but watch how much time that takes up!
Letting your self-esteem be dictated by reader statistics.
If it is an excuse for social media interaction which may be a sign you need to find a better answer to loneliness, or other tasks you are avoiding.
When you are investing too much time, and other higher priority tasks are going begging as a result.
Getting involved in blog challenges which run you into the ground with time demands and leave you wrecked.
When you have made such a hash of a blog that is screams lack of quality, poor commitment to your writing, or stands as testimony to an attitude that makes you cringe!
When your content is too personal and can do you damage in the future with potential relationships, employers or contacts in publishing and promotion.
Taking on guest bloggers, cover reveals and other sharing initiatives where you are used and not supported or thanked.
When the amount of effort invested is not getting you the results you need long term. If you are losing followers, not growing and this has been going on for at least six months, maybe it’s just not the medium for you…

… and you know something? That’s alright: you don’t H.A.V.E. to be a blogger. Do what is right for you. Write what you have in your heart and be true to yourself. Follower numbers aren’t everything.

Inside “Phoenix Rising: Conquering the Stresses of the Writer’s Life,” next to the CommuniCATE Resources for Writers blog link, there is a code. Buy the book, find the code (it’s easy, it’s in the first few pages) and email me at the address in the image below. I will send you a copy of the new book.

Please allow 2-3 working days for book receipt (and if you’re outside of Australia, remember I am a day ahead of you, so my Saturday is your Friday. Please allow for that.) Your email address will not be collected, used for a mailing list or misused in any manner. That would be downright rude. Once I am free of Kindle Select, the book will no longer be free.

Available from Amazon Kindle in the United States and United Kingdom. For other countries, go to their Amazon site and search for “Cate Russell-Cole” to find the books, or search by title.

Phoenix Rising was never intended to be a series, but the need to support writers has become so great, it has become one. I chose the image and title of the phoenix rising from the ashes in response to the battles writers face. I personally relate to the need to choose to rise upwards: away from the fire and into a clear sky to start again. If your creative energy is low, your word count flagging or the downsides of being a writer are taking away your joy, I hope this book will give you new strength and hope with which to spread your wings and find new freedom.

Chapters Include:

Measuring the Value of Your Work in a Digital Age
Healing Creative Injuries
Creative Dark Matter: Clear Out What’s Holding You Down
Bomb Proofing Your Writer’s Ego
Handling Criticism
Moving Ahead in Small Steps: Why Revolutions Rarely Work
Fat Free, Guilt Free Blogging Goals
Escaping Mental Quicksand: Your “Time of Readiness”
Is Your Writing Life Stuck Under Your Mouse?
Balancing the Blogging Load
Writers and Depression: Debunking the Stereotypes
Writers Should Be Bathed in Blue: Boosting Your Productivity
Which Wins? Creative Pleasure or Word Count?
Petwrification: A Health Warning for All Writers

This article / blog post is Copyright Cate Russell-Cole 2013. All rights are reserved Internationally. You may not reproduce it in any form, in part of whole, without Cate’s prior written permission. That includes usage in forms such as print, audio and digital imaging including pdf, jpg, png etc. A fee may be requested for re-using her work if it is for a commercial venture. Link sharing and Pinterest pins are most welcome as long as Cate is the attributed Author.

Filed under: Author First Aid, Blog Building and Promotion, Blog Taming Month: Feb 2014, Book Marketing, Writing Resources Tagged: blog, blogging, books, creativity, failure, goals, motivation, passion, promotion, stress management, support, writer, writing