How to Get Back Into Your Blogging Groove

by Hopeful Spirit on Sunday, September 23, 2007

Hopeful Spirit participates in Blog Your Blessings Sunday at On the Horizon

In the past couple of weeks, I have not been in my blogging groove and unable to muster much enthusiasm. As part of the process of figuring out why, I did a lot of reading and, in the process, discovered quite a few blogs that I had never visited before.

One of them was Susan Suarez: Online Journal to Creating a Successful Site. Her post, Re-energize Your Blogging Spirit, resonated with me from the first sentence: “Many bloggers experience time-to-time some discouragement that may make them want to stop blogging.” She offers four techniques for getting re-energized and inspired to continue blogging purposefully. They are:

  1. Remember Your Blog’s Purpose
  2. Network
  3. Take A Break!
  4. Do Something Different

For me, the problem has nothing to do with my stated purposes and goals. My vision for “On the Horizon” remains consistent.

I did take a short break the past few days, as she suggests, and that has been helpful. Of course, I did not walk away from the computer entirely. I have been experimenting with different themes and color schemes. I really love the Cutline theme I have employed the past few months, but am less enamored with Cutline 2.0, the upgrade released recently.

So the second and fourth items on Susan’s list are the ones that really intrigue me and are the areas I have been exploring more intently.

Network

The blogging community is amazing. I have become acquainted with some phenomenal writers, many of whom are persons of faith who care deeply about and reach out to other bloggers in friendship and prayerful support.

I need to spend more time intentionally focused on networking with other bloggers — I’m confident that we all feel we could do more in this area, but there are always constraints upon our time. Visiting and commenting upon each others’ writing is an enormously important element of fostering camaraderie and connection.

This is one aspect of blogging that has troubled me for awhile, frankly, and one area in which the Internet unfortunately mirrors real life.

Too many of us visit the same blogs over and over, interacting with our friends, instead of reaching out to folks we haven’t met yet and purposefully bringing them into our established network. I plan to recommit myself to doing this and challenge you to do the same! This week, stop by five blogs you’ve never read before and leave comments for the authors, introducing yourself and inviting them to reciprocate by visiting your site. I think you’ll be gratified by the result.

Do Something Different

In the coming weeks, I’m going to be exploring some new topics here at On the Horizon and examining familiar issues from different vantage points.

I’m also going to host a blog carnival for the first time! And look for some book reviews soon.

Susan’s article was a blessing to me this week because it motivated me to step back and consider if I wanted to continue blogging ((As Lorelle on WordPress points out, sometimes taking a break or quitting altogether is a wise decision.)) and, if so, what direction I wanted my efforts to take.

Remain Authentic

To Susan’s outstanding list, I must add one item: It is imperative that, in order to be a successful blogger, one remains authentic. “Success” is a subjective concept with a uniquely personal meaning for individual bloggers, of course. But once you have established your own blogging goals, I am convinced that they can only be achieved by remaining genuine, true to your own personal belief system, values and opinions.

I am well aware that the Christian blogging community is full of factions, as is the Christian off-line world. There are groups and subgroups that adhere to and espouse a particular viewpoint, and many of the members of those informal groups do not venture out of their comfort zone. I am not a member of such a network or, for lack of a better term, “clique” and have made a deliberate choice to visit, link to and spotlight a wide variety of sites here.

If my philosophy makes folks uncomfortable or my candor about my beliefs and experiences causes certain folks not to read my posts or participate in the discussion here, I can only be sorry to see them go and wish them well. I cannot change the life events that inform and shape my view of the world and will not apologize for the manner in which I conceptualize and express my faith. Nor do I expect anyone else to do so.

On the Horizon was founded to be something that the institutional church too often is not: All about radical inclusivity, a phrase that itself has upset some traditionalist visitors.

The irony is that, to me, the term expresses nothing more than a philosophy of tolerance and acceptance of others’ viewpoints without judgment, condemnation or rejection of the individual. The bottom line is this: We are all believers in one universal truth, one Savior, one life to follow this one. The manner in which we express our beliefs should not divide us, but too often does because we are fearful of hearing the message delivered in a manner to which we are not accustomed.

You don’t have to say God if you don’t want.
Say higher power or Being or Spirit or Light.
I say God because it’s the name I grew up with.
It’s how I know I’m home . . .

Sandy Carlson
Writing in Faith

Pushing past fear is a tricky, often frustrating proposition but one that is well worth the effort. I know from experience that abandoning some long-held ideas and practices is exhilarating and liberating, while holding on to vestiges of our past lives provides comfort and assurance.

I plan to continue writing about those and associated topics.

The Future is On the Horizon

After a brief period of reflection, I have my blogging groove back and hope that you will be a regular visitor and participant in the dialog here at On the Horizon because readers are, of course, the biggest and most important blessing to all of us who blog.

Have a wonderful Sunday!


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{ 26 comments }

1 Susan Suarez Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 12:20 pm

Wow, what a great summary – I love the added self-reflection you’ve included in this post. I agree with your addition to remain authentic – it’s much to easy to get lost onto a different track when one doesn’t stay true.

Thank you so very much for the mention.

2 Mama Zen Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 3:19 pm

Excellent post. And, excellent point about visiting the same blogs over and over. I find myself doing that.

3 Jenny Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 6:01 pm

Interesting. I totally know how it is to fall out of the blogging spirit. That’s why I post dated a lot of things to post while I stepped away from the blog scene. Love this post though. Gonna bookmark it.

4 Baldness Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 9:17 pm

Great article. I am happy that you are back to blogging with full enthusiasm. I think the article of susan has been a blessing to us too as we would have lost out on your blogging, if you wouldn’t have read susan’s article and got inspired.
I am looking froward to see what are your plans of doing something different.

5 Rob Witham Monday, September 24, 2007 at 5:00 am

Great post and thanks for the reminders! I have found that I occasionally get disillusioned too and sometimes a few days away from my blog without feeling guilty about not posting can be very rejuvenating. I also recently updated my theme and my new theme does give me a bit more inspiration to write. Something about seeing my article displayed in a style that I like is somehow motivating. Keep up the good work!

6 Watch Heroes Online Monday, September 24, 2007 at 6:45 am

Excellent post. And, excellent think about visiting the same blogs. I think u speak about me here:) he he. . .

7 Summerm Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 2:56 pm

Great post! My groove tends to come and go, so I’m saving this for the low days. :)

8 Megan Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 11:25 am

Wonderful post, I’ve been in a funk lately as well and these tips are very helpful. I’m working on step one as we speak!

9 Renae Monday, October 1, 2007 at 2:05 pm

I am relatively new to blogging, so I am still establishing my “groove.” Thank you for these tips. I will keep them in mind.

10 Dirtyhands4Him Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 9:54 am

Hmmmmmmmmm. I have to think more about what you wrote. I do agree that traditional churches tend to me very segreative (if that is even a word). Radical inclusiveness. Have you ever visited the Brooklyn Tabernacle church in NYC. I hear that it is tremendously inclusive to homeless, hiv/aids, street people, blue and white collar workers. I never been, but they have a website.

11 Popular Online medicine Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 6:53 pm

Useful post for any blogger! thanks.

Popular Online medicine’s last blog post..Constipation and the way to prevent it

12 PageRank Guide Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 8:56 am

This is my favorite post on the site.

PageRank Guide’s last blog post..PageRank Guide – Leaving Blog Comments for PR

13 Komik Sözler Monday, February 11, 2008 at 11:19 am

I lose my enthusiasm for blogging time to time. I find reading successful bloggers helpful during those times :)

14 Watch Smallville Online Friday, February 29, 2008 at 9:23 am

Indeed a good post, its very useful for us!

Watch Smallville Online’s last blog post..Episode 12 Fracture

15 Matt Keegan Friday, March 7, 2008 at 4:41 am

Taking a break and/or doing something different are my two favorite diversions. I find that once I’ve put the blogging to the side for awhile and concentrated on something different, then I am refreshened and ready to go at it again.

Matt Keegan’s last blog post..By: October Recap: Nothing Scary Here!

16 Funny Posters Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 1:31 am

Thanks for bringing it(visiting the same blogs) to my attention. It was a useful post… :roll:

17 Sophia Monday, April 21, 2008 at 11:31 am

Yes on networking! How important it is to support other bloggers and especially fellow BlogHers.

LOVE radical inclusivity! I must link to you on my future postings about the same approach. Yay.

Come see 52 Faces!

Sophias last blog post..Gum for the Gods

18 Rasterbator Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 4:21 am

This is a great post! Network is really needed among bloggers!!

19 alex Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 3:48 am

I lose my enthusiasm for blogging time to time.

20 Io's Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 5:35 am

And, excellent think about visiting the same blogs.

Io’ss last blog post..Death toll from virus reaches 32 in China

21 New Car Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 6:03 pm

This is a must read for bloggers, thanks

New Cars last blog post..Cheap New Hybrid Model from Honda

22 Kevin Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 3:55 pm

Taking breaks from blogging is great advice–sometimes you just need to recharge.

Kevins last blog post..5 Avoidable Obstacles on the Road to Financial Recovery

23 Mozi Esme's Mommy Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 5:22 am

Great post! This is so easy to get stuck in. What helps me is trying different things, and having theme days.

Mozi Esme’s Mommys last blog post..Thursday 13 – Questions???

24 Julie Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 11:47 am

Thanks for sharing. I need to get my blogging groove back. I find the networking intimidating. I “meet” so many cool blogs, but I don’t have time to return to all of them. Here’s my entry:
http://mom2ways.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-to.html

Julies last blog post..Wordle Me

25 Beresdeh Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 7:38 pm

Good Articles, thank you. this article is very useful

26 Website Design Portfolio Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 3:17 am

hi

nice articles.

thanks a lot for share the information.

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