We’ve had a nice month off. It was definitely a necessary break, as we were aware of feelings of burnout toward the end of our long near-daily blogging run. We like blogging, and we don’t want to feel burned out by it. But our determination to publish more blog posts in 2012 than any sane blogger should drove us to extremes. We thought that having a few weeks off would help refresh us.
Then it hit us: Terminology like “a few weeks off” is a clear indication that we’ve been viewing our blog in the wrong fashion. It’s not a job. To be fair, we never really thought of it as a job, exactly; however, the routine into which we fell, complete with deadlines and performance reviews, was very reminiscent of a job. And while we didn’t get paid for doing said job, the amount of satisfaction we get from knowing that other bloggers, and even non-blogging lurkers, enjoy what we do here is just as appreciated as a salary.*
That’s when it hit us: Over the past year-plus, we slowly shifted focus from blogging for ourselves to blogging for feedback. You’re likely aware that we have always been our own biggest motivation for blogging. We started this blog as a means of vocalizing things, typically sexual in nature, that we often can’t say in mixed company. We needed an outlet where we could write about our own sexual lives, and to a lesser extent discuss with like-minded individuals the things that turn us on and the experiences we’ve had. We wanted this blog to exist as a repository of our writings and a record of our relationship years into the future, perhaps even after we’ve stopped contributing to it.
But as our following grew in the months following our return in August 2011, we found ourselves greatly enjoying the feedback we’d get from an astute political post, a sexy HNT picture, or a particularly funny set of TMI Tuesday answers. While we continued to blog for ourselves and for the most part resisted the temptation to write for our audience, we did feel pressure to continue posting nearly every day, if not to regularly outdo what had been posted the day before. Granted, virtually all of this pressure was self-imposed. Well before the end of the year, we had resigned ourselves to continuing on our regular blogging schedule, participating in each meme.
Wait a minute. Resigned? People don’t resign themselves to doing the things they love. They resign themselves to a long wait in line at the DMV. They resign themselves to paying taxes. They resign themselves to being lied to by politicians. We shouldn’t resign ourselves to doing something that we enjoy. We should do it without reservation, or hesitation, on a schedule that works for us.
We’ve spent a couple weeks focusing on the future of this blog. We’ve brainstormed ideas for new posts. We’ve thought about activities in which we could engage that might inspire future posts. We’ve picked at the threads of potential erotic stories in the hopes of bringing to life something promising. We considered various means of preventing overwork and the burnout that is likely to accompany it.
So we’re back, more or less. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to blog as regularly as we did last year. That was never a pace we were going to be able to sustain for long, and the fact that we did so as long as we did says something about us, I guess. But don’t expect us to start participating regularly in memes just yet. No, a gradual return seems the wisest course of action here, and will hopefully enable us to publish the kind of original non-meme content that was our original intention.
Yes, I realize that in doing so our readership may decline. It’s likely declined significantly in the last month; I’m certain that, in light of four weeks with no posts, many readers are now former readers. Not participating in TMI Tuesday, Sinful Sunday, Wicked Wednesday and the like every week is unlikely to change that. On the other hand, we broke 200,000 page views sometime in January, so it stands to reason that people are still checking us out.
If you’ve read this far, thanks. We appreciate you sticking around!
*Well, almost.
Yes I did miss you guys. It wasn’t that I was a die hard follower reading every post but I did enjoy your outlook on life and certain topics.
Welcome back!
I did, too. I’m a subscriber, tho, so I wasn’t bumping up your hits. 😉 Blogger tells me when something is up, and THEN I pop by :p
It’s so very good to see you back.
I can’t help but wonder if yours was a case of determination rather than resignation to keep up a certain pace (as it has been for me in the past). While my little blog is nowhere near as popular or visited as your own sexy blog digs, I’m still determined to create. In fact, it’s a genuine need as articulating this desire in both word and image allows me to understand it and the woman I’ve become all the better.
Even though you’ll be posting at a slower rate, I’ll continue to devour everything you write and shoot, whether from the shadows or in the full glare of the light.
~Minx x
(PS Apologies for the loonnnggg comment!)
So glad to see you back, you were definitely missed.
So glad you’re back! Though I’ve been laying low a bit myself, I’ve missed your sexy selves!!
It is about time.. I have missed ya’ll terribly.. but like you I have been there where I feel like I post for the feedback instead of because I want to say something. Not so much my erotica blog but on my mommy one. It does get overwhelming at times.. But I am glad you all are back..
Glad to see you guys aren’t going to sit idle. You’ve got a great blog and is always entertaining.
I think most of us blogging folks bounce back and forth between the rampant desire to express ourselves and the need we feel to impress our followers. And of course, feedback we get is the lifeblood of any blog; no one likes screaming into a void.
Cheers,
Octavia
Welcome back.
Yes, I missed you!
Glad to have you back! I’ve missed seeing you. I can relate to feeling like you write for the reader, not for yourself. It can feel like a chore, or like you “owe” the blogging world something, when you really don’t. It should be about you.
I love your blog because of the fun you obviously have while writing & how both of your personalities shine through. Looking forward to reading more in 2013.
Welcome back guys! You have been missed 🙂
Welcome back from your sabatical.
Enjoy your blog, it should be about you and not your readers.
If your readers enjoy reading about you and keep coming back then that is what it is all about surely?
Or am I missing the point…
~Mia~ xx
did we miss you?
hell yes! so glad i have you guys on twitter 🙂
I blog for myself, and i am thankful to everyone who follows me, lurks, comment on my blog, i love them and appreciate them much.
but when something you love becomes a commitment of such it becomes not so much enjoyable, and is stressful, speaking for myself here…
i babble tons, i ramble, i am me, take me as i am 🙂
and i love you guys for sticking by me from the beginning and I thank you from the very bottom of my heart!
I dont post everyday, and I have to tell you that you guys are amazing at writing, keeping things spicy! an inspiration 🙂
hugs
Aluv
Welcome back! and yes, you’ve been missed 🙂
Good insights there. You should always be blogging for *you*… I know I started my blog to help me process the journey I’m on and while all the comments from the memes are appreciated and given me a niche in the blogging community they should not be the sole impetus.
Big hugs,
Kazi xxx
I missed you! Several FFF’s seemed right up your alley so I pined for your great takes! But I completely understand the need for a break. So glad you’re back!
Hugs with groping!
-Sassy
Welcome back 🙂