Thoughts and Daydreams #2: Blogging and Reading Slumps

Marie and I have been friends for about five years and have collaborated on all sorts of things during that time. After the hiatus from The Authorteers, we toyed around with a few ideas for things we could do together for fun once in awhile. One of the ideas was a Facebook group. We discussed it for awhile and ultimately decided against it since we probably wouldn't be able to post as regularly as we'd like on there, not to mention the fact that there are a large number of those groups out there already. So we adapted our plans into a blog feature called Thoughts and Daydreams (combination of my blog name and hers, Ramblings of a Daydreamer). We'll be discussing reading, writing, and blogging topics on both of our blogs. If anyone else would like to participate in these discussions by posting on their blog, we welcome it! Just snag the header and post. Be sure to link us to it so we can read and comment!

Blogging and Reading Slumps

Slumps. They happen to the best of us. It doesn't matter how long you've been blogging or will blog, you're going to run into the possibility of a slump, whether it's temporary or long-term. Over the almost five years I've been blogging, I've had moments where I've cut back or even taken a temporary hiatus. And, oddly enough, I've been dealing with one recently on both fronts!

Blogging Slumps

When you first start blogging, you're trying to get into the swing of things. Participating in memes and giveaways to draw attention to your blog. Reviewing new books and sharing the links on your Twitter page.

After doing all that and getting myself established, I bounced around with different ways of doing things on my blog. I tested out several kinds of posts. I signed up for blog tours and release blitzes.

Last year I was doing A LOT in those aspects. I think that's what lead me to reaching the point of what's commonly referred to as "blogger burnout" around the blogosphere. I spent December doing a bare minimum, almost not even having enough time to put together my end of year and beginning of year posts. I thought I would bounce back in the new year, but I didn't. I still slacked on getting posts together. I finished a couple review books right before I needed to write reviews. I usually am good about posting on release day or the day after if I have multiple releases in the same week. Not so much this year apparently.

Granted, I've been a little busy in real life with another upcoming move and trying to secure a new apartment before my time runs out. Not to mention rushing around to put stuff up for sale on eBay to reduce the number of boxes I have to move. I do believe that I was still trying to bounce back from the burnout despite these outside things.

As I'm writing this post (which is at the tail end of January in case you were wondering), I'm finally starting to feel like I can get things together more. I wrote a review earlier today to go live tomorrow, and I signed up and scheduled a giveaway that will be happening in a couple days from when this post is up. It's going to be a process to figure everything out and get back on track, but it'll get there eventually.

Reading Slumps

Ahhh, reading slumps. You'd think it wouldn't happen to an avid reader, but it can. I've had moments over the years where I couldn't get into the books I pick up, or I kept getting distracted and didn't set aside time to read like I usually do. I feel like my latest slump was partially getting distracted and partially the pressure of review books.

Don't get me wrong, I love review books. I read some super freaking amazing and awesome ones last year that I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read. The problem, as I stated, is the pressure. Needing to read within a designated amount of time, posting the review on or not long after release day. And it's not just reading/reviewing--it's also setting up the post itself. So, of course, this ties in with the blogging slump.

I still had a few review books to finish at the beginning of this year and I thought it would be a breeze reading and reviewing them so that I could move on to some "me" books. That didn't go as planned. Every time I wanted to read, something would get in the way or I would read a few pages and be unable to concentrate. I don't know what caused it, but it kept happening.

Like I said regarding the blogging slump, things were a little chaotic for a little bit. Now I'm feeling more focused and able to concentrate on reading and reviewing again. Once I finish these last 2 NetGalley books, I'm going to stay away from review books for a little while. I think my subconscious couldn't stop prodding at me about them and I need to give myself a breather with some books I don't need to rush through. I might be able to savor them more. :)

How about you? Have you been through a blogging or reading slump?Is there anything you've done to deal with it or get through it? Please share!