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Sunday, August 03, 2008

David Amulet, R.I.P.?

In just over three years, this blog has offered more than 200 posts and—with only a few exceptions—has been more fun than I expected.

It’s also been taken precious time away from paying clients while becoming (I suspect) decreasingly entertaining for you as I’ve put less time and energy into each posting.

I started this site as a venue to practice different humor writing tricks. And you have been a wonderful audience, allowing me to see how an unbiased set of readers reacts to varied angles on things. Looking back, as objectively as I can, most of my early posts weren’t too bad.

Over time, however, I’ve found myself slipping into posting for the sake of posting, putting things up that have little imagination or purpose.

And I hate blogs like that.

So I need your help while I’m away for the next ten days on vacation.

Although I’ve seen many bloggers come and go since July 2005, some of you have been blogging as long as I have—and a few of you have been at it even longer. Assuming that you lack rich uncles paying you for your efforts, how have you kept going?

Let me know what keeps your fires burning. It just may rekindle mine.

26 Comments:

At August 03, 2008 9:53 AM, Blogger Malcolm replied to my musings ...

One thing that keeps me going is when a particular post sparks a lively discussion and causes someone to present a fresh angle on the topic. Another aspect that makes blogging worthwhile is when someone lets me know that I brought back a favorite memory from their childhood/younger days. I often get comments saying things along the lines of "OMG, I had forgotten all about that!" or "I can't believe that someone remembers that besides me."

I hope that you return from your vacation rejuvenated and ready to remain part of the blogosphere.

 
At August 03, 2008 9:18 PM, Blogger Bar L. replied to my musings ...

Damn it, David! You can't quit! This is one of my favorite blogs! Geez, I hope a bunch of people leave comments here that convince you to stick it out. Even if you just post once in awhile it would be better than never!!!

What keeps me going - the people I've met along the way. The need to express myself. The fact that I don't have a life (like most people) so time is not an issue.

Like Malcolm, I also loving stirring things up and getting a controversial topic going.

Don't quit!

 
At August 04, 2008 12:43 AM, Blogger Mike replied to my musings ...

Your esoteric style has had me smiling, nodding, and sometimes asking "what the hell is he thinking?!!!??" but it never fails to entertain. What has kept me blogging? Even though I post rarely now since I have so many other interests and so little time, it's a cocktail of the following. Or just cocktails...hmmm...

Sometimes I get a comment that lets me know I said something worthwhile. Most times it's the fact that I am committing something from memory to the world, and hoping the few who read it enjoy it. Other times I need to vent. Still other times I need to get something out, and blogging is cathartic.

It's the same drive that has kept me racing my bike since 1990. However, al things have a course to run, and when it is, it's nice to look back and enjoy the run you had. Don't give up, don't stop posting. Maybe use the blog to refine your writing, make a point. Fewer posts doesn't mean less impact or meaning.

 
At August 04, 2008 12:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous replied to my musings ...

I post about a pretty wide variety of topics so that does it for me.

 
At August 04, 2008 1:22 PM, Blogger Jessica replied to my musings ...

David,
I've only been a reader for a short time, but I love your blog! You need to keep it up! :) Please.

Also, I've only been a blogger for a short time, so I would say that fact is what keeps me going...at least so far. I'm not bored yet, and I like meeting new people.

 
At August 04, 2008 6:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous replied to my musings ...

I'm not going to try and talk you out of this; I know where you're coming from. I just dumped both of my blogs because I just don't have the passion for it anymore, and besides, my total readership could be counted on one hand.
But enough about me... it's your blog, dude. You do whatever you feel like doing with it.

 
At August 05, 2008 7:10 AM, Blogger bob_vinyl replied to my musings ...

Promos! I'll do anything for free stuff (even work).

 
At August 05, 2008 8:09 PM, Blogger Zen Wizard replied to my musings ...

Group harem-style sex with all of the groupies I have collected--every once in a while--reminds me of why I started blogging in the first place: For the chicks.

...and to make fun of politicians and celebrities...

 
At August 06, 2008 7:03 AM, Blogger Godwhacker replied to my musings ...

Hi David,
I feel your pain. I started blogging as an outlet for my creative writing and political activism. Well, now I'm doing creative writing and political activism 9 to 5 -- so coming home to do more of it for free on a blog really lost it's appeal.

I haven't given up blogging entirely, but I only haul my Godwhacker identity out on rare occasions.

My advice is to leave the blog up, wait for inspiration to hit you, and then make good use of it when you are ready.

Don't be forced into artificial timetables -- here at least, you are the boss.

You've compiled an impressive body of work here, and the blogosphere would be poorer if you departed.

Remember the immortal words of Bill Murray from 'Stripes' -- "Chicks dig you because you rarely wear underwear, and when you do, it’s always something unusual." ;)

 
At August 06, 2008 8:31 AM, Blogger Stacy The Peanut Queen replied to my musings ...

"Over time, however, I’ve found myself slipping into posting for the sake of posting, putting things up that have little imagination or purpose.

And I hate blogs like that."


Oh my God...you hate me! You really really HATE ME!!

;)

I think I've been blogging since November of 2004 (I'd have to go back and see). What keeps me going? Usually it's something crazy that my husband or I have done (like me trying to pull his tooth one night (hey, he MADE me do it) or me tossing puppy placentas out of my truck window while doing 65 miles and hour.) It seems that there's always SOMETHING going on either at our house or in my family that is worth posting.

If not, I google something funny and put a teeny little post with that (like I did today).

Sometimes I don't feel like posting at all...so I don't...but I always come back. It's the only creative outlet I have thus far.

And don't you dare quit blogging, dammit!!! :)

 
At August 06, 2008 8:35 AM, Blogger Dear Jane... replied to my musings ...

well, I certainly know what the Internal Great Blog Debate is all about... but the reason I ultimately decided to come back and Blog...is to Lighten the F*ck up...you know, life can be soooo serious sometimes...and it is good to have a place, just to be silly, and shallow, and mindless and talk about your cleavage, ya know? Well, I am guessing you don't have cleavage...well, hoping is more like it.

Plus, I wasn't even sure...having gone through all that I did, that I would be capable of being funny anymore...well, I am still not sure I am funny.

It's hard. But to paraphrase an earlier comment, definitely leave the blog up until you have decided for sure...and maybe just do Less regular postings for awhile? until you Are sure?

Blogging is a time sucker, but it's also fun...and part of that fun is the comments from others...that personal interaction in an impersonal kind of world that you don't get with regular 9-5 writing gigs.

I don't know what to tell you...but when you know what the right decision is, you'll know...and until then, just try to have fun. Sorry, this turned into quite the mindless ramble, eh?

Hope your trip has been awesome!
xo

 
At August 07, 2008 9:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous replied to my musings ...

David,

Only been doing this a year, but I sometimes don't post anything for weeks. It just has to come to you; that's what I think. I feel no obligation to post and only do so when in the mood. So you'll see I post 4 times in a two-day period, or twice in a month. So it goes...

 
At August 07, 2008 3:17 PM, Blogger Phats replied to my musings ...

Wow I was worried you were leaving for good, and I need your blog so I can razz you when My Boilers beat your Devils! :)

I don't keep going I am a teacher and I use the same rules on here take my summers off with a post every now and then haha. I don't know how people who blog daily do it, I just don't have time, or passion, and I am not that interesting. Time off always works for me.

Enjoy your time away from blog. I hope you'll be a guest picker again this season for football!

 
At August 08, 2008 11:42 AM, Blogger BeckEye replied to my musings ...

That's easy. I don't write a personal blog/journal. If I had to write about myself, I would've given up after 2 weeks. But that's because I'm boring. :)

I just write about the stuff that interests me. It's hard to run out of material that way.

 
At August 10, 2008 12:02 PM, Blogger Unknown replied to my musings ...

i just hear voices. Words in my head. It's worth getting them out for the sake of my sanity. It's a true wonder that there are people out there reading them.

 
At August 10, 2008 9:12 PM, Blogger That One Chick You Know replied to my musings ...

Writing is in my soul and without it - public or not - I wouldn't be whole.

I write for myself first, others second.

I have been blogging since 2002. Anytime I have fallen away from it, not only do I have people calling me more often asking me what is up and why aren't a writing but I also don't feel like myself.

Recently, I took a break from blogging and getting back into it.
Write from your heart and it will just come.

Good luck and I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

 
At August 11, 2008 10:20 AM, Blogger Jeff replied to my musings ...

I know exactly what you're talking about. Awhile back I thought about quitting blogging because like you said, I was posting for the sake of posting. For around half a year I barely had any posts just because I was compltely unmotivated, but then I graduated college and got a "real job" and found myself having a lot of time to myself when commuting on the train (a great place to blog.) Instead of quitting I just posted when I felt like it and never closed the door. I think you should just post whenever you feel motivated whether it be once a month or once a week. Maybe there will be a time when you come back to it at full force.

 
At August 11, 2008 1:41 PM, Blogger Metal Mark replied to my musings ...

I just cleared out six blogs off my blogroll of people who posted steady for a year or two but have yet to post this year. It's tough to keep going and stay motivated. I became bored with mine last year so I changed my angle and moved onto something that was more interesting to me at the time. I'll change it again if I get get bored or it's no longer fun. I have also taken longer breaks as needed if it got tough to keep ideas coming. Eventually they came back or I got motivated again. I hope you keep going, but do what's best for you.

 
At August 11, 2008 7:34 PM, Blogger Rhodeislandrock replied to my musings ...

I'm closing in on my 3rd full year blogging and it can be a lot of fun or a total pain in the ass!

There are days where I publish a few posts, maybe I'll post every day for a couple of weeks.....then I take a few days off. It's hard not to get bored but what keeps me going is the music.

I have been a Metal fan since I was a young kid and I always find some album, some piece of Metal, that keeps me inspired. I could listen to records & CDs all day but sometimes I just can't bring myself to write. It's hard to keep up when it's a side hobby.....I am so far behind on promos that have come my way!

Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction

 
At August 14, 2008 8:30 PM, Blogger JM replied to my musings ...

Just keep blogging!

 
At August 15, 2008 5:29 PM, Blogger David Amulet replied to my musings ...

Wow--thanks for all the good thoughts. And the bad ones, too. I think for now I'll keep posting once every week or two and see that feels.

At least I've made it into my fourth year. Not bad for a sideshow to a sideshow.

 
At August 23, 2008 4:47 PM, Blogger cube replied to my musings ...

My basic rule of blogging is simple... there are no rules. I don't have an artificial timetable that I must follow. I post when I want & as many times as I want.

I started The BLOG in October 2004 on a dare. If you go back & look, I had nearly zero comments the whole first year. God only knows why I persevered... maybe I have a need for my point of view to be seen & heard by others. I think most bloggers do as well.

 
At August 23, 2008 4:49 PM, Blogger cube replied to my musings ...

BTW what you're experiencing is refrred to as "The Dark Night Of The Blogging Soul" & it happens every once in a while. You either snap out of it, or you quit. Think happy thoughts ;-)

 
At August 23, 2008 8:46 PM, Blogger meagan replied to my musings ...

Not like I'm any good example of blogger staying power, but DON'T GO!

(that's all I have to say about that. :-)

love meagan

 
At August 28, 2008 8:18 PM, Anonymous Anonymous replied to my musings ...

I liked your comment on Malcolm's Thursday Thirteen, punched over to read your blog, laughed at the 911 sandwich fiasco then saw this post and had to comment. I too was losing my joy of blogging and had to respond to you.

I got so into my comment that I was going to take over your comment page! Twas then I realized - hey, this is a good post for my Brat in the Hat rant blog!

So, instead of filling up your comment page with my rant about being blog bullied, I decided it was good content for my poor, sad little rant blog and posted it there instead. Here's the title of my post in answer to your post:

Bullied by The Great "Goo-Gaul" Gods and Their Back-up Band of Merry GooRoo Acolytes

Link back to your post at bottom.

Most sincerely yours in the brother/sisterhood of suffering from Joyless Blogging Disorder,

PopArtDiva

 
At August 29, 2008 5:10 AM, Blogger toshi replied to my musings ...

well, i love writing for the sake of writing itself, which is why i never fail to blog everyday since last year :)

 

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