This blog used to be my main creative outlet, but I wonder if that's changed over the past year or so as I've focused more on writing cozy mysteries. Have I become a writer who happens to blog? I certainly haven't given this blog the love and attention it deserves, and I've even missed posting a few times (I usually post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday).
It feels like my creative well has been a bit tapped dry as of late while I've been working on my latest manuscript and The Cynical Sailor has suffered as a result. Do we have a limited amount of creativity and have to choose where we invest it?
On the bright side, I sent >>Bodies in the Boatyard<< off to the editor this weekend and am thinking of a publication date sometime in November if all goes well. (Many, many thanks to all of my wonderful beta readers!) So now I should have a bit more time for blogging while I switch gears and move into outlining the next book in the series.
Here's a sneak peek at the cover - kind of makes it real looking at it like that. You can find out more on my author blog here. There's even a post about alien abduction today over there.
With the hurricane, I didn't have time to be creative this past weekend and didn't even blog today.
ReplyDeleteYou've visited some cool places on your travels - blog about that.
Like the new cover!
Hopefully, you weren't too badly impacted by the hurricane.
DeleteI love all your boating posts. Sailboats are different than powerboats. I love your sailing tales.
ReplyDeleteWhen your new book comes out I'll be getting the paperback. I loved your first book and so did hubby.
Have a fabulous day, my friend. ♥
Aww...thanks so much, Sandee!
DeleteI think my creative well is so tapped I can't even come up with my own ideas!
ReplyDeleteI'm probably a writer who blogs, since if I'm actually getting a lot of writing done I don't feel as guilty about neglecting the blog.
I think that's the balance I need to move toward - not feeling guilty about blogging if I'm focusing on writing.
DeleteI started as a writer who blogs although there's not much writing anymore. Your books focus on boating so keep blogging about that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice, Diane :)
DeleteYep, my creative well has run dry. Not sure exactly what to do about it, but it will work out. It always does. :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your blog/posts, so it pains me to say this, but maybe it would help you to cut back a bit? Only post two times a week instead of three? Less pressure? I've cut back on blogging and social media a bit, and it's helped some.
It's really interesting to hear form other people whose creative wells are a little parched - makes me feel not so alone.
DeleteI agree with Madeline. I used to blog six days a week, but the only way I could keep up that pace would be if I short-changed my writing time. Blogging once a week works much better for me, and it probably would for you, too. I don't think our creativity well is in danger of running dry, but there are only so many hours in a day. Would you rather spend them working on blog posts, responding to comments and visiting other blogs and making comments there... or would you rather work on your next book? Doing both is certainly possible, but it could also lead to burn-out.
ReplyDeleteSix days a week - wow! I really enjoy your blog posts and look forward to them every week :) Thanks for the advice - good food for thought.
DeleteI don't have an issue with people cutting back when they need to, but then I consider myself to be a writer first. I enjoy the blog, but if I let it pressure me too much, it becomes a chore. I think a lot of writers have quit blogging all together because there are just not enough hours in a day to get it all done. Flexibility may the key to blog survival.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about flexibility. Maybe it's important to recognize at certain times, blogging has to take a back seat.
DeleteI think you must be some sort of a humanoid to be able to write as much as you do! For me it's an effort to even read as much, let alone write... I usually binge read your blog posts because I just can't keep up with your pace!
ReplyDeleteI take a binge reading approach with some blogs as well. It's actually kind of nice to save them up and read a bunch in one sitting.
DeleteAs a blogger who blogs I'm always impressed by those who write. Good luck with the publication.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy :)
DeleteSeconding Wendy. Writers are some of my heroes.
ReplyDeleteAs for topics, you live on a boat which is completely different from how most of us live. You could draw on that.
People who adore and take care of cats, like you do, are my heroes :)
DeleteHi Ellen! It is such a hard balance to strike. We just don't have enough time to do all the things we want to do, especially when it comes to writing AND blogging (AND traveling). Also, having two websites to maintain is extremely time-consuming.
ReplyDeleteI find that, as a blogger, I put too much pressure on myself sometimes. Maybe you could cut back posting here to once or twice a week (in combination with your author blog) - it'll create more time for other endeavors and you have to think less about subjects to post about. :-)
I am thinking about doing a reduced schedule. Still toying around with what that might look like.
DeleteI love your blog. It is only one of a few I follow on a regular basis right now. Honestly - just keeping up with following a few blogs is a lot for me. Remember all this stuff is supposed to be fun - the wtiting, the travel, the sailing, the endless list of boat chores (ok - maybe not that).
ReplyDeleteHere are some ideas - Make a blog of some of your favorite comments (perhaps a monthly review). Send out a questionaire to some of your traveling friends and publish that. Tell us about what Mollie McGhie, Mrs. Moto or Scooter do when they aren't solving mysteries.
Aww, thanks Duwan! I really like your blog post ideas!
DeleteI always enjoy heading over here and haven't noticed a thing. But I understand your issue. My poor blog has suffered so much that last year thanks to a lack of knowing what to do with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words, Tonja :)
DeleteI'm one of the people who have been finding it really difficult to keep up with blog visits lately, which I feel horrible about. I'm sorry I don't always comment on every post--time gets away from me, and then I leave it to the day before I post, so it takes hours. It's so daunting.
ReplyDeleteIf it comes down to a choice between being a blogger or being a writer, I know which one I'd choose.
It would be a bad thing if your writing style *didn't* change over time. You got the goods within...let it rip, sister.
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