Breaks From Blogging

~ beetleypete

It seems like a lot of bloggers are currently ‘taking a break’. Some members of this community have actually let us know that they are taking time off; perhaps having a re-think, or awaiting inspiration. Others appear to have just drifted off somewhere else, like a sailing ship letting the currents take it where they will.

This is sometimes a seasonal thing. After the flush of excitement surrounding Summer, some new bloggers soon tire of regular posting, or reading all the stuff on the blogs they followed some months back. I have noticed this before, but this year it has been quite dramatic in terms of numbers. A quick check on my list of followers reveals many blogs have been inactive for months, in some cases over a year.

Regular readers will know that I relish the sense of community, and the engagement in the comments on blog posts. Luckily, that ‘hard core’ of those I have known for years is still around, and posting regularly. But in the last month, many have gone missing completely, and not just from my own blog. Taking a break can be a good thing of course. Lots of time spent inside in front of a screen is not good for anyone, in the long term. Feeling that you need some inspiration is common too, and very much the malaise of any long-term blogger.

But me being me, I am always concerned when people just fade away, without mentioning why. I worry about them, I hope they are OK. Naturally, I don’t expect them to follow my blog (or anyone else’s) forever, and I fully understand that some just become tired of the whole process.

So, wherever you have gone, I hope that you are happy, and that life is treating you well.
And as always, I send my best wishes.

68 thoughts on “Breaks From Blogging”

  1. That is really nice, Pete. I for one have multiple days where work is so time consuming that blogging is on the back burner. So, apologies if I don’t get there right away. 🙂 It does seem like many bloggers are taking a break. Perhaps summer is more relaxing and allows for more blogging. Like you, I wish wish them well and hope they keep in touch. Best to you, Pete.

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  3. It’s not lame to wonder how they are Pete. You never know what may have happened to them. I have been hit and miss over the last few months. Many times, I just drop into blogs and read, try to think of a comment to add.
    I think I mentioned some time back on my blog, that the meds they put me on, really steal my thoughts. I’ll think of something to write about, sit down at the keyboard, and just stop. Other times when I do post, it is as if a the world brightened and I think clearly. I appreciate the friends and people I have had the pleasure to interact with through my blog.

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    1. Thanks, Ron. I know we all have a lot of ‘life’ to deal with outside of blogging, so always appreciate everyone who regularly visits my blog. Over the years, I feel we have all developed a connection that would never have happened if not for chance meetings online. One of the best things about the Internet, undoubtedly.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  6. A few of my regulars stopped posting. I find it quite sad when I have built up a rapport with them, but I guess some people have lives, whereas blogging IS a big part of my life. I’m withdrawing from a couple of my blogs for now, but will continue with the Cornish one.

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    1. Don’t get too withdrawn, Jude. 🙂
      Blogging is my hobby, more so than anything else I do. So I don’t mind spending time developing it. But we are retired from work, and I couldn’t imagine combining this with a full-time job, as many do.
      Best wishes, Pete. x

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  8. On Oct. 8th, I blogged about my situation to let followers know why they might not see me on their blogs often, or why I’m not blogging. Because of the situation, I have to pace myself and there are days when I simply feel lousy. When I do get a chance to check notifications and bloggers have published more than one post a day, I seldom have the energy to read more than one post. But, I’m still around as much as possible. 🙂

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  9. I’ve missed bloggers who disappeared abruptly. Who knows, like you say, when or if they return? I wish I could spend more time blogging. I miss blogging regularly. Just no time. If I had a dollar for every time I said “I can’t wait to retire” so I can blog–I’d be a millionaire.

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    1. I’ve actually stopped expecting more news on the fate of the composting toilet.
      It’s been so long, you could interest a whole new market of younger bloggers in your bathroom antics! 🙂
      Cheers, Pete.

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  11. I appreciate your sentiments, Pete. It’s nice to know your blog might actually be missed by your fellow bloggers! It’s not easy to keep on writing and I admire those of you able to put out quality content regularly. And sometimes life intervenes, priorities change or you just need to recharge your batteries. But I agree it’s nice when they let you know, especially if they’ve been at it awhile and you have engaged with them on a regular basis. 🙂

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  13. Well I agree with you and I worry too! When some of them that I got to know better disappear I end sending them a message to ask if they are well.

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  15. It’s definitely something that I have seen happening quite a lot as well. So many bloggers are either going on hiatus or disappear altogether. Some people that I know well and just disappear all of a sudden I become very concerned off as well, so I know the feeling. It is at times tough to balance real life with blogging, so I understand that too. Lately I have had the same problem as I said yesterday, but that’s why I am glad I just don’t have a real schedule. I just post when I can, and when I feel like it.
    But this was a great post Pete, and it’s very kind of you to be this concerned about everyone 😊

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      1. I don’t think it’s lame at all. I have a number of people here that I definitely consider friends, (you are of course on of them) and that I am very concerned about at times as well. I don’t think online friends are any different from normal friends. Even though we might never meet some of them, we talk here pretty much every day, and they have become a part of life and are missed when they are gone. So…that sounds like friends to me 😊

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  16. I have to apologize Pete! Sorry, but the week starts a little bit horrible again. So many paperwork, i never have seen before. Now on Wednesday its a little bit better. Now its time to find out why some of our letter logistics had a break too. 😉 Best wishes, Michael.

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  18. I’ve really neglected my own blog, which is comprised mostly of limericks, not so much because I lack inspiration but because my current focus is on writing fiction and lyrics. I’ve picked up some new followers over the past several months, so I desperately need to think up a new limerick or two… I typically visit Twitter two or three times a week, though my interest in that social platform has waned considerably this year. If it weren’t for a joint songwriting venture, which launched last month, I’d be a stranger to Facebook, as the vast majority of my “friends” there are just folks with similar political views. On the plus side, I follow beetleypete religiously, although, some time back, I did play major catch up due to being MIA for a few months, as you’ll no doubt recall. In a few weeks, I’ll hit the five-year beetleypete milestone. Imagine that!

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  20. I am the only one in my family who uses wordpress and keep getting nagged to switch to fb because all my blogging contacts are strangers. That is fine, as long as they remain interested in what I say. The fun is picking up a new contact while reading old comments. I’ll stay with you, Pete, because you always sound so natural and you are in the UK. So many of my followers are in Australia or Hong Kong or USA. I’m spending more time on line as I haven’t got a book on the go at present. I am writing poetry but I haven’t been posting it.

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  22. They will come back for a while then get lost again. But most followers don’t even bother to like or comment on a post. I always notice those regular bloggers who visit my site and read what I post.

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  23. Americans, in particular, have short attention spans and are sometimes too slothful to continue with an intellectual project such as blogging for any significant period of time.

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    1. Thanks, John. That’s an interesting take on things. I have some American bloggers who have stayed the course, as it were. I just have a tendency to worry about those individuals who disappear without warning.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  24. Morning BP, enjoy and appreciate the diversity of your interests, articles and outlook. Stimulating. New here and finding my way around. How many times does a post of yours linger in the mind, only for a thoughtful response to be elbowed out of the way by an event or mundane task needing attention as the day rolls on. What was it Lennon/? said about life happening while you’re busy making other plans.

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  25. 🙂 I have also witnessed the same.

    Bloggers will come and bloggers will go.

    That sort of thing is not unique to WordPress; it also happens on the other blogging platforms as well.

    Luckily for us, there will always those bloggers who will stay with us to the very end.

    Do enjoy the rest of your day and keep blogging!

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  27. I know what you mean I have lost some good readers over the years…..few seldom let me know, not that is their lot in life to get my permission but it would be nice to know that they are well and safe….I lost a couple of blogger friends one in Lebanon and the other in Syria over the last 5 years…..if I cease to write I will be dead and gone…..I keep 10-25 drafts on file in case I hit a slow mental phase…..I enjoy the interaction…..have a good day and be well and safe…..chuq

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  28. Nice post! The blogging world is indeed volatile… having a blog with friends maybe can help, although in my case I’m the regular writer and the rest of my friends write more rarely.

    Who knows, maybe the “drifters” will come back as suddenly as they disappeared! :–)

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