Dear friend with a blog,
Have you been getting the feeling that you are a little bit too invested in your blog. You fret and worry about it. You’ve set up all these imaginary goals and now you feel bad when you fail to reach them no matter how unrealistic they may have been.
Do you feel like you owe your blog something? I know you feel lazy and a little ashamed when you haven’t posted in a while. You’re not going to lose sleep over it but, still. You feel bad if you don’t deliver on projects you may have teased. You feel a little let down when you pour your heart and time into a post that goes ignored. You have some emotional attachment to your work, I get it.
Ok I know a few of you are super cool. You can just throw out these amazing, insightful, perfectly crafted masterpiece posts whenever the spirit moves you and the art is its own reward. You neither worry about nor pay attention to anything else. You are the coolest! I wish I was like you. I’m not. I get a thrill when readers seem to be enjoying something I’ve done and I long to recreate that. I want you guys to have as much fun reading my posts as I had writing them. I feel some sense of accomplishment when I stick to my timetables and follow through on my projects. I absolutely love when I hear from one of you personally. It doesn’t matter about what. You should probably know that if it’s about “How Do I Create a Successful Blog”, you will find me enthusiastic but unhelpful. If you manage to get an answer from someone else though, I would love to know! If anything can be taken away from this little randomness – it’s that I’m not cool. At all. I do care, ever so much.
I’m not complaining mind you. This lack of cool on my part is what has allowed this entire experience to be so heartwarming. Do you like how I’m playing with the whole temperature theme here? See if I was cool I wouldn’t need to point it out. But I know that the price we all pay for getting that feeling of solidarity and pride out of a blog is a certain insecurity. I know that very well. And today, to my fellow not too cool to care bloggers, I want to tell you, you are not alone.
If you have ever wondered why your blog isn’t getting followers as quickly as you thought it would. Most of us have been there. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, a lot of you are missing out on masterpieces. There are blogs out there that have fewer followers than I do and it’s mindboggling. I would gladly pay for their content. In my opinion their posts are better than mine but just so I don’t have you guys flooding my comments with support (because I know you, and you are all just the sweetest), let’s say our content is equal. The point I’m trying to make is that a smaller follower count doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong and increasing that number shouldn’t necessarily be an objective. But if it’s bothering you, you are not alone! There are some tricks you can use but honestly, it takes time! That’s all. No need to worry. We’ve all been there.
If you have ever been a little disappointed to see that your favourite posts don’t do as well as some things you’ve written a bit more carelessly and with a lot less conviction. You are not alone. I shared once or twice the fact that, as a rule of thumb, all the posts I truly love, tend to generate much less interest than my average offerings. Since then, I’ve heard the exact same thing from other bloggers, over and over again. It seems to be an unwritten rule. We just have to accept that some posts are just for us and that’s fine. You are going to spend hours on something and be terribly proud of it and no one else will notice. Don’t be discouraged, you are not alone.
Maybe you feel like you don’t do *enough*. Maybe you watch in amazement how certain bloggers seem to have unlimited time reserves and energy. You marvel as they publish several posts each and every day of unwaveringly fantastic quality, while you struggle to get one out every day/week/month. You start asking yourself what exactly are you doing wrong, how is it even possible? You question the rational laws of space/time and give yourself a headache. I get it. I sometimes wonder how exactly am I supposed to WATCH anime if I have to spend all that time WRITING about anime. Look, some people are magical. We just have to accept that. And if you’re not and you have a though time balancing it all out. I understand, you’re not alone.
For those of you who aren’t that confident in your writing skills. Those who worry about your typos or think that your grammar leaves something to be desired. I have resigned myself to having lost that particular battle most days but once in a while, I still feel the sting. As for those who would love to be able to write those poetic proses you see on other blogs. Those who wonder why anyone would put up with your sad little offerings when there are so many better options out there. You are wrong, and also not alone.
I know that you’ve been staring at that blank screen for what seems like an eternity. Sleepwalking through hallways as you desperately try to find a new and interesting theme for your next post. I once literally walked into a glass door as I was trying to figure out the wording for some random review. I know that you are starting to get a little out of breath from desperately chasing after those muses when all around you, bloggers effortlessly come up brilliant innovations one after the other. It’s mostly admiration but occasionally, just a little jealousy sneaks in. I know all this, and I know you are not the only one.
If you are still frustratingly grasping at the perfection you perceive in other people’s work. Seemingly just out of reach of your outstretched fingers. If you are starting to think that maybe, you’ll never quite get there. That maybe the issue isn’t effort but talent. Let me tell you for a fact, you are echoing the thoughts of legions, there is no one that is beyond doubt.
And tell me, do you sometimes write a post, edit it and get it all scheduled for publishing just to have another blogger coincidentally beat you to the punch with a post similar in content and/or structure? And even though it’s a complete coincidence you now feel awkward about publishing your own, so you push it back but you still feel a bit out of sorts and can’t help but think their post may have been better. Been there! So many times!
If some days you ask yourself why you’re still doing this. You could be playing games or just enjoying shows for the fun of it. I’m not going to make you keep going if you don’t want to, but man, I’m going to miss you!
Some days just seem to be nothing but hesitations and questions. Some days you’re just not feeling it. I don’t have any answers for you. The only thing I can tell you dear friend is that you are not alone. We all feel that way sometimes. At least, I do.
But other days, are just fantastic!
New comment on this old post that i just found.
The only thing i can really say is that damn you really hit the nail on the head when it comes to newbies like myself. And thanks for reminding me and other new bloggers to not take ourselves too seriously and too take breaks and have fun with our own blogs.-K
I am reading this an entire year later, but still…this is something that I needed to read. It’s really comforting to know that there are more people with the same difficulty that I am writing posts and that there are people in the community who are willing to let you know that you’re not alone in this. Thanks for writing this!
It really was entirely my pleasure. It’s easy to forget why we put all this time in our blogs
This is why I limit my blog posts to at least 1 a week and 2 max. This way I don’t suffer burnout and also because my content is limiting. A lot of my content is movie reviews and it can be hard finding time to post about them. But this post has helped me realize a few things I can do to help improve my content. Thank you Irina. 🙂
I have found that if I want readers, all I have to do is plug in tags like naked and nude and suddenly my views triple. The blogs I feel are the best and that I really care about are about the process of growing old. These get far fewer readers.
The obvious solution is to write about growing old while naked.
The aging nudist – I would never stop reading that!
I’m new to the wordpress world, I’ve always had a passion for writing and anime so I recently pushed myself past my anxiety and started to write publicly, the entire time I was reading this I felt like you were in my head. Your words flow so effortlessly and provide a strong sense of comfort. I absolutely love this post, I relate to every sentence, I love how honest you are and that’s so admirable!
I just found my favorite aniblog and can’t wait to spend the next few days reading your work <3
You are so sweet!!! I’m really touched. This said there are a lot of great aniblogs out there – from what I can see – including yours! I’m so glad I just discovered it!
Awee that makes me so happy <3 And yeah, I've been reading a couple the past couple days and just feel so at home with the community here <3
I’m glad you like it. People here have been awesome as far as I’m concerned
Thanks for the follow
Thank you so much
Anytime! It was for me really…
Still a big help
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm! It’s energizing, and it’s a gift to the rest of us.
You overstate but I love it!
You put my exact feelings into words!! Thank you 😉
That’s honestly very nice to hear
I really needed this. Whenever I don’t post something for awhile, I feel horrible. But then I look at my blog and think, “Where do I even start from here?” And so I delay things until I kick myself in the butt to get things moving. I don’t mind not having a lot of followers, it makes it easier when you’re being lazy or life gets in the way of posting since there’s less pressure there. It’s weird, I know, but when I gained a bunch of followers I remember thinking, “Awesome” and then “This blog thing is really real now.” and feeling a huge sense of responsibility towards it. It’s a good thing though, but it’s still a weird conflicting feeling. Followers are great, but followers also remind you that you have people who want to read your work, which makes not posting feel worse.
I don’t know if I’m describing it properly, but yea. Your blog post was something I needed to read, especially since I haven’t been posting since last Sunday.
Well on the other side – we don’t mind waiting a little – you’re posts always make it worthwhile. Wait did I make the pressure worse?
Nah, I’ll just try to channel the pressure into encouragement to keep posting.
Reblogged this on Chizurue and commented:
We all wish we were cooler. Just remember that you never walk alone. Let’s be uncool together!
Late to the party but this is a fantastic post so I cannot not reblog it. Has anyone not read this post? Because you should!
Thank you so much Chizu!
No problem at all! Great post as always, Irina ^^
Nothing more to say than excelent post 👌👌👏👏
Glad you liked it!
Lol the blogging struggle is real!!! I think the important thing to remember is that the person who should like your blog the most is you. And that goes for a lot of other things in life, too. 😉
So much relating happening right here. Like, when either me or Dominic publish a new piece we really want to do well, that old news post from aaaaages ago still gets the most views that day 😓 But it is always better to care, and to struggle, and to know you’re not alone in struggling. Thanks for the beautifully honest piece that lifted my spirits, right when we’re trying to push our blog to new heights.
I know you’ll get there. Such a great blog can’t help but succeed.
It’s humbling to hear that someone I respect so much can have all of the exact same insecurities that I do. Namely in that often times, nobody shares the same sentiments about a certain series that I love talking about. During instances like these, I have to remind myself that I am one of the slowest bloggers here, and that by the time I finally get to the keyboard and waste hours writing about something that nobody on earth will read, ANY post is better than no post at all. I suppose it’s a struggle we all face, though.
Such a touching, all-to-real post that captured my heart within the first paragraph alone—Irina, you’re one cool mate in my eyes!
First you got that the wrong way around. I’m an avowed Taku fangirl and your blog is foremost in my sources of inspiration/motivation…bitter jealousy. I always look forward to your posts. Im not sure why our most loved posts are so frequently unpopular but Im slowly learning to accept it. This said one of the questions I most often ask other bloggers is which was your favourite post to write precisely because they often fly under the radar
Awesome post! (Which I actually noticed a from repost before yours tehee…I’m few days behind reading posts 😋) What can I say that haven’t been said already in the comments? Oh yeah, that I’m wishing you would do a Soul Eating Monday version with Natsume and Nyanko 😸 Totally unrelated but worth mentioning since everyone in the comments section eloquently said everything already *happens in posts, happens in comments* 😂😂😂
This happens to me everytime… I read a post am I’m like – Oh I have the perfect comment and then I realize someone already said and better at that. So I end up almist never commenting… I am completely sincere when I say that Iwould never stop talking about Natsume. I need to find a format to do a post series on the show. Maybe a weekly explanation of how a particular element or episode relates to my personal experiences and why it impacted me… That sounds a but boring for everyone else though.
Exactly! I’ll write “ditto” next time everything has been said in the comments 😂 Yush, i will always love your Natsume posts 💗. I totally get you, i have no idea how to incorporate more natsume into my blog, but I’ll find a way, eventually 😎
And when you do I will cheer!
Thanks Irina! With a full time job on top of this blog I often just want to sleep when I come home, and can seem to only manage 2 posts a week if that. Its been nagging at me that I should be doing more, but I dont think its possible….Thanks so much for your encouraging post though!
Great post, and we’ve all been there (are there still). I think the best advice is just not to worry about it and have fun. Otherwise why do it at all? 😀
Exactly! Although let’s face, we’re all still gonna worry a little from time to time. That’s ok too.
I loved reading this post! You describe some of the most relatable feelings I and probably many others have. I think this post is something that should be read by any and all who have a blog! This post has really inspired me! Keep up the amazing work! 😊
Well that’s one of the best compliments I’ve gotten. Thank you so much for such a sweet comment
You’re very welcome! You did an amazing post so you deserve it! 😄
Nice post! I definitely know the feeling of staring at a blank screen for a while. Personally, I’ve had to change my writing process. Over the past week, I’ve started first recording myself talking about the subject and then translating all of that to text the next day and it’s helped, so try that if you’re having problems! Anyways, keep up with the good work :3
Wow that never even occurred to me. That’s a really interesting idea!
So I’m Jay-Z and you’re Eminem, huh?
Great post. Kind of crazy how we independently came up with similar concepts (albeit yours is much more polished and will resonate with others more while mine was on-the-spot and more personalized).
Oh I wouldn’t say it’s more polished at all. Your’s was fantastic and another great essay on being true to yourself and standing behind your views. Mine is just a general list of my insecurities. It was originally scheduled to be posted the day after you posted yours but that just seemed a bit too much. This actually happens to me all the time. I’ll watch a random anime from years ago no one has talked about in ages and 3 reviews will come out just before mine…
Thanks, Irina, haha.
Mmm sorry about cutting in your turf! ;__;
Really? Holy moly. Have you considered becoming a future teller? Or being a weatherlady? Or someone who predicts the upcoming fashion trends? Probably would get famous really quickly.
Yu didn’t cut in on everything and the way I do it I’ll be predicting trends 10 minutes after they stop being cool. I should stop scheduling posts so far in advance but it happens. I’m sure it’s happened to you a few times.
Ahhh alrighty.
Hmm. You can analyze why the trends worked out, maybe?
Perhaps that’s an idea. But to be honest, I’m not entirely sure. I don’t really schedule posts, unfortunately. I have a single completed post in my Drafts.
whoa – I usually have at least 15 to 25 post scheduled for publishing and I move hem around if I have to publish something on a specific date…I’m a horrible overplanner
So very jealous. One of these days I need to sit down and imitate you!
Wonderful post! Sympathetic and inspiring. Love the smile at the end.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I was worried it may have turned out a bit of a downer
This is lovely work I wish I could have done myself.
Thanks a lot, what you say encourages me a great deal.
Nice! I love how your comment mirrors the post. I tip my hat to you!
Yup, completely intentional…
*shifts eyes suspiciously*
I can tell. Us geniuses always recognize each other!
Love this post! I totally can relate to it.. Before this blog, I had another blog, but because my followers and views weren’t increasing after 4 months, I lost creativity and motivation, so I quited. Now that I know what I was lacking and why it didn’t grow, I started my blog one week ago(this blog) and I’m truly happy with the progress of how many people are reading my post!
Thanks for the post 😉
I know! I love your blog too. I just discovered it but I’m really looking forward to where you go with it!
Sorry I got excited and forgot to say, thank you so much for your kind comment
Irina, fantastic post. I’m very much hearing what you mean about the posts I love the most kind of getting overlooked and the posts I worry if I should even let be published because I’m still dissatisfied with them somehow end up being quite popular.
Thanks for capturing exactly how it feels some days to be a blogger.
I have had that. One of my most popular posts to date is one I actually dislike but I can’t tell people they’re wrong for liking it…. I’m pretty sure your comment is likely to reassure way more people than my post.
Well written Irina. Everyone who creates, wether it’s blogging or vlogging or podding or just making AMVs or other creative content, should read this. No matter how big and successful you are, I think at some point in life you feel like this. It’s only human. It’s good to be reminded that we are not alone and it is okey. Thank you! <3
Hey..i was reminding myself as much as anyone else! And comments like this really make up for those bad days
😊 I bookmarked it, so I can go back and read it those days I have a shitty day when I doubt what it is I really is I am doing.
Oh my – ok NOW this is one of the best comments I have ever gotten…Thank you so much!
☺️
Other than yours, I don’t think I know a one-person-blog that updates daily. If writing about anime ever makes watching anime feel like a duty something went wrong somewhere (or it’s a paying job). Don’t burn yourself out.
Also, I’m having trouble with some screenshots this time:
Nozaki-kun // Nanbaka (?) // Inou-battle (? I don’t remember them having those blurry effects ?) // OreImo // Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha (?) // Idolm@ster (?)
There are some incredibly prolific anime writers out there. Karandi posts several times a day for instance… but let’s get to the important stuff because this is a rarity:
Of course//yes// Yuuta from Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! // Yes//Exactly//Yes!
How is it even possible to post that much. I bow my head.
Ah, Chuunibyou. I thought the blurry effect reminded me of KyoAni, but I tend to forget that show. I sort of remember the characterdesigns to look more… childish? Memory can play tricks on you.
Wonderful post~ You are just so great at motivational posts…
I tend to see blogging/anime-watching as procrastination from school nowadays, and as a result, I feel like many of my posts are kind of lacking. I enjoy blogging and don’t feel self-conscious about my writing per se, but I can’t help being envious of all those bloggerd who casually generate amazing insight with incredible vocabulary. Glad to know that many of us are in this together 😊
Trying to get a bligger admit they actually created something worth while is like pulling teeth it seems. Everybody is just so hard on themsleves!
Must be in our natures
This was a really encouraging post, Irina. I thought those words were genuine and really kind for anyone who’s trying to blog.
Well I think your comment is really kind. And it’s these types of comments and community that make the slightly less enjoyable elements completely worth it
Thanks. It’s good to know that you feel that way about the blogging community.
I read this post of yours at work in a break….and I was a bit silent after reading it. After coming home I read it a second time….and the same response to be honest.
In case you are wondering….it is now the second time in about two days that a post written by you has left me speechless. Because it’s so awesome. This post again struck a chord within me (hey, I already told you I’m overly sensitive right?). Seriously though: I loved it. Let’s get one thing straight here: this is a post that should simply put be read by anyone who has a blog. It contains points that are important for new and veteran bloggers. And all of them are true.
I have said countless times to a lot of people that one thing that is the most important rule of blogging: is having fun. In no way should you ever feel stressed about it. That’s why for instance I don’t adhere to any kind of schedule for publishing posts. I love to write, and I love commenting on posts….but when you are beginning to feel pressure…something’s not going right. I have a blogging friend who is currently rather ill, and she, kind soul that she is keeps apologising to her readers. It’s of course awfully sweet of her to do so …but health issues should always be more important.
As for the number of posts one publishes: is there are a written rule? There may be blogs that publish 4 or 5 posts a day….but are they all of the same quality? (There is of course a certain individual amongst us whose name starts with a K….that no matter hos many posts she publishes is always writing golden posts). Honestky: I think a blog is defines by the person behind it, and the way he/she writes her posts. If they only have a small fraction of your strength, caring for other bloggers, and writing posts like this: they should feel awfully luck and proud of themselves. I know: because I am very proud of you, and I am awfully glad to have been fortunate enough to have found your blog. In other words: you are an inspiration 😊
First and most important – I hope your friend gets better soon!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. I occasionally get some distraught emails or comments from bloggers that are really being unreasonably hard on themselves and it’s just a little sad because I love their stuff so much but I understand the urge. I loose a follower and I get a little bummed out. I just wanted to let people know that it’s fine to feel a little disapointed but you certainly aren’t worse than anyone else here. Most likely some people you really admire and aspire to, have gon through the exact same thing.
Aww…thanks so much Irina. I really hope so too 😊
I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes I see a few posts over on other blogs where people are very disappointed with themselves for only writing an occasional post…or not delivering quality content, or loads of other things just like this. I always try to encourage them as best I can. As I just said blogging is a lot of fun, but it should never make you feel guilty or disappointed in any way.
That’s why I loved the post so much. It was really something that I have seen a lot of bloggers go through…and to offer them something like this to read is truly inspiring! So yeah: loved, loved, loved this post!
Man, if I could bring even a sliver of the encouragement and positivity you spread, I’ll consider myself an unmitigated success
Well…trust me on that, even though you might not see it yourself at times: you bring a lot of encouragement and positivity to everyone yourself! I’m thinking if you would ask any one of your followers, they would say exactly the same thing 😊
R.I.P. Remy you will be missed!
?
Is Remy OK?
I’m just making fun of Remy for being unintentionally buried by this post of yours. 😂
I asked permission. II never namedrop Remy without his ok. I’m too scared he’ll pretend not to know me…
If anything. Springing inspirations back and forth can yield surprising result…
Like I mentionned – we wrote thiese completely independent of one another. I already had the post written a wekk before he published and there’s no way he could have known about it. It’s just one of those weird coincidences.
Yup! Pressure I can certainly relate to now that I’ve upped my output to a minimum 20 posts a month. In a way, that’s been good though, as it fits me to take a break from writing novels, and prevents me burning out on that.
Quality too, I always worry about. In terms of hits though, I do enjoy seeing which posts get all the attention. Sometimes it surprises me too.
Ah, this was a wonderful read Rin-san.
https://toritsukamanga.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/acrobaticdiscretebelugawhale-max-1mb.gif
This gif just fits the whole post doesn’t it?
Yaayayya, I clicked Reply too early.
*annoyed*
That favorite post thing wasn’t only me then, huh? I guess that’s because most of the posts that are favourites are something close to us, so others can’t quite get the feels.
Then again, that’s just Auri trying to get reasons for things she doesn’t like.
Some things don’t have reasons.
*sigh* This letter definitely got me thinking about a lot of stuff….
That’s actually a great point Auri! An excellent one really and it would explain a lot. Then again, maybe the masses just can’t recognize a good thing when they see it!!! Not you guys who read this comment – you guys are totally cool!
I AM cool, but thank you for noticing.
(I’m totally not cool.)
I’m gald you like it! And it’s Gekken Shoujo Nozaki-Kun which is an automatic plus!
What a lovely post, and one I can most certainly relate to! I think the feelings you describe are something of an occupational hazard for anyone who makes writing a significant part of their life, whether it’s in blog form or via more “traditional” media.
The Internet and social media’s overreliance on validation through ultimately fairly meaningless statistics (PLZ LIKECOMMENTSUBSCRIBE) can lead to more anxiety over this sort of thing than is perhaps healthy, so it’s important to remember the reasons why you do this sort of thing in the first place. If you do it to chase big audience numbers, great, and good luck to you… but I think most of us are here for the love.
And when that’s the reason you do something, it both comes through in your work and naturally attracts people who want to hear what you have to say.
Beautifully said!
I must admit, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be reliant on a blog for income, the stress has got to be insane! But for those of us who are doing this as a hobby, there’s really no need to make ourselves miserable over it.
Reblogged this on The BookWorm Drinketh and commented:
Had to reblog this from Irina over at [I drink and Watch Anime] who is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC and just saved me by reading my mind and posting the PERFECT thing today when I was fretting about having nothing to post today as I don’t (sadly) have the time! STOP READING MY MIND IRINA!!! Lol! PLEASE check out their blog as it it WONDERFUL!!
Ha ha ha!! You have the BEST TIMING EVER!! Seriously.. Were you listening in to my conversations?? Was I dreaming too loud?? I don’t have time to post today as I didn’t have anything planned out before hand and I’m off to work for the day and I was feeling really bad about it! Then I wake up to find this post and now I’m thinking ‘.. Ya! We can’t ALL please perfect! I can go a day and not lose everything… Right??’ OK.. I’m not being THAT podyitive about it! But, I am feeling a LITTLE better about it! 😉 thanks for the post. You’re the best!! 💓
You found the cameras????
Have a great day!
Reblogged the post for you! (NOW I HAVE A POST UP FOR THE DAY!) Lol! Have a great day yourself!