I’m not the first, or the best blogger to comment on the ever-changing landscape of the blogging community. It’s a demanding hobby and not always what we thought it would be. As such, it’s not unusual for people to lose interest or simply no longer be able to keep up with the various requirements of running your personal blog.
Since I started my own blog in late summer of 2017, I’ve already seen so many great bloggers leave the platform. Some of them announced their departure moving on to other chapters in their lives. Trying to find a better fit. Others just quietly stopped posting. We often see a certain sense of guilt or a little sadness. That’s normal.
This blog has many posts trying to encourage others to keep posting. I personally get a lot out of this hobby and want others to share in that fun. But that doesn’t mean I don’t understand the need to take a step back once in a while. To move on and try different things, even if it’s just for a while. I once wrote a letter to all of you, urging you to stick around. Today, I take the time to say a few words to those that have decided to take up new challenges.
Dear friend who had a blog,
I won’t pretend to know what you’re going through, but I know you have your reasons. I understand that you feel a little bad for leaving some of us behind. I get it, but you shouldn’t. Don’t get me wrong, we will miss you but we know we were already lucky to get to know you at all.
You took the time and made the effort to share a bit of yourself with us. You wrapped up your thoughts and imagination in pretty words, and handed it over for all to enjoy. You will probably never know about those minds you touched, entertained or enlightened along the way, but they’re there. Maybe you thought no one was paying attention since they didn’t speak up. I don’t blame you, it can feel very lonely. But you know, it can be difficult to disturb a thing of beauty or scary to capture important ideas. Of course you know. I’m sorry if you felt alone. I’m sure you weren’t. We do know the efforts you put in. And we are grateful for your generous gifts.
I understand that you had a goal in mind, a specific plan. You are trying to accomplish something and have come to realize the blog is simply not the best means to those ends. I hear you! I hope you find what you’re looking for. The fact that you were willing to try with something as involved as a blog is a pretty good sign though. I’m not too worried for you. Obviously you’re willing to work. You’ll find your success and we’ll all cheer for you.
Of course we all knew that real life would butt in eventually. That’s a good thing in fact. I think it’s great that you’re putting all that effort into your studies. I’m so impressed you landed that job you’ve been vying for. That new sweetheart of yours is so lucky to have such a doting lover. If it doesn’t work out, you should call me!
And please, make sure to think about yourself. Your health, happiness, economic stability come first. Don’t you dare make yourself feel bad just because of us. Yeah, we want to read your posts but we want much more to know that you’re in a good place physically and mentally. That’s the most important thing. We will wait right here for as long as it takes so push all that unnecessary stuff out of your head and relax.
What you think you owe us doesn’t matter. You may not have realized it but you already gave us something very special. You invited us into your mind. You let us comment and get our feelings out and answered us as well. You gave us a place to quietly read and forget about our problems for a minute. You welcomed us in and that’s just plain nice of you. Some of you also took the time to find or make delightful images to go along with your posts. It’s made the posts so much easier to read. We love that you went through the effort to make your blog pretty. You even added a few jokes just to make us laugh. All of these things take effort and you put it in because you care. Thank you for that, really.
Maybe I didn’t get a chance to stumble upon your blog in its heyday. That’s my loss really. I m a little lazy and I pay for it constantly. Knowing me, I’ll find it a year from now and just kick myself for not having discovered it sooner. This happens to me all the time. And I bet it happens to others as well. Your blog may turn out unexpectedly popular in a year or two. Maybe you were just before your time.
I’m trying to say that even though you feel it’s time to move on, you did not waste your time here. If you were screaming in a void, you left echoes behind that will live on forever.
Today I just want to say thank you to all you friends that had a blog. Our time together was too short but it was sweet. I hope you think back on us fondly. Maybe someday you’ll even be ready to try again. I hope so. In the meantime, I’ll do my best to keep your spot warm for you. I hope you are having a great time out there and when you’re ready, you can tell us all about it.
You are a very kind person and the community is lucky to have you as part of our family.
awww Nyan – that is the sweetest thing. Thank you so much
Speaking as someone whose blog has endured for seven years, despite my predictions that I would stop at some point, I think that for the beginners who’ve yet to see their second anniversary, their objective should be to write for themselves and for a few other peers who like their work. Having a few like-minded people, or writing as a release without any obligations, makes it much easier to get into it.
The other remark is that it is not strictly necessary to write on a schedule to draw viewers in; I’ve gotten by, coming and going as I wished with no schedule. Instead, it boils down to a single thing: being yourself! Anyone who is true to themselves will make it work; blogging is not and shouldn’t be a chore, after all.
I guess I’m a beginner which makes me very happy
I only say so because most bloggers stop writing after two years. Anyone who’s made it past this mark usually have found blogging fun and will stick around, and for me, it’s always welcoming to see people choose to continue. The real fun of interacting with the community and having a bigger presence is a part of the joy.
Seems I have a few months left in me then. Two years always seemed like veterans to me
I’m not screaming because the void doesn’t care. Speak your heart to your brain and you have a good enough audience to start out with.
That’s a very nice saying.
that was so beautiful.
“If you were screaming in a void, you left echoes behind that will live on forever.”
as a new blogger, a lot of the times it can feel exactly that way, that im screaming in a void, but words like this remind me that what im doing is not as meaningless as it may seem.
I’ve been there (and occasionally go back there) but it only takes one nice comment to change it all
Do you think that someone can create an anime blog if they mostly watch animes dubbed?
Absolutely! In fact I would love to have a bit more of the dubbed perspective because it can really change the impact an anime has. Dubbing is also an artform (one I don’t know that much about) and it plays into localization. Really, I see no reason at all that should stop anyone from making an anime blog
This was very sweet. 🙂
It is unfortunate when our friends go away, but such is life… filled with meetings, and partings, and reunions. 🙂
I can’t imagine leaving my blog behind, ever… but I also can’t imagine being at that point where I’ll have been blogging for, say, ten years, or more. I’ve no idea what that would feel like. Guess I’ll just have to find out, won’t I? 😉
I look forward to seeing what you do with your decade of blogging!
Thank you! 🙂 I hope to see you around for quite awhile, too! 😉
Reading your encouragements is always a good way to start a new year 😊
Yes!! It’s what I’m here for
This was a truly beautiful post to read ❤️ Amazing work as always Irina 💖
Aww Sam! so sweet!
😀 <3
This was so beautifully put. I definitely agree with Terrance crow, you have an excellent way of words. And I always love seeing the pictures/gifs you put into your posts. Very well done my friend. Its always good to have a bit of encouragement.
Thank you Shania, I’m glad you liked it
You really have a way with words.
“Your blog may turn out unexpectedly popular in a year or two. Maybe you were just before your time… If you were screaming in a void, you left echoes behind that will live on forever.”
Recently, I’ve started reviewing one older series per season. I like to link to other bloggers’ reviews of the same series, both to help my readers find other interesting bloggers and to maybe send a reader or two to some of the other blogs.
As I searched for reviews of those older series, I’ve found a lot of abandoned blogs. They had good content. They were well designed. I get kinda excited that maybe I’ve found a new blog to follow, until I see the last post was in 2015 or 2016.
As you eloquently pointed out, I’m sure they all had their reasons to walk away. But I can’t help but wonder if some of them had hung on just a little longer, maybe success would have found them?
Remember the jokes about the overnight success story — that took 10 years to complete?
Thanks for another comforting and comfortable post to start the year!
I know what you mean Crow…i follow so many blogs that stopped posting before I got my reader app but the writing was so good, i can’t just unfollow…
I can relate, as someone who has started and then closed down a couple of blogs before my current one. I just finally found a simple groove of reviews that’s just been fun to write, and haven’t been able to stop since.
If someone does read this and feels like giving blogging another go: do it! Don’t worry about keeping up a schedule or anything like that now, just have fun!
Best advice ever but surprisingly easy to forget! Thanks Cobra!
Well….what can I say to a post like this. Of course you know this one at the moment is very relatable. I do feel bad for leaving everyone here, life currently is not as happy as I would like it to be, and well quite frankly I really miss blogging. At the same time, the way I’m feeling now, with my current health, I really have little choice in the matter 😢 That said…a post like this makes me smile, and makes me once again very happy to be able to call you a wonderful friend. This was beautiful, and you again managed to make me cry…a happy cry though, for sure 😊😊 Thank you 😄
Oh man Raistlin….. Just you wait….
Erm…..just you wait? 😅😅 Erm….wait for what….🤔🤔😅😅
I’ve decided my optimistic cheerleading is getting too predictable and moved n to random threats
Lol…..okay, well…I guess I should be afraid now then 😅😅😂😂
That was so wonderful, Irina 😁🐕.
Aww Scott, thank you
I feel like I gain an extra life for blogging every time I read these kinds of posts. I may hit pause sometimes or just restart but I keep trying AND wanting to try because of bloggers like you <3
P.S. I accidentally hit the 'following' button causing me to unfollow but not even a second passed and I followed again. :'D
I was like whoaaa Chizue finally followed me. SCORE!!!!
Lol as if 🤣
awwww, I’m not crying, you are crying. This was so good, it has bittersweet Natsume vibes, I can feel them <3
Shheesh – playing the Natsume card. Get’s me everytime. Thank you so much Alicia – made my day
This was a lovely letter that I loved to read! Awesome work Irina 🙂
Thank you Arthifis!
I don’t have anything to add, but just wanted to say this was a lovely read. I hope anyone who needs to read it finds it! 🙂
I hope so too – I realize this is addressed to people who probably won’t read it but still, I miss a few folks
I can relate. I almost quit my blog once or twice, but I always came back. It’s like a compulsion. But not in the bad way.
As far as compulsions go – this seems like a good one!
<3
right back at you!