Buy “Runway”

Categories

Archives

2018 Writerland Update

It’s been a ridiculously long time since I blogged here, so I’m starting with an update. Last year I spent a lot of time blogging privately—doing research for a project I’ve been working on when not cooking, cleaning, shopping; organizing child care, birthday parties, vacations, camping trips, backpacking trips, after-school activities, doctor’s appointments, haircuts, field trips, (and so much more); exercising, meditating, reading, writing, editing, practicing piano; or taking care of this guy:

Australian Labradoodles, Labradoodles, labradoodle puppies

 

Which left me little time to update Writerland. And, truth be told, I needed a break. I started this blog in 2009 when my daughter was born, and now she’s 8! I’m so impressed by people who blog week after week, year after year. Kudos to you. But I needed a break. Now that I’m in my late 40s (gulp) I think more and more about what’s important in life, what I’ll wish I’d done more of, and what I wish I’d done less of. And as much as I love blogging and sharing information and connecting with other writers, I don’t think I’m going to lie on my death bed and think, “I wish I’d blogged more. I wish I’d tweeted more. I wish I’d Instagrammed more.” I think I will think, “I wish I’d spent more time in nature, I wish I’d played with my kids more while they were little, I wish I’d enjoyed my life more instead of always striving for more.” So this past year has been my effort to live the life I’ll wish I had lived when I’m dying. More time in nature. More time with family. More time feeling like THIS IS ENOUGH. I don’t need more money, more publications, more readers, more followers to be happy. Because there’s no guarantee we’ll live until 80 or 90. We could be one of the unlucky ones who gets cancer or has a heart attack before 50. And we need to be ready for that.

That said, I miss blogging and I miss my blog friends and I miss talking about books and writing and editing. So I’m back…maybe just once a month, we’ll see…and I’m excited about 2018.

What about you? What’s been going on with you this past year? Are you still blogging? Still writing? Or did you get a puppy, too?

16 comments to 2018 Writerland Update

  • Welcome back! If briefly. 🙂
    I’ve been gardening. Kicking the urban farm up a notch. Spent time in it with my daughter. Priorities change.

  • Brian Meeks

    It’s great to have you back.

    I’ve not blogged in years, maybe this is what I need to get back into it?

    I love the doggie picture!

  • This post really resonated with me! I have been asking myself the same questions about how I spend my time, because it’s so much more valuable than every other resource. Glad to see a post from you, but I like that you’re not holding yourself to daily or weekly expectations. enjoy your life and thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!

    • Thanks, Jenn. I see my kids growing up so quickly, and I hear about people my age getting cancer and having heart attacks. Life is too short to be doing anything we don’t really love doing.

  • Your post really spoke to me. For the past few years I’ve been writing for a couple magazines, working in novels and coaching others. For the first time, I write a stage play that was produced by my church in December. Three days after watching my characters come to life on stage, I passed out on the church parking lot—clinically dead. Now, after open heart surgery replacing a valve, I’m in recuperation mode and trying to decide if I want to continue with writing or pursue some of the fun things I’ve always wanted to do—like genealogy, jewelry making, sketiching and painting. I’m quite a bit older that you are but heart trouble came out of the blue…I haven’t been sick in almost 40 years. Something to think about.

    • OMG! Thank God you’re okay, Jessica! I guess it comes down to what gives you more pleasure – writing or the hobbies you haven’t pursued. As an adult I always wanted to take up piano again (after quitting lessons as a kid), and I did a couple of years ago. I’m not very good at it because I have time to practice much, but I love it and am so glad I take a couple of hours a week out to play. Wishing you a speedy recovery and keep me posted on what hobbies you decide to pursue.

  • It’s great to see you back! I’ve been wondering where you’d got to. I think most blogs fade because people try to follow the monetized blogging rules and try to blog often and competitively, which simply isn’t necessary unless blogging is your business.

    I’ve always been a fan of “slow blogging”–and blogging once a month is a perfect way to blog slow and still keep a presence in the blogosphere (which is all most authors need.)

    I’ve even written a book about it, launching in print this week. THE AUTHOR BLOG: EASY BLOGGING FOR BUSY AUTHORS. Also available in ebook for the introductory price of $2.99 available at all retailers. 🙂 )

    You don’t even have to blog about writing and editing. Anything will do that’s related to you, your books and your brand. So welcome back Meghan, and enjoy slow blogging! (Your dog is adorable.)

  • Hi, Anne! You’re one of my blogging heroes. I’ve always been so impressed by your dedication and consistency. I will buy your ebook! I look forward to reading it!

  • Think writers are moving away from blogging to find readers? Like you, who has the time? Then, there’s this big market in followers. I get daily solicitations: “increase your followers.” My dog has completely converted to Instagram. He has more followers than I do.

  • Ha! What is your dog’s Instagram account? I do think platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat have taken over as the best way to reach readers because not only do we not have time to blog, we don’t have time to READ blogs. And yet those who have stuck with blogging, like Anne R. Allen, are doing great because so many of us have dropped off.

  • I’m still blogging and writing, but mostly I’m reading a lot. I got a rescue dog a year ago and she’s taken over my house. I’m glad you were able to take a break to reconnect with what really matters to you. Your puppy is so cute!

  • Eunice

    Welcome back! Sometimes you need some time to think and do other things to inspire you to blog. I love your dog!! So cute!