Okay ... I'm REALLY sorry. I haven't been a good blogger lately. In fact, I've been absolutely rotten: not replying to comments, not commenting on your blogs, only really managing to read a couple a day ... it hurts. I want to do it, but by them time I find a moment, I'm exhausted. I had such high hopes yesterday to participate in the Insecure Writer's Group properly, but ... I didn't find that free moment until after 12 hours in front of the computer. I just couldn't look at the screen anymore!
Thing is this:
My new job.
Despite it being from home, it's full time, and if I slack off, the whole company's publishing schedule will go down the loo. I can't let that happen.
So, here's the thick of it all. This is just a warning that I'm going to be struggling to keep up with your blogs for a while. At least until I can concoct some sort of miracle schedule that allows me to fit everything in. This is not an "I QUIT" announcement. It's a plea for forgiveness and a note that I'm doing the very best I can in this new situation and that I still love you all! I hope in time I'll get used to this whack on the head and be able to do everything I used to do.
I'm sorry. And hello to those new followers I haven't had a chance to visit yet!!!
On a happier note :o) Vine Leaves Literary Journal launches tomorrow, so I'll be posting about that and doing the best I can to network the first issue! I hope you can drop by and lend a helping hand. Dawn and I are SUPER excited!
So, those of you with families and full time jobs. How do you do it? Seriously! HOW?
Thing is this:
My new job.
Despite it being from home, it's full time, and if I slack off, the whole company's publishing schedule will go down the loo. I can't let that happen.
So, here's the thick of it all. This is just a warning that I'm going to be struggling to keep up with your blogs for a while. At least until I can concoct some sort of miracle schedule that allows me to fit everything in. This is not an "I QUIT" announcement. It's a plea for forgiveness and a note that I'm doing the very best I can in this new situation and that I still love you all! I hope in time I'll get used to this whack on the head and be able to do everything I used to do.
I'm sorry. And hello to those new followers I haven't had a chance to visit yet!!!
On a happier note :o) Vine Leaves Literary Journal launches tomorrow, so I'll be posting about that and doing the best I can to network the first issue! I hope you can drop by and lend a helping hand. Dawn and I are SUPER excited!
So, those of you with families and full time jobs. How do you do it? Seriously! HOW?
Give yourself a blogging break. We all have to have them now and then. We will still be here when you are ready. Paying bills comes first in this day and age!
ReplyDeleteYou know how I feel about this.
ReplyDeleteAnd as one with a family and a full-time job, the only way I can pull it off is by getting some blogging and writing in while at work (shh). I'm very lucky that way.
I manage by not sleeping as much as I should, and then praying I get one 8+ hour night of sleep on the weekend to help get me through. I also write during lunch breaks and (though not recently) during down time at work. Hopefully now that we're done with the end-of-year estate planning rush, I'll get more time there.
ReplyDeleteThere simply aren't enough hours in the day for everything, and thank God, really. I wouldn't have the energy for a 27- or 28-hour day! Life's all about balance, and sometimes blogging has to enjoy a back burner from time to time. I for one appreciate your apologies, but definitely don't need any. I understand. And believe me, the stress we put on ourselves to maintain a regular blogging schedule "no matter what" is the worse burden to bear. Best of luck with your new job, and while you settle in and find the routine schedule that best suits you, Blogger will spin on its axis and await your return.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the Vine Leaves launch tomorrow. I'll be ready to promote, promote, promote!!
((hugs))
You have your priorities in the right order and that's good. Keep smiling:-)
ReplyDeleteI didn’t cope. I had a nervous breakdown. And then another and then another. It took me most of my working life to realise that I had limits and I still resent the fact. The hardest thing I think you’ll find is guilt, as if you’re somehow letting the side down because you’re not doing all the things you used to be able to do, but the simple fact is that things that took you hours in the past can’t possibly get crammed into minutes in the future. I wrote two and a half novels, a pile of short stories and a couple of plays all while I was working myself into the ground. (The first two I wrote when I was only doing a luxurious 37½ hours.) That said I didn’t have all the online nonsense back then either. That is a huge time suck and I’ve also determined to cut back. What you have to get better at is assessing how worthwhile any activity is, i.e. be selfish: What’s in this for me? I follow quite a few sites where I seem to do all the work—okay they respond to my comments but that’s about it—and it’s unlikely they’ll ever buy one of my books or even offer to do a review and the only benefit I’m getting is a backlink and the vague possibility that someone reading down the list of comments might click on me. I might have spent fifteen or twenty minutes on that comment to make it stand out from the rest but was that fifteen or twenty minutes well spent?
ReplyDeleteI’ve bought myself a tablet PC—as if I really needed another computer—but it’s proving helpful in ways I didn’t expect. After breakfast I go through Google Reader, scan my feeds and decide which ones I want to read properly and possibly reply to; those I e-mail to myself and so, when I move over to the laptop, I have a little to-do list in my inbox and once it’s clear I’m free to get on with whatever project I have on the go. I also read my e-mail there and check Facebook. I could do that all on the laptop the way I used to but the change of location helps. I don’t even open my feedreader on the laptop anymore and I’ve changed my homepage back to Google. So, my recommendation is compartmentalisation. And if you have the physical space to make those literal compartments then all the better. It’s nearly lunchtime just now and so I’ll wind up but while I’m having lunch I’ll sit with the tablet and see what’s come in since breakfast. And then I won’t check again until this evening.
I work full time too so I can totally relate. I try to read blogs first thing in the am and at night to keep up. But it's hard and I need to find a better balance so I write more. Don't worry. We all understand.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to helping you get the word out on the big launch day!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been where you've been. Heck, I'm somewhat still in the crapper when it comes to commenting. Don't stress yourself. We love you and the minute you're back, we'll be back to say hello. I adore you and all your blog and personality. Take it easy, allow yourself some time to get settled. I should have taken my own advice. I'm just now learning I'm not Super Woman... I know, I'm disappointed too.
Jessica, no worries! I'll keep visiting you whether you have time to visit me or not. You have obligations that must be filled.
ReplyDeleteMy post for tomorrow is filled, but I can give Vine Leaves a big shout out on Monday if that's all right.
How do I do it? I have a job that allows me to blog from work. Otherwise, I couldn't keep up either!
No apology necessary...but thanks for letting us know. I'm insecure enough that I think when I don't get comments, it means my followers don't like my writing anymore. Oh, I'm pathetic! You're going through a tough time and now I've made your sentiments all about meeeeeee! Mis disculpas!
ReplyDeleteNo need to apologise Jessica, you are a very busy person with lots going on. I will read your post and enjoy them as I always do.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
It's okay to take a break. We're not going anywhere.
ReplyDeleteDo what you need to do. Blogging will be here whenever~
ReplyDeleteI don't do it... I am frustrated, guilty and twenty minutes late most of the time. I feel like I am not doing anything well - beinga mom, wife, employee, friend or writer. Or daughter, sister or granddaughter, for that matter.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is, we're in the same boat.
Just keep paddling!
Embrace the crazy. It's the only way.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, this is exactly why I have serious reservations about submitting my book to publisjers. I don't think I will be able to do all the requisite networking and promotion, especially not with dh working overtime as much as he has been.
ReplyDeleteNot that I am a stellar or profound blogger, but in balancing writing, a full time job with LOTS of travel, school, blogging, promotion, etc., two things:
ReplyDelete1. Reasonable goals. On Sunday, I say "this week I want to write a chapter, post 2 blogs, spend 1 hour reading blogs, set up advertising and work on homework." Then, the next Sunday, I see how I did.
2. Do NOT give up all free time! I've tried it many times and end up being far less effective.
It's not like you have anything else going on or anything...ha!
ReplyDeleteWe understand and still think you're super. :) You'll figure everything out.
ReplyDeleteI'm like Matt, I cheat and read blogs at work (like right now). There's simply no other way to make it work, and even then I fail miserably sometimes. But here's the bottom line, 20 or 25% of Jessica is better than zero! We'll take what we can get! :)
ReplyDeletehi miss jessica! yikes! for sure you dont gotta be sorry for taking care of yourself. im just real glad youre doing whats good for you. im still gonna love you even if you dont ever come at my blog.
ReplyDelete...hugs from lenny
I'm seeing a lot of this kind of frustration lately. I posted about it and got a whole lot of comments on how people are dealing with it. I think it's ok actually that we aren't the best bloggers in the world. We all have lives outside of the blog, and most of us are trying to fit writing a book into that as well. No need to apologize, we're all in the same boat. Excited about the new literary journal!!
ReplyDeleteAww honey, we still loves you. ;) We all hit times like this and because we're your friends, we wait it out and understand. When you come back, we'll be here with open arms and it will be like you were never gone. :D <3
ReplyDeleteAnd how do I do it? Well... lots of scheduled blogs. If I have the time, I try to sit down and write a couple of blogs, keep the same theme going on certain days so that something is getting posted. Half the time I can't comment on everyone, but I have to try to comment on a few. Things are going to get harder the next several months as both my husband and I have to take up a second job or face some harsh financial repercussions. I have a light at the end of the tunnel, but it is still a long way off.
We'll see you when you get a chance! *Hugs*
No apologies necessary. Life. It happens. :) Good luck with the new job, and we'll see you around when you can make it!
ReplyDeleteI'm like you and everyone else who has commented. Job first (in my case, caregiver to my daughter); you MUST be tops in this! Blogging...well, blog when you can, but DON'T drive yourself to an anxiety attack! Not worth it. Again: your job first!
ReplyDeleteHope you AND the new journal have a great New Year! I'll be keeping in touch as much as I can.
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
i have no idea how people with small children do it. Freaks me out!
ReplyDeleteAw, Jessica, don't run yourself ragged! You are doing A LOT! We know you are here and we love you! It's always hard getting adjusted to new jobs and such! Don't beat yourself up about it, Lady!
ReplyDeleteNo apologies! I totally understand. It is hard to find balance and sometimes...something just has to give. It is funny because when I quit corporate life last April, I thought I would have so much time - nope. It will balance out for you...hang in there!!
ReplyDeleteHi, there, nice to meet you, and I'm sorry that you're feeling a bit overwhelmed just now. I agree, blogging is probably something that can take up the slack for a little while. ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't really have a family that demands a lot of day-to-day attention, (as in, no significant other, no children, just brother, mother, sister, nieces and nephew.) So that gives me more time to split between full-time job, learning to drive, blogging, and all of my other creative endeavours!
Time-slicing can definitely help, setting aside just a half hour or so every day for something that you want to make a priority. Good luck!
Well, it's pretty easy for me - yes, I have a full time job, but that's it. The only people I have to take care of at home are felines. hehe
ReplyDeleteLike others said, don't beat yourself up too much!! Sounds like your new job is pretty full on! You'll adjust, in time, but it WILL take time!
P.S. I'm reading your book at last :)
Frankly I don't know how some bloggers keep up the pace.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand. I felt the same when I was finishing my degree. It was all I could do to post to my blog.
ReplyDeleteI hope that things settle down soon and that you're happy with your job.
:-)
well, you see how small my blog is/was and then I cut it down even more to one post per day... So you gotta do what you gotta do. Life is cyclical. It'll all come back around, but in the meantime, you gotta do what you gotta do!
ReplyDeleteGood luck w/new job, though! Don't overdo it! ((hugs)) :o) <3
I understand your stress. It's real hard to find the time to blog. I'm just getting back into the swing of it myself.
ReplyDeleteGlad I stopped by. Take your time.
I can tell you are so much busier than you used to be, but it is a good thing! You are doing what you love. I hope you find the balance you need. Just know that I never expect you to comment or even read my blog. It's seriously not that important. Our friendship is thicker than a blog, anyway. :)
ReplyDeleteMore power to you for juggling things as for as long as you've done so far. We'll still be here even if you take a break for a few months. We're that resilient :)
ReplyDeleteI think most bloggers struggle with this issue at some point. I'm just coming off semi-hiatus precipitated by some nasty extended family business. Sometimes my blog has to move from the back burner to a trivet on the counter that I glance at from time to time, but the stove is full with other pots.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to meet you! Thanks so much for stopping by at my place.
Tina @ Life is Good
It's certainly understandable! Good luck with the launch and congratulations on the first issue being up.
ReplyDelete