Tuesday, March 6, 2018

The curtain closes, but the band plays on {#sol18 day 6}

Welp.
Old habits die hard, it's true.
I get so excited each year as March approaches. I'm filled with a desire to renew my daily writing habit, which generally has become a less-than-daily writing habit by this point.  I have participated in the Slice of Life challenge for several years now, and each year it's the same.

And then the challenge begins. I write and I write.  I dig deep and find things to slice about even on the days I have the I-don't-wannas.  I read other participant's slices, and always find new bloggers to follow--writers whom I admire and who inspire. I comment on as many as I can.  In fact, I have been a part of the Welcome Wagon multiple times now, because I know how important that feedback can be.  I have participated in the Slice of Life challenge for several years now, and each year it's the same.

Each day, after I post my slice, I check for comments. Yes, it's a bit Sally Fields "they like me, they really like me," but I can't help it.  It means something to me for someone to read my words and comment. I have always been a writer--a lover of words and a keeper of journals.  I have 2 novels in the works that may always be in-the-works-and-never-done, but still.  My point is---I write.  I blog to have some interaction with others regarding my thoughts and writing because the bulk of the writing I do is already just for me.  Often when I comment on slices, I am one of 10-20 commenters.  That is a beautiful thing for those writers.

Last year it really hit me that perhaps this isn't my tribe.  It is a GREAT group, mind you---zero shade thrown---but my posts clearly aren't meaningful enough to enough of the folks who slice to get many comments.  Should it matter?  Whatever your answer may be to that question for you, the answer for me is clearly it does. It is incredibly discouraging to see zero to two comments day in and day out.  (and for those of you who have left me comments---I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  It truly means so much to me.) I have participated in the Slice of Life challenge for several years now, and each year it's the same.

And so, as a gift to my sanity I'm choosing to bow out of the remainder of slicing this month. I will still participate this year in reading and commenting on the slices of others, especially my new folks as I'm part of the Welcome Wagon.  I'll still read the daily inspirations.  I'll definitely still write.  I just won't be posting my slices regularly and most of my writing may very well be in my own journal or Google doc.  I gave it the ole college try---but honestly, life is hard enough for me at this point to feel like my voice doesn't matter.

Best to everyone as March continues onward.

16 comments:

  1. Sad to hear that you are bowing out. I do know the feeling, but I actually feel excited if anyone actually comments on my blog. So many of my posts throughout the year go with out anyone posting, that I enjoy the few posts I get during this time of the year. And because of this I try to be mindful about leaving comments as often as I can when I read other blogs.

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    1. Thank you! Yes, I am grateful for all the comments i receive for sure. Thanks for being so kind!

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  2. I am a brand new slicer and find myself getting excited that anyone even looks at my posts! Maybe my perspective will change in the future but I hope not. The silver lining I see is that I am writing every day and putting myself in my teachers’ and their students’ shoes. Just like I am sure they do I question my technique and desire people to read my writing! I enjoyed reading this post and appreciate your honesty. Good luck with your novels!

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    1. Definitely a great silver lining to keep you motivated! I appreciate the time you took to comment. Thank you!

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  3. I am brand new at it this year. Right now I am really loving the fact that there is engagement on my blog, but yesterday's post only got three comments and I was feeling a bit out-of-sorts about it too. Hearing this from a veteran slicer makes me feel a bit better. Your writing voice here is so clear and engaging; I am sure that if you choose to write that novel, it will get read. I love the fourth paragraph in particular. This is my first time and I can already see that playing out in my experience. I think we all have to experiment a lot before we find our real tribe. Still not sure this one is mine. Thanks for your post.

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    1. You are kind. I appreciate your supportive words. I'm gonna look for your future posts for sure!

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  4. I just responded to this an accidentally deleted my whole response! UGH.

    I'm going to try to be less wordy this time. It's my second year and last year, even with the Welcome Wagon, I only received 2-3 comments at most per post. I don't remember seeing a lot of posts with many comments. There are just so many people on here and you have to post at a time when your link will be seen by people. That's another consideration.

    In any case, it's kind of you to post comments on others and be in the Welcome Wagon even though you are feeling wounded by the process. Thank you for your honesty, as well!

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    1. timing is a definite consideration, it's true. Thank you for your kind words!

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  5. No, I say! No no no. I LOVE your blog and so look forward to your daily slices in March! I'd already been thinking a lot about the comment conundrum (I feel sad when I visit a blog and there are only 2 or 3 comments) and think I might have to write about it now that I've read your post here. I don't think it's true that you aren't finding the right or meaningful things to slice about. I think you haven't found your audience yet--or rather, your audience hasn't found you. Are you really sure you want to quit? What about lowering your commitment this month and trying out shorter forms so (theoretically--and I say theoretically because sometimes the micro formats take me as long as a regular slice) that you don't have the intense time commitment but still participate? I totally comment check too. It's weird when you typically get a certain number of comments and then a slice seems to fall flat and only gets 1-2 comments. I always wonder was it boring? Was it bad? Why didn't anyone connect? But I think it probably has more to do with the time I posted than with anything else....

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    1. I agree. I think timing is a big part of it. I am generally a morning slicer, so those are the posts I check. But today, I was looking through yesterday's slices and found some late nighters that didn't have any comments. I felt bad about that, so I'm going to try and check out those late nighters in the morning when I get up. We have to find ways to support everyone.

      I hope you don't bow out and stick around awhile!

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    2. Thanks so much. I still plan to back away from the challenge, but it feels great to know my words will be missed. I'm hoping to blog more regularly throughout the year, and perhaps that will be the golden ticket, eh?

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  6. Sonja, I can totally relate to how you are feeling. I've been slicing for about eight years, some years I have gotten lots of comments, but this year I'm only averaging about three per day. And it's a little discouraging.

    At the same time, I really hope you will consider continuing your slices. Now that Elisabeth has shared your blog with her readers, I'll bet you will be getting more comments. It couldn't hurt to try for a couple of more days, right?

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    1. Thanks so much for the encouragement. It is discouraging to get so few comments. At the time of my posting this slice 2 of the 6 days had received zero comments. I think that was the *aha* for me. I'll definitely keep writing, although not with this challenge, and perhaps I'll find my just right spot at some point.

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  7. Mea culpa. I'm an early bird writer, and so tend to comment on other early birds as well. That's why I fell off the Welcome Wagon after trying it last year--several of them were late posters, and I just couldn't keep up.

    I am going to make a concerted effort to pay attention to my "reading feeds" on WordPress and Blogger on a once-a-week basis; hope to see your name pop up in the feed!

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