Wednesday, November 17, 2010

What are the benefits of a blogging break?

I hesitated taking a blogging break. Hadn’t ever done it before in all the years I have been posting but I knew I would be unable to read or post anything for quite awhile, and I’m not one to write ahead. I go with the moment.

Anyways, was it worth it to break?

Oh yeah.

First, let me say I missed hearing all about your news and felt a little as though there was a party going on and I had stayed home instead.

But I found this out: It really isn’t so important in the scope of life if I ever get an agent or if I ever write a great query letter or ever write the best book ever.

Now don’t get me wrong . . . those are some of my goals with writing and I take it seriously but stepping back awhile gave me a whole fresh perspective.

I love to write. Sometimes being as immersed as I was, (it's easy to do in this online world) it's easy to forget the real world. We pin all our hopes and dreams on people we have never met, hoping this agent or that publishing house will give us the golden key.

During these past ten days, I spent hours climbing around a playground creating imaginary worlds with my three-year-old grandson. Can I tell you how refreshing it was? All I wanted to be was the best role model and loving grandmother I could be. I don’t get that chance often because we live on opposite sides of the country.

The other benefit of this short break? I need to be serious about my writing but not take myself so seriously. Who am I really? Just a person trying to put on paper words that fill my mind. And if along the way I meet some wonderful people, then that makes it all that more sweet.

Will I break again? Sure. My mind is refreshed and I’m ready to go.

How about you? Do you take blogging breaks?

46 comments:

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Yes. Blogging breaks are much needed. I think I feel one coming on.

Shirley said...

I've taken a break, but not voluntarily. I've been in a slump. Not many words flowing at all for some time now.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I haven't taken an official break since I began blogging over a year ago. But I'll schedule posts in advance which gives me a mini break. I'm glad you're back, I love your posts. You have a voice that soothes and inspires me. I'd sure not like it if you quit altogether.

Carolyn said...

I agree wholeheartedly! I'm taking a break for another project I've been TOO involved in to work on writing, Christmas projects and enjoy my life! My creativity has come back, I feel better about myself and have been able to cross things off my list! So take a break once in a while...and we'll be waiting when you come back again...just like we all were this time! Glad you enjoyed your time with your grandson! Grandchildren are simply miracles!

Sarah Forgrave said...

So glad you had a nice time! I took a break after my daughter was born this summer. I'm thinking I need to schedule regular breaks for myself. :)

Stephanie Faris said...

I came to that realization...writing, sharing our words with others, THAT is the real goal. Of course, making a living as a writer wouldn't be a bad thing either. :-)

Great Grandma Lin said...

well, I blog ahead so that gives me a break but there needs to be a balance in all of our lives I firmly believe and family is definitely a priority.

Anonymous said...

Though blogging is fun, it can be time consuming--and it's one-dimensional. It really isn't the real world. Your grandson is. And in the eternal scheme of things, I agree. Writing a great anything isn't really important. The important thing is enjoying family and friends and helping others. I believe we'll take these connections with us into the next life, but a book we write....? The last time I went away for a few days respite from my daughter, I came back with a clearer perspective on blogging; but now I'm getting into the addicted mode again. Gotta take another break!!

Deborah said...

I'm not taking a break, just not feeling pressured to make regular posts when I really have nothing worth posting about! I'm also focusing more on my song writing and have revamped my blogs/website to reflect that change.
I'm glad you had such a nice time with your grandson! I just had four of my grandkids here for the day. They are only 1 1/2 hours away, but I don't see them nearly enough!

Susan said...

Hello Terri....So glad you enjoyed your special time with your grandchild. That is soooo important.

I honestly haven't taken any blogging breaks in the year that I've been blogging. It is so joyous to me to write and read comments, read other blogs, etc. I just LOVE the people in blogland. Perhaps, if life gets any busier, I might have to cut back from the daily posts, but so far, that hasn't happened.

Welcome back! Susan

Warren Baldwin said...

A break is supposed to be refreshing, so I'm glad this one was for you. Yes, I take breaks for a few days at a time. wb

Jennifer Hillier said...

I'm definitely due for a blogging break and a writing break in general. I feel like my brain is full of stuff that doesn't need to be there.

Good for you for taking a break! Makes me feel better doing it myself next week. :)

Carol J. Garvin said...

Welcome back! Glad to hear your break was refreshing. Oh, the joys of grandchildren. I don't get to see mine often enough but December is coming and with it an opportunity to see two sets of them. That makes me smile.

I'm in my third year of blogging and I haven't taken any breaks yet except for the occasional out-of-town holiday when I'm beyond the reach of the Internet. I still write when I'm away... whether it's on a w.i.p. or in my journal, using my laptop or a pen. There always seems to be something brewing in my mind that needs to come out. I'm sure some blog posts aren't very exciting, but they reflect what I've been thinking about on any given day. :)

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Usually around the holidays I do.

God is teaching me the only golden key that truly matters is the one that hung on a cross with Jesus.

It all comes back to that for me.

Glad you feel refreshed.
~ Wendy

Jeanette Levellie said...

Oh, I love this wisdom: I need to be serious about my writing but not take myself so seriously! Ditto, amen, and right on, sistah!

I'm happy for you, that God gave you this respite you so needed.

Love you,
Jen

Joanne Sher said...

Amen!! SO glad you had your break, Terri. I've never taken a "purposeful" break, but I've had them by necessity. And yeah, even then it was good.

Robin Lambright said...

We all need a break from time to time. I am so glad you had a wonderful time with that Grandson! I am eagerly waiting for my muffinhead to get big enough to go the the playground and do more grandma granddaughter type things together. I cant wait to take her to the movies or Disney!!!

Glad you had a great break but we are all glad you are back!

Kenda Turner said...

So glad to hear you had a wonderful time with your little grandson! As everyone else has said, real-time relationships are what is important and if saying yes to them means scaling back from blogging for a time, then so be it--no regrets! Playing it by ear as to whether I take a break here soon--grandbaby #3 is due the first week in Dec., and we are blessed to live close to the parents (daughter and son-in-law) and two-year old *almost* big sister. And that's where I'm going to want to be!

Melissa Amateis said...

I'm thinking I need another one. I just don't post nearly as often as I used to and to tell you the truth, I get a bit bored with it. When that happens, time for a break!

Great to see you back and I'm so glad you had a wonderful time with your daughter and grandson!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Welcome back - you were missed. And what a great attitude! :-)

Rhonda Schrock said...

Very seldom, but sometimes I feel convicted about that whole thing. It can really become an addiction.

I'm so happy you were able to find restoration and refreshment. It's great to have you back.

Waving and smiling,

Rhonda

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Terri -

I'm glad you had a good time with your family. Nothing can replace time spent with the people you love.

I stay a month ahead with my posts. If I want to take a break, it's more from commenting and other social media. So far, I've only taken a few days here and there.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Lynda Lee Schab said...

I've been dealing with a bit of blog burn-out myself and have been thinking of taking a blogging break, too. So far I just haven't been able to make myself. Reading about your experience makes me think I may need to take a brief sabbatical soon. Glad you're refreshed and raring to go again. :-)

Anonymous said...

So glad to hear you had a lot of playtime with your grandson! Breaks are important for me to re-evaluate. After my blog break, I decided to post just once a week on my writing blog and, instead of trying to make more relationships, concentrate on developing the ones I already had. Blogging helps keep me writing and be inspired but I learned it is okay to miss a 'party.' from time to time!

Linda O'Connell said...

Terri,
Think of the stories that you will be able to write as a result of the time spent with your little darling. Think of it as letting things simmer.
I had a forced break when my computer broke, and it forced me to the library, which was a good thing. Blessings.
http://lindaoconnell.blogspot.com

Heckety said...

What you wrote really said it for me (without the grandson perhaps...?). Its really great having cyberbuddies out there for us, and it does make a big difference, to me, anyhow, but as my children say 'skin people' matter too. And if you stretch yourself too thinly then no one is happy.
As to the writing- I should feel that way about quilting, I'm one of many, does it matter if I don't finish a squillion items in this life? When we reach the Pearly Gates will St Peter be asking about sewing? or writing? He'll want to know we used our gifts, but he'll be more interested in the lives we touched.
My ha'penn'orth!!

Andrea said...

Much of my time is spent with two of my granddaughters. I love it! Having grandchildren has transformed my life and opened opportunity for God to give me fresh perspective.

It does limit my writing time, but that's OK. God is giving me grace to trust Him in all.

Thank you for another great post, Terri.

Blessings,

Andrea

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Terri, looks like you had a wonderful time with your grandson. The break has indeed refreshed you.

I have taken just a four day break few days back, because of our (Hindu) festival.

Stacy Henrie said...

Great post! I definitely think breaks are needed. When I need a shift in perspective, I watch my youngest crawling around and exploring her world - it reminds me what matters most.

Heidi Willis said...

So glad you had such a great time with your family! What special time that is!

And perspective is always good. The publishing world can beat you down, for sure.

Lydia Kang said...

I've taken breaks, and it feels weird, like I'm abandoning my friends. But breaks must be had, for vacations and family and studying for tests (that one was the most painful!)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I definitely take blogging breaks. They are so refreshing. As writers we need breaks just to step back and live a little. Our experiences are what give us our inspiration.

Nancy said...

Sounds like the break was just what you needed. Glad you had a great time.

Sally said...

I took a break when my son went to an internship for 5 weeks this summer. There didn't seem to be any words.

I have taken a break from writing and am about to finish a quilt. Stop over, I'll be posting a picture when it is done.

Heather Sunseri said...

I love blogging, but blogging breaks are a necessary in my life! Glad you learned something about yourself during yours, Terri! Welcome back.

Janna Leadbetter said...

For sure. I've had a few hiatuses over the years, and I think they help immensely. Not only so we can devote that time to life and whatever may be happening, but so that we can gain fresh perspective--like you said--over our writing.

Still, I'm glad you're back!

Tana said...

I think as a blogging community we should take the second half of December off, lol! Yes, breaks are necessary in life. I'm glad you took one. You sound refreshed my friend. =)

Linda Hoye said...

Welcome back! In fact I have been considering a break myself.

Janet Johnson said...

Funny you should ask, I'm about to take a 2 week break. :)

Rebecca Stuhlmiller said...

I posted occasionally - and stopped last July. Then one person - just one person - said, "I miss you" and I started. That's all it took to start posting - occasionally - again. Looking forward to reading your blogs, Terri. :)

Jennifer Shirk said...

I LOVE blogging breaks. I do feel so refreshed. It's nice just getting way from the computer.

Glad you had such a great time!!

Julie Musil said...

Terri, it sounds like you had such a great time! Nothing can compete with a darling little 3 year old, and you definitely have your priorities straight.

Like you, I try to keep it all in balance. The world will not fall apart if my wishes don't come true. I'll still write because I love it, and I'll still enjoy meeting with amazing writers like you.

I'm glad you had a refreshing break, and now I'm glad you're back!

Amie Borst said...

i've been taking a min-break this month. i've only posted once a week - and haven't read or blog hopped at all. and, like you, i feel like i've missed out on something. but also, like you, i've been able to put things in perspective.

the best part? i got a lot of work done! LOL

LINDA FAULKNER said...

I took a break from my Author Exchange Blog after a little over a year. I received so many requests it became overwhelming.

Of course, when I returned from break with submission guidelines, life wasn't as hectic.

But, as you said, Terri, we have to take care of ourselves.

Carol Riggs said...

Hi, I'm new here and was reading about your discouraging-week post, and then I was so glad to read you had a nice, refreshing break. God knew you needed that! I thought it was great that you realized your life would be complete without getting an agent or writing the best book over. Amen to that!

I always have to yank myself back to that perspective from time to time, to keep my priorities straight. Writing is really important to me and I love it, but God is in control and I'm just going along for the ride, seeing where it takes me. At the very least, I've met some really nice writers in the blogging community and at SCBWI conferences! And maybe that is the purpose of it all--not the 16 novels I've written, or the 300+ rejection letters. ;o)

BECKY said...

Hi Terri! I'm so glad you enjoyed your break, and nothing's better than having fun with your grandchild! I DID miss you, though!

I've been blogging for 2 years and I've never taken a break of more than a few days! I just miss the people so much. Although, I definitely need to spend more time on writing my book, than writing on my blog (and reading others')I know I'll find that happy medium sometime soon! Great to have you back, for as long as you want to be!