My Google Reader tried to kill me in my sleep last night.
My eyes are blurred and my head is buzzing and Thursday I have to be the “B” parent at preschool (B stands for bathroom and people, we’re talkin’ two-year-olds here, 12 of ‘em) and I am on deadline … crap. I mean, I just can’t read all these posts!
And I’m the worst kind, the kind who exhorts you to sign up with me, write every day, too, and then whines about not having time to comment on all your posts because I’m too busy churning out my own daily drivel and waiting for you to comment on it.
I noticed the same thing least year; comments declined as the essays multiplied, and I actually produced some of the work of which I am most proud during NaBloPoMo 2006.
And NaBloPoMo 2007? There are 5,791 members, according to the official site.
Holy Jesus, that is a lot of blogs. Reminds me of my friend Andrew Keen’s pronouncements, and my own vow to write for the writing and not for your reaction.
But that is hard.
I’m not groveling for comments here, but your replies to my words are what motivate me to blog. And curiously, the stuff I dash off in a heartbeat always generates more heat than the stuff I actually work on, try to craft, and feel invested in.
Weird.
I was talking to my sister about it last night, how a popular blogger, who used to be neck-and-neck with me in all the silly ratings that we bloggers take so close to our hearts, is currently way more popular than I am.
I mean, oh my God. I’m, like, pissed off because someone I don’t know who participates in an imaginary world is possibly going to get a little piece of html code for an “award.”
Dude.
Totally messed up.
I’m sure this little phase of competiblogger stupidity will pass and I’ll once again be back on track, ready to write just for the sake of the words again.
But today I’m left scratching my head over my own warped feelings about the pull and push of this funny little world I’ve created here for myself.
NaBloPoMo, indeed.
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow. Well. I thought I would just support your effort – cranky over it and all – with a comment, LOL; to blog everyday all month long. Because, Lord knows, I can’t do it!
Anyhow, I enjoy stopping by here and catching up.
“I mean, oh my God. I’m, like, pissed off because someone I don’t know who participates in an imaginary world is possibly going to get a little piece of html code for an “award.
Dude.”
Sorry, don’t mean to laugh, but that is so very hilarious — and true! — of so many of us.
Word.
Yeah, blogging is a strange alternate universe.
I signed up for NaNoWriMo (!!) which means that, as the month wears on, I will likely begin totally ignoring my Reader. And it occured to me that this may alienate my regular commenters which made me feel sort of strangely panicked.
How f*cked up is that?
I feel like that alot as well, but I figure I’ll neverbe uber popular since I’m usually a freaking downer. Even I wouldn’t want to read me all the time.
I like comments, I like traffic, but at the end of the day, whatever. It’s not real. I’ll never understand why certain sites are popular while others aren’t, but I don’t get the attraction of spray cheese either.
I’m doing both NaNoWriMo and NaNoBloMo. My fingers and eyes hurt. Oh, and I’m trying to finish a baby blanket and possibly painting my kitchen this month.
Glutton for punishment here.
ANYWAY…I read your posts, but I don’t always have time to comment while I’m at work. we love you. Worry not.
Nanoblopomo might decrease your comments but is your traffic increasing? The rest will come. I stopped hoping for lotsa comments long ago. And then the writing became much easier.
There ya go – a comment!
I gave up after two days. Weak I know, but I just came off posting everyday for all of October.
I love reading your opinions, rants and thoughts. Keep ‘em coming!
I’m reading…just having trouble finding time to comment everywhere, too.
I’ve had plenty of competiblogger moments, especially after seeing blogs I watched start up far surpass me in stats, but then I remember that I’m doing 1,000 different things right now, and don’t comment or post as much as I should to build readership. And then I ask myself, “WTF? Does it really matter?”
Stay the course – you can do it! I’m cheering you on, only because there’s no way I could post everyday.
I’ve been trying to make a conscious effort during the month to comment more, just to give some positive feedback because it is hard to do this every day. But between the writing, the reading, my job and my kid, this is like four full time jobs!
Even when you are mildly cranky, I still like ya.
I have been on so many blogs trying to see what everyone is writing about for this and can’t seem to recall being here recently! Sorry!
I will stop here and read your posts that I have missed!!
I though this would drive traffic to me and some comments…and its not working either way. Oh well maybe by next year.
I hardly have time to comment these days. But I still read lots of blogs religiously.
It’s funny because when I post something inciteful, no one comments. I write something totally frivolous and people seem to care. Oh well. I may not get a lot of comments, but I know people are reading because my hit counter tells me so.
And over at NaBloPoMo it’s kind of like high school. Someone with about 600 friends invited me to be their friend. I only have about 6 friends. I’m so on the fringe. I’m not in the “in” crowd yet! But at least some of the popular girls (you included) like me!
I am a comment whore too, I don’t have a lot of readers but I love it when I get comments from them. I am trying to get myself out there more, which I can see you already have, I sttrive for your greatness!!! Good Luck on the whole NaBloPoMo thing, My computer hates me and only allows me to post when it says its OK, so I can’t join in, maybe next time. I have enjoyed what I have read of yours, thanx for the laughs!
Mid-pack blogger here. Nothing I do seems to change this. It used to bug me…and now I just shrug and keep going. I could question it (and am often tempted to in moments of self-imposed navel gazing), but it just makes me feel bad. I write because I have to or I’ll go crazy. For the moment blogging has replaced the writing for money that kept me from losing my ever-loving mind. I have to remain focused on the outlet it provides, even though the feedback is a bonus…the importance of which I completely understand.
I know I am new to this but it seems like an awful lot of pressure! It’s like the Olympics of blogging…
I know how you feel, except that you have four times the number of readers and commenters!!
But I just wrote a post today about why I blog…and I’m sticking with that I guess. Whether other people like me or not.
But really, what IS with that…the really working at a post that gets no reaction then the piddly post that gets the most reaction ever? I don’t get it either.
all you NaBloPoMo people are stressing me out. my bloglines is ridiculous right now. out of control i tell you!!! there’s no way i’ll be able to read all the posts!!!
Uuugh. I have met a handful of bloggers, some popular, some not. A few weeks ago I sent out an email link to the bloggers I have met, to generate some hype for my wardrobe flogging.
Two days later, one of the fairly popular bloggers posted a rant about Starf*ers commenting for traffic only. I got all freaked out that she was offended by me.
Turns out that I *meant* to send her the link but I didn’t. Talk about getting upset over what happens in an imaginary world…
Yeah, well it is hard to feel sorry for someone who regularly has comments in the double digits. I say stick with the stats.
I like to read but hate to comment….
It’s up to 5860, Nablopomo members that is. Yikes.
I zeroed out my bloglines last night – I couldn’t deal with the imaginary world.
#1 lesson/surprise of NaBloPoMo: I too didn’t anticipate all the READING I would be doing. Duh. I guess I should have seen it coming…
We very well may have blown up the internet…
I forgot to mention that I *love* the title. Made me chuckle.
Oh honey, it’s all just a game and all you can do is keeping being the quality blog that you are. Fads come and go, but you, you’re the real thing. I’d comment every day, but I wouldn’t want to appear stalkerish.
Ick. My google reader is holding me at gunpoint as I write. The problem with this NaBlo whatever thing is that I truly enjoy commenting on posts, and I just can’t do it when I have 100+ new posts to read every farking day.
Oh I definitely know the feeling, with the no time to comment but wanting comments.
The only time I have on the computer is spent (mostly) blogging — and not even very good stuff — so when I do have time to actually *read* something, God forbid I take the time to comment. Blah.
Only a few weeks left.
You are in my head! I have this exact conversation with blogging buddies all the time.
I am coming to terms with the fact that sometimes you get lots of comments, sometimes you don’t. Silly and simple, yes. But very, very true.
As for GoBloMeMoFo, I have really wanted to make rounds, but i’m barely keeping my head above water reading my must-read-daily people.
One day you will forget all about the popularity contest and just write to get your voice out there.
It already worked – I am reading you because I like your writing, and the things you write about. Simple as that.
The politics of blogging are totally weird.
Like, totally.
I can totally hear you saying these words. Is that weird?
I read your blog each and every day, so please keep blogging. For me anyhow.
Comment-shmoment. I just am happy with my site stats. Blogit, sister, blogit! Thank god for insomnia, it’s the only way I get my reading and commenting done.
You are friggin killin me with this post
I’m in the throes of another ‘I’m so gonna quit this blogging gig,’ so I understand where you’re coming from. It’s strange to watch people take off into the blogging stratosphere, while I feel like I’m languishing behind. Blogging makes me feel more insecure than I already do, something I definitely don’t need.
I wish I could comment more and read more. I’m making a real effort to visit a wider variety of blogs this month, but at some point I have to eat, sleep, take care of my kids and do the work for which I get paid (oh, and my husband likes it when I pay him some attention too). The Real World has to take priority most of the time.
you are a hero in my book. comments or not, posts or not.
although i too will be happy when Nov is over, just for the sake of my google reader.
November is killing me. And I’m not even participating in this silly thing. I’m just feeling guilty (silly I know) for not reading as much as I should. I just can’t do it. Just know I’m still here (even though the Google Reader is sending me increasingly scary death threats).
Just have to say that I’ve stumbled on your site a few times and have added it as a favorite….I love your writing and its nice to see other moms feel the way I do about my son. Take care and happy blogging!!
Here I am, commenting!
It’s hard. My reader is out of control. I want to comment, but oh… the volume!
I guess because I’m one of the little folks out there, I’m not sure I get the competiblogger thing – 39 comments (like on this post) would make me a really happy girl…