So, the other blog got linked by a really big name blog, resulting in more than a doubling of typical daily traffic.
This puts pressure on me the writer to come up with with other good stuff, so those new visitors will want to hang around. So what happens?
Nothing. It’s like I hit a black hole of inspiration. I have stuff I’m planning on writing about (including stuff I should have written about on Friday), so it’s not like I can’t think of anything blog-worthy to write about. I just can’t muster the energy to actually write.
That’s all.
That happens to me all the damn time. I get linked from a big site for a good article, and then I’ll get crushed by work, and wind up not posting, or posting ridiculous fluff and dog pictures, and all those hits go away again.
It’s maddening.
This is great, familiar and very funny even to me on my tiny scale. Sigh.
I clawed my way up to a certain number of readers a day (a 30% increase) and then went and had a baby. Posting’s way down and that 30% dropped right away.
Now, I get paralyzed by the desire to lure them back, by the knowledge that I lost them (what did Ido wrong?), and then, by the news that my upstairs neighbor found my blog (!), etc. It’s the opposite problem but these thoughts about audience are crippling.
But so GOOD to get the big link. Reel ‘em in Dave!!!
I think Chad has the answer, maddening as it is: even if you don’t write something good, write SOMETHING.
That’s the only way out, I fear — and often what I come up with isn’t half bad.
Totally know the feeling. Inspiration drain. Icky, isn’t it?