The time it was about slumps

Posted June 26, 2017 by Stacee in Discussion | 21 Comments

Hi guys!  It’s been forever since I’ve done a discussion post.  And while I’ve had several ideas and even outlined a few topics, I decided to go with something that is plaguing me right now.

This month’s topic is: slumps

Specifically being in a blogging slump.  It’s been 5 1/2 years since I started blogging and honestly, I’m sort of surprised that I’m still actively doing it.

As I said in one of my monthly recaps, I was sick for all of February and March of this year.  During those two months, I sort of gave up everything.  I didn’t visit any blogs, I didn’t respond to comments here, I didn’t do any features {my own or others}, and I didn’t really sign up for any blog tours.

However, it’s sort of still happening and I think there are two reasons why:

One: I’m stupid behind on review books.

I always told myself that I wouldn’t review on the blog because I didn’t want to be told what to read.  Somehow, I’ve gotten about 2 months behind on review books and no matter how hard I try to catch up, it’s not working.  Every day I look at my schedule and I can’t find anything I’m actually excited to read.  I’m reading titles because I have to, not because I want to.  I have an obligation to read these titles because I did request them, but meh.

I’m going to try to put myself on a request ban on NG/EW to see if I can get ahead of myself.  We’ll see how that goes.

Two: Instagram

The algorithm is killing me and it’s breaking my will to participate.  Yes, I’m being a little dramatic, but it’s also true.  I have worked so hard on my account and I basically have no interactions.  I stopped asking questions in my captions because no one answered.  And while I’m getting loads of people watching my stories, there’s just a fraction of those same people liking my daily photo. I know it’s not about likes, but it’s easy to get caught up in needing/wanting the validation.

For me, IG now feels super clique-y.  Popular accounts all look the same and only like and comment on each other’s posts. It seems like if I don’t want to rep for every company possible and have my photos filled with flowers and candles, there isn’t going to be any growth.

Needless to say, I’m insanely frustrated.

Thankfully, SDCC is coming up and I have a few blog tours and author events scheduled, so I’m hoping to get back to everything.  I just need to focus keeping my eyes on my own paper, find the books I want to read, and take the photos I want to see.

I know this might come across as complaining and I don’t mean for it to be. I am beyond thankful for all of my followers on all of my accounts, I just really needed to get this out.

*hugs all of you*

Have you ever been in a slump, blogging, reading, or otherwise? What did you do to get out of it?

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21 responses to “The time it was about slumps

  1. I totally get what you’re feeling. I’ve been super active on my blog recently and I think I will up until the end of August before I won’t have time or energy to blog, since I’m heading to college. I’m hoping that my blog will still be running by then after I look for a few co-bloggers. I also totally understand what you’re saying about IG—all of them seem to act the same way and the algorithm is definitely not helping my account grow. Like at all. It’s pretty frustrating, but I hope you get out of your slumps soon!! <333

    • Stacee

      I really need to get back into visiting blogs. Hopefully soon — I’ve been so neglectful of everything.

      As for IG, I really wish they would just listen to their users. I don’t know anyone who is happy with the algorithm.

      Thanks for reading and commenting!!

  2. I totally get you. Review copies are hard to deal with sometimes, especially when you’re just not in the mood to read them. I just started a new job and have been super busy, so I’m crazy behind too! It’s frustrating.
    And I agree about the Instagram issue. I feel frustrated about the algorithm, especially because it makes all the work feel pointless sometimes, but also because of the cliques! I really like how friendly the blogging community is, but somehow that doesn’t seem to transfer onto Instagram. I recently started my bookstagram and it’s technically fun, but it’s also not something I can see myself loving like I love my blog, mostly for those reasons. Anyway, fantastic post!! And your bookstagram is one of my very favorites. I LOVE how fresh and bright it is, and I adore your quote captions!
    Also, I don’t know if this *always* works, but supposedly if you put your hashtags directly in your caption it prevents Instagram from shadowbanning your accounts. It seems to work for me!

    • Stacee

      I feel like the IG community has just started to get clique-y. Maybe it’s because some small accounts got huge really quickly and now they all just stick together? Idek.

      Thank you for your kind words about my account. I love yours too!!
      And thanks for reading and commenting.

  3. I just passed my 4th year anniversary and like you, I’m a little shocked I’m still at it!

    I find review copy hiatuses really help me get back in the game. There is nothing worse than feeling obligated to finish an ARC. I try to spread out my review copies to 2-3 a month so I can throw in some other books and get a bit of a break. I’m very much a mood reader so that really helps me keep things fresh.

    Sometimes that’s easier said than done though. I had just diminished my Netgalley shelf and picked up more than I anticipated for the summer -.-

    • Stacee

      That’s a really good idea. If I could curb how many books I request/receive, I might be able to spread them out better. Sigh.

      Thanks for reading and commenting!!

  4. I am on blog slump too during Jan-May, Stacee. I moved job and the work load in new job is so many. I have fewer time to rest so I did not blog hopping. When I have time, I only post book review. I feel the same way about IG. The number of likes is drop. I used to have 100 likes in first hour after I post them but not anymore and my stories viewers is bigger number than my likes. It is discouraging and I did not active IG for two/three days, thinking I will stop doing bookstagram. During those time inactive, I remember the reasons I join bookstagram. I want to find friend who talk about books so I stay since I still find friends who talk about books on instagram. And I actually admired you since you keep posting despite few like (I mean compare your followers, your likes on IG is not reach 10% of your followers). When I look at your account, I think if you stay and could survive. I think I can, too. *Hug you* hope you have fun at the the sdcc and your next blog tour

    • Stacee

      Congrats on your new job!!

      I can definitely understand wanting to quit. It can be so frustrating and the algorithm doesn’t help. I usually only see the account that have 30k+ followers in my feed. :(

      I don’t think I would quit {at least not right now}, I’m still enjoying it more than I’m not. Hopefully it’ll get better for both of us!

      *hugs*

  5. I’ve been blogging for five months and I must say it is hard. Writing a review for me is very difficult as I can’t write down my own thoughts properly.
    And sometimes it feels I have to read a book, rather than need. However, I won’t give up. It’s too soon and I just started. I want to continue this journey!

    • Stacee

      Good luck!! I hope you find your voice and reviews start to come easier for you. I’m sure you just need a little more time.

      Thanks for reading and commenting!!

  6. Dude, six years here and the slump is FULL ON. I took a break around Christmas time and came back with renewed vigor, at least on IG, but I had a lot going on in May so I lagged off a bit but here it is now June and I’ve only posted on my blog about three times in the last two months and none at all on IG. Even after getting a ton of awesome props (NOT candles and flowers, which I, too, am sick of) for my birthday, I still haven’t managed to get my motivation back. I’m even making myself take a break from review books, finally finishing up some series and such that I’ve been wanting to get to forever instead, and it’s helping. Each weekend I feel a little bit closer to picking my camera back up and I’ve seen some reviews and stuff on Twitter lately that has me itching for a discussion post.

    I think it comes in waves, ya know? You are awesome and you put so much effort into your accounts and it shows. Don’t let it get you down. There are always lurkers like me, for whom it takes a specific kind of post to make us comment. ;0) I love that you have a very different “voice” in the community and that you *don’t* choose to fill my feed with a million rep posts. I’d miss you tons if you were gone…

    • Stacee

      I saw your birthday props and they do look amazing.

      Thank you for your kind words. It’s so easy to get caught up in numbers and likes, etc that I miss the reason I started all of this: the love of books and this amazing community.

      <3 <3 <3

  7. Pssssst. I adore you Stacee. <3 And I love your instagram so so so much :D And I like all of your photos, hih :) Just really bad at commenting :p I comment on just about nothing.. aw. Shall try to do better :D But anyway. I hope you'll feel up to read more soon sweet girl. <3 But yeah, I know how you feel about not wanting to read any of the books that you have.. I have felt this way so, so often. So rude.

    Carina Olsen recently posted: Review: Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab
    • Stacee

      Pfft. You’ve been an avid supporter since the very beginning. Thank you a million times over.
      <3 <3 <3

  8. Sam

    SDCC is like a bucket list thing for me. I hope you have an amazing time. I was just asked to join WLABB this year, but they have been around since 2013. It’s a small blog, and I just accept that I will never be an auto-approved blogger or someone who gets #BookMail. Part of it is my unwillingness to sell my soul to Twitter, which seems to be the measure of blogger greatness. I have always enjoyed interacting with other readers on GoodReads, blogs, instagram, and reader Facebook groups, and so far, I still do.
    Sam @ WLABB

    • Stacee

      SDCC is always amazing and I’m so excited that it’s just around the corner.

      I don’t think Twitter is the measure of greatness, but it definitely helps to have a following of sorts. Interacting with other readers is one of the best parts of blogging and for me, Twitter makes that easy.

      I hope you enjoy blogging at WLABB! Thanks for reading and commenting!!

  9. I feel your pain! Especially with the instagram thing. The algorithm has always sucked, but I feel like it’s been even worse recently. I have more followers than I’ve ever had before, and yet I’m not getting that many likes at all comparatively. I know it shouldn’t be all about likes and notes and what not, but it’s still disheartening when you put so much effort into something.

    As for the review reading schedule, I gave up on that years ago. I’m too much of a mood reader haha. One of the things I did when I first decided to say to hell to it was go through netgalley and delete any titles I was no longer interested in (along with a “soz don’t have time and no more interest” message). I’m still super behind in review books, but I try not to focus too much on it because we read and blog for pleasure. Sure review books are fantastic to receive, but we’re not necessarily obligated to read and review them.

    Have fun at SDCC!!

    Bec @ Readers in Wonderland recently posted: Bec’s Top 5 Reads of 2017 (So Far)
    • Stacee

      YES! It’s frustrating to see that as my follower growth grows, my likes/comments/interactions goes down.

      I should give up the review schedule and I should definitely go through the titles and delete some. I’m sure I could find a few. It’s easy to get caught up in what you feel like you “have to do” and forget that this is supposed to be fun.

      Thanks for reading and commenting!!

  10. Leah

    I totally get you about the Instagram thing! When I first started doing it, I was super into it, and was so excited at seeing this whole universe of other people who liked it too. But I’ve also noticed that the same big accounts get all the love, and needless to say, my enthusiasm came to a halt when I started working full time. I still post every so often, but the fun of it is not what it used to be.

    • Stacee

      I’ve had a love/hate relationship and I’m hoping that I’m just in the hate swing right now. It’s just frustrating to see the same accounts over and over and over. I hope you find your enthusiasm again!

      Thanks for reading and commenting!!

  11. Theresa

    As others have mentioned, I really think things go in waves. Just like other things in our lives!
    The Instagram thing is baffling! I rarely post on there and I honestly don’t scroll through pics that often either. I wish I could get notifications like we can on Twitter. I also find Twitter a lot easier to interact with others. (I’m also terrible at commenting on any of the blogs I do read.)
    Just keep doing what feels right for you!

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