Pull up a chair. Lets have a chat about about some stuff. How have you been? Really? Was it fun? And how are the kids? The rest of the family? And the animals? Thats good to hear.
Well, I think that covers the pleasentries.
I have been busy. Work is taking up a lot of time at the moment. I used to write most of my posts while at work because it could be amazingly quiet so I could concentrate and write the posts. That has changed and now the occassional shift can be quiet rather then the occassional shift can be busy. And the site is being very much affected by it. I read back through some posts last night and realised that the older stuff was much better. Part of this is because I wanted to do a post a day, but this is no longer attainable with my current home and work life. I am also thinking of writing some other stuff on the side which is something I am thinking of focussing on. But I am not sure yet how that will pan out, or if I will do it.
I also wanted this site to be fairly interactive and to be a community of sorts, thus the asking for words for stories, and trying to make sure I replied to every single comment, build online friendships with my readers etc. But I just don’t have the time to advertise the site like I need to in order for more readers to come like I used to, and the number of readers has not increased for a while. Which is something that obviously I wanted to happen.
So I am wondering where to take the site moving forward. The answer?
I don’t know for sure.
So if anyone has any ideas, don’t be shy.
This is what I do know. The posts are to become far less frequent. In some instances once every 10 days at the very most because of my shift pattern. I will have to accept I cant bring new readers in and hope the power of google and stumble will maybe increase it over time.
But there is also the more serious side of all this which is:
I want to spend more time with my wife. When she is awake, I want to spend the time with her. This means on the days when we are both home and I am not on shift, I will be in bed early and getting up early to change my sleeping pattern to meet hers rather then spend up until 3am doing a post and then sleeping in and missing half the day I could have spent with her. Why? Well, as you know, in around 3 months there will be 3 of us in the family. So I want that time with my wife doing “couple” things before our daughter arrives and we are no longer a couple, but a family with a small person throwing up down my neck. Personally, I think I should have done it a good few months ago. Hindsite is a great thing, but I dont believe in kicking myself for “what I should have done”. Look forward and make the change. You cannot change the past, but can make the future.
So that is me. I have by no means gone. Some weeks I may end up posting loads because work is quiet. Or that I have been kicked out of the marital bed because I am chucking out heat like there is no tomorrow and she cant sleep. But I just know that things will be very different for a while.
Wish me luck. The real world is a scary place.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Anca
// Apr 22, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Sy, that was nice of you to let us know. I for one understand, I too have not posted that often cuz of my job and other projects. You will not lose me as a reader even if you post just once every 2 weeks. You were looking for ideas of what to do with the site. I have one: maybe if you don’t have time to post that often, start a category called “guest posts” or “occasional hamster crap”
) where your readers can ofter a story to you, Sy style of course. That would keep the site interactive and updated. Other than that, I don’t know…I would say don’t give up on it just yet.
Oh, and good luck to you in the real world. You will be just fine. All the best to you and your wife.
2 TheMovie Whore
// Apr 22, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Do what you can my friend. If it is an occasional post then oh well.
Anyone that thinks any less of you for your commitment to your wife and your soon to arrive kid can come talk to me and I will gladly break my foot off in their ass.
3 Mikiye Creations
// Apr 23, 2008 at 3:02 am
I am with them!
I will be a loyal reader NO MATTER WHAT!
I wish nothing but the best for all of you!
It must be VERY EXCITING for the two of you naturally!
I am still trying to get more readers to MY site as well…otherwise if I knew I would certainly share the wealth! In ALL THE WAYS!
Well, I guess, most importantly, I just adore this blog and will be a fan as long as the wheel turns…so you won’t lose a reader here and I’m pretty sure that will go for all the rest of them too!
4 Onedia
// Apr 23, 2008 at 6:12 pm
seems to me you have your priorities in the right order. I think most of us develop our blogs as we go along…Just think in 3 months you will have all the spectacular events of parenting to blog about.. That will be a wonder.
5 Rose
// Apr 24, 2008 at 6:57 pm
You can always postdate posts Sy and I don’t think you should give up blogging- I hope that was not what you were saying? You have some loyal readers here and it is better to have five loyal readers than 30 that are not loyal. I’ll go ahead and add a link to my blog that should get you some traffic and have you submitted to any directories yet?
6 Sy
// Apr 25, 2008 at 1:40 am
All. Thanks for your kind words. It wont be the end of the site, and I have stuck a post up today. But the posts will most definately become less frequent. On the quiet shifts at work, I will certainly get some posts down, and I do have 3 which are at a WIP stage, and 1 now ready to post so updates should happen for a few days and then after that, it will be as it comes. Of course, it is starting to come in to the summer season in a few months so I have some sitting in the sun with a beer in my hand to do, and things like my 1 year wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks, and a 4D scan where we will see our daughter for the 1st time so I have a lot to look forward to.
@Rose – Yeah I have submitted it to a load of places, it is just getting the time to get around to following up on so much stuff to get the hits. It is just a change of priority for a while. I am sure once kiddie is born, I will be up all night unable to sleep and will post like a madman!!
7 Tamera
// Apr 25, 2008 at 1:57 am
A man’s gotta do, what a man’s gotta do! Do you really think that you’ll lose your loyal friends and readers by posting less frequently? Noooooope!
8 nogbad
// Apr 25, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Huh?
Real world?
Been there – tee shirt is still in the wash.
Don’t waste time sleeping
Write for your readers – stop being selfish
9 Sy
// Apr 26, 2008 at 10:21 am
Mr Gibson. Always a pleasure to see you around these parts. Yeah I know. I should cut down the sleep and do more online, but I dunno…that seems like too much hard work. And whisky is so expensive these days that the staying awake thing could be an issue.
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