We all experience burnout sooner or later, and maybe even multiple times. It’s that point when a blogger cannot write or publish anything, and he or she feels like she must apologize for the lack of posts. Out of ideas or sick of writing or sick of the topic; all of these are reasons for blogger burnout. This is especially true when blogging or even the topic of discussion becomes a chore; as Author mentioned, Hinano seems to be close to a burnout (although given the quick succession of posts after, it doesn’t seem to be the case xP).
So here are some steps to avoid anime blogger burnout:
1. Breathe and relax
Take a deep breath and realize that you do not need to blog every day. You are not required to post, so take a break. Leave your blog for a couple of days, and spend time with friends and family or watch that movie you’ve been itching to see. Go immerse yourself in something unrelated to anime and manga.
2. Write your ideas down
Ideas may pop into your head during the day or while you’re watching anime, but when you sit down at your computer, you can’t seem to remember. Grab a notepad and a pen and write your ideas down as soon as they come. We all have moments when a brilliant post idea emerges, and we make a mental note of it. Unfortunately the note is lost and you feel frustrated, unwilling to blog for that night. It’s helpful to have a selection of topics in case you haven’t fully developed a certain idea.
3. Collaboration and conversation
Blogging shouldn’t be a solo activity. After all, most blogs are viewable to the entire world. Engage in conversation with other bloggers, either through trackbacks or comments, or starting a blogging group such as the Anime Blogging Collective or the Round Robin. You never know when a great idea will appear. Perhaps you can even find co-bloggers to fill in the void if you need a break.
4. Write about what you want
Don’t feel obligated to write about something simply because your readers want it. It’s important you don’t feel required to write anything because that limits your creativity and drive.
5. Find the right niche
Blogs usually target a few specific topics. For anime bloggers, the topic is anime. Some of us are more specific in the content we discuss or the type of blog we have. Whatever road you take, ensure that your niche and topic aren’t too narrow. If your blog is solely about anime with moe meganekko girls with pink pigtails, then you won’t have much to discuss. Don’t be too particular, but don’t be too broad.
6. Improve your writing style and skills
If you own an editorial blog, don’t mold your own content after posts from blogs like The Animanachronism or Cruel Angel Theses. You probably have your own writing style, so develop that. A cause of blog burnout can be the lack of visitors, and no one will visit your blog if it’s nearly the same as another popular blog that has fresh ideas and original content. Take the time to improve your own writing abilities and you will be rewarded.
7. Read other blogs
I’ve noticed many bloggers do not explore the anime blogging community and read other content. Instead, they stick to their own and refuse to come out of those shells. However, reading other blogs is a great help in avoiding burnout. Not only will you encounter topics you haven’t covered, but it will give you new opinions to formulate future posts.
8. Watch or read some anime or manga
Don’t have anything to blog about? Go watch something you haven’t seen, like jpmeyer does to write his “what i was forced to watch this week” series, or read some manga that MangaBlog posts about.
Hopefully this helps you avoid the anime blogging burnout, and many of these tips can be used for blogging in general. It’s just odd for me to write about this, since I experience burnout about every month.
This post is tagged Anime, Anime Blogging, Blogging, Blogs, Burnout
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13 Comments
How to [not] cure aniblog burnout: write about how to avoid aniblog burnout.
Just kidding. Nice post, though…although I don’t think I’ve experienced this yet. For me it’s more like piecing thoughts together to actually come up with a post with any substance, which can be cumbersome, sometimes, if the topic necessitates it…
I don’t have a burnout because I have too much spacing between my blogging and my real life. Otherwise yea if I had like a huge backlog of shows I’d probably burn out XD;; I’m pretty close though, I’ve almost reached con burn out. I’m dreading anime next already
This is true and helpful. ^^; Because I’m in such a period right now. I slowed down because of final exams and final papers in late April, but even now that the semester is over, I can’t quite get back into it. Part of it is my late start with spring-season anime, few of which I find interesting enough to watch.
And then there’s ISML and video games, which I didn’t to do much of while at college.
But I’ll come back though. ^^; Right now I have A-Kon to write about, and it’s fun.
. . . what Crisu said: I too slowed down during my exams, and I think I’ve gotten out of the habit of thinking hard about everything. But your (and by ‘you’ I mean IcyStorm, turning to the original post) case of burning out every month could just be some kind of odd blogging rhythm.
I frequently read other anime blogs to get out of mine. I like to see what’s going on with people more in tune with the hobby. I have no time for it (although I could sacrifice reading other blogs but I just like them….). x.x
Just what I needed. I already know about those tips but realizing that a lot of people have the same problem as me makes me feel better somehow..
I’m odd in that my technical burnout is mostly just that: burnout over the technical aspect of blogging.
If all blogging entailed were Walls of Text, I would never burn out. But I got sick and tired of having to make sure that there are example pictures to break up the text, and making sure everything’s XHTML compliant, and basically focusing on the presentation rather than the actual words.
Lelangir took the gimme line :(
I don’t get why other bloggers feel burned out. I come up with ideas a lot faster than I can write about them. I often fuse posts together because I don’t have time to write about them separately.
>>We all experience burnout sooner or later,
O RLY
Don’t make it into a chore. That’s a big one. Episodic blogging can be a great way to keep your content up, but sometimes it feels like a job. That’s why I started blogging whatever episode of whatever show was either especially good or bad that week. If you watch enough anime that you want to animu-blog in the first place, one of them is bound to give you an idea.
The notepad trick is essential for absolutely any kind of writing, but all of these are great tips.
@Lelangir: LOL so true, I posted this because I had nothing else really prepared.
@Hinano: Yeah, you post a LOT… but maybe soon? Meh, you never know.
@Crisu: Real life sucks. I’m in the same boat right now.
@IKnight: Hm, that may be true… maybe I should just save my posts so that they’re evenly spaced out instead of publishing 3-4 in one or two days.
@Caitlin: Erm… make time?
@Setsukyie: A lot of bloggers in general have the problem. Millions of blogs are created each month, but exactly how many get past the first few months?
@DKellis: Just save the presentation bits for last and do them when you have nothing else to do. I hate focusing so much on visuals, but I actually have to, unless I want a blank picture for my front page.
@Baka-Raptor: Eh, real life can get in the way or they just don’t feel like writing. Maybe they’ve temporarily lost interest in either writing or watching anime. Like DKellis mentioned, the technical aspects can be burdensome as well.
@wildarmsheero: YA RLY
@otou-san: Forgot to mention that, but I have the “making watching or blogging about anime a chore” idea for an upcoming post.
>>1. Breathe and relax
At first I read “Bathe” and thought “fuck that. I ain’t gotta bathe.”
Then I took a bath just to spite you. Mwahahaha.
/sigh
I have lots I want to write about, just… too busy.
Baka-raptor post fillers when he is burned-out….but wait ! has him be doing this for a long time period ???
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