I'm not sure if I mentioned it before on this blog, but I'm about halfway through a pretty demanding educational program that has forced me to improve my time management skills. An amusing byproduct of this was that I got better at scheduled blogging, going from quasi-daily posts on two blogs where I'd miss a week here and there to a near clockwork daily, three thrice weekly blogs, a twice weekly and this bad boy at 4-7 posts a week. I never intended to tend this blog alone, but that's how things worked out, and I managed to carry things off for a good long while.
This semester, I was fine with mediocre grades in classes I wasn't particularly happy to be in, but I just bombed my last test before spring break. As many things as I want to do on my blogs, and as tempting as a relaxing week of writing/scanning is, I have to take full responsibility for my education. That means my beloved passion projects have to take a major hit.
I've been running 365 posts a year at The Idol-Head of Diabalu: A Blog for J'Onn J'Onzz, the Manhunter from Mars for longer than it took to write the full name (3 ½ years.) That will remain my sole daily. I've got more ready to post inventory material at Power of the Atom, my Captain/Atom/Charlton blog, than anywhere else. The only hold-up is links I want to draw with my other blogs that are unfinished. That includes Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman, where I post entirely too much filler crap, because it's just so easy to find random nonsense related to the heroine. Justice League Detroit has always puttered along, doing its own thing, so that hasn't been an issue. Vixen alone could carry that one for a while, but all three of the blogs will likely drop to weekly posts for the foreseeable future. ...nurgh... has always been my whatever, whenever blog. That used to mean daily, but of late it's been one comic book review post and one music-related piece per week. I think that should be easy enough to stick to, especially with my monthly comic order continuing to shrink.
What to do with this blog? Well, for starters, my long threatened intention to stop the massively time-sucking "DC Currents" posts is a done deal. Cannot, will not. They haven't been all that current for a while, and I figure I've paid back this blog's past contributors as best as I could in the link love department by now. I'll still do outside links, and I may even scrounge up a "Daily Planet Review" list, but probably not in depth or on a regular basis.
As for other material here, I can't really make a firm commitment right now. I'm certain I can at least pull off a weekly like the rest, and more if you'll forgive me for pillaging my other blogs for the next few months for recycled posts of yore. When I stick to transcribing old index card synopsizes I did a decade back for my own use (Comicvine cover embedding being a telltale sign,) I can usually knock out a serviceable post inside half an hour during a lunch break. I've got a little bit of inventory here too, so that should help.
Point is, I don't want folks thinking I've lost interest, or am seeking attention as the boy who cried "hiatus!" I love this too much and am too compulsive about it to quit entirely. I just have to look after real life a bit better. I hope folks still find the blog entertaining, and if anybody wants to submit anything for publication, just drop me a line at email_of_diabolu@yahoo.com . Thank you for your patience and understanding...
Well as cliche as it sounds school comes first. The Idol-Head is something of an institution, and the Captain Atom stuff has been very cool. I wish that there was more WW content, just because the character intrigues me so me so much, but there are only so many hours in the day to devote to ones' hobbies along with ones' responsibilities. I know that fact very well!
ReplyDeleteHopefully some of us other lazy working stiffs can help with some content.
Luke, you've got two blogs and a kid under two, so put it out of your mind. Jeez, I hope the kid is still under two. The more I grasp at time, the more it slips through my fingers, and it's suddenly 2011.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, the only person who ought to be putting stuff up here is me. The blog hasn't earned traffic enough to bring anything beneficial to the table for people who have their own (often more popular) venues, and folks who don't have their own blogs probably lack the time/interest to work with me. I leave the option on the table, but without any actual expectations of anyone.
I spent so much time scanning other people's material for DC Currents and random re-posts like the Charlie Sheen quotes from last week, I know it ultimately diminished my own efforts. I already feel like I'm getting the Idol-Head back on a track I like, and catching up with my Atom reserve will help both my Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman writing. I've been really proud of the work I've been doing on Vixen material at JLD, and I'd like to do more stuff like that here. If anything, I think little sacrifices now will lead to better blogging in the short and long term.
I wish I could come up with some great creative idea for this blog, but the ideas just aren't coming. I think it's definitely a good idea to take a break and worry about real life! Then you'll be back with some fresh ideas that I'm sure will knock our socks off.
ReplyDeleteI've got ideas out the ya-ya. Time just isn't on my side, and is in fact conspiring to kill me.
ReplyDeleteSorry to finally comment so late.
ReplyDeleteI also feel terrible for not doing more here. The truth is I didn't want to do something 'small' here. I always wanted to do something special. And special takes time ...
I am sure I will be struck by the muse now and then and post here again.
As always, thanks for your hard work on all your blogs.
You did great stuff here, Anj. Don't bother with regrets. Thank you for everything.
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