The Slumpening
I launched my website with WordPress.com back in September 2017. Although the “.com” version of WordPress offered fewer customization options compared to its “.org” brother, it did feature WordPress Reader. Whenever you published an article, Reader would add it to a massive feed of all recent WordPress articles. For new bloggers, this feed was their only source of traffic. The Reader’s search function was also much more charitable than Google’s. Even my rinky-dink website would pop up if someone searched the Nintendo Switch.
I subscribed to several other blogs during that time—most as small as mine—in an attempt to draw readers. The “massage-my-feet-I’ll-massage-yours” mentality. With the exception of the exceptional Seafoam Gaming, I didn’t particularly keep up with any of them, but it helped me to see how other amateur writers maintained their sites. Due to my sadistic tendencies, I also gained a warped sense of pleasure when blogs stopped producing work. Petty as it was, “outliving” another site supposedly meant my determination was stronger.
Then I hit my slump. My eagle-eyed readers will notice this video has taken a little over two weeks to go live. I recorded it on 6/6/18. Any mathematician can deduce that this is a long time to publish a simple video, especially when I only need to write a few paragraphs to finish it. I blame the slump. For whatever reason, in this past month, writing has taken a little more motivation than I have been willing to excrete. I have no intention of retiring Solomon Rambling, but I now empathize with those who have allowed their websites to stagnant.
Many pests can suck away your motivation. Going into this, I knew I would largely be writing to myself, but then I had a taste of an audience with “the Girl in the Ground.” After two days of over 50 views (madness, I tell you!), my viewer count crashed back to 3-4 views a week. Losing these readers, I was bummed. I do recognize my limited attempts to market my material has led to this, but I’m not eager to sell myself on social media. Hell, I still have an unrealistic hope that some big-name internet person will find my website, love it, and transform me into the next teen heartthrob.
Apart from viewership, maintaining a website can suck the day away. Ignoring the small site edits, I usually need at least four hours of labor to create my reviews/blogitorials. Tweeting also drains my soul. Thus, when the likes of Fortnite, Arena of Valor, and my telenovelas beg for my time, my Solomon Rambling costume collects dust.
A hobby which requires hard work does not always remain a hobby. Some people don’t stick with their creative ventures, and that’s okay. For now, I will complain about my lethargy, but I won’t be dozing for long. When I make it past this hump, I’ll be better for it, ready for more humping in the future.
As always, if you have tips, stories, or suggestive comments, I’ll eat ‘em up.