Blogging to Death?
Thanks to Jennifer Hoffman who pointed out a NY Times article called: In Web World of 24/7 Stress, Writers Blog Till They Drop.
Part of the story involves a couple of tech bloggers who may have died because they were so focused on their blogs they forgot to eat, exercise or otherwise take any sort of reasonable care of themselves. The gist of the article seems to be pointing at the nature of the web, which means those who work on it or for it, like writers and bloggers, are tempted to work in a less than sustainable way. Author Matt Richtel also makes the point that bloggers are often paid by the piece and that pay-per-click ads somehow emphasize income rather than quality content.
Well maybe.
First of all, if Richtel is right about this, it tends to be tech bloggers that get into the most physical trouble because they won’t leave their computers. We’ve had the same thing happen with programmers and gamers - there is something about (usually) young (usually) men and computers. I saw it way back before Big Blue got into the personal computer industry when I wrote tech manuals for now-defunct portable computer maker KayPro. The hardware and software developers did tend to be obsessed and put in way more hours than the rest of us, and in that case, their salary didn’t change when they worked 80 hour weeks.
And I think most of us have pushed way plus anything reasonable meeting one writing or editing deadline or another. I know I have, mostly in the beginning of my career when I was both younger and had that sort of energy, and unsure of how to even begin to control my time. Yes, the first few times I did that it was also exciting; lack of sleep and poor nutrition can lead to a sort of altered state that I suppose can be addicting to some.
But I wonder where the families and friends, even bosses of the two who died were? Did anyone suggest they get some sleep? Bring them a meal? Even unplug their computer? Sure, no one can really control another without imprisoning them in some fashion, but often you can interrupt a pattern long enough for the person to come to their own senses.
And where, come to think of it, was the judgment of the two bloggers? One was 60 years old… if died from over-blogging, well, I don’t know what to say.
Freelance writing, or blogging, can be a wonderful career. It takes a ton of work, but it’s far from a lethal industry - not when you compare it to commercial fishing, say, or mining. The 24/7 nature of the web doesn’t make blogging inherently dangerous. If I died right now, it wouldn’t be because I’m blogging, although that’s what people would see on my computer screen when they found my body.
However, death by blogging does make a nifty headline and will probably drive some page views.
How do you keep yourself from over-working?
Write well and often,
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Tags: , authors, bloggers, blogs, death by blogging, freelance-writing, home-business, work-at-home, writersRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Business of Freelance Writing
8 opinions for Blogging to Death?
Miranda
Apr 7, 2008 at 11:19 am
Just goes to show that professional blogging isn’t all fun and games!
Katherine
Apr 7, 2008 at 12:37 pm
There’s a thread in the warrior forum about this today - I think it is important to remember to take care of ourselves but that doesn’t mean that because you write or because you blog that you’ll end up with a heart attack!
Anne Wayman
Apr 7, 2008 at 5:22 pm
lol, no it doesn’t
Kathleen L
Apr 8, 2008 at 7:43 am
I remember one of my dearest Professors – Richard – telling all of us one of the pit fall of being a writer is the amount of time we spend sitting on our backsides and how important it was to MAKE OURSELVES get up and get out and exercise. He kayaks and takes wonderful wildlife and outdoor shots in Colorado.
Katherine — you are right, just because we are writers/bloggers etc. does not mean that we will end up having heart attacks.
Matter of fact you can be going to the gym 3-5 days a week and no matter what we do for work our bodies can belie us. Mine did just last summer, although I listened to my body yelling at me, it had to yell, I was able to avert the heart attack by going to see the docs.
Anyone who sits and sits and forgets to get up to take care of themselves is in need of a break from their addiction.
Me… I love to go workout. Always have. This “writing life” has always been a dilemma for me. I love, as many of you do, to write and it makes me sit at this desk more hours then is good for me, at times. I force Balance.
I know that I allow myself to go back to the pen and paper so I can get away from my desk and SIT somewhere else to write. (LOL) But I remember to get up from my desk and feed my kids, family, myself included, and head off to the gym to teach a class or take a class or… like yesterday, take the motorcycle out for a wonderful ride. It is a promise I have made to myself and God and my kids and my hubby… I promise to be around here to see my great-great-grandchildren. Bye-the-by… my kids are childless and in the teens and pre-teen years so I have a big promise to keep.
Anne Wayman
Apr 8, 2008 at 8:07 am
Well said… and 3 sessions at a gym or something similar isn’t too much to ask… I do that, and most mornings do a short stint of yoga stretches… it all helps… plus some gardening.
John Clausen
Apr 8, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Bloggers get paid??? This changes everything.
Anne Wayman
Apr 8, 2008 at 7:57 pm
lol john…
Kathleen L
Apr 9, 2008 at 7:32 am
John, thanks for that laugh. It made my morning.
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