Rethinking Borderline. Should I continue this blog?
I feel bad about blogging. Lately it's been hard to come up with posts, and when I do, it seems that a lot of readers don't like what I have to say.
There're other problems, too. It takes a lot of time to blog. Borderline has written something like 200 or 300 posts since 2005, and some of them take many hours to write, research, or maintain, such as the ones listed on this page. I can't write this stuff during the day, it's always at night or on the weekend, or when I have a day off from work. I'm writing this post right now at 10:30 pm on a Saturday night. So blogging is taking away from my free time, which I could otherwise be spending with my family, or doing other more productive things around the house, or just relaxing.
And I don't make any money on this blog. Not one red cent. I know I could make some money using Google Adsense or the Boston Blogs advertising banner, but it just seems ... wrong. I really did start Borderline out of a labor of love, talking about all of the interesting things about Waltham and Newton, and to add commercials just takes away from the independent spirit that I want to have on Borderline. As regular Borderline readers know, I love tweaking the nose of the establishment and business community, which includes companies, connected people, and mainstream media titans. It would seem hypocritical to start taking money from this group, even if it was only indirectly through the automatic advertising banners that Google uses with Adsense.
So what should I do? Take a break? Sell it? Open it up to other writers? Give it up?
There're other problems, too. It takes a lot of time to blog. Borderline has written something like 200 or 300 posts since 2005, and some of them take many hours to write, research, or maintain, such as the ones listed on this page. I can't write this stuff during the day, it's always at night or on the weekend, or when I have a day off from work. I'm writing this post right now at 10:30 pm on a Saturday night. So blogging is taking away from my free time, which I could otherwise be spending with my family, or doing other more productive things around the house, or just relaxing.
And I don't make any money on this blog. Not one red cent. I know I could make some money using Google Adsense or the Boston Blogs advertising banner, but it just seems ... wrong. I really did start Borderline out of a labor of love, talking about all of the interesting things about Waltham and Newton, and to add commercials just takes away from the independent spirit that I want to have on Borderline. As regular Borderline readers know, I love tweaking the nose of the establishment and business community, which includes companies, connected people, and mainstream media titans. It would seem hypocritical to start taking money from this group, even if it was only indirectly through the automatic advertising banners that Google uses with Adsense.
So what should I do? Take a break? Sell it? Open it up to other writers? Give it up?
posted by Borderline at 1/27/2007 10:19:00 PM
20 Comments:
I certainly enjoy checking in here.
I say you don't give it up but post when something lights your fire. Maybe that's once a week. Maybe that's once every few months.
I enjoy reading your blog as well. I feel bad, because it seems that you have gotten more negative comments lately...I feel that your readers to enjoy reading here should be posting more positive thoughts so that you know you have support. So for that, I apologize, and will do better. I would love to see you stay, but if you do think it's taking away from time spent with family, then that's not good. I agree with the first poster - take it easy, post when you can...we'll be here to read it. But don't get yourself stressed about getting a post up every X amount of days. Thank you for keeping us updated and entertained with your posts, I think you're doing a great job!
Perhaps you could develop a small group of people who would each post once a week or so.
I think there's a lot of value in having a blog that focuses on local issues (I live in Waltham), but you shouldn't keep doing it if it's no longer fun.
I'd certainly be willing to contribute regularly.
This Waltham resident enjoys reading what you write, even when I don't agree. Of course if this isn't satisfying for you, you should stop. I do appreciate how you examine the City Council's decisions; the local paper doesn't do that nearly enough.
i say just blog once a week. And don't forget it is that time of year. I have been feeling the winter blahs -- don't have anything to write about, blah blah blah. But I feel a bit dull from jan - March every year.
I hope you keep blogging, I enjoy reading, but I can certainly understand if the time has come to give blogging a rest. Oh, and I like the guest blogger idea, too.
I agree with the first comment.
I maintain a blog similar to yours. But due to the fact that I have a full time job and I don't want to give up my free/social time, I chose to only post when something "lights my fire." If you've ever read my blog, you'd see that it's pretty heavy on "breaking" town news, or news that hasn't been printed yet in the newspaper. I think your blog is awesome and I commend you for all the time and effort you've put into it. I'm interested in seeing how your continuing coverage of the Lowe's proposal comes along (as I live in Watertown on the Waltham line.)
Best of luck
(P.S.: I will add your blog as a link from mine, if you don't mind.)
Please continue. I wish there were more Waltham blogs and web resources... I feel like there's a whole community of Waltham somewhat silent, invisible in general, so your blog is important- and interesting. I'd ditto some of the other suggestions, post when you want; find other contributers perhaps if you like. You're doing a useful and great job!
Hi,
Perhaps I can offer some inspiration (I hope) to your lack of creative energy. I'll shortly be moving from the rainy slopes of Sheffield, England to the comparative suburban paradise of Newton for the summer (March to October). I've been searching – admittedly without much success, for ways to occupy myself for the 26 weeks I'll be around. Besides gorging myself on all-American produce (Reese’s Pieces, Devil Dogs, Wendy's, Krispy Kreme et al) and cycling around the Charles River, my list of things to do in Newton is vague to say the least. So, I'd very much appreciate being pointed in the direction of any merry distractions, besides dog walking, tossing stale bread at the ducks, fence painting, ballroom dance lessons and getting wasted in West St bar - as I’ll be doing plenty of that myself. Well, not the dancing. There must be more to Newton than just complaining about how prohibitively expensive it is – which seems to me the favourite past-time of most Newton residents ; )
– Maybe I should make my own entertainment? I’ll develop new obsessive-compulsive disorders… an irrational fear of odd-numbers should make bus journeys, calling my girlfriend and ordering Chinese food more interesting.
I hope you can oblige,
Thanks, Ash.
You have a nice blog. Blogging, as you have noticed, does take time, that's why it could be better for you to make a post, say, once a week when you *do* have time, or maybe a decent post (they are all good btw) every two weeks. That gives you a window of breathing space before thinking of writing, and gives you a chance to actually experience a lot that's going on not only in Waltham but also in the world, which will consequently drive you back to your next posting !!!
I miss you!
Just found this...pretty sweet
Damn, wish I had seen this before you quit.
i just found this. I wish you would continue as well. As a new Waltham resident, I totally enjoy and appreciated coming across it on my search for "The Barn" and am sad I caught the blog too little too late.
As an Alder Street resident, I say bring the blog back! I discovered this blog too late, once it was already inactive.
How about a post once a month? I will give uniformly positive comments and if I have nothing nice to say, I will say nothing at all.
Please continue this Blog, but let's spice up the dialog.
What is the meaning of the recent landslide re-election of Mayor McCarthy in Waltham? Especially while all the incumbent, over-development-happy, at-large councilors also got re-elected?
Given Massachusetts taxation laws, how is the over-development (opposed by the Mayor) promoted by the councilors royally skewering us home owners in Waltham? Anyone care to discuss the facts on Waltham real estate taxes?
Just run some ads. People know it's just paying the bills are doesn't prohibit objective writing. You'll be more motivated to write if there's a check coming every month! Keep up the good work.
Wow, bummer, I just discovered your blog almost 2 years after you stopped posting. How I found it was by typing in Google as separate words, "waltham" and "elections". You came up 3rd from the top.
I have a blog too. I haven't posted in such a long time... I have a lot of un-published articles that need to be researched, edited, etc. I know all about it taking a lot of work. It's hard!
I hope to see you post something soon. I found your articles very interesting, being a Waltham resident.
So, I just found this blog and would love to contribute to it...I work at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and we have lots of interesting and educational info we could give you to post... but wasn't sure if you were still actively blogging. Looks like your last post was 2007. Pls let me know. Thanks! Rachel Kagno
Please keep it going. Outsource your writers, if need be. It's a well-respected and followed blog.
Hi. Looking to connect with people in this area of Waltham/Newton. Anyone still out there willing to communicate here or by email?
s_rivers@zoho.com
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