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This is a pretty big post for me. And not one that’s easy to write, because I honestly fear some backlash from the blogging community once I hit publish. But I just can’t sit by anymore and accept things as they come.

I quit.

No, I’m not quitting blogging. Not by a long shot, but I have to quit the blogging “thing”. If you’re not a blogger, indulge me for a moment while I explain what I mean.

Bloggers are very focused on “numbers”. Everything is a number. Pageviews. Unique visitors. Followers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, blah blah blah. Why are they so important? Basically, if you ain’t got ’em. YOU DON’T MATTER.

Harsh reality to say the least. Without precious “numbers” you don’t get sponsors, you don’t get ads, you don’t get attention. Nothing. And that means you don’t get paid. No numbers? No money.

This girl
Guess who has two thumbs and no “numbers”? This girl!

I started blogging because I loved writing. Loved. For you grammar nazis out there, you’ll note the past tense. I loved writing. Now? I cringe at the thought.

“Is this going to get numbers?”

“Will it get featured?”

“Will this be the big one? Will it go viral and get me some decent numbers??”

If I’m honest, I hate it. I love writing, I hate playing the game. Hate. It.

You know what else I hate? Seeing bloggers write sponsored posts they probably don’t give two craps about just to get paid. When you are a craft/DIY blogger and already thin don’t write about diet shakes. What does that say to your reader? It *screams* disingenuous. No really. Really.

If I’m honest? (And this post is all about brutal honesty. Honestly.) All these “numbers” make me feel like crap about myself. The constant rejection because I lack the magic number, just sucks. Maybe some other chicks out there can handle it, but not this girl. I’m extremely hard on myself when I’m not successful, and in terms of the blogging world, I’m just not. It is painfully evident that I’m not. Like, in your face “you suck!” evident on a daily basis.

I just can’t play the game. I refuse to sell things to my readers just because I can get paid. I refuse to pretend to like or need something for the sole purpose of a number, or four numbers, or fifty numbers. It’s fake and stupid.

There, I said it. It’s just stupid.

Does that mean I wouldn’t want to land a sponsored post if I could? Nope. But it has to be real. And not daily. At that point, you aren’t a writer, you are a used car salesman.

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C’mon down to the lot kids! You got the numbers, we got the time! – Image via Tony Harrison on Flickr

Yes, I want sponsored posts, but I want to be honest and real. And I don’t want to write solely for other people.

So, I quit.

I just can’t play that game anymore and retain my sanity. I can’t be focused so much on what my numbers look like (and frankly, I hate seeing people complain about their “numbers” when mine are insanely low in comparison). I can’t place my worth in an algorithm or set of statistics.

Sure, I know some will read this and just call me jealous and bitchy. I’m not. (Not that by saying that I’ll convince anyone – but it’s the truth.) If you’re successful and love being on that bandwagon, great. But as for me? I’m hopping off at the next stop.

From now on, I’m going to write what I want, when I want, and not worry about what that means in terms of numbers and the blogging world. Comparison just saps whatever worth and energy I have and frankly, I’m not willing to sacrifice that. I’m ready to get back to loving my writing and feeling that what I have to say is worth something. Because it is. And numbers aren’t going to change that.

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19 Comments

  1. Great post Christina! I agree with it completely and love to read your words. You are a great writing. Looking forward to reading more of it!

    • Christina Reply

      Thanks Angela! I hope you’ll enjoy what’s ahead.

  2. Good for you, Christina. Be true to you and I look forward to reading more of you.

  3. YAY, Christina! Just yay! I think this is awesome. The numbers DO suck. It’s never enough, so it seems. I can’t wait to read more of your stuff, whenever you write it. I don’t plan on going anywhere so just take the time to enjoy writing again. Do what you love!

    • Christina Reply

      Thanks Krista! It can be so exhausting. I just want to write and have fun!

  4. *applause* you said everything I’ve been thinking about constantly with my blog. I’m trying to quit the rat race too. It’s hard.

  5. Ahhh. Doesn’t it just feel like a heavy load is off your back? Enjoy your new, lighter self.

  6. Good For You!! I do not visit the big blogs because they are too artificial for my taste and I know they are not giving their true assessment of products and doubt that most have even tried the product. I look for real people going through everyday life. If you want to make money then create something to sell…

    • Christina Reply

      Thanks Bella! I will say that I will probably still do *some* sponsored posts, but they need to be authentic and stuff I would actually try/use. I hope you’ll keep me in your blog reader for some time to come! 🙂

  7. Pingback: What the Blog Will Look Like Moving Forward - Christina, Plain and Simple

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