I am contemplating closing down this blog. I love it, and it will always be the place where I gathered my courage for the years to come and whatever they might bring, but the truth is – well, there are several truths. First, I don’t have the readership that I used to have, because many of the bloggers I used to be in contact with here have abandoned their blogs months or years ago. Second, I don’t actually get very much feedback on what I write anymore, and stats don’t give me any idea on the quality of what I’m posting. Third, I feel a pull towards working on things that I feel are too long to put here.
Fourth, and perhaps this is really the most pressing concern, I’m going to begin sending out some of my work to both print and online magazines and try to get it published. I’m trying to edit my stories and get them ready for this move and work on more stories that could be publishable.
Then again, it’s always nice to have a place to continue practicing in, which is always what I’ve used this blog for, so maybe I should keep it. Or I could just make it private. I’m not sure. Just wanted to let my few regulars – for whom I am eternally grateful and with whom I’d love to stay in touch – know that I’m thinking these things.
Slightly Ignorant 
If you do go away, please stay in touch. I’m El Phoenix Farris on Facebook, with my page of Running from Hell with El. Your stuff is more than good enough to find an audience. You should be paid for what you do. You’re one of the best bloggers as far as writing ability. I like reading your stuff, so if you ever need someone to give something a read-through, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I think you should keep writing here, by the way. It’s excellent to be able to test your stuff out. And you should write a guest post for me, if you want to. As far as fiction–most people don’t like to read it here in blogs. I don’t know why–they just don’t. Even I tend to set the fiction aside (even your stuff, which I love) with the intent to get to it later. Anyway, I’m here and still reading.
i’ll be sad to see you leave if you do, facebook me though so we can stay in touch?
i know what this feels like, the not knowing whether to close it down or keep it going, i had that issue with my photography facebook page – in the end i closed it
I’m in the same boat as you are Ilana. I haven’t posted anything since last weekend and I thought it would kill me but it’s actually easier to give it up somewhat than I thought it would be. There’s no saying you can’t leave the blog here and just work on it when you feel like it. I do come and read but am sometimes at a loss for words. I hate to always say “Oh I love that” and stuff like that but I am here. I do also see you on FB so I know I won’t lose you.
I do know what you mean about the blog traffic now. We get a lot of hits each day but nobody says anything so I just got to thinking this last weekend, why do I do this? I do it for the conversation and a place to go to chat but when nobody comes, it’s depressing.
I think you should do what you want. If you want to quit posting for a while, it doesn’t cost anything to leave the blog here. When you get good news, like you get something published, you can share it with us. It’s kind of like “see you later” instead of “goodbye.”
Hey all – for now, I’m leaving the blog open, although some posts old posts may disappear if I decide to use them as submissions for places.
I’m still mulling things over, but haven’t come to any decisions. I appreciate your readership and your comments, though – immensely so. Your words were thought -provoking and gave me some things to consider.
Thank you for sticking with me – you mean so much to me.
If I decide to start a new blog, with updates about my life and doings at Oxford, I will definitely post the link here and will hope to see you guys there as well – and I will, of course, continue to stay in touch with all of you.
I’m glad you decided to leave it open. Good practice spot, like you said. I know I haven’t commented in a while, but I still read your posts now and then and I would hate to not see them!
Ok, so. Definitely loving your new blog! But I also hope that you’ll continue to post here when you’re so inclined. I really enjoy reading your writing. =]
xoxoxo