When Work Got In the Way
Looking at the gaps between recent posts on this blog, I have to ask myself how long I might keep this little project up. I started Mullentown in January, a couple of weeks after quitting my columnist job at The Salt Lake Tribune. It was a way to stay connected, to keep writing, to fight the rust that can set in on an author once she loses her forum/soapbox.
The magic of blogging (besides the freedom) lies in getting return traffic. And return traffic can only come when the blogger keeps her site active. I have been struggling with that.
I’m entering my second full week in a new job. I’m exhausted. Mentally drained. I was afraid after taking off those three months from full-time work that I’d forget how to put in a full day. I was right.
I’m not sure I can keep this site going on a regular basis. I still have scores of ideas for posts, only now I want to pour them into my pieces for City Weekly, or on our own blog.
I’m just letting what remains of my readers know what’s going on. I’m still here, just stretched. Besides, I haven’t been on my road bike in days. I hate it when work gets in the way of life, don’t you?
April 17th, 2007 at 6:58 am
Holly,
Most blogs receive very few comments/replies. This site seems to have a band of devoted readers with the intelligence for edifying responses (sometimes).I think you would get more feedback from this blog than one in the paper you`re managing…but I could be wrong.
Anyway,maybe keep your posts short (”Paul Wolfowitz is a Schmuck”) and enlist guest columnists like Ted. This is a comfortable forum for my left-of-center views…hate to see it disappear.
Cheers, RB
April 17th, 2007 at 7:04 am
I agree with RB…..about the blog and Wolfowitz.
Larry O.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:12 am
I hope you continue to update this blog, even if it is bi-weekly or monthly. A suggestion would be an “Ask Holly” forum where you would take an question or comment from the community and respond to it here.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:55 am
And I was just starting to feel comfortable sharing my right-of-center perspectives (hopefully in a reasonably polite way). I’ll miss mullentown if it goes away, Holly, but since your work overlaps the direction of the blog so much, I’ll understand if CW takes over.
And maybe a suggestion for your work with CW. Saltas is a funny and perceptive guy, but his motto often seems to be “Better living through mockery”. Keep CW sharp, keep questioning, write well, but don’t choose one liners over real discussion.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:57 am
Actually, Chardonnay, Msteele, and I had a great conversation about movies while you were away, Holly.
We don’t need to be babysat:-). Just check in every couple of weeks and do that “Ask Holly” thing that Kevin M suggested.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:14 am
Holly,
I can relate to your feelings of being pulled in too many directions, starting up a new job, no time for exercise and on and on. And my life is no where near as busy as yours! And that’s not counting the recent, major trip to India! OMG, no wonder you’re questioning priorites and time realities. You are a great writer, journalist at your core and that gift requires expression, so your new job at CW is such a natural transition and they’re lucky to have finally nabbed you.
I agree with chardonnay and the others that this blog is special, though I would follow you to CW. It’s just that this blog feels more personal (an oxymoron when speaking of blogs I realize) and I would miss it.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Holly: Where ever you are and whatever you are doing I will be there. At both CW and Blog. Just keep writing and in the words we used in ‘48: Give em Hell Harry!! Joe
April 17th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I figured you were too busy to blog, and I understand. I’ll miss you here, but I know how taxing new jobs can be. Don’t worry about us - do what you need to!
April 17th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Just looked at yesterday’s entry. Went to the CW blog spot you invited us to see. I guess I’m a baby, even at my advanced age, because if Mullentown goes away I will feel bereft and will just go away, too.
I’m an “older” person who often feels out of place in the quickly evolving world of e-communication! E-mail has been good for me for many years, but Mullentown has been the only place where I’ve said anything else that seemed as if there were another human being reading it, besides e-mail.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
I couldn’t agree more with Anne White. I too feel out of place in the evolving e-world of the younger generation and this blog is the first one I’ve ever read or posted comments to. It feels as personal as email which I adore.
Glad to hear Holly, that you will keep it. Any form that works for you is fine by me and it seems the cast and crew of commentors are a lively bunch that are getting to be well acqainted as time goes on. Do other blogs feel this way? I tend to think not. If it only had spell check! I miss that feature of email.
Just a quick update on the homeless guy and dog at the local post office. As I dropped off tax payments today, he was back at his spot. Both dog and man looked okay and I was happy to give a dollar going in and another coming out of the PO. One for each. Made me feel less irritated about tax season. A small matter, relatively speaking, in contrast to life. And then there’s yesterday’s horrific shootings and even more killed most days in Iraq. Seems not enough outrage over THAT carnage.
April 17th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Speaking of blogs, I spend a good hour each day reading Seattle’s Alt-weekly newspaper’s (The Stranger) blog - www.thestranger.com/blog. Although I have no connection to Seattle (other than fantasies of a future Seattle life), I am continually impressed by the quality, humor, and satirical liberalism of the staff’s blog writing in conjunction with their weekly print contributions.
I know this comment is linked to a post where you are discussing your overwhelm with managing a blog in addition to your new job, but I am ACHING for something similar to The Stranger’s blog in Salt Lake. I would love to see you merge your cyberspace contributions and your new position with City Weekly and see more of the writers at CW do the same.
Good luck with CW, I think we’re all really excited to see you over there.
April 17th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Hey slcjaymes:
I don’t often respond to my own blog, but I gotta give a big shoutout for your link to www.thestranger.com/blog
I totally agree. I love that Seattle altie, love its blog. Right now at CW we are seriously working on our website and its baby sister, the blog. Our own Bill Frost is taking a big role in the work. So stay tuned.
April 17th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Looking forward to it Holly!
April 20th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Holly,
I surely hope you can find a way to maintain MullenTown even with your new job. I really enjoy seeing you back in print, however. You are a great addition to CW.
BTW: I can’t wait to hear what comments you get about your hair from the CW character drawing that goes with your weekly piece.