You Can’t Say “Hiatus” Without Saying “Hi”!

Hi everyone! So, as regular visitors of Pop! Goes The Reader have no doubt noticed, things have been a little quiet around here recently, and if you don’t follow me on Twitter, you might have been curious as to why. I’ve always been reluctant to share too much about myself on the blog, because of a desire to protect my privacy, a fear of being a burden on others, and of having my pain appear performative, so I’ll simply say that emotional exhaustion, coupled with depression and anxiety, made a break from both Pop! Goes The Reader and social media an absolute necessity.

That said, while my hiatus started for one reason, it will continue for another. Though I had every intention of returning to regularly-scheduled posts in April, the truth is that I’m simply not very interested in reading or blogging at the moment, and that’s okay. A love of literature has always been and will always be a significant part of my life but it isn’t the only part. I have other passions and hobbies, many of which I’ve recently had the time to explore and that have brought me a great deal of joy. For example, to help combat my depression I’ve begun running 5-6 miles every other day and, in addition to making me feel better both mentally and physically, this has offered me a wonderful opportunity to set new goals and challenges for myself in regard to my pace, distance run, etc.

Pop! Goes The Reader will be turning four years old in June and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s that blogging, like life, is a marathon, not a sprint. I never want Pop! Goes The Reader to become another obligation or something I grow to resent. This blog has always acted as a positive, creative outlet in my life and I have no doubt that allowing myself a little time away from my strict, self-imposed deadlines will only inspire me to try all the harder to offer consistent, quality content when I return. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

Regular posts on the blog will resume in May upon which the sign-ups for June’s Her Story: Ladies In Literature event will also open. That said, if you already know that want to participate in this year’s event and would like me to save a date for you, please feel free to reach out before then, whether it be through email (Jen@PopGoesTheReader.com) or DM on Twitter (@Pop_Reader). Availability in this event is limited and spaces tend to fill up quite quickly. I have already saved a handful of dates for authors who have contacted me and expressed interest in participating and I’m happy to continue doing so.

Until then, I would like to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone who was kind enough to send me a message of support since I announced my hiatus on Twitter back in early March. My biggest concern when deciding to take a step back was in disappointing my readers, and your thoughtful DMs, tweets and emails and your willingness to share your own stories with me have helped me more than I can possibly express. I was reminded, not for the first time, how fortunate I am to have been welcomed into the book blogging community. Because for all its faults, flaws and failings, it’s just that: A community. Thank you for your continued and constant patience, compassion, love, and encouragement. I’ll see you in May!

3 Responses

  1. Like you said, blogging (and reading ) should be a creative endeavor, not a burden. I’m glad you’re taking time to take care of yourself. Running 6 miles a few days a week is so impressive to me!! I’m not a fan of running but I know how cathartic it can be for many reasons. Hope you have a positive April 🙂
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Hi! I’m Jen! I’m a thirty-something introvert who loves nothing more than the cozy comfort of home and snuggling my two rescue cats, Pepper and Pancakes. I also enjoy running, jigsaw puzzles, baking and everything Disney. Few things bring me more joy than helping a reader find the right book for them!

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