These words are mostly directed at me, but maybe others can relate.
Stop designing and start writing!
After changing over to the Thesis Theme and creating another blog, Love Musings, I have found myself obsessed with changing the look of each of these blogs. As a bit of a perfectionist, it almost seems I can not just stop doing it - designing - and get back to the whole reason for having a blog - writing!
I wonder if others have been this obsessed overly zealous when they started a new website. At what point do you say, okay it is good enough, and get back to the real business of writing?
Well, when I found myself searching for code to change a very small, trivial design on my blog, and spent a very large amount of time doing this, I realized I needed to stop designing, and start writing. I have to accept that my blogs will never be perfect (at least not without more fine tuning).
The point is content keeps people coming back, not font size or the padding between the blog title and the post. Now, design is important, yes. It is the professional look of your page. Do not neglect this and portray a poor image. However, once your blog has a pretty good design, it is time move on!
It is All About Balance
Everyone's time is valuable, whether you are a part-time blogger, or it is your full-time gig. Being productive is essential. When you find yourself spending valuable time making minor design changes to a blog so you don't have to time to post, it is time to stop. Even just for a couple days. People will not stop looking at your blog if the color in the header does not quite match the exact hex code in the post title. Seriously! Right? Sometimes, there may not even be a fix for the exact, perfect design look you are going for.
Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
~ John Wooden
Tweaking your design here and there is a good thing especially if you have many site errors. However, don't spend so much time on the design that you lose your writing inspiration. It is all about balance. There's that word again. Balance.
So, find that happy medium on your design, and step away from the CSS and HTML settings on your blog. Yes, I know. Firebug can be addictive when looking at yours (or others) blogs! Give up being a perfectionist and get back to the main reason for having a blog - writing!
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi, I really enjoyed your blog post, and agree that balance is crucial. In my case what kept tripping me up online was that there was so much information on building up passive income that I more or less had information overload and would read and study all day without getting any actual writing done. It’s easy to do, and one of the lessons freelance writers need to learn to get the most out of their time.
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Thanks for the comment! I have done that as well – reading, and reading, and reading – but I guess reading provides writing inspiration, so it is important as well! But, there is a lot of material out there – so it just goes back to the balance! I think to really be successful, it is probably more like a full-time job – at least in the beginning!
Over-designing is a sin that is common to bloggers
I think pretty much everyone goes through some form of this decease 
But hey, we are all unique and want our blogs to represent it
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Yes, uniqueness is important. Lots of times we see something we like on another site and that gives us new ideas and we are back again! Thanks for the post Alex.
I know what you mean; I tend to do the same thing. With my newest website, I held back on my urge to “I must fix one more thing” and simply started writing. I know, I know, what a shocking concept.
Although it’s great to have those tendencies, at times, it can hinder me from focusing on the bigger picture.
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I think once you just walk away for a few days and get back into the writing groove, it helps. Some days, I will not even look at my website. I can do what I need at the Dashboard. If I don’t look at it, I won’t want to change it! LOL Thanks for the comment!
I cannot could not connect with this more. I am horrible for this. And then redesigning…and then redesigning. It’s a wonder I get anything done at all.
It’s the slowest way to grow your blog.
Great advice and a great reminder too
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Just walk away… walk away!
Thanks for the comment!
No one can accuse ME of being overzealous about design! I’m so busy cooking, taking pictures and writing (even though I post just once a week, on Friday morning) that I’ve just kept my blog very simple. Just hoping my food photos are decoration enough to suit readers.
Good for you! Try to keep it up. I was like that when I started out and then I moved over to Wordpress and Thesis and I got hooked on designing. I do like your blog – I am a foodie! You have to do what you enjoy and it will help keep you motivated! Thanks for the comment!
Thank you for this post. I needed to hear it today. I just started blogging (two posts so far) and find that the design can be overwhelming. Each time I was asked a question or wanted to change something I had to read up on the topic to figure it out. I don’t have my site anywhere near where I want it to be yet but as you said, it can really get in the way of just writing.
I wrote this when I was tweaking my blog a lot! Ironically, just today I was spending lots of time on my NEW blog… InternetMarketingInspiration.com I think it is good to have some good CSS and HTML knowledge to build a foundation, but I usually hire someone to “tweak” it! Thanks for the comment!
Julie,
We can get so wrapped up making this font size different and that shade of green just a little darker and miss the work that needs to be done. I get it when the work that needs to be done is picking up the phone and making cold calls but to write about things that excite us? Great post.
Selina