I decided to just go ahead and be straight-forward in the title. Since that’s all that really needs to be said and the rest of this overly long post is going to be explanations and very vague plans.
I’m “taking a break” from blogging, but without any real plan of when I’ll come back. I’d even add an “if” just so I don’t have to put the pressure on myself to come back if I don’t want to. And if I do come back I really doubt I’ll be blogging the same way that I have been. I’m just not really up to it.
It’s not so much that blogging itself has lost my interest, but more that it’s anime that I’m not that into. Somewhat. I suppose. I’ll try to explain properly.
(I feel like I should mention all the images in this post are from Full Moon wo Sagashite…for no particular reason, but if this is my last post for a while, I wanted to get some Arina Tanemura art back up here. So what better choice than my favorite series?)
Some point soon after Christmas I suddenly woke up one day and wasn’t really that interested in the things I normally wanted to do. Mainly anime and blogging. Truthfully it was coming on for a while, the fact that I just wasn’t blogging much should make that obvious. But now over the course of just a few days my waning interest (which was mostly fueled by being annoyed) just completely dropped off. Completely. I haven’t watched anything in a month I’d say. I even have two very sad-looking anime boxsets from Christmas sitting on my shelf.
I’ll blame part of it on the lack of people in my social circle who are interested in anime. It’s just more fun to carry on a hobby with others. When you see them every day it can just be another enjoyable little talking point.
Manga, on the other hand, I’m still reading quite a bit. Just in a more casual manner. And quite frankly none of it online. I’ve just been buying volumes when my mom prints out one of her coupons and enjoying what I can get. Reading all new series and such. And with a book in my hand I can read anywhere comfortably.
I would probably watch anime if I could watch it anywhere comfortably. Buy a DVD, curl up in bed and watch it. But my room isn’t really set up to do that. So until it is, I’m sort of out of luck.
It’s also fairest to say that I’m just sick of fandoms in general and want to get away from the internet. Especially in the anime fandom there is almost no unbiased place to get my news or anything. And opinions are the whole point of other blogging. So I sort of just cut myself off entirely.
It basically became a combination of “information overload” (since I finally stopped checking my reader I think I have somewhere around 2000+ unread entries) and just wanting to see something new. I mean we all know almost nothing new has been coming out in anime for a while now. Add that to the ever-expanding blogosphere and how so many people will have a similar style. It’s somewhat natural because people are “inspired” by some blogger or another, but with the way the internet works… New people pop up every day and drop off quite quickly from blogging that there’s not enough time for a lot of them to develop their own style and you’re just left with stuff piling up and it’s…exhausting. Somewhat.
There was actually a very interesting video I was shown in my first class of Human Communication today that I’m reminded of… It basically all came down to being a really interesting, thought-provoking way of showing how fast our society expands these days and how much we take our advancements for granted and blah, blah, blah. So I suppose a lot of that is where I’m coming from here.
All this rambling out of the way, the simple thing is that right now I’m just a casual anime fan. All I want to do is watch the anime, if I’m even feeling up to that on a certain day. My interests are expanding and they’re just going to continue. Instead of going through phases where I’m “into” something I’m picking up on the things I always liked and just not dropping them. It’s quite healthy I think.
So I doubt I’ll ever be the same as an anime fan, but I can still only say how it is, right now.
Now that I said that I still do have plans. That story I mentioned that’s tied into anime? Still plan on writing it. I’m aiming for releases starting late in Spring.
Also, going with my current path at school, I was toying with the idea of trying out a “broader” videoed review series on YouTube or something. In the quite distant future. And if I did it wouldn’t just be anime anyway.
I still would like to come back to blogging, but I’m just not sure if I can go back to just an anime blog. I love all fictional forms of entertainment (TV, Movies, Books, Comics, Manga, and Anime) and now it just seems difficult to restrict myself to one. I’d probably make a tie-in blog if I did make a video series. But all of these are vague plans that may never come to be. So we’ll see.
In the meantime, since I won’t be checking up on my usual accounts I need a way to stay in contact with people. Right now I’m going to be using a different Twitter (ImmaSammich, cute right? 
). I haven’t been logging into my g-mail account much lately because I have a new one that I have a blanket rule about not sharing and I’m lazy and just leave that one logged in 24/7 (I’ll try to check FuyuMaiden once a day from now on though). But I still just have one Yahoo account so you can e-mail me there if you want a quicker response. So FuyuMaiden@yahoo.com is the go-to e-mail for now.
I’ll also try to leave this post open to commenting past the usual 30-day limit (which is only there because of spam anyway) as a really easy means of communication.
I’m not up to blogging full-time but if you have something going on where you’re trying to gather different opinions, I’m open to being a “guest” blogger. As long as you’re not asking too much. But you’ll have to come to me (the usual e-mail, the yahoo one, or even just twitter). I just don’t want anyone to feel like they’d be a bother just because of all of my complaining up above.
And that’s it! To close it out: I’m not quitting, just really, really toning things down. Or something.
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16 Comments, Comment or Ping
I am sorry to hear that you are taking an indefinite break from blogging but I totally understand why. I always appreciate your blog post that you made about Shugo Chara and looked forward to any that you made about that series and any other that you were watching. Though I have to say you inspired me to make my own blog for my favorite series and it been going strong for a few months now with no plans on stopping.
Still whatever you do in the future then good luck and I hope you are having fun doing whatever it may be.
January 26th, 2010
Well that’s sad,but at least I don’t really expect too much.I loved this blog since I found it (about a year ago…) and I knew one day it would come to this,especially since recently I’m starting to get bored with anime too,feels like I’ve seen everything good.I know it’s not true but it really feels like it.Anyway all I want to say is thank you very much for every single post!I enjoyed all of them!
Your loyal fan,Safiria
January 26th, 2010
Well, I certainly understand where you’re coming from on that, between being a casual watcher and lack of social enthusiasm…
But I’ll still miss your fangirling on the cutes and huggables~!
It’s left a real impression on how I watch anime, even if I haven’t actually been tracking for that long.
Good luck~
January 26th, 2010
I definitely understand what you’re talking about. I’m not a serious blogger but even one post takes me ages to do and is really annoying. I will miss you’re fangirling, as Aorii said, since you really made me laugh
And I honestly don’t remember how I found your site but you were the first manga/anime blog I ever followed and you were really cool XD
Was that video you watched in Human Communications ‘Shift Happens’ by any chance? It probably won’t be but thats really interesting and I’ve seen it a few times. If not then maybe you should google ‘Shift Happens US’ since the UK and US versions are different.
Have fun with whatever you do from now on! xx
.-= Miriam´s last blog ..Anime and Me =-.
January 26th, 2010
I will most definitely miss you! D: But I completely understand where you’re coming from. It isn’t near as fun to do things if your friends aren’t at least somewhat interested in the same things. And blogging can definitely get boring, heck I’ve missed months at a time before because I didn’t feel like it.
And I know just what you mean about information overload; it is completely out of control!
Oh, and your new header/banner is adorable~
.-= kelakagandy´s last blog ..Multi-manga Review: Even More Shojo! =-.
January 26th, 2010
I think it is sad that the anime/blogger world might be losing another avid fan. But I certainly understand how one can become bored with their current hobby. Instead of all out hating it I think it is better to take a break and perhaps one day your interest will be sparked again.
It’s always a hard transition between high school student to college student with a job. Free time becomes scarce and there is more demanded from you. So while you might never be the same anime fan you are now that makes sense as people are always and constantly changing. One day you might come back more devoted than ever.
I do think it is sad that you are taking a break now. I know how excited you were for the Fall Season. But real life always comes first and you should be true to yourself.
I look forward to your return if that is what you choose to do. Just know that you will be missed. Also your blog banner is very pretty. A little bittersweet, but pretty. Good luck in all you do.
.-= Christina´s last blog ..To Aru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 16 =-.
January 26th, 2010
but these months haved goods animes , the problem are fans who only watch very few animes , the animes i liked more were darker than black , umineko , railgun , bantorra , aoi bungaku , natsu no arashi , the sacred blacksmith , katanagatari , sora no woto , vampire bund , durarara , okami kakushi , baka to tet , or letter bee , how the first comment of this post said “i ve seen everything good” when these last months i watchd the best animes of my life , the problem is people know very few animes and they think they watched all and the think is no more but all the animes i mentioned were good and they aren’t old , they are new , people musn’t say “the old anime is better” when many new shows are good
January 27th, 2010
but i don’t see problem with don’t have friends who like anime , for example i am an introverted person and i never talk with other people about my hobbies but i can enjot by myself anime , when i am alone in my room , i don’t necesary talk about that with other people i simply laugh alone or enjoy alone anime , even in my school a lot of people know about anime but even i don’t talk about anime with them because i am very shy and i am not good talking , but i enjoy alone the anime i like
January 27th, 2010
Oh. Well this is certianly sad, but I understand. Sometimes anime gets boring for me too. This was the very first blog that I ever followed. If it weren’t for you, my anime and manga list would be a lot smaller. You really introduced me to a lot more anime other than Shugo Chara. You will surely be missed. I hope that anime gets exciting for you again and that we see more blog posts in the future. For now though, it’s best that you take a break. Oh, and by the way, adorable banner! Well, duh. It’s Nagisa!
January 27th, 2010
Sorry to see you going on indefinite break, I only found your site a fairly short time ago but I have enjoyed your enthusiastic, unique way of writing about anime. Hope to see you back some day as a writer, though I understand your reasons for taking a break. Best wishes.
January 28th, 2010
I think it’s natural to feel disinterested in the anime fandom as it tends to be really intense and can end up feeling really draining; you want to enjoy blogging and not feel obliged to do so, so taking a break can be a good thing.
Hope your writing goes well, and that maybe after a break you might feel a little more enthused again c:
.-= cookie´s last blog ..Meruhen-chan Chapter 4 =-.
February 1st, 2010
Wow. I’m glad I’m not the only one (the only anime I’ve watched lately is Hetalia). Good luck with everything. I might take you up on the guest blogging thing one day.
As to video blogging have you heard of that guy with the glasses? They have a lot of stuff and you might be able to get a series there if you feel like it (you also get paid on that site).
Anyways good luck with everything again.
February 1st, 2010
First of all, I hate mushy stuff on the internet because it’s the internet and it’s all like srs bsns and stuff. But AWWW, you guys~ I just want to thank everyone for the mostly positive encouragement and even the idea anyone might miss me. Even the people who basically seem to just be saying “No wait that’s wrong” kind of make me happy since I hope you’re just disagreeing with my personal feelings because you want me to stay.
Seriously, aww you guys. Awww.
MikeyDPirate: Well I’m glad and I hope your blog continue for quite some time. Just keep blogging what you enjoy and it’ll work out better than it does for me (I faltered on the “enjoying” I think).
Safiria: A lot of people seem to be saying that around this time. I’d say for everyone it’s just how horrible the Winter season has been. I was losing interest before the season debuted though, so not for me so much I guess…
Aorii: Oh and sadly (and ironically?) it’s the fangirling that may have done me in! Going at full power for so long was just bound to drain me faster in the long run. Oh how horrible! *dramatic sigh*
Miriam: Yay! Laughter! Which means that I had readers who didn’t have to take everything I said seriously. (Man, some of the e-mails I got may just scare you to know how seriously people took me)
Yes! I just googled that and that is indeed it. Very awesome video.
kelakagandy: Psh, I know right? It was fine when I was sick and my friends were all out running around and we couldn’t hang out anyway. But now that we’re hanging out I’m getting back into shared interests instead.
Christina: Exactly. When I realized I just lost interest and was getting a little sad I was just happy I wasn’t one of those “otaku graduates” or whatever who go ahead and smash their figures up. That’s just horrible. I love my figures and all my other merchandise!
Well, hopefully the spring season does it. But it oddly feels like I just randomly matured over the course of a couple of months so I don’t know if I can bring the same fangirling anymore. And if I can’t do that…what can I do!? Oh the dilemma!
kyon: Yeah, the last season was okay in quality anime to be honest. But in the big picture it’s just not that great. There weren’t really any anime classics. Decent series with broad appeal to the wide range of anime fans that currently exist? Sure. But nothing amazing for sure. And nothing ground-breaking.
There hasn’t been a new series which everyone is going to seek to copy since…Haruhi I guess? And even that barely counts since it sort of has elements of a parody. So yeah…that’s what fans mean when they say “everything is the same and/or crappy these days.”
maria: And that’s exactly how I lived for a very long time. I’m actually introverted as well. But recently I’ve been changing and I’ve become quite a bit more talkative and I’m finding I prefer socializing. But the social aspect is just one small part of it anyway. There’s just been a lot of overexposure so…I got sick of it.
Amutofan123: Thank you! You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that! When it got tough to keep blogging Shugo Chara! with all the crap, I would remind myself to be stubborn or I’d want to keep going to introduce some really good anime to the fans. So that just about made my day when I read that.
ExecutiveOtaku: Thank you. I hope when I come back that if I can’t bring the same enthusiasm I’ll try to add…something else to it. I write to entertain…or something.
cookie: Intense is a good word. Anything on the internet can be like that since you’re not face to face with another person and it’s just a lot easier to say something you might not otherwise. And the anime fandom just thrives on the internet so there’s really no way around it.
warriorhope: The only one I watched most recently was InuYasha and I feel like that’s cheating anyway since it just goes with what I do anyway. Random nostalgic modes. Disney binges and the like.
Oh girl please you don’t have to tell me about that guy with the glasses. I’m totally following at least five series on that site. Especially with me being prone to “Nostalgia Binges” The Nostalgia Critic is my favorite. But of course since I love them all so much I just don’t think I’m good enough. Yet. My massive ego can’t be denied for too long.
February 2nd, 2010
I can totally understand your reason for taking a break.
And I can agree… If you are interested Anime/manga, you get people who think you’re wierd and dissapprove. (unless you get them hooked)
But yes- everyone gets down sooner or later on something. (fanfiction, writing… Neopets)
Haha. But I must say I really do enjoy all of you blogs (the ones I’ve read- rants and shugo chara!) [they seem to cheer me up... Cause I LOL.]
~Good luck, and I hope you might regain your blogging interests!
-Bree
February 2nd, 2010
Aww ur last post…but we fans understand…shit i rhymed =.=
February 15th, 2010
Wow, had I known you were keeping tabs on that many blogs I’d have offered you a slot at The Moritheil Review!
I don’t think that the difficulty of bias-free journalism is specific to anime, by the way – try finding a neutral and unbiased site on, say, politics
February 16th, 2010