Ch...Ch...Ch...Changes
January 2, 2010 Hey all,
For the past 16 months or so, Jen has made it her goal in life to post here every single day. And for the most part, she's succeeded.
On vacation? The post goes up.
Christmas day? The post goes up.
Husband dying in the hospital? The post goes up.
The hardest part about this is that she has to be funny, or at least try to be, with every post. This is, well, starting to take its toll. ("No, really, Sweetie, that tic is barely noticeable.") Cake Wrecks was built on funny, but when daily deadlines take precedence, the funny can suffer - and that's not good for anyone.
So starting today, we're gonna be cutting back on Saturday posts, since it's our slowest day. We'll still do our best to post every other day of the week, but if we do miss one from time to time, just know it's in the best interests of Jen's sanity, the quality of the posts, and Cake Wrecks as a whole.
Thanks for understanding, guys. Here's to much, much more facial-tic-free Wreckage and laughter.
Wreck On!
john (the hubby of Jen)
Reader Comments (394)
Are you kidding! 35 times a week would still totally keep me looking daily!
As sad as I am that my daily cake wrecks addiction won't be fed with new material on Saturdays, I'm glad you've decided to take a day off. You both deserve it! And after all, there's plenty of older posts to go back through again on Saturdays!
I teach and work pretty much every day. But when summer comes, I get a couple of months off! Take your time off and enjoy it! This needs to be fun for you or it won't be worth doing!
I've seen many a blog run into the wall form the pressure of Having To Post. I rather see you post WHEN you want even if it's just once a week or once a month. Quality over quantity. Make sure you're having fun, nothing else matters.
I fully support you guys and think taking some time away when you need it is a fantastic idea!
enjoy your day off Jen (and John) I'm sure we all will survive one day without our daily fix of wrecks. I've always wondered how you did it-through Christmas, John's hospital visit and everything else. You rock-so you really deserve it!
Keep up the good work, and keep your brain intact so you can, Cheers! Patricia (from Spain)
Enjoy your day off! You totally deserve it and we would rather you stay sane (and lose the facial tic) Looking forward to my regular M-F wreckie programming (and then Sunday Sweets to cleanse the palette)
As you said, Cakewrecks started as fun . . . keep it that way! Take as many days off as you want!
I challenged myself to post daily to my blog during the month of October this year and it about killed me! I noticed that in November, I only posted nine times! December is more accurate with 15 posts . . . about every other day or so.
Keep it up . . . have fun . . . enjoy yourself.
You could also "schedule" posts if you wanted . . .
Thanks to wonderful you and your fantastic blog, this has been the best Christmas season ever in my entire life which has been over 70 Years! (I know, I'm pretty shocked by that fact too!) But I hope you can see what a difference two people can make in the world! That so many people came together and gave their hearts out is quite a feat and you certainly owe yourself some time off on a regular basis. We will always be here and hope you will be too. Nana,
wv: jokerant and rave about Cake Wreaks!
If it wasn't for you all I wouldn't have a nightly laugh. But it's only funny when you feel 100%. So don't worry, take a day or two off a week because you more than deserve it!
Creativity needs it's breaks! Thank you for the fabulous posts that make all of our mornings:) Enjoy Jen-day!
Thanks again,
Miss Little Red Hen
Good for you
Take every saturday off and breathe
what your human? shocking. go rest! ME I would of been in the bahamas sequestered in some small Kay. Vodka not far from reach.
ps
love your work big time here in Tampa.
Obviously the masses all still adore and appreciate you. Your posts are worth waiting for. So kick back, enjoy, and know that we will all be here, happy for any wreckage we receive.
I agree with everyone else, that you certainly deserve a day off.
I also want to suggest that, as needed, you replay previous posts on days when you just don't have that ol' comedy goin' on.
Thanks for all you do!
Burnout is NOT a wonderful thing! If it's a choice between 3x per week and "not at all" I'll pick 3x per week!!
There is no need to update every-single-fricking-day! You've proved to the world you CAN, really!
Quality over quantity in my book all the time, any time.
ps: you're wonderful!
Everyone deserves time off, especially you two! You take so much time to give us these amazing, funny posts, and we're all thankful! ;)
Anna Marie
Hey - we get to enjoy you for free and your posts are wonderful! Your posts have had me in tears with laughter, and that doesn't happen often! Enjoy yourself on your much deserved day off.
Laura from Bradford, Ontario
That's fine with me. Better to have less updates than none at all, right?
Oh my gosh, no explanation needed. Thank you for making me laugh... and laugh and laugh - honestly, found this blog at a bad time in my life, and this was one of the things that helped. Take care of yourself first, and thank you so much!
Do what you guys need to do :) Happy New Year and I look forward to more wrecks!
And to be fair, when she posted when you were in the hospital, she did talk about you and seem worried :)
You have my heartfelt support. I admire you for having your priorities in order. Loved meeting you in Boston (aka Framingham) this fall. This is a great decision and you won't be sorry for putting your sanity, health, and marriage before a 7 day a week blog. Go, Jen and John!
I don't need a post every day and surely have more fun reading those that are fun to write.
A Happy New Year and best wishes from Germany:)
definitely take some time off! you deserve it for having to look at all those hideous cakes haunting your inbox! be lazy, and don't even think about any CCCs!
Good for you! Well, her....both of you, actually. Anyway, ENJOY!!
Michelle
Blogging should be fun for everyone. When it starts stressing you out, it's time to take a step back. We'll all be here, day off or not! Cake Wrecks rocks.
Sounds completely reasonable to take a day off per week, or more!
Take care of yourself.
No problem here with missing Saturday posts! I am a baker and I usually get one day off a week. When things get crazy and I don't get that ONE day off... I go crazy!
Thanks for all the laughs you and John give us, and enjoy your Saturdays!!!
I've never understood how you managed to post every single day. It's downright heroic. Be good to yourselves in 2010!
Yeah, man, thats the spirit. You guys are great, and I'd rather have one great post whenever you feel up for it than a half- arsed attempt to please the crowds. Cheers for being honest!
*hugs* Everyone needs a (or two) to rest...We love up here in BEAUTIFUL Vancouver! Stay sane and funny, you 2 rock!
You know, I had to cut weekends out altogether. It is a necessary thing. We don't want you to burn out!
We'll see you when we see you. In the meantime, we'll just jam your e-mail box full of more "professionally" done cakes that we find while we have all of that free time now!
:)
Good for you! Take some down time, you've earned it.
Jen (& John, hubby of Jen),
Blessings to you! You absolutely deserve a break or two... or twenty-two!
And all you great Wrecktator posters - great ideas! I love them all, especially:
--> On Saturdays we can read old posts for plenty of good laughs! We've all laughed at emails we've received more than once that are good, & Jen's writing is WAY good enough for numerous giggles and guffaws!(see the right side of the page for good ideas)
--> Jen could choose a favorite "oldie but goodie" to post on days she needs a break. We all love to watch reruns on TV to relive those wonderful moments over again!
--> Guest bloggers! You had someone else way early on, and John has done a few, so why not others, like some of those devoted daily commenters even?
--> And Kimberly Chapman: I'm loving your idea maybe the best - take the last day in Feb. to come to Austin! Or... I guess other places, too... for your own vacations. Hee hee!
Jen & John, it's obvious since I'm like the billionth poster today, that you are well loved. Please do take a break, as much time as you need but *GASP* please just don't stop altogether. You'd cause thousands, if not millions the world over to riot in the streets, and who would be there to keep wreckiness at bay? Oh the horrors!! *sucks thumb*
Sharon in Austin
I'm sorry to hear it's affecting her like this! Enjoy your days off! Don't look at any cakes whatsoever!
I completely applaud your decision to do the healthy thing. And though I love each and every post, maybe some suspense through the weekend is a good thing??
Anyway, keep up the good work and take care of each other.
YES you guys deserve time off!!!! Especially when in the hospital.
I for one will in fact survive if there are no new cakes for a couple of days here and there. Its not the end of the world lol.
((((HUGS)))) and Love for Jen, John and all those who help make this site possible.
I enjoy posts - but do understand the sanity angle (I haven't posted on my blog in weeks for the same reason)
by the way I got your book for Christmas and both my hubby and I busted up laughing over every one - It's become my new coffee-table book!
Not only should you take Saturdays off but you should take the advice of nearly every comic strip writer in syndication and stack your posts. Take one or two days a week to get them all ready for the next three weeks. Then all you have to do is choose one, and post. All the coding is done.
Having been in this business for 15 years, I don't know any other cartoonist in syndication that does it any other way. And what is a blog really, but syndication.
Good luck!
Do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And sleep late, and don't even think! about looking for wrecks.
Way to take time out Jen and John! Facial tics and sanity aside - we love what you are doing...and will survive while we wait for your mentally healthy (or at least rested) return.
Wreck On!
Tamara - Phoenix AZ
It's okay, Jen! We loves you. You're amazing. Take a break. You deserve it.
For a second I thought John was dying... my bad. Enjoy your day off guys!
Take care of yourself, Jen <3
Go for it! Three cheers for taking time off! :) Looking forward to funny-ness and lots of sugary icing in the new year.
Anybody who would take issue with that is either just plain mean, or needs to get a hobby other than being a cyber-troll.
Greetings J & J -
Please take all the time off you need to attend to restoring yourself. Speaking from writing a weekly column for first print media and then the internet (6 or so years of time), I stopped because the commitment almost destroyed my love of the topic.
Take care of yourself. Blessings always in 2010.
Of course you should get time away from work! I'm a HR manager and while your posts are a highlight of every day for me, I'm a huge proponent of getting away from your job regularly -- no matter how much you love it. Thanks for all your efforts at keeping us entertained!