Ride Closed For Repair
by Leigh Peele
This past month was trying. In truth, this past year was trying. Professionally and personally I have met with some of the hardest trials I have ever had to deal with. Some of the battles I have won and some I have lost. In the end if I have learned one thing it is the importance of quality control, and the people you work with.
Flzine was supposed to be an epic adventure to help change the face of the industry. Since its launch it has been a rollercoaster of drama, fights, private emails, suit threats, and good tunes. The problem was prior to the launch I had a large crew to help me take on this journey with me. Now, as the days dwindle, so does the help.
Some have backed out because of not being able to “take the heat.” Others simply don’t have the time or the means. Beyond that there are never ending issues with technical problems that leave me spending more time on fixing things then writing content. My personal blog has suffered and my emails to general readers has suffered. Lastly, this site makes no money and is costing me hundreds a month to run and pay for people to help. I could deal with that if I have the time to devote to it, but I don’t (right now).
I am not giving up on the hope of FLzine, it is obvious to me now that it will have to be a true paid for and run zine and that open source posting doesn’t have the same pull. Times are tough all around and while my personal business is doing well, I can’t afford to lose anymore time. My hope is if the launch of Body By Eats goes well, I will be able to pay for an ongoing editor, maybe even that Nick guy, to be my partner.
The issue is that of quality control. I would rather let the site be still, than to publish junk or sell it to keep it going. The only people I trust to take on some of the bigger roles, don’t have time to do it for free, and neither do I.
My plan is to see if after Body by Eats comes out I will have the means and time to renew the site as personal project and see if I can’t get some quality help in here.
I would love to set it up as an open source site with certain approved posters able to log in and post whatever they want when they want. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, let me know. Off of the top of my head I can think of a few people who would be great. I think that is the only fix to the situation. If I can get that set up quickly and the forum fixed then we might get this rolling again together. Up to you guys really and the interest. Otherwise, I am going to have to wait till funds become more available to support something like this.
Forums
The forum issue was a separate one than this one. For the time being I don’t see any reason to take it down. It should be steady now, and I don’t see any huge problems for the future. The traffic may or may not die down, that is really up to you guys. If anything your stuff and the record of your posts will always be there and backed up, ready to go if I launch the site again with new material.
However, I have opened up commenting on the blog. You can discuss it here or on the forums, whichever you choose.
Comments
Crap!
I posted a great complimentary post… lots of true compliments to you, Leigh, and some concerns, but when I hit submit, I hadn’t put my email address in above, and the post got lost. hateful
I have to come back and add more later. I gotta go out and put my annual flowers in the ground now.
I did back up all my log posts.
You are great and honest and compassionate!
Etana
who played volleyball this past week with my mending foot!
*hugs*
I have only recently (bout a month or so ago) discovered this site but I think it’s fantastic – and so needed! We really need an alternative to mainstream dieting/training and this site fills the gap. So please, keep it up’n'running!
Good luck.
Oh my gosh! I’m sad to think you you are having such overwhelming challenges! I can relate to the technical and personal challenges associated with doing something you love, but can’t afford to do for free. I have really enjoyed your site, Leigh, and I hope you can keep it going, but not at your detriment. I have learned so much and laughed right out loud. You are fabulous!
I am so sorry. I don’t post here but I love to read the articles. They are so refreshing. I hope you can solve your challenges soon. Good luck.
You have to do what’s right for you, Leigh. And you can’t do everything. Best…
Sad to hear that. This was/is one of my favorite fitness/nutrition blogs.
Just a thought, but what about making a post about specific needs you have or roles you need filled? There may be some readers out there with specific skill-sets that could help, but I realize it could also be a total PITA to manage volunteers. I’m an internet marketing consultant (search and analytics) with an English degree and would definitely be open to providing any help that I could if it would keep the blog running.
Like everyone else, I’m sad to hear that, but completely understand. When I heard about FLzine being free, I was actually amazed–it really did seem like an incredibly ambitious project.
I agree with Luke–maybe you could list out your needs to keep the site going the way you want it. I’m another English-degree holder and currently work as an editor, though in print publications. Count me as another person willing to help out.
English degrees abound, I’m still working on mine, but would also be more than happy to help, both for this site and anything else that you might need Leigh. I think there are probably a lot of us out there that would want to help. Let us know!
I really appreciate the support. The emails and messages I have received have been fantastic.
I will get together what we need to make it work. I have hopes it can still run and perhaps quicker than I thought.
-Leigh
Hi Leigh,
I’ve enjoyed FLzine and hope to see it continue. I would also love to volunteer to lend a hand!
My BA is in English and I’ve been a writer for my entire professional career so far, including long stints as an advertising copywriter, public relations writer, newsletter editor, etc. Most of my professional experience has been in technical areas such as science, manufacturing, and healthcare. But my interest in fitness and nutrition stretches all the way back to my high school days. I’ve never been able to mate these two areas, which is one reason I would love the opportunity to help out.
If you need some occasional editing help, just let me know and I will help you at no charge!
Haven’t been over in a while and wanted to check in, read, enjoy and, well, DANG!
Leigh, do what works for you. I like the site and hope you can find a way to make it work, but if you have to let it go, well, do what you gotta do. If there’s one thing I know, one person can only do so much.
But shoot, I really hope you can keep it going in some fashion or another! I get such a kick out of it! I just about sprayed green tea all over my screen reading the Jillian Michaels book revisited article. And I always love the photos you choose!
You know that I’ll be around and involved in whatever you do; whether it’s here now or in the future. I’m getting my feet underneath me again and (hopefully) things are getting back to normal a bit, so I should be around more.
Leigh,
Sorry to hear the news. I have just started to read a bit on your site and the content seems good.
Running a blog is brutally hard work at times. People can be harsh online in their comments…the technical things don’t always work, etc. I got pummeled by a big forum when my site first began to take off…I didn’t count, but I think I had 100+ negative comments in one day. I even had a few death threats (not kidding)…there are some freaks online!
Tina Fey said something funny in an award speech that really drove this point home…
“If you ever start to feel too good about yourself, they have this thing called the Internet! You can find a lot of people there who don’t like you! I’d like to address some of them now! BabsonLacrosse, you can suck it. DianeFan, you can suck it. Cougar Lover, you can really suck it ’cause you’ve been after me all year. And to my husband, Jeff, I love you. Thank you very much! ”
There is a good side, however. At some point the positives outweigh the negatives and you really feel like you are making a difference. I realized that some people will hate my blog and disagree with my approach, etc. I would just chose to focus on the people I’m helping.
Hope you come back and join me in this madness, we call blogging
Rusty
You know, the funny thing is that sometimes I’d rather have negative comments than NO comments.
I can roll with the punches but the silence can be even worse. It is hard to do things in a vacumn..you need SOME kind of feedback, even if it’s in the form of name calling.
I first came across these posted by Mike Boyle and when I’m feeling discouraged, disgusted, etc..I read them again:
The Paradoxical Commandments
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
Awesome post, Eric.
Leigh, I encourage you not to shit down the website. I’ve learnt so much from your eBooks and I like FLZINE forums very much. I haven’t been updating my journal much anymore because of laziness but hey…I’m here to help so I will restart my journal in a few days once I begin my next training cycle.
In any case: I like FLZINE. I’m from Eric’s site and I visit here all the time – your posts and articles are insightful and very helpful.
Cheers and good luck, ma’am.
I meant to say “shut down” not “shit down”. Sorry about the typo
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