This post is me taking up the challenge set by Raychael of Agent Mystery Case to blog like no-one is reading. You can blog on any topic but she suggested blogging about your blogging journey so far. I’ll go with that one! I’m sitting here typing with my eyes shut – like doing THAT means that no one is reading my blog post. Well at least I know my typing skills are still very efficient! Look no eyes! For this challenge, I’ve decided to write a letter to myself because that way I’m not talking to anyone but myself.
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Dear Min,
In September 2012 you did a Google search for “setting up your own blog” knowing absolutely nothing about blogging except for having read a few! You found WordPress and went ahead and set up your own free blog. You had no fears because you knew nothing! Ignorance is bliss!
You were quite proud of yourself for setting up your blog without too much fuss or worry. Having a background and long working history in the corporate world, you’re pretty good with computers and technical stuff (so you thought!)!!
Now lets look back at why you decided to start a blog in the first place. You’d been through an awful time and were in the process of healing. A friend had brought your attention to an article on Hailey Bartholomew and her 365 Grateful Project concept. You were a bit inspired and decided to try doing your own 365 Grateful Project just like Hailey did, by taking a photograph every day of something you were grateful for. You had that camera that your husband bought you for a birthday present years ago. What a great opportunity to learn how to use it! You decided to start a blog and share your grateful photo’s there. You thought it would be a nice little project – learn how to use the camera and start a blog. You really needed something to keep you occupied and busy because you were not used to not having goals and deadlines and things that kept your mind active!
Once your blog was up and running you discovered there was a ‘blogosphere’ – loads and loads and loads of other bloggers. Who would have known? When you’re in the concrete jungle year after year you’re not exposed to the blogosphere!! You learnt that you needed to link up with blog linkies and read and comment on other blogs, that there is a thing called blogging etiquette, and that you must find your niche and tribe. You were bombarded with information on SEO, stats, analytics, sponsored posts, product reviews, media kits and lots more mumbo jumbo much of which went over your head because – err brain overload!!
Lots and lots of blogging courses were brought to your attention all of which you wanted to do and all of which cost money so you didn’t. Suddenly your little project had turned into something much bigger than you had set out to do and more time-consuming than you had ever expected! You also had to face the hard reality that your technological skills did not extend to back-end blogging mumbo jumbo! This blogosphere you discovered was all very exciting but all-consuming and at times quite overwhelming!
You blogged at that first blog for just over 2 years but then decided to close it down, re-brand and start anew. Your first blog was a ‘project’ related to your healing and not professional looking. You were starting to feel embarrassed by it and anyway you felt it was time to draw a line under the healing phase of your life and move forward. You’ve since learned that we’re actually always healing, always riding life’s peaks and troughs, and always seeking balance and contentment.
One of the best things that came from that first blog was the discovery that you enjoyed photography. You did a little local course to learn how to use your camera off automatic. That whet your appetite and so you signed up to an on-line course for a Diploma in Professional Photography. You graduated with your Diploma in October 2014 and were quietly rather proud of that!
In November 2014 you launched your new blog ‘Write of the Middle’. It’s self-hosted and this time you invested some money and got some help in setting it up. You even got a logo made by a graphic designer. Woah – big spender!
You have good intentions with this new blog and there is potential for something great but I don’t feel like you’ve quite got there yet, and I know you agree! You’d like to marry up your love of blogging and your love of photography. You want to indulge your love of photography by using your own images (though not for this post haha) and perhaps eventually share some photography and Photoshop tips. You want to help fill a gap in the blogosphere that seems so glaringly obvious to you in a blogosphere packed to the rafters with young mums. Comparatively, there are not many ‘mature’ mothers (or even ‘mature’ women) blogging or at least you haven’t found too many of them yet. By the way Min I used the word ‘mature’ instead of ‘older’ because I thought you’d prefer that. You’re welcome! You want to find all the mothers of teens, young adults and even the empty nesters! You want to connect with like-minded people (both men and women) and women at the same middle-aged phase of life as yourself! You want to encourage all people, but particularly women, to take care of themselves and let them know that by putting everyone else first they may very well be sacrificing their own health and wellbeing! You want them to know that at some point if they continue to neglect themselves, it will come back and bite them in the backside so don’t wait – start taking care of yourself now! You want to share the wisdom gained from your experiences in life so far and that includes how important it is to listen to yourself, understand yourself and to seek balance of mind, body and spirit in the unique way that makes you feel happy and well. You’re just not always sure of the best way to do all these things in a way that is original and new and authentic to you, and not more of the same that has been seen and done by others before you.
You’re finding that blogging takes time away from photography and photography takes time away from blogging. You’d like to combine the two but is that logistically possible considering both are so time-consuming? You often wonder if you should concentrate on just one. You are yet to create a photography website though you bought the domain name 7-8 months ago. You wonder if maybe you should focus your creative energy into creating your photography webpage and then just have a little photography-focussed blog there.
How you feel about your blog is up and down all the time. Sometimes you think it’s going well and your vision is clearing and other times not so much. You know you’re not hitting any winning goal posts in the blogosphere but is that what you want anyway? When you started your first blog that was not your intention. Are you just being swept away in the flow of the blogosphere and not standing firm and listening to what your heart really wants? You often feel envious of the success of other bloggers and the great friendships and collaborations they have formed. That’s not an attractive thing to admit but in saying that I know that you’re genuinely happy for them, just a little envious that they have found the right formula, tribe and niche to succeed where you have been floundering for some time. Do you really need to belong to a niche to succeed? Is it bad to not have found your tribe?
You went to your first ProBlogger event in March this year, a one-day fly in visit to Brisbane and a glimpse into the ProBlogger world! It was exciting and you enjoyed it but it was a very big wake-up call to you. So much of what the speakers spoke about was foreign to you. There’s stuff you don’t know or understand about this blogging world! Many ‘bloggers’ are actually running full-on businesses through blogging. I know you don’t want that. You’d like to earn a modest income somehow some day (hopefully through your blog and/or photography) but you don’t want a highly demanding business. You want to do what you love and love what you do, earn a little in the process, and ultimately get the right balance so that you can live a happy and fulfilling life hereonin!
Three nights accommodation has been booked and a ticket has been purchased for you to attend the main two-day ProBlogger event in August. How exciting/scary/crazy for you! You know it’s going to be lots and lots of information coming at you and result in brain overload but you’re not silly and have booked a room alone so that you have a place to retreat to and recharge if need be. You often wonder – are you being delusional? Are you so far removed from ever really making your blog something of value and worthy of the time and investment you put into it? Does it make a difference? Is there any possibility of it earning some money for you? Is that what you want? This ProBlogger event – this is where you are going to find out.
Blogging can be a lonely existence and as you know only too well – it can do your head in! So many factors come in to play that contribute to your blogging experience. A beautifully worded, well thought out comment on a blog post by someone who has actually read your post can send your spirits soaring! No interaction on your blog’s Facebook page can make your spirits plummet (I know you know this one well). It’s an up and down thing, a bit of a roller-coaster ride!
So Min, after ProBlogger in August I think you will have a better idea of whether the investment of time and energy you put into blogging, and all that entails, is worth continuing or whether it’s time to focus more solely on your photography and/or other things. In the meantime Min – well done on losing over 5 kilos! Keep looking after yourself because you’ve had some rather unpleasant health hurdles this year but you know what – good on you for never giving up! Oh and before I forget, you mustn’t forget your word for 2015 – TRUST. Trust that things will be as they are meant to be.
Well this has got long! Far too long for a blog post but it doesn’t matter because no-one is reading it but you! Thank goodness for that because gee you’ve let out some stuff here girl!
Ciao for now,
[Note that the images used in this post are not my own. They have been hyperlinked to their source.]
Linking up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT
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Joining in with Maxabella Loves, Life Love and Hiccups, A Life Less Frantic and A Quirky Bird for #WeekendRewind
59 Comments
I love your post. It s like i read all the stuff spinning in my head. Perfect. Xx cathy
Thank you so much Cathy. I’m glad! 🙂 xo
LOL our start-ups were very similar. I blogged by myself for 18 months before discovering the whole blogosphere thing. I was just writing for myself, and trying to make my friends laugh. The leap into the blogging community has had so many positives attached to it, but a few negatives too. I never really thought about SEO or traffic or stats social media or monetising or anything else. I was ignorant in my bliss. They are still things I don’t care about much, but know that know I probably should it makes me feel like a bit of a loser. LOL.
I was ignorant in my bliss too ‘Zilla! Now I’m not sure what I want. Am I being caught up in the blogosphere stream by wanting to keep up with the Jones’s and fit in? Should I be braver and paddle to the edge and find my own stream? I have experienced positives AND negatives too and I often feel like a bit of a loser! LOL
oh how I wish I could blog like no one is reading but the introvert in me who would worry about upsetting someone won’t allow it!
I am a little sad not to be attending pro blogger this year and not meeting you but look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Unfortunately, though I did pretty good, I didn’t completely block out the fact that people would read what I wrote. There is stuff I could have added but didn’t for fear of ruffling any feathers! Last time I voiced my thoughts on varied blogger practices it got too strong a reaction for my thin skin to handle! 😉 Sorry I won’t see you at PB but I’m sure there will be an opportunity to meet up in the future! 🙂
It’s the stuff that would ruffle peoples feathers that I would still like you to take on board, just not necessarily share on the blog.
Wondering what you mean by take on board Raychael?
Perhaps send me a link to a post where you ruffled people’s feathers and we can have a little chat about it.
I really liked this post Min, your descriptions of being overwhelmed really connected with me! I decided not to go to any blogger conference this year because of exactly that feeling. I want to have a bit more of a handle on things, so I don’t spend the whole time going “huh?”. Thanks for your honesty and sharing your blogging journey!
Jess I’m so glad you could relate to my post! I decided to go to the PB conference this year for 4 reasons: (1) I’d never been to a big blogger conference before and I want to know if I like them or not; (2) There’s so many bloggers that I would really love to meet IRL and this is my opportunity; (3) It’s being held at the Gold Coast which I don’t have the expense of flights!; and (4) I need some answers to long pondering questions that I think I can only get by going to a conference like this. xo
Min, the best thing about your blog is that its YOU. Its your heart talking. I treasure it. I actually think that you have great talent in your writing. Talent that is matched by your skill with your photography. I think that you have a really well balanced approach to both art forms.
I do hope that you don’t stop writing. I have had a really difficult couple of years and truly your blog and a couple of others that are also written from the heart and with great sensitivity is one of the main things that have inspired me to not give up. To fight on and through all the things that have damaged me. I cant thank you enough for that.
I have started a blog page (The Renaissance Man) and on a number of occasions started to write a post but then deleted it because perhaps it was too open and raw. Your blog gives me the courage that eventually I will write something that I will leave on.
Maybe one day I will have the courage to share my story.
Min don’t stop blogging.
Ciao
Patrick
Patrick, I am so touched and thrilled to know that I have helped you through difficult times. Did you know that you help me too? You’re the most genuine commenter on my blog posts that I have ever had. I look forward to your comments tremendously because I know you’ve actually read what I’ve written for starters, and because you want to! We have many interests in common and you always lift my spirits with your positive comments on my photography. I’m so sorry that you’ve had a tough couple of years. Though our stories would be very different, I can relate to going through difficulties. I’ve looked for your blog but can never find it. I’ll try again! I know what it’s like to write a blog post only to delete it because you’re afraid it’s too raw. I do that often, and you know what – it’s not the thought of strangers reading it that stops me – it’s knowing that family and friends who know me in real life might read it that stops me. Eventually I found a middle ground – where I could express myself but not overstep the line where I felt comfortable. You’ll find that middle ground with a little time. I hope so because I would love to hear your story. 🙂
Min, thanks for your kind words. The blog page exists but I’ve not made a post as yet. What I might do though is write to you at your email. That might give you a bit of a picture of what is driving me. I cant wait to see what you post from your time at Freycinet by the way.
Patrick the email sounds like a plan. Good practice for you too! 😉 The first Freycinet post is published. Bit of a rush to get those pics edited in time though!
The investment in time and energy is worth it if you enjoy it, surely? That’s how I see it. If I make a difference, even better.
I do enjoy it Lydia – a lot! Sometimes though, the expectations I put on myself in order to be a ‘good blogger’, along with all the stuff I read that you need to do in order to be a ‘good blogger’ can be incredibly overwhelming and draining. It’s a matter of making a few decisions for myself and I think after PB I’ll be in a better place to make those decisions 🙂
I had a blog for a long time that got a fair few readers, I made lots of great friends, and I really enjoyed hanging out in the blogosphere and in person at conferences and events. Until I didn’t. One day I realised that I was over it. That it felt a bit forced, that I no longer enjoyed writing like I once had, that I still didn’t really have a niche, and that I wanted more more more… I began to feel jealous that I wasn’t ‘getting’ enough out of it. Readers, opportunities, freebies, you name it. I became a bit jaded. So stopped.
And now 18 months-ish later I’ve started again… slowly, with only a couple of readers, with no facebook page, with no real desire to have advertising or run sponsored posts. I’d love to say that now I am only writing for me, but there are times when I wish there were a few more people validating my decision to brain dump online rather that in a journal. It’s a funny place, blog land. I love it, but it can suck the life out of you too!
Popping over from #IBOT.
Wow Jenn – I can completely relate to your story – though I’ve not really been at many conferences or events (one Brisbane PB event and a couple Brisbane blogger meet ups). Blogging really gets into your bloodstream though doesn’t it. It’s such a wonderfully creative outlet. I hope that your new blog takes you along a more fulfilling path … and yes blog land can be a funny place! Thanks for visiting! 🙂
I’ve always come away from ProBlogger Events in a negative frame of mind. It makes me realise that I’m one of a gazillion bloggers. I’m nobody.
I remember when you first started and we met to talk about blogging and then you started and I think – like many new bloggers there was a ‘build it and they will come’ perception, which SO isn’t the case.
Even now my stats are ridiculously low after 6.5 years of blogging and I see these other new bloggers with huge stats and being confident to do all of this stuff and wonder what I’ve done wrong.
I was following the Kidspot stuff on the weekend (though I don’t read that site – it is a site isn’t it?) and I barely recognised any of the people or the blogs. I think many were parent bloggers and there is indeed a plethora of bloggers who write about kids and parenting.
I now read very few blogs about kids and parenting. Even on link-ups I avoid reading posts about making school lunches etc cos I just can’t relate. There are only so many times you can say, “I don’t have kids, but when I was little (or when my niece was little)…”
I think you’re right and the important thing is to remember why we started blogging. For me it’s not about sharing information, providing advice or selling stuff. It’s about writing. If photography is your passion I say go for it and focus on that – share pics and tell stories of your pics. Go for it.
Deb
You’re definitely not nobody Deb! You’re uniquely you just as I’m uniquely me! I remember our lunch catch up well. I’m not sure that I thought readers would flock to my new blog. I don’t think I had even thought that far ahead! I was naive, clueless and had no plan at all! I didn’t follow the Kidspot weekend. I must admit that I don’t read their site either but then my youngest child is 20 so that explains that! Of the final 100 there are only a few bloggers that I have heard of. I was dumbfounded! I thought I knew a lot of them. Wrong! I do love blogging but sometimes it comes in waves because it takes so much energy and time from me. Yet, I would be lost if it wasn’t there. I’ll work myself out eventually I suppose! lol 😉
Great post. I’m almost four years in and was still thrown by some of the things the SEO gurus said at Saturday’s event. Something about a meta description something something. And everyone was nodding. Some people’s eyes were glazing over. They know this stuff! And I SO TOTALLY DON’T.
Glad you blogged like no-one was reading. x
I so would have been one of the people whose eyes were glazing over! I just don’t understand all that tech talk! 😉 x
I really enjoyed reading this Min. What a journey you’ve had into blogging and I believe you have exciting things to come. You will enjoy Problogger. Looking forward to seeing you again in August. X
Thanks Bec. Look forward to seeing you at PB in August! 🙂 x
What a great post! I so enjoyed reading it & nodded along to much of it! I too cannot get over how some blogs & bloggers jump so quickly into high numbers etc but I think I too am blogging for me. 5 years ago in Dec my blog started & I have not changed anything other than a couple of topics I no longer write about much (teaching & schools) .. My blog is as much about me being me than anything else. I am not a formula person nor an SEO ( despite attending courses etc) centred blogger. I’m just me! I like your approach & thinking about getting yourself to pro blogger. I do believe it’s worth going to see what it’s all about. D
Thanks Denyse! I think certain bloggers just happen to slot into the popular niches and/or appeal to the masses. I think I’m more a boutique blogger! lol x
I’m so glad to have company like you, as a fellow “mature” blogger! x
Likewise Janet! Thank goodness! 🙂 x
From someone not reading – we have all been there, or are there so thank you for being brave enough to say it all out loud. I hope you find your answer at PB event and figure out your direction. And I hope to meet you there!
Thanks Malinda. It’s not easy to say it out loud because to be honest I don’t really like to air my doubts and insecurities but I know that this stuff is pretty common stuff that runs through most bloggers minds often! I hope I get to meet you at PB too! 🙂
I loved this post Min,I hope you find what you’re looking for and you’re right,empty nesters and mature women like reading blogs too Xx
Thanks Lisa – so nice to see you here! 🙂 xo
Hi Min, I remember you from your old blog. I’ve been a bit erratic with my blog and consequently out of the blogging loop a bit. So I thought this Blog Exchange thing would be a good idea to get back into it again. It sounds like you love it so I hope the PB event clarifies things for you. And you’re much braver than me! I’ve never made it too an event. I think I need to brain dump my thoughts about my blogging ‘journey’ too, after reading yours!
Hi Ness – I remember you too of course! I think the Blog Exchange is a brilliant idea of Raychael’s and just the right place for you to help get you back into blogging. I’m excited yet terrified (TERRICITED!!) of going to ProBlogger. I drain of energy very quickly at big events like that. I want to go at least once though and I think it will definitely help me to clarify a few lingering questions I’ve had. 🙂 xo
Thanks for sharing your letter to yourself with us Min! I find it a struggle with finding balance with blogging and all the other things I want to do too. I’m going to PB this year too, I do hope to meet you in person! x
Oh that’s fabulous that you’re going to PB too Steph! We’ll have to make sure we get to meet! 🙂 xo
Hey Min – for someone writing like no-one is reading you have a lot of comments! We started blogging pretty much the same time and I spent the first six months pretty clueless (not doing link-ups etc). I did get some guest posts published on Tiny Buddha and now have a fortnightly article on DoYouYoga but I’m yet to make any money or to make the effort to try to. We are a little bit alike in that you have pursued your photgraphy passion while I have pursed my yoga training in parallel to blogging. If you can bring them both together more closely I reckon you will be happiest. This will be my 3rd Problogger (living on the GC I don’t have flights or accommodation costs). I must say I feel like a phoney as I haven’t had the professional success. But then I write at work for moregoldcoast.com.au so I guess I am professional writing again these days. Looking forward to seeing you at PB. I’ll be in touch to see if you want a catch-up before or after – I literally live around the corner from the venue.
Kathy, that is excellent that you have a fortnightly article on DoYouYoga and guest post over at Tiny Buddha! I would LOVE to meet up with you before PB etc. I will be arriving on the Thursday avo and I will be completely alone and feeling like a loser! We will talk closer to the time! Thank you! 😉 xo
Great post. After 7 years blogging astrology, & a few less blogging my rambles, I’m only just now discovering the blogosphere. And there are some lovely supportive peeps out there!
Thanks Joanne – yes there certainly are some lovely supportive people out there! 🙂
I could have written this! I remember stumbling across the blogosphere and thinking ‘who knew all these people were here’. And of course that was the point where blogging became very time consuming … but awesomely so.
Look forward to seeing you at Problogger in August Min!
I look forward to seeing you at Problogger in August too Kelly! 🙂
You’ve had an amazing journey Min! I agree about the photography and blogging conflict — for me, it’s creative/freelance writing and blogging! I can’t figure out which one to devote more time to.
I wish I was going to Problogger this year…would have been nice to meet you. I’m however financially strapped with my current holidays. Hope you have a great time and would love to hear your views about it.
It’s been an interesting few years Sanch! Still trying to find the right balance and certainty as to which should have more time devoted to it (photography/blogging)!! Shame I won’t meet you at Problogger as I’m not sure I’ll get to another one (not unless I start earning some money!). I’ll be doing a blog post about it for sure! 🙂
I really enjoyed your honesty in this post and can relate to being unsure about your place in the blogging world. I am going to problog in august as well and hope it can help me figure it out! I lookf orwrad to meeting you!
Thanks Laney! I look forward to meeting you in August too! 🙂
HI Min, I have been so up and down with my blog over the past year, I have gone from initially being blog obsessed as a newbie, then going to a few conferences and realising the potential of blogging for business, then realising the limits and reality of being a non parenting blog/non fashion blog/non interiors blog.
I now just write for me and have the occasional giveaway to give back to my small community. I am working hard behind the scenes to create income from freelance writing & copywriting but again as you have mentioned blogging takes up time which can take over from the income side of things. Raychael is a great inspiration for all of us.
I’m thinking I may need a little behind the scenes way of earning an income too Lisa. Not sure if that will be photography or using my 30+ years of office/corporate skills! I’m thinking maybe being a VA might be worth investigating actually. We shall see! 🙂
Oh Min, I love the way you have written this to yourself! ‘Blog like no one is reading’? Looks like you have a lot of readers! I nodding when you talk about your first ‘healing’ blog. Mine was the same and I was so embarrassed about it, but, you probably agree, it was what I needed to do at the time and it had served it’s time. Off to write myself a post to myself now too! Love that idea.
Thank you Kate! It’s nice knowing I’m not alone in starting with a ‘healing blog’ and you know what – mine served its purpose plus some! 😉
I’ve been blogging for 3.5yrs now Min and it took me over a year to discover the whole blogosphere and probably about the same time to learn all the ins and outs of coding etc. I still ride a rollercoaster of do I keep blogging or do I give up and just live in the real world lol. I go up and down all the time.
I love your new blog and love your logo {secretly jealous I dont have a proper one}. See you at Problogger.
Thank you Toni for saying you love my new blog and logo! It sure is a rollercoaster ride this blogging thing – but it’s got under my skin! Don’t think I could walk away from it now! See you at Problogger!!
Thanks so much for sharing, this mirrors so much of my own blogging journey! I bet you’ll have a fabulous time at Problogger, I’ve heard so many good things about it xx
Thanks Jane! I’ve got a feeling I will have a ball at Problogger 🙂 xo
Yay Min!!!! Go you. We all share a similar bloggy journey. Mine isn’t blogging versus photography, but blogging versus concentrating on the business of my children’s books. I can’t let go of my blog though. It’s the one place that is truly MINE!
I think you can combine your blog and your children’s books very well Leanne and you do! I can’t let go of my blog either. I’ve been thinking about it and it would be like chopping off my arm! 😉
I remember being completely unaware of the blogosphere too when I started blogging in 2011 – glad I’m not the only slow learner amongst us!!!! I really enjoyed reading this post Min and i hope you can get your photography site off the ground one day, when you have the time and energy for both sites.
BTW I’m heading up to Problogger in August too – I would love to meet you there!
Glad you enjoyed reading this post Kirsty! I’d love to meet you at PB too. I will be looking out for you! 🙂