I have been blogging for just about a year but have not been consistent by any means. My first love is writing parenting articles for regional parenting magazines. (See sidebar) As an older mom, it’s fun to come up with ideas to write about to help younger moms streamline their life, provide resources for them and encourage them along on their journey.
However, blogging kept calling my name. Not too sure why. There’s no money in it as of right now but still I love it. So what have I learned so far?
1. That I have to work at being nice
Since blogging is such a personal experience, I’m pretty open about my opinion. However, there is quite an art to portraying your realistic thoughts on paper or on a screen. And I have a tendency to be sarcastic. Now, when my older kids are being sarcastic, it sounds funny. But when my younger kids say something sarcastically, it sounds snotty. And blogging has brought it to my attention how ugly it can be when I see it on the page. Ugh!
“The right word
at the right time
is like precious gold
set in silver.”
Okay, I’m working on that.
Now I know why there’s a delete key. More often than not, I have to remind myself that life isn’t about me.
2. I rely too much on other’s comments to validate me
After I post, I wait for comments. I LOVE COMMENTS but I need to move on and let things go. Wow, remember when you were young? I mean really young? And you thought that when you reach the age 20, 30 or even 40, you’d be mature and all grown up? I’m still asking the Lord to mature me and not rely on man’s approval but it’s hard.
Blogging can be a not-so-pretty mirror.
3. There will be hits and misses with different posts.
It surprises that sometimes I’ll post about something and I get a lot of reaction and comments. Next time I post, I won’t hear from anyone. This tells me that I have to keep writing and writing and writing. I need to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
I’ll have to continue this discussion for another day. There’s so much more I want to share.
Tell me what you’ve learned from blogging? Does it surprise you? Or does it scare you?
Photos by Charkrem
I’ve been blogging since 2005 – oh my, that sounds like a long time ago! I guess the things I’ve learned from blogging (and the thing that has always surprised me) is that there actually are people who read what I write and are encouraged by it.
Mostly when I started, it was just for me. My journal. First all about my homeschool journey, then with homemaking things I was learning or doing. Then I started a blog simply for the spiritual insights I got from the scriptures. Then I started a Xanga about the everyday-ness of my life. Finally, I’ve pulled most of it all together and have seen that, not only am I writing for my children (my girls in particular) as part of my training them for their future lives as wives and mothers, but I am also looking to encourage other women. But I’ve always found that the BEST way I encourage others is by being transparent about my struggles and failures. Yep, women love that! OK, I guess! ;-D I’m glad to be used in that way.
Kate,
Thank you for sharing. I agree that when we are transparent with our kids then they are more authentic with then own lives.
jan
Hi Jan!
Some of the things I’ve learned about blogging jive exactly with yours and others are the opposite…
1. I need to speak my mind more, not be wishy-washy or vague, but really give my opinion.
2. I’m a comment junkie, too. They absolutely make my day! 😉
3. There certainly will be hits and misses. Finding my real, core audience is part of what participation in this Blogathon is all about.
What I love most about blogging is that I’m constantly learning. Especially now, from so many other bloggers. It has been a fantastic experience thus far… and it’s only Day 1!
Yes to learning to be less wishy washy. I find the older I get, the easier it is to have an opinion and voice it.
Last night I was learning about sizing my photos. I guess it never stops.
Like you, I tend toward sarcasm. Unlike you, I don’t usually fight it, although I do try to use it jokingly and not maliciously.
My big challenge when starting my blog was to try to get over my lifelong fear of what other people might think of my writing. I remember being in high school, typing a paper, and actually putting my hand over the screen when my boyfriend walked by. It was ridiculous! So like Lisa said, my lesson is to write what I really think, without letting fear of other people’s opinions get in the way.
I’ve heard when you’re more opinionated, you can get more traffic. Maybe we all should pick a day to be controversial?
Whaddya think?
I have learned that I blog for myself, as practice for other types of writing, which I do not have much time for these days. I’ve been writing my blog for five years. Sometimes there are lots of comments. Sometimes no one notices my words. I also have learned that, although I started the blog about a place on Cape Cod, I have been able to adapt that theme to environmental topics, which interest me more and can be developed in new ways according to current research. For instance, and, this should interest your readers, I am concerned about toxic chemicals in the environment, which need regulation. Everyone has heard of BPA now, but there are many more, thousands of them, in fact. Senator Frank Lautenberg has introduced a bill in Congress: the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011. It is really important to get the word out, since the media is acting as if toxic chemicals do not matter. From my reading, I have learned toxic chemicals in the environment make us sick, create cancer, ADHD, autism, asthma, etc. Have you ever considered writing an article about this subject for a parenting magazine?
I think I will. I have a few assignments to finish and maybe I’ll venture out of my comfort zone. I always need article ideas.
Thanks for stopping by and I have to share that it’s amazing that you have been so diligent about blogging about your B & B. You completed it last year too! Congrats.
I think I’m following in your footsteps exactly one year later. Blogging was calling my name too but, I’ve just begun the journey.
What I’ve learned so far is that I was clueless about blogging. I think the most important things that I’ve learned in the last two weeks are:
* I have a lot to learn about the logistics of blogging
* I need to come up with a “niche” topic
All will come in time I’m sure, but I feel like I’m making progress..baby steps!
You know what’s important? is that you want to do this and you have a great “learning” attitude. I learned a ton last year.
Baby steps, that’s the way to not burn yourself out and still have fun while you’re doing this. I’ll look on our google group and will visit your blog tomorrow. 🙂
What, I won’t have all the answers when I turn 40 this month? Dagnabit! We are birds of a feather, Jan, as I can also be found waiting for comments. Something I’ve learned from blogging is that I love the dialogue. I love to write and being able to share thoughts about what others write and what I write, in real time, is thrilling. Happy Blogathon to you!
I just visited your blog. Wow. I’m going to have to spend more time there.
I want to know what our goal is when it comes to interacting with commentors? (is that a word?) Maybe we can discuss it on the google group.
Congrats for Day 1. Thanks.
Hi Jan,
What frustrates me most (especially during Blogathon) is whether or not I’ll be able to come up with quality posts. I tend to be a perfectionist. Also battle with depression, OCD, and ADD. So, it’s difficult for me to get started at times.
I think I’m going to approach this month as an exercise in writing everyday. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and the interaction with others is alone worth it.
Good luck!
Marvin,
I think you are being courageous with this blogathon.
YES to all the things you said about perfectionism. It’s such an illusion. Just keep writing.
Thank you for leaving a comment today.
Jan,
Thanks for the great post. Blogging has taught me that I really need to work on my time management skills. Not like I didn’t know they were poor, just didn’t realize how poor until I started blogging. I get distracted to easily, something I find very hard to control. I would say that I am going to work on it, but chances are I won’t. I am in my 40’s now and I am tired of always trying to fix my dayum self. Sometimes I just want to except me for who I am, and I am someone with poor time management skills, well maybe I will try to do a little better, poor is bad. I always seem to manage, but a little better definitely could not hurt.
Good luck with blogathon,
Jenn
Hey Jennifer,
Oh…my…, time management. Don’t even want to go there! I spend too much time floating around online spaces. Maybe I’ll blog about that topic but it would be very depressing.
Best wishes to you, too. I’ll be by your blog soon.
jan
I’ve been blogging for four months now, and would say my experience of blogging is very similar to yours. I want to meet a blogger who’s not into comments – the communication with your readers is what really sets blogging apart from writing in publications, doesn’t it?
Wow, just took at your blog. How did you find the blogathon?
But how do we communicate with our readers? Maybe we could throw that out to our google group. Thank you for stopping by.
On lesson #2: It is always nice to get comments. I do find myself disappointed when I see that so many people are reading, like on BlogHer. 160 reads and not one comment?
I don’t truly take it personal since it appears that most folks don’t comment at all on anything they read. I do it all the time. But, having said all of that, it is hard not to think that my post warranted a comment or two and wonder what I can do differently. Then I remember why I blog. I do it because I love to write and have lots to say. Comments are icing.
Happy to read you. 🙂
wow, 160 reads…I’m not there yet. I like “comments are icing.” I read blogs for a long time before leaving a comment… it wasn’t until I started blogging did I become aware of comments. You’re right ,Tatyanna…we write because we have to. (and love to.)
Happy back to you! 🙂 And I have to remember that icing thing…
Hi, Jan.
Love your giant smoothies and your cute kids. I’ve not blogged for quite a while now. I guess I just jumped in with both feet when I was blogging for magazines and educational organizations. But, like you said, blogging for yourself is, well, personal. And raw. And exciting. So, good for you. I hope to learn more about you and your blog during our Blogathon experience.
Lisa
Lisa, Quick question: when you went to my site, were my pictures overly huge?
If you click on blog from the front of my website then the pics are oversized! If you click on the title of my post then it’s a normal size picture. I guess I have to go ask the google group. I’ve been spending too much time there today…I need to find some discipline. Have you seen any of it laying around?
I have a therapist friend who I’ll send your link to.
take care,
jan