Continuing the new year theme I thought I’d do a quick post on why I keep blogging (or keep returning to the blog!) and how you can motivate yourself to carry on with what may essentially be just a hobby, even when real life gets in the way.
Funnily enough, during my break away from blogging I actually did more blogging than ever before! But only in preparation. During the last few months of my pregnancy I suddenly became inspired by random youtube videos I was watching / new bloggers on the scene / new magazines – and I decided to spend my evenings planning, writing and filming for the start of this year.
I thrive on organisation and preparation and this can sometimes be a real weakness as I don’t allow myself time just to chill and relax. My Greek man always moans that I spend far too much time worrying and planning things in advance and what happens if one day I’m not prepared. My answer is always: well naturally I’ll be prepared to not be prepared.
Up until literally a few days before I was due to give birth to Greek prince number 2, I was still frantically drafting future posts / book ideas and writing out To Do lists. I felt that I had to do as much as possible before baby number 2 popped out just in case I couldn’t cope or that everything would get too much for me and I wouldn’t be able to write anything sane for quite a while.
This led to a bust up with the Greek ape who demanded to know why on earth I put so much energy into my writing and blogging when it’s not really being noticed by the right people / generating no substantial income / not getting me the freelance work I was hoping for.
Cue this heavily pregnant woman going a bit mental, smashing a few plates and suggesting that all Greek man wants to do is lock her up in the kitchen!
Ahem.
When I had calmed down I explained that my reasons for continuing to write and blog even when perhaps it might not seem to be getting me anywhere are plentiful.
First of all my passion IS writing. I enjoy it and I think I’m fairly good at it. My blog started out as a way to show my writing skills and I believe I have been able to hone these skills by writing continuously and consistently and seeing how people react to my written word. A BLOG KEEPS YOU WRITING.
Secondly my first three books have been self-published and to self-publish successfully you have to market yourself. The best way to market yourself these days is online. WHICH INCLUDES HAVING A BLOG.
Thirdly you can’t expect editors to notice you unless you have some experience. I have written several articles for high-end publications and magazines and the reason I have been given that chance is BECAUSE I HAVE A BLOG: PROOF OF WRITING.
Fourthly we live in an online world. You simply can’t escape it. So what’s the point of being on the outside looking in when you could potentially improve your career prospects by having a virtual social standing. A BLOG GIVES YOU ONLINE PRESENCE.
For me blogging is a tool that helps me keep a finger in the online pie. Due to the other commitments in my life, I am unable to push other social media tools as much as these top bloggers and vloggers do, nor do I really want to as already I feel that I spend far too much time online. (However if the big bucks started rolling in you could sell my soul to Zuckerburg!).
This year I have decided to venture out onto the online platform a bit more by increasing my Instagram pics, dipping a toe in the YouTube world and generally being more creative with my posts, photographs and general content. Why? Well no-one likes a stale blog and IF you are going to keep blogging you do need to bear in mind your audience and what else might be dazzling them other than your one-post-a-month.
At the same time I’ve tried to lessen my blogging workload by becoming more structured with my content, only blogging once a week rather than twice, and keeping things specifically tailored to my general theme so that I stay focused. For example there are so many beauty bloggers out there and whilst I LOVE beauty and have even thought about completely chucking my blog in and starting again, there is absolutely no point competing in a field that you don’t own. I will most definitely write beauty posts now and then but it will be related to my general Greek theme because THAT’S WHAT I KNOW, and the best way to keep writing is to WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW.
So if you’re stuck in a rut and not sure if you want to continue blogging or feel that you are wasting your life in front of your laptop whilst all these other bloggers are getting freebies galore and posting every second of every day, just take a break, sit back and decide if you can truly live without it. If so then good for you. If not, then try to see how you can re-structure your blogging/social media schedule so that you DO have a life away from your mobile/computer.
And just keep blogging…
OPA!
♥
I love blogging just wish I had more time to devote to it. You put me to shame, writing, two little ‘uns and blogging too…
Author
But I look like a zombie!! I think everything has to be balanced and I love your blog. Your doing a brilliant job! X
I don’t believe it! You always look so fabulous. Thank you so much for your kind compliment about my blog. All the best to you and your lovely family for 2017. X
Author
xx
Hello! I really need this to read this, But I still don’t know what to do with my blog. It has been running for 4 years now. Its biggest growth came when I had 4 months off in between life stages and was able to dedicate 8 hours a day to everything related to the blog. But in those 4 years I have also gone for months without posting a thing (either out of lack of motivation or simply lack of tools, a.k.a working in a foreign country and living in staff housing with no access to a kitchen to cook Greek food!). About a year ago I decided to just stop completely, because it didn’t make me happy anymore. But these past few months I have gotten back into it, as I just can’t imagine shutting down the site or not contributing to what is essentially my brain child/biggest creation….. But I really don’t know how to see the actual joy in doing it anymore, other than the thrill of putting up another post and being satisfied with my recipe and pictures. Because with each post I have to invent the recipe, cook it, photograph it (which never seems to happen at the time of cooking, more like 3 days later after the food has been sitting in the fridge because I haven’t had time or good lighting to photograph), then write a whole blog post about my life (which pains me… I don’t see why people care about my life. It’s boring! They should care about the pictures and the recipes, but sadly, the readers want to see a real person behind the post), and then I have to pump out the post to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. And it’s exhausting! And sadly, I DO want the blog to become very popular, and I DO want to have a huge following. And I just bought a new expensive lens for my camera to take better food pics…. But the blog gives me anxiety because I feel like I’m not doing enough, and what I’m already doing is exhausting! But like I said, I can’t imagine just NOT doing it. And it’s still a project that hasn’t even lived up to its potential. So I’m really at an impasse…… I don’t know if I should keep investing the time and money or if I should just put it to rest. So (pseudo) Greek blogger to another Greek blogger, what’s a girl to do???!!!
Author
Oh Natalia I know EXACTLY how you feel. I’ve forked out a small fortune for my blog – including website fees, lighting etc – I’ve got a pro camera but I still use my phone because it’s the simplest! The most difficult and time consuming thing is, as you said, the rest of social media. I actually really hate twitter but feel I have to keep it because how can you be a proper blogger without it?! BUT I’ve tried now to structure things more and actually blog less but increase the content and quality. It needs to fit into YOUR life, your life shouldn’t have to fit into the blog if that makes sense! I would keep going because your blog is brilliant but try to simplify it all so you don’t get all the anxiety and stress. Easier said than done eh. Well just know that you are not alone! We can stress out and smash plates together 🙂 xxx
Excellent blog post, i really loved it! You are so honest and motivates me with my blogging (as i am just starting). Love your blog!
Author
Oh I’m so glad thank you – what a lovely comment! I’m branching out into a bit of YouTube this year so hope that helps motivate people too (and gives everyone a laugh!) xx
Well said! As well as the positives you mentioned I also use my blog to record some of my favourite experiences in Crete, so it acts as a lovely memory box. Best wishes for your blogging year. X
Author
That’s a wonderful reason to keep a blog Yvonne – they definitely can act as memory boxes too. Best wishes to you too! Xx
I agree with everything you mentioned. Since we rely on other people whether or not our creations get published, at least, with our own personal blog, our readers can get to view what we write. And, it also keeps us WRITING. So, ooopaa, and keep up the great work!