Wednesday 19 March 2014

Why you shouldn't blog

No worries, I'm not jumping ship. It's too late for me to leave, I'm in too deep. But if you are considering to start your own blog (as adviced by some people), here is a word of caution. Or, to be more precise, many words:

1. It's time consuming.
Oh, is it ever. You see, it's not as simple as writing down a post, publishing it and you are done. And that part alone takes me anything from at least one hour to - let's just say, many hours. 
Once you have done that you are supposed to promote your blog on social media. I don't do much of that: Bloglovin' posts for me on Twitter, so all I do is update my Facebook page. But if you do it properly you would tweet way more, maybe put something up on Instagram, link up to lots of other blogs - I don't know, there are probably more ways for promoting yourself, but that's all I've got.

Once you've jumped on the blogging train, you read and comment on other blogs, respond to emails and comments, research/prep for new posts... it's a lot. 
I'm not complaining in the least, because I love it, but the reality is: it takes time. 
I would say I dedicate an average of 2-3 hour to blogging every day, at least 5 days a week. Yes, it's crazy. Or I'm just really slow.

2. It is contemplative.   
Writing forces you to think. You have to think about what you want to write about. One thought will lead to another, and to another... and suddenly you arrive at a place you never thought possible. You will get new ideas, ponder radical concepts (like downsizing - say whaaat?), discover passions you didn't know where in you. If you don't like to think, you shouldn't blog.

3. It will foster change.
Blogging will change you. There, I said it. It will make you more confident, will force you to talk about things that scare you, will make you come out of your comfort zone. You may get crazy ideas about writing books, or doing challenges you didn't know you needed in your life, or pose for fashion shoots even though you hate posing. How do these things happen?
I honestly have no idea. They just do. One of the many mysteries of blogging.

4. It will make you meet new people.
If you blog on a regular basis, with everything that entails (being part of the community by commenting on other blogs, respond to comments on your own, link up once in a while, maybe be part of a challenge), you will meet people. Either online (which is as far as it has gone for me - so far), or IRL*.
It is inevitable. After all, that's what we are after. If not we could just write in our personal diaries, or turn off the comments. But, we bloggers don't. A lot of us are introverts IRL*, or shy, or otherwise socially impaired. And I mean that in the best possible way, I'm one of them and I don't think anything is wrong with me.

It's just - some of us don't know too many people IRL* that we can identify with. We all have our issues, and sometimes there is nobody close by who really understands. But here? If you search, you will find them.
One example (I have mentioned it numerous times on here, because it was huge for me for a while): deciding not to have kids. Thanks to Shannon and Mariah I have found lots of women who are like me! I'm even part of Mariah's Childfree Are We page.

To sum it up: If you don't like meeting new peeps, stay away from the blog world.

*IRL= in real life (I feel silly using the acronym, like a desperate hipster, but it's so much quicker that way)

5. It is exasperating.
Writer's block. Computer issues. Nobody seems to like that post you spent so much time on. You don't understand why you don't have more followers. Self doubt. Late hours.
They are all part of the equation.
I'm sure there can be many more unpleasant aspects to blogging, but my rose coloured glasses prevent me from seeing them.

6. Computers are your nemesis.
If you are not into computers, social media, htmls, urls and all that jazz, don't get started. I'm not a huge fan, but I have a great love for the internet, and that helps. Google has so far managed to answer all my pressing questions, even if it takes hours to find the answers.
I even picked up a few tidbits here and there, like what a html actually is. (Don't ask me to explain it though. I use it by copying and pasting everything. Copy+paste is my greatest friend in this whole endeavour.)

7. It is addictive. 
Do you really have time for a (new) addiction? When I started I had no idea that I would become so addicted to it, and now it's too late for me. Like I said, I'm in too deep.
So if you are contemplating to start a blog, be warned: Once you are in, and you discover the sweet and alluring irresistibility that is blogging, you won't be able to stop.

xoxo Miriam

Linking up with Nicole.

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15 comments

  1. Time consuming-indeed! I have barely kept up since being in grad school, but I don't beat myself up about it because I know grad school won't be forever.

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  2. Yes. I am in waaaay too deep! Haha. These are all so true!

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  3. Yes to all of these!! Thanks so much for the shout out!! You are the best! I'm glad to hear you spend a lot of time as sometimes I feel like it is just me and I am just must be crazy slow :) Great post!

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  4. Well, forget about it! It's too late for me and I'm still soooooo new! Thanks for the chuckle! :)

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    1. Don't feel bad, I was hooked right off the bat too. No regrets though, it's wonderful!

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  5. hahaha these are all soo true and I'm not even a long time blogger so I wonder how those people manage running a huge blog with a big readership must take half their lives. Like you I am sure I spend about 2 hours a day online doing blog related things and I don't even use twitter for my blog stuff as there are some people I would rather did not read it.
    Brilliant list x

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  6. true dat sista. All reasons why I am not nearly as consistent as I'd like to be too!

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  7. Yes to ALL of these! I never could have imagined all of the time work/time that goes into blogging until I started my own.

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  8. I love this post because it is all SO true!! I was taken off guard when I realized just how much work blogging can be but also pleasantly surprised by how fulfilling :) I'm afraid it's too late for me too, but so happy to see others feel the same!

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  9. I kept saying "Yes!", "Yes!", "YES!!!!" to each of these points. It got to a point for me where I was letting it keep me up at night worrying if I was doing it "right". I had to let go a little, and realize even I can't do it all. But the passion, and the self discovery, and.. yes! ALL that up there!

    Ok I'm stopping.

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  10. omg yes to all of this! but the connections you make and the fun you have is worth all the work.

    -kathy
    Vodka and Soda

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  11. Very true stuff - all of it. I think it's worth it (obviously or I wouldn't do it), but it can take over life if it is allowed.

    -Amy

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  12. Ain't that the truth! Blogging is all of this a more but totally worth it!

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  13. If you're slow, so am I :))). Some post have taken 5-6 hours, especially in the very beginning. It's all worth it though and I am so happy we have each other. One day the three of us (you, me and Mariah) need to meet up IRL!

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  14. Lol yup HTML is something I have to learn all over again, I'm not complaining though. I love the experience blogging is giving me and I think for me, it's the perfect dose of "me time" I never really seem to get any more. And oh my word, it is oh so darn addicting lol.

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