As you may know I have had to start my blog again from scratch.
This made me cry, shout rude words (a lot and very loudly), and sulk until I realised it was actually a blessing in disguise.
When I started blogging almost two years ago I had a plan of what I wanted my blog to be, how it would develop and what it would bring me.
I now see that, for me, this was completely the wrong way of approaching things. I needed to let the blog to grow organically. To discover what it would become along the way.
It was going to be a guide to Essex, it became a guide to my life. An outlet for me to talk about anything and everything that takes my fancy.
Granted, the majority of it is based around Essex (a girl has got to stay true to her roots). Yet now its more about family life than just a tourist guide to land of orange faces and white shoes.
I’m no blogging expert, far from it in fact. I’m just a girl who loves to write, read, and (over) share what is on my mind.
The only piece of advice I would give anyone thinking of starting a blog, or those who at times find they have misplaced their blogging mojo, is to just write what is on your mind. Dont worry if you think no one wants to hear it, if you sound authentic, they will.
If its from the heart, not re-gurgitated from a press relase, people will relate to you. They will identify with your honesty and this in turn will help them to relate to you. I read some blogs where 90% of the time I disagree with what the author has to say, but I can see they believe in their views and therefore I am interested in their opinions.
After all, it would be boring if we all thought the same wouldn’t it?
So with my ‘new’ blog comes a new Mantra.
‘Blog from the heart, blog to make me happy and don’t stress the stats’
What’s your blogging mantra?
Oh Alice, I’m gutted for you that you lost your blog and had to start from scratch. I think I’d have curled up and cried.
I completely agree with your new mantra, it’s pointless trying to be something particular when you blog, readers see through it and what they really want to see is the real you.
My mantra has always been “Live first, blog second”. My basic thinking is that my blog will be better if I’m living an exciting and fulfilling life. And actually I think that mantra sometimes makes us live a better life than if I didn’t blog. I’m always on the look out for exciting things for use to do, places to go, great places for photographs because they’ll make a memorable experience for us and great blog post afterwards.
xx
I like that – I think it is important to have a life outside blogging to give yourself something to blog about. Sometimes I don’t write for a week because I’m too busy ‘living’ but then when I do, I have so much more to say.