01) The first few months you will fluctuate between yay-i-am-officially-a-blogger excitement and only-two-pageviews-fuck-this-i-am-done disappointment. Stay strong. The best is yet to come, it just takes time.
02) On SEO - Is it just me or does this feel like algebra all over again??
03) You will hit your 100 followers mark and damn, doesn't that feel good?
04) You will discover that sleep becomes a rare luxury when you have to juggle that full time job, your never-ending college assignments and a blog.
05) Your social life becomes limited to a night out with friends once a month and if you are a lucky, a quick lunch/tea with your work bestie. But you'll always be able to
06) Blogging opens so many doors. You will meet a lot of wonderful and supportive people.
07) Of course, negativity will always be there. But you'll eventually learn to tune it out and stay focused on the positive stuff.
08) Change will become your middle name because at you'll constantly want to change your blog's look, name and features.
09) You will learn soooo much. Writing, networking, blog commenting, coding, photography, Photoshop and so many more things.
10) Oh and you 'll be on first name basis with your local librarian, the postman and the people at your local bargain book stores. Say what up, homie? Just stopping by to pick up a couple of reads, yo.
11) You'll look around your room and realize that you have a serious hoarding problem. Shelving problems, anyone?
12) You'll start your morning checking your blog, your Instagram, your Twitter, your Goodreads while everybody else is raving on about Facebook.
13) Okay, blogger's block is an official thing alright? One day you'll be so full of ideas and the next you'll stare blankly at that blinking cursor. Just hang in there girl, it happens to the best.
14) Whoever said that blogging is not a job is obviously some kind of super human. The number of hours put into your blog would probably be in par with your actual daytime job.
15) Hiatus - For when you are sick of hearing the word 'blogging'. Every now and then remember to unplug and take a breather. It really helps.
16) One day you'll question if it is worth all the trouble.
17) And then you write this magnificent post and be flooded with so much love from your readers.
18) People will write you lengthy e-mails and leave heart warming comments telling you that they adored your post and that you've inspired them.
19) You feel fucking invincible.
20) But then your family and friends will keep you grounded and you'll thank them for it.
***
Confession Time: What truths have you learnt through out your blogging journey?
Does my confession list match yours? No? I'd love to hear about your experiences so feel free to speak out!
Hoarding problems? Not me. There is no such thing as too much book, there is a thing called too little space :p 14. True. It's a fun kind of job though, but it requires a lot of work and effort.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I know right? We just need bigger shelves and bigger rooms! :P
DeleteWhat a great and honest post. Yea, it isn't easy, and there are ups and downs, but totally worth it :) I think it is interesting how you look at situations and events differently when you're a blogger. Ooh, can I make a post about this? Hmm what would my review say if this happened instead?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! & you are so right, every time I see something I wonder how I can incorporate into a post.
DeleteAww this is such a sweet post — I love it!! And it's all so true. I used to run a recipe blog before I started my book blogging one, and while it was fun, I never realized how great blogging could TRULY be until I started Tempest Books and really came into my own. I love it so much and I can't believe that there are people out there who DON'T blog, when it's this awesome haha :) I've met so many great people and done a lot of awesome things over this past year...and I can't wait for more!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Miranda - I'm glad you like it! :-*
DeleteWoah, I didn't know you had a foodie blog! But you are right, book blogging is way more fun. ;)
I love your list!! SO. TRUE. Although mine took like a few years to get over the newbie-blogger-bump when I learned that actually talking to other bloggers really helped make it all fun and exciting. ;) Duh to me. lol! Blogging breaks are good and hugely underestimated. This is such an A+ list to be honest.
ReplyDeleteGlad you can relate, Cait! And yes you are right, blogging breaks seriously help when you are in a slump.
DeleteTHIS IS SO AMAZINGLY TRUE YOU READ MY MIND WHAT how tell me. Yes to EVERY SINGLE one of these posts especially the knowing postmen/librarians by name! It took me a good 8 months to actually get over being a newbie blogger because before that I hadn't got ANY social media so I knew no-one AT ALL, and had like 10 followers. But then I got twitter and I made so many wonderful friends. :)
ReplyDeleteI AM PSYCHIC, HOW DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT. Also, maybe there is a possibility that we are long lost soul sisters?
DeleteSocial media seriously helps get the word out so kudos to you for putting yourself out there! :)
Lol #8 is definitely true for me. I can't seem to stop myself from tweaking my blog every now and then. I do #12 as well. Weird how checking my blog, Twitter, and goodreads has become such a normal part of my morning schedule. Great list =)
ReplyDeleteThe itch to re-design is back so I can definitely relate! Checking my various social media accounts is pretty up there in my schedule beside drinking my morning tea/coffee.
DeleteThanks for stopping by! :)
#8 cracked me up-I literally have changed my background/theme like 6 times in the past few months (and I just started blogging this year!). I'm good now. Really, lol.
ReplyDelete#15 is where I'm at right now, not because I'm burned out on blogging/reading, but because I have a lot going on with the upcoming school year starting. I'll be taking a short hiatus for most of September. I hate doing it, but real life has to come first!
Great post!
I love your new design-clean and really easy to navigate! :)
DeleteHope you enjoy your hiatus.
I have just started blogging and I'm saying yes to almost every item on the list already!! This is an awesome list :) I check my Goodreads first thing in the morning, IG and email next. I'm barely on Facebook anymore when it used to be my first check in the morning.
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks! Facebook does not even stand a chance against Goodreads right? ;)
DeleteA spot on post! I've just started up seriously and it's one of the best feelings ever.
ReplyDeletewww.printedwordsand.com
I'm so glad to hear that you've taken the plunge, Tracey! :D
DeleteYES TO ALL OF THESE! I love this. I honestly can't imagine my life without blogging since it's become such a huge part of me.
ReplyDeleteOMG yes, a life without blogging sounds really bleak for me! Thanks for stopping by, Jessica! :)
Delete8 is me. 8 is 100% me. Although, to be honest, most of these apply to me. :')
ReplyDeleteAnd 14 is just YES. Ahh blogging is SO time-consuming. Basically THESE ARE ALL SO ACCURATE. It's weird because sometimes, when I'm writing a post, I wonder what I'd be doing right now if I didn't blog and I genuinely have no idea.
Loved this post! :)
Thank you! It's pretty much impossible to imagine a life without blogging for me too!
DeleteYes, yes, yes! OMG when I first started my blog over a year ago I didn't sleep a full night for weeks because I was so busy with the blog and getting excited over every single email related to the blog. And who knew it was so much work? And that I'd love it so much? And learn so much!? We're not even going to talk about my hoarding problem lol. Great post :)
ReplyDeleteThe first few weeks are incredible, aren't they? So much excitement!
DeleteI'd love to ignore my book hoarding problem too but when I'm literally stumbling over books it is a little hard to ignore! ;)
I love ALL of this! Especially about shelving problems, I need to either get another shelf or get rid of some books (like that will ever happen).
ReplyDeleteAmber Elise @ Du Livre
More shelves is the answer, Amber! The idea of getting rid of my books is blasphemous! :P
DeleteI really liked this post, I thought it had a little bit to offer old and new bloggers alike. I definitely agree about needing the breaks and sometimes feeling overworked! But I always get a smile when somebody likes my post or says something positive, so I think it has its rewards. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Livvy! Seeing a comment on my blog makes my day for sure! :)
DeleteThis post is amazing, and so, so true! I barely sleep anymore, and there are days I wouldn't trade it for anything, and days I want to scream and go to bed, but you're right, it's so worth it in the end. I love this post, completely relatable!
ReplyDeleteI feel you, Shannon! Not blogging sounds as terrible as not being to read!
DeleteI blog here for fun and book promotion, but I also am a freelance article-writer and blogger for a variety of clients. That's how I make my living. That part of it started part-time, through jobs I landed on Elance, and I was able to quickly make connections and build my client base. Within three years, I'd quit my day job to write full-time. I tell people this all the time, but nobody ever pursues it themselves. I guess everyone just wants to hold out in the hopes they'll someday make a salary writing fiction!
ReplyDeleteQuitting my full time job and writing part time is something that I've considered over the years. I don't think I'm ready to take the plunge yet however, I will keep Elance in mind for when I do.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your experience, Stephanie! :)
Great post! I don't think people realise how much effort goes into blogging, even on a part time basis. There's a lot of juggling real life stuff with online stuff and it's hard to get it 100% perfect. It's like another job! Love the point about unplugging/haitus. It's definitely necessary for mental health!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nnikatnite.co.uk/
Thanks, Nicky! :) Sometimes it does feel like another job, only more fun! ;)
DeleteGreat and relateable post! Especially for me when it comes to taking a break, because I find that my inspiration to blog returns in absolute full force after taking a while off. :D
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this! I have too little space to hoard on books even if I want to!
ReplyDeleteThis post is still so relevant today! I'm won't consider myself a real blogger until I hit the 6 month mark, so I'm half way there..
ReplyDeleteYou're right about how much time blogging takes. I had to reduce the number posts I wrote up by half and it's still time consuming. Last night, I stayed up until 2 a.m. finishing a book and writing up a review. I was grumpy when I had to wake up to go to work, but I love writing reviews for my blog so it's worth it.