Monday 20 August 2012

Day 81 - Give a tip for new bloggers

This blog prompt is kind-of interesting, because I'm a new blogger :)

I read about different tips for starting a blog, and writing regularly, and so forth, and I joined this summer blog challenge to get into the habit of writing regularly and to meet other bloggers.

Part of me feels like I jumped off the deep end of a dock.  There is so much language that I'm not familiar with, there are computer things that I just don't know how to do (yay for Google!), and there are SO many people blogging!

I originally started my blog because I needed an outlet.  I've been so busy with my daughter (now seven months old) and so involved in her care and development, that I realized I've not been giving myself any 'grown-up' time.

In the past few months since starting my blog, I discovered that there are some things I wish I'd done differently.

- I wish I'd had a handful of topics I wanted to write about, because then I wouldn't have felt so 'guilty' for not writing anything for several days or weeks.

- I wish I'd scheduled time to write, either a little time set aside every day, or an hour or two a week.  What happens is that I'll think I've written just a couple days ago, and when I go to write again, it's been a week or two!

- I wish I'd had a more concrete idea of what I wanted to write about; whether it be a journal of our life, or summarizing research I've done, or talking about experiences, or discussing products or items I've discovered and love to use!

I don't really regret any choices I've made so far, but I know that my blog will be going through a bit of an overhaul.  I don't care if it becomes 'popular' or if it ends up like one of the really neat blogs I follow that do tons of reviews and giveaways and things.  I don't know if I'm that kind of person.

What I am is a researcher.  And an observer.  And a mum :)  I don't want to 'limit' myself to writing about certain things; I'd rather write about my life!

Number One Tip for New Bloggers?  Know what - and why - you want to write.


9 comments:

  1. Great advice and it is great that it came from someone new to the game!

    ReplyDelete
  2. In the blogger world, we call this 'Finding your niche'! ♥ It'll come to you, eventually - I came to blogging on a mission, but most start out just as you did.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have the same problem with the "what and why?"! I, too, kind of just jumped in without thinking so much about what I was going to write... I just new I needed to do it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. As with anything new, it takes time to form and develop. The more you do it, the easier it can become. Sometimes I just spew what is on my mind when I write a post, other times they are well thought out and pre planed posts. I find that when I am in the shower, I can come up with a million posts to write about. BUT when done, I can't remember a single one. Bloggin can be really fun. Go at your own pace.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I KNOW where you're coming from. You might enjoy this
    http://cozycornercrochets.blogspot.com/2012/06/who-am-i-as-blogger.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. I agree wholeheartedly with knowing what you want to write about. I've kind of been all over the place, but what is consistent is that it is a reflection of my life and my life journey.

    ReplyDelete
  7. You started blogging for the same reason I did. I wanted to have an outlet, and find some connections and maybe even friends despite being a SAHM who rarely got out of the house! I google a lot for ideas on 'what to blog about' and read a lot of blogs and keep track of any great ideas that I might want to talk about in the future. My blog is primarily about parenting - so most of my posts relate to my current pregnancy, or what my daughter is doing now - it's actually gotten easier to think of ideas to write about - good luck as you continue!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for sharing your blog with me! I find that with blogging its good to be consistent. Your readers are usually more turned on to someone who posts consistently. Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Normally I try to reply to each comment individually, but li'l Sweet Pea has been teething for the last few days.

    Thank you all for your comments, feedback and advice! I really appreciate it :)

    ReplyDelete