Write from the heart
I really am dying to read all the blogging tips offered up for this week’s Listography at Kate Takes 5, but I am holding off until I have contributed myself.
This is the perspective of an expat mummy blogger of one year, who just wanted to write and share stuff and might sometimes feel a little isolated up her mountain in Spain… so here goes:
Do enjoy it
If, like me, you are writing a personal blog for personal reasons, write only when you want to about what you want to. Do not write out of obligation or a fear that if you take a break from it, or write something outside your usual area, your regular readers and new-found friends will drop away. Write from the heart (whether it be singing or breaking at that moment) and all the rest will follow.
Don’t take it too seriously
I have had some crazed moments of thinking that to stay in the game I must write a post a day or always enter this meme or that blog hop. Some amazing bloggers seem to manage to regularly write original and authentic posts as well as joining in with all the fun and games. Everyone has a different metabolism for blogging based on writing style and life situation. Recognise and respect your own metabolism. The sky is not going to fall in if you do not write a blog post for a few days. Who am I trying to convince here? You or me?
Do set some boundaries
How much of your time can you really afford in front of the screen? I have had weeks when life has got on top of me and something has to give. In this house when something has to give the first thing to go is cleaning, then the washing, after that it is personal hygiene, and then, when little birds start cheeping very loudly, it is the blog. After all the internet is not going anywhere is it?
Where do you draw the line when writing about experiences that involve family and friends? What and who are sacred in your life? Mr B and I have a kind of unspoken rule. If he doesn’t like something that I put on the blog, although we may disagree about it, it comes down.
And don't rain on her parade either... she can get a bit 'funny' about it
Don’t let anybody piss on your parade
As in life, so in blogging: Steer clear of toxic. I haven’t been on the receiving end of any online toxicity myself, but I have watched it play out on more than a couple of occasions and have been left gob-smacked by the gall of those dishing out judgements on others. Don’t give the toxics the satisfaction. Cut off their oxygen. Don’t rise to it. Leave ’em hanging.
And finally DO keep reading blogs
I am amazed at how my ‘journey’ (yack – sounds like Strictly Come Blogging) has been so much about reading other blogs. My blog crushes – I am sure that they know who they are – are an inspiration. Happy or sad. Funny, practical, honest, earthy, whimsical. Love lovely blogs.
Reading this back it turns out that my list of tips centres around attitude rather than the practicalities. I guess that this is the stuff that I have learned.
Now I am off to Kate Takes 5 to read some tipsy lists or should that be some listy tips?
