I have been asked a lot lately about how to do what I do and stay sane. The truth is there is no easy way. As you all can see there are plenty of times when I have to walk away from the blog and come back after a few days. The biggest thing I have learned in the four years I have been blogging is to let go. If I allowed the blog it would consume every aspect of my life and there was a time when at 3 am I was still up working on the blog. Now I simply walk away and I hope the blog is better for it.
When I started blogging I didn’t know that I wanted it to be my new career. I wanted it to be something fun and it still is (although there were a few times….) but what I discovered was that I can have a great career and be the woman I want to be at the same time. When I started out there was no one to help me. I had to learn everything on my own or so I thought. I didn’t know that many of the bloggers would gladly answer a question if I had taken the time to ask. On the down side of that we can’t answer every single question that comes our way. Many of us get hundreds of emails a day and are raising families while writing our blogs. We are lucky we can manage a minute to our selves but none f us would change it.
Many bloggers write posts about blogging and all the things they have learned. In fact I have written several as well and will on occasion write more. I do want to help those who want to start blogging even more. I am almost finished with my first ebook called Crash Course Blogging and although it is the bare basics it will get you started blogging. I wanted to keep it simple and get you started without being technical. I have a couple of others planned that go more into detail and have considered offering a course to help those who want it.
I also have a book planned about product reviewing. That was the one thing that I found a lot of people were not very open about sharing when I first started. I had to take the “by the seat of my pants” kind of approach. While the book won’t give you any big secret to getting a car to review(nope I haven’t gotten one either but I know people who have) it will help you get started product reviewing and finding companies to work with.
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Blogging for me is too complicated and too time consuming- and I dont think I would have the patience for it. I likely wouldnt be bad at it, but not sure I would want to give up visiting all the blogs.
I still visit all the same blogs. The key is planning everything. I have to set a timer or I would spend all day on one thing.
Wow I like that you have a book coming out with some great tips. In the near future I want to run my own blog it’s kind of a scary thought because I have no idea how it works but when all my boys are school aged I’d like to spend time on figuring it out
I’m looking forwards to your “Crash Course Blogging” ebook. I’m not a blogger but would really like to learn more about it 🙂
Every now and then I get the wild thought that I might start a blog–but my picture of the bloggers I read is that you are super star celebrity computer geniuses! (I am not kidding) I would be interested in seeing your Crash Course Blogging to learn not just how to start a blog, but sort of get an idea of what it takes.
I am grateful for your work and really enjoy reading!
I can definitely relate. I’ve been blogging for a few years now, and what started as a hobby has evolved into an obsession. At times it really consumes my life – I sometimes work late into the night and when I should be doing other things. My friends and family mock me and say “One more post” has become my catchphrase. But it’s important to remember to step away from the keyboard from time to time and live real life as well.
Just like any job…it requires balance. One moment at a time, you’ll keep finding it.