Credit to (nutmeg )
I’m a bad blogger. Alot of the people I follow on Twitter, other blogs and such are “big” bloggers, or are in it to BE “big” bloggers. I’m really not. I mean ya, who doesn’t fantasize about being the next Dooce, or getting a book deal, or the other connections that can come about from blogging? The downside of that is, I don’t want to be a big blogger, I want to sew. I started this blog as a way to record things about my kids, and our lives, projects I’ve made and just my general rambly thoughts.
But all too often I don’t blog at all because I think “Oh no one cares about this thing my kid did” or “is this post good enough to lead to something bigger and better?”. It’s an evil cycle, because I do want to see my business grow, but it’s not going to happen overnight, and this blog needs to be for me, and my family first and foremost. Giving people a glimpse into the crazy that is my life.
*This post has been a work in progress for the last few weeks, and now I’m deciding to finish and post it. I attended WordCamp Chicago this past weekend, and my thoughts were validated, so well, here’s the rest.
I know I”m not the first (and most certainly won’t be the last) person to struggle with the whole “I’m not good enough thing”. But you know what? You ARE good enough! And so am I! I was told over and over this weekend as I talked to other bloggers about the perfectionist struggles that you can’t be all things to all people. That’s absolutely right. I can WANT to be, but I just end up feeling like I’m spinning my wheels and doing nothing for anyone.
So I resolve this..I will blog. I’m not sure I can be a “niche blogger” (meaning I only blog about one topic), because I’m an eclectic person. But I will blog the things I sew, the things I’m thinking, and whatever else I want to share. It may not be good enough for a book deal, but it’s good enough for me.
This is the *perfect* post! No seriously. I may just copy it and post it on my own blog. Don’t worry, I don’t have many readers.
I’ve been thinking much the same way recently. Actually, I’ve been considering just starting completely over and making my blog more of a record for Punkin. I have such a terrible memory, he’ll never know stories about himself unless I record them. That way, I’ll be writing for him and our family, and not worrying about what my “readers” think.
So glad you had an awesome weekend!
Hey, as long as you give me credit, it’s all good lol. And that’s exactly my problem, there’s so much pressure to get comments and monetize, and for every post to just be FABULOUS..that I freeze and just don’t post at all. I want to get to know my readers, and want them to get to know me if they choose..and me is, well, kinda all over the board. So here’s to blogging for US!
I love your blog
Big flashy blogs are fun but I really can’t relate to them. I enjoy smaller blogs like yours because chances are I have done, thought about, been through something similar and in this day and age of actual face to face interaction being so rare it’s nice to feel at least a slight bond with another human being!
Oh yes, in some ways though I LOVE the internet (seriously, it’s probably unhealthy lol), I wish that sitting on your porch having coffee with your neighbors while the kids play was still the norm. I know I personally like blogs that are just….real? So I’m going to endeavor to keep that in this space.
I am SO over the “big blogs”. I agree with Nichole, I can’t relate to them. So many seem to morph into something/someone else once they reach a certain point, and then I just give up reading them. But that’s just me and my humble, off-the-beaten-track way of being.
The only person you should ever be writing for is yourself (or maybe your children, like Punkinmama’s talking about). Because when it’s all said and done, it’s your name on it and you have to decide if it was something worthwhile for you or not. No one else’s opinion really carries that kind of weight, or at least it shouldn’t. Write for yourself. People that can relate will find you, and thank you for being you.
See, you struck one of my thoughts right on the head. Back when I first started reading blogs a few years ago there was one in particular that I just loved so much. It was real, but thought provoking, and just kinda all around awesome. The author shut that blog down a year or maybe even two now ago, and now is a “deal blogger”. Which is fine, if that’s what she loves, go for it. But her new blog is seriously all about money (and reading her in a few other places on the web, its very apparent that it’s about how much money she can make as a blogger). It still makes me sad, I miss the old blog. I never want to make my readers sad! So I make ya’ll this promise, when I’m a famous fabric/clothing/whatever designer, I’ll still talk about the weird things that happen here at the Lily Pad!
I couldn’t agree more. Well written. And I join your imperfect blogging “club.”
Donna
Thank you! And welcome to the club, we have coffee!
I am RIGHT there with punkinmama! I don’t know if I have any followers, so re-posting what you wrote would just be a nice reminder for me
I know I am a inconsistent blogger-on the other hand, I love reading other people’s blogs (my husband says I’m addicted). I just don’t think anyone cares what I think, but I guess I just need to write what’s on my mind and let it go where it may…
Thanks for a great post!
i realized a long time ago that i will never be a “big” blogger. i refuse to sacrifice my children’s privacy for the sake of getting more hits. besides, our family is not nearly screwed up enough to provide the material for “big” blog. think about some of the biggies, like dooce. would you really want to live *that* life? it sounds like constant chaos. so either she is lying or lives a very warped life. (our family life is not perfect, but is also nothing like the chaos of some of the big bloggers) even if we did have “good” material for a blog, i have no right to spread their lives across the internet.
so my husband will never be able to quite his job and we won’t go on fabulous trips, but that is okay by me. my family’s privacy is worth more than that to me.
like you, my blog is mostly about sewing, but regular life is mixed in there too. i prefer that type of blog. it feels more like i am chatting with a friend. (i prefer to not be friends with people who live in chaos because i just don’t need the drama.) i like reading about the ordinary things other people children do because it reminds me of my boys when they were little. i read dooce in the early days, but dropped it because it was clear she writing to make money. her writing lost the “realness” it once had. everything is going for the big laugh or shock value. if she is happy (and clearly others enjoy it), goody for them.
the point of my long comment is don’t feel like you have to be something you are not. it’s not high school where you have to wear the right clothes to sit at the cool kids table. honestly, “cool kids” table is usually the most boring place to be. the quirky, artsy kids are the ones who are usually laughing and having a good time. you can bring you lunch tray to my table any time.
teri
Oh I fight the “cool kids” issues ALOT, which honestly is just a problem of my own low self-esteem. It’s a vicious cycle. I don’t blog about my kids a WHOLE lot (though I do Tweet about them all the time lol), not because I worry so much about their privacy, but because I really don’t want to be the typical “mommy blogger”. I want to talk about fabric and sewing, and what it’s like running a small business as a mom of 5 young kids. I’m glad you’re here Teri, and I hope you stick around!
Everytime I try to focus my blog, make it into a niche blog etc. I stop blogging… because it becomes work. It should be fun for me. When it’s fun people like to read it… I’ll never be a ‘big’ blogger but i’ll have the COOLEST friends ever!
Ya know, the friendships I’ve made through the net (not just blogging, but yahoogroups, twitter, etc.) are SO important to me. I’ve met people like you and finding others who I can talk to and just be ME with is so awesome. I’m rather socially awkward in person (just ask um, ANYONE who was at Wordcamp last weekend and met me lol), so the net lets me be social. Everyone says to focus your blog, but I just don’t think I can!
Mika,
I so agree with you. I started a blog and wanted to become a monetizing blogger to find a way to financially help us. I have read so much feedback/info that I feel like my head is spinning round. And I am not doing what I love. I can’t even blog happily because of life struggles that are being dealt with.
So for you finding validation in what you have been feeling is fantastic. Now onward with fun reading of what your blog.
And thank you for sharing that it is okay to be random and feel good about non-niche.
Well, my thoughts on blogging happy are probably “wrong”. I’ve shared on here a little bit as we’ve struggled with Bobby’s continuing job search (Bobby is my husband for those who may not know), as I’ve struggled with depression, and things like that. I don’t do it ALOT, for a couple of reasons. 1) It’s depressing-I live it and just, BOO! and 2) I don’t want to bring everyone else down. But sharing things like that I personally think is part of what keeps it real. I hope that it helps people see that it’s not always rainbow unicorn glitter farts over here, and that’s ok. There’s still good in every day!
Oh Mika, I am right there with you. So many of the times I feel such pressure that is pretty stupid. I am very hard on myself and really want to do a good job. But I am not flashy. I have no idea how to take good pictures. Most of my close-up shots are blurry and poorly lit. I have typos. And I worry that others will think I am a total joke. When it comes down to it, I love my family and I love to sew. I do blog about other things, but mostly those two.
I blog most of the time to keep myself on track. And I still fall behind.
I have no idea who “Dooce” is but I don’t need to be her anyway.
I like your blog because I like you. And I like frogs. Heehee!
Well said. I’ve been looking for more of the small ‘real life’ blogs to follow. The biggies are fun, and funny, and I’ll never be in their league or relate to them. Fair warning to all previous commenters, I’m off to check out your blogs *g*
And seriously – with all you’ve got going on, I’m surprised you have time to Tweet let alone blog
I was so happy to read your blog today! I am part of the coop, though I haven’t bought anything yet, but I feel like we are kindred spirits as I read your blog! I started sewing pregnant with my daughter 5 years ago, my sewing table shakes all over the place when I sew and I just started a blog where I constantly think, “well who is going to care to read that?” Can’t wait to check out all your posts! Thanks!
Froggygirl,
Thanks for sharing your perspective! I share that idea but haven’t started blogging yet. I keep fashioning obstacles, I guess. How can a mom not share about her blessings? But then, do we go “incognito” for safety reasons? Dh asked “How paranoid are you?” I prefer to think I’m aware of a need for security.
I’m a Christ-loving wife and mother, a knitter, a cook, a not so great homemaker. We home school and I love to read and write. A blog of mine would certainly be a hodgepodge.