After reading Liberty Montano’s Novel Blogging, I’ve thought more, perhaps more than I ever have, about why I blog. I’ve blogged about the topic before, but her book still made me think.
I’ve been known to complain about the whole talk of branding when it comes to blog. Why can’t I just be me? Why does everyone have to turn me into a store front?
Novel Blogging helped me appreciate that if we are selling a product of any kind, we are a business. Like it or not. But Liberty’s approach to blogging in that light doesn’t take anything away from being who you are or discussing what you like. As a matter of fact, she encourages you to inspire and connect by being you.
This past week I’ve been swamped in family and occupied with a sick toddler (not to mention the fire-breathing dragon in my own throat) so I’ve had time to think.
When I started A Day Without Sushi, the idea was simple. I wanted a space to share my journey from pregnancy to the birth of my son with a handful of dear friends. I didn’t publicize the blog, I didn’t tweet about it. I had no schedule. I posted when I felt like it. I posted what I felt. The only business was the business of discussing nausea and how much I needed to pee.
Sometime last year, my good friend Girl Parker encouraged me (as she had been for some time) to take my writing seriously. To that end, I started blogging regularly and publicizing my posts. I had no gimmick and no expectations. Yet, after a little over three months, I had 10,000 visits to my blog, a great number of comments, and even subscribers.
I was no Bloggess, but I was connecting with people and with my writing.
With the changes I’ve encountered over the last couple of years, The idea of going “without sushi” has taken on new meaning here – the idea of being satisfied with simpler things to keep the more important ones at the forefront. I’ve had to get creative in keeping things simple here at home. Living simply has helped me spend my time with the little guy as well as my writing.
In the year ahead, I’ll be sharing projects and ideas that have helped us here in our efforts to keep it simple, as well as the usual talking about TV, food, the occasional rant, and general nonsense that we all share in.
My reason for blogging still has a lot to do with having an outlet and spending my lexical budget, but it will also be about connecting with readers. Readers who one day may be reading books I’ve written.
So, thank you. (Yes you.)
Speaking of thanks, I’d like to thank Marcy Kennedy for bestowing me with a Versatile Blogger award today. Thanks for confirming that my theme-less ways are ok with my readers.
[Sidenote: I received this same award the day I wrote about Why I Blog. I did not realize this until double-checking my links at the end of this post. Weird.]
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