I started blogging in February 2009--reluctantly--because I wasn't sure I wanted to write little essays for complete strangers to read. In fact, I wasn't convinced strangers would ever want to read my little essays.
But the prevailing wisdom was that if you're a writer, you need a blog, so potential readers could get a taste of your writing style, and potential agents and editors could get a sense of your social media reach.
So I started out quietly, almost hoping nobody would see what I was writing. My hopes were definitely realized at first! I didn't have a clue what to blog about. Whenever a great idea bursts into my brain, my next thought is to put that bit of brilliance in a book. Why would I want to use it up on a blog post?
Still, I figured I could write about my writing journey, so I called my blog "All About The Writing". I started throwing out an occasional post that was related to writing in a vague way, because I certainly couldn't portray myself as an expert. Heck, the majority of my posts are things I'm struggling with in the current work-in-progress, or words of inspiration designed to keep me from throwing my hands in the air (or my laptop out the window).
After about a year of posting infrequent announcement-type things, such as a contest final or a win, I decided to blog more faithfully, keeping to a regular schedule. I started "Monday Mojo" posts, designed to give the writing week a good kickoff, and in "Friday Faves" I discussed posts I'd discovered in the blogosphere, and why they intrigued me.
To my complete surprise, I discovered I loved blogging. Loved it in that annoying, all-caps, I-can't-keep-myself-from-shouting-or-jumping-on-the-couch kind of way. Everything became a potential blog post.
Was the muse Endora being cantankerous and unwilling to cooperate?
I wrote a blog post.
(Actually, I've written several involving Endora. She thinks she's the star of the blog, while I consider her the unruly mascot. But please don't tell her I said that.)
Was I feeling discouraged with my lack of progress with a book project or getting published?
I wrote a blog post.
It wasn't too long afterwards that I discovered my little essays on the writing life seemed to resonate with other writers. They would leave comments about how my experience mirrored theirs, or how I inspired them with "just the right words" at a time when they really needed them.
Even more thrilling was having my blog posts shared on Twitter and Facebook and StumpleUpon, and being the landing spot for a variety of Google searches.
My most popular post is Character Goals, which I wrote to help myself figure out what might motivate a less-than-cooperative character in my WIP. To my delight, this post has been referenced by an online gaming community as a valuable resource for developing their characters, and it gets several hits every day as a result. How cool is that?
Another post, Three Good Things About Writing Part-Time, was one I wrote to console myself about not being able to write full-time. One day this post was highlighted on the very popular Passive Voice blog, resulting in a record number of hits, more than any other of my posts. My attempt to find the bright side of part-time writing seemed to benefit other writers, which was a wonderful surprise.
I started this blogging adventure with Typepad, and I've been extremely happy. There have been a few glitches, usually some weird internet voodoo thing that cures itself in a day or two, but whenever I've needed help or asked questions, the customer service folks have always been very responsive. I've used different platforms while participating on other blogs, and those experiences have always made me run back and hug my Typepad blog in appreciation of its simplicity and the many user-friendly aspects.
Lately I've been struggling to find enough time to devote to blogging. I consider not doing it anymore, but I know I'd miss the camaraderie of the whole experience, and all the friends I've made. I also enjoy being able to work out a thorny writing problem by the simple process of detailing it in a blog post. I'm also thrilled that I've stumbled across a groove--giving encouragement to other writers--that I hadn't at all anticipated when I started down this path.
Best of all, I'm compiling my blog posts from the past few years and will soon publish an e-book of writing inspiration, which I'm calling An Encouraging Word.
All because I decided to write some little essays one day.
Well, you definitely can't stop blogging. I forbid it!! :D
Seriously, I love your blog and your blog posts. Sometimes I'm a little slow in showing up (only because I don't get an announcement email of a new post and must remember to check. Sometimes the gray matter is a bit sluggish, LOL!).
Congrats on those marvelous posts you wrote. And I think AN ENCOURAGING WORD sounds like an amazing idea. You have a fun, witty way of expressing yourself that other writers easily relate to!
Posted by: Mae Clair | June 24, 2013 at 10:03 AM
LOL, Mae -- okay then! I will not stop blogging. :) Honestly, I'm not sure I could stop now, even though some days I wonder if I have anything left to say. (I know! Me? Run out of things to say? LOL)
No apologies needed from you! You are a most devoted commenter, and I love what you have to say. I'm hoping to have some sort of email notification thingie here in the future. I get one for yours and I love that (along with your blog!)
I've been enjoying compiling the stuff for AN ENCOURAGING WORD. Plus it gives me something to work on when the characters in the WIP go into dormant mode. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | June 24, 2013 at 11:01 AM
I second Mae's motion that you can't stop blogging. LOL
I go back and forth on my how much I love blogging because it's hard to find something new to say or when I do, there probably isn't going to be an avalanche of feedback that tells me the world was waiting. LOL! But I love how posts can live on in the archives or be found on searches...or, like you mention, be highlighted in someone else's blog or writing community...or go into a compilation for a book! Yay for AN ENCOURAGING WORD! :)
I guess you just never know how far reaching or long-lived a post might be...which is kind of cool. :)
Posted by: Melissa | June 24, 2013 at 04:15 PM
LOL, Melissa -- you guys are ganging up on me! It can feel tough some days to find a new way of saying things that have already been said. And there's always that dilemma of where to put the writing efforts, into a book or a blog post. Sometimes I'm lucky and can do them in tandem, since the WIP is creating the NEED for the blog post. LOL
It is cool to see my posts highlighted elsewhere. And I'm excited to see them in e-book form. I think that will be very fun!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | June 24, 2013 at 05:32 PM
See...I'm slow again :)
Seriously, I may attempt cartwheels (sssh, don't quote me on that) when you have that email thingie set up. It makes it so easy to keep up with my favorite bloggers.
And hey, thanks for the compliments on my blog. Of course you made me grin, but then you always do!
Posted by: Mae Clair | June 26, 2013 at 12:42 PM
Mae, you're not slow! You accomplish more than anybody I know -- I'm trying to emulate you! And I'm happy to make you grin. It makes my day when I can do that. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | June 27, 2013 at 08:24 AM