The Story of Me and Blogging!
Over the last five years, I have tried my hand at Blogging. Initially, when I started it was for all the wrong reasons. I saw a few blogs posted on social media during a time when social media had really entered the age of familiarity. Prior to that I did not know exactly what a blog entailed or the fact that anyone could create a blog. As a matter of fact blogging goes as far back as yahoo messaging and chat groups. Remember that was the biggest thing going on around 1998. (Don’t quote me on those dates). This is just my personal reflection of how I grew to understand and love social media and the many possibilities. I am still in the discovery stage even now.
As we jump forward to the present time it seems like a blog is something everyone has! You get a blog, you get a blog and you get a blog. Everyone gets a blog!
Now that you have a blog - now what? Is your blog a place on the web that collects dust and the content is infrequent and stale as old bread? Is it a diary of ramblings that no one but your mother would read or love? What is it? I have pondered these questions about my blogging adventures over the last few years and wondered do I belong in the Blog Community.
So many questions to consider. After attempting blogging for over five years I have learned for me being a blogger requires 5 essential things. If they are not all in place then the joy of blogging will diminish and the burn out likelihood will increase tremendously.
Vision/Mission
Every blogger must have a vision and mission for their specific blog. Without a vision and a clear mission you will get stuck very quickly. The vision is a broader approach to the why of the blog. The mission statement is the specific mission you plan to accomplish that mission. For example my vision for Splendid Chronicles is to provide a space where I chronicle my experiences, events and observations with the hopes of inspiring and encouraging others.
Commitment
Next there is a certain amount of commitment involved if you really want to be taken seriously as a blogger. I have learned this the hard way. If you intend to have a bog that is read by more than just friends and family, you must be committee to creating content on a schedule. You determine the pace but whatever pace you set is the pace that you need to keep. For instance, although I am participating in a 30 day challenge (where I post every day for 3o days), my ideal schedule is 3-5 times per week, Monday thru Friday.
Planning
Once you have a schedule the next thing that must be in place is a Plan. Spontaneous posting is great if you are a person that can just write away at any given moment. However for me it is much better when I plan things out and have a basic plan of what I will write and when. I suggest planning and writing post at least a week before they are published in order to reduce the stress of writing. It also allows a chance to go back and review, edit and perfect your work.
Accountability
This is a tricky subject. Who will hold you accountable? Usually you will be accountable for yourself. If you have set a schedule and plan then it is totally up to you if you follow through with your commitments. Another way to feel accountable is to join groups that blog and start networking with other bloggers. I have learned over the years that fellow bloggers are your biggest readers and will always encourage you to keep at it.
Endurance
Simply don’t give up. Blogging is a process that is on-going. As time goes on your plans may change, your vision may even change but you just have to keep going and honor the commitment you have mad to be a part of the Blog Universe.
As I step out on this huge blogging platform I hope to touch someone with my words that thay may live life more abundantly.
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Oprah Image: Google
