6 MONTH BLOGVERSARY: What I've Learned From Being A Blogger

I've been blogging for six months.

That doesn't feel right. I feel like I've been doing this forever, but six months actually isn't a long time. 

To celebrate the halfway point to my one year blogversary, I've thought back on the past months and put together a post of all the things I've learned from being a blogger.

1. COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERY WRITER.

If you're an extrovert, you're probably screaming "of course! why would it not be?!?" But if you're an introvert, you might understand me more on this point. I went for the longest time having absolutely no support with my writing. The only person to look at it was me, and to talk about it with family or friends was the most terrifying thing in the world.

I'd always thought of writing as something you do alone. But that's not true. We would not be the writers we are today without support. Yes, we write our novels all ourselves, but it's the encouragement and ideas that we get from friends that really boost us along.

Writing isn't as solitary as we might think. Accountability, encouragement, brainstorming, critique... writers need friends and community, no matter how introverted they might be. I still get all excited when I hear people having the same struggles and successes as I've had. It's inspiring to be able to relate to someone else. This blogging community has been such a blessing in that!

2. EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN VOICE.

This is something I really struggled with during my first months of blogging. I wanted to be unique, but I also wanted a voice similar to some other bloggers'. I thought I needed my voice to be something familiar for my posts to be enjoyable. Then I realized what silly thinking that was, because people didn't come to my blog to read something they could read anywhere else. 

Each blogger is unique, and that's what makes every blog so awesome to read. It gets to the point where you just have to stop thinking about it and write. The same thing with novels. The more you think about it, the harder it gets. You can't keep trying to copy other peoples' styles. Eventually, you're going to have to give in and accept your own. And that's good.

God made everyone different for a reason. Embrace it.

3. THIS IS YOUR BLOG.

Obviously. But is it really? Who runs this blog? Your family? Your readers? You?

None of them are the wrong; this is your blog. You chose what you post about and when you post. Just because so-and-so posts twenty times a week doesn't mean you have to. Just because so-and-so wants you do posts only on writing lessons doesn't mean you have to. Keep your vision in mind. Is this blog a place where you write about what other people write about, or where you write about what you want to write about? Don't get me wrong: reader feedback and inspiration is awesome. But there's that point where you have to stick with your plan, or you'll be caught trying to please everyone and thus pleasing no one. Have confidence in your ideas.

4. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN.

Ha, yes. It is xD Don't stress yourself out by writing monster posts or posting three times a day. Just be consistent and keep it light. It's not the end of the world if you say you need a week off or to write a post made up entirely of pictures (I have yet to do that ;).

5. WRITE WHAT YOU LOVE.

This goes with the other points. Don't write things you don't like to write about. Simple as that. Don't try to be something you're not. If you like to write sarcastic posts, write sarcastic posts. If you like to give writing tips, give writing tips. If you like to talk about God, talk about God. It's like writing a novel: you don't write dystopia just because it's dystopia and other people like it; you write historical fiction because you love historical fiction.

And you write your blog posts because you love to blog!


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I hope you all had a beautiful Easter! And thank you for reading my blog, even if you just started. You guys are awesome *hands you cups of unending gratitude*

<3

Audrey Caylin

How long have you been blogging? What have you learned from being a blogger?