Late last night I started writing. I didn’t have an objective in mind, it’s just a story that should be told and read by others when I am ready to share it. I cried as I typed both from joy and grief but I also smiled. It was difficult but that piece is easily one of the best pieces I have ever written, I know that, deep in my soul.
There are so many blogs that are offering advice on how to build a blog and a following. They always tell you to find your niche. This blog isn’t a ‘help’ blog. I want you to think of this blog, as an old friend. I realised that I thought of a friend’s blog that way and that is what I wanted my readers to think of the Notebook.
This blog is a journey and like life, it’s not going to go in straight lines and it will have many twists and turns as my interest and love in different areas moves with time. This blog is where I share my stories, my craft and our journey here at the cottage. It is mixed with personal posts like this one, to interviews as I share friends with all of you. Every now and then, there will be a post that doesn’t quite fit with all the rest but you will find that it is a story that needs to be told.
Conforming
In my life, I don’t think I have ever ‘conformed’ and if that means this blog will never be read by thousands and thousands of people, that is fine with me. I have sat in lectures and workshops on ‘How to Build an Audience’ and ‘Grow your Following’ and last night I realised that, that was never what I set out to do here in written form. The podcast grows and has its own voice but my blog was about writing and sharing a journey. It had a vague purpose and that was for this place to be a place of refuge for me, to share my thoughts with all of you.
Along the way, I’ve shared posts on finding my voice, creativity, motherhood, gardening etc. because these are the areas of my life that I’ve either been struggling with or I can feel the deeper meaning behind the decisions that I make. I have been told in the past that blogging is no longer about sharing ‘your story’ and that people only read blogs nowadays to find the answer to a question that they have or to help sell a product. This blog then is probably not for you because my story is important and should be told. My journey is important because these moments that I have to think, reflect, make decisions etc. These are what shape me in my choices for a career, to be a parent and in life. I believe that every person’s life matters and what you want to do with it is entirely up to you but mine, I want to write, I want to inspire others to reach a dream of theirs, I want to record and share those stories that sometimes can be overlooked or forgotten. I want my kids to know that I wasn’t just their mother. I have dreams, a path in life, that I have this whole other side that they may never understand but here in these words in what I share and write, they will know me.
Dream Inspire Create
On top of all of that, this blog is a place for me to dream. I can take a few moments and delve into whatever I want to. Will I lose readers along the way, sure but like old friends I’ll still be here when you want to sit down for a cuppa and play catch up. I would love this place to be the blog that does its own thing and that you, my readers, appreciate it for what it is and my following will grow naturally from all of you wanting to join in too. If it doesn’t and I never reach the dizzying heights of blogdom, well that’s ok because the readers I have, who share and comment and join in, you are who I’m writing to when I sit down to write. You are who I think of when I make my coffee and stare at a blank page.
We are all time poor in life and we will never have enough of it. We have no say in how our lives begin or end but if you want to take a few moments out of yours and spend your time with me, trust that I am grateful that you read, share and comment. Let this post be that gesture of reassurance from me to you. That old friend that grasps you on your forearm, smiles softly and says they understand. This may be incredibly naive of me but that is my choice.
I have held you captive for too long already but for me today, the longest of the year, take a few moments and reflect on what you need to feed your soul today and share if you want to below. Come back later in the week for a visit to find out more about my adventures in craft.
Psst you can also subscribe to my blog here if you would like to hear from me once a month on craft, creativity and inspiration.
Hello, and thank you for writing this post. I’d just written a post myself about not niching my blog and someone pointed me in your direction. It’s reassuring that someone else feels the same!
Hi Helen I actually read your niche post when I found you on instagram recently and had a mini high five moment but forgot to comment. I think we all need to find what we want our blogs to be afterall it’s our space. Be yourself, be unique because who wants to fall over the same content time and time again. This post was as much about defining my blog as it was saying no to that nagging voice in my head
Hi Nadia, what a lovely post! For a while I was considering starting up a blog but I just haven’t got the time at the moment. I just started a new IT course last week and my son is suffering mental health problems, but it’s nice to know that I can come to your blog for support and inspiration whenever I need it. Thank you for being you
I think you are doing amazing Barbara! A blog is a lot of work but you can always write what you need to, to help get some clarity on your thoughts 🙂 MIne has helped me so much but it is constant work
Totally with you. I’ve been blogging for years and only ever had a tiny readership – and I’m fine with that. In fact I’ve stopped checking my stats altogether because (a) I don’t care and (b) if I start checking, I risk getting hung up on those numbers and it sucks all the joy out of writing. I don’t care that I have very few readers. I care that the readers I do have, really enjoy reading. And even more than that, I care that I enjoy writing!
And as for the idea that people don’t read blogs for “your story” any more – well, I don’t think that’s true. It does seem to be true that fewer and fewer people *write* blogs just for the story. But that only makes the realy honest, personal blogs that much more precious.
I think a lot of people think that making money from blogging is easy and so they don’t want a blog to write in, they want every post to reach as many eyes as possible. I like to write so I blog.
Thank you for this post! It was really lovely. I think sometimes we all need a little reminder that we should pursue our passions, our love, regardless of the outside pressures in our lives. Often, when we are truly following our hearts, others will fall in love with it too…just as I have with this blog. 🙂 While we have never met and are an ocean apart, I feel a connection with your words and a friendship that exists because of what you are doing. I hope you feel the support and encouragement I’m brain-blasting your way. Thank you again, Nadia!
Hi Rachel *waves across the sea* support and encouragement recieved and it will go in my special project. 🙂 It is hard sometimes when you post and there is a resounding sound of silence, you start to think why, what am i doing wrong but really it’s about accessing why you’re writing. Big squidge from me
Absolutely identify with this. The constant barrage of niche niche niche has sucked some of my confidence and motivation. Needed to read this today. Thank you
It’s so wonderful to read all the comments and realise I’m not the only one and I’m not as alone as I thought. Thank you for taking the time to commemt.
This is exactly the way my blog is as well – no “niche,” no rabid build-my-audience mentality. I fell into that pothole a couple of months into it because I saw everyone else doing it and thought I must have to do it too, but the truth is that’s not why I write. That’s not what I want. So I left it behind, deleted the instagram account, and chilled the h*ck out.
I’m much happier now!
Hi Quinn, thank you for commenting and it’s so wonderful to know I’m not the only one. I love instagram though, i love plants so much it helps me curate what i want in my garden
I love instagram too! I’m terrible at curating though – mine is just a mad moodboard of randomness!
Lol there is beauty in maddness 😉
This post made me smile!
I’m so glad it did 🙂 And I’ll be right here when you blog again too xx
Yes, yes, yes … this is exactly the thing that I have been struggling with – finding a voice for my blog, and being ‘me’ whilst all the advice is to have a hook, make a sale, provide value … thank you for putting into words what has been buzzing round my brain for the last few weeks. I hope I too can rediscover the balance again soon. Have a great Longest Day! X
For me it was a lot of things coming together. Yes i need those things to grow my blog but the content should grow my blog too. My voice is what makes me unique. My ablity to write in the way I do. This post provided vaule without ever being salesy. I was just me. You can do this Jane 🙂
Not sure how I stumbled onto your blog Nadia but I’m glad I did. You’re voicing the struggles in my own online writing. Doesn’t if often feel that if we’re not writing listicles or how to guides, then it’s not worth writing. But I disagree totally!
Thanks and have a lovely day 🙂
Hi Melissa, I’m glad you found your way here. Yes, it really does feel like we need to conform to a set blogging layout in order to be found or heard but an engaged following who love you for you is really what you need. Write from the heart if that is what you love or a photo blog if that is where your passion lies. Blogs should be about sharing what you love or it’s a chore.
You’re right – it should never be a chore!
What a lovely post, Nadia.
Thank you, Dee!
Hi there. Best of luck with your new piece 😉
Hi Nic, boy it’s been a while hasn’t it? I think I am quite happy with my choice. I really hope you are well. xxx