How blogging changed my life.

The new issue of Redbook is out and I’m excited to say I have an essay in it! It’s for a special package the editors put together called “How Blogging Changed My Life.” I shared my story along with five other incredible women who are all following their passion and working to make the world a better place through their blogs!

Read on for my list!

Here’s the link to check it out, it is also in the magazine too!

I’m sharing this as a way to nudge those of you who have thought about starting a blog, but don’t know where to start. I’ve been blogging since 2003, and I remember thinking “Who cares what I have to say, or what I do?”

Finally, I just sat down and starting blogging about everything from silly things happened in my life, all the crafty drama, and advice for other people who wanted to make a living off of glue guns and glitter.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a blog, or maybe you have one and can’t think of what to write, here are some ideas to get you rolling!

1. What is your mission?
Do you want a blog to support your business? Maybe to document family stories? Vent about your day gig? Think of what you want to get out of your blog, what kind of people you want to attract and how you want them to feel after reading your posts. Once you know why you are blogging and who you want to reach, come up with some guidelines for your posts that support your mission.

2. Write what you know.
Think of things that you know inside and out because you do them in your daily life. Hello? You are an expert! Making jewelry, working with kids, writing, etc. Share your tips and advice on what you know best!

3. Think simple.
You don’t have to write about saving the world, your thoughts on world peace, or spilling your guts. You don’t have to write a gazillion paragraphs. Maybe it is just about taking pictures and letting the images speak for themselves.

4. Be creative.
Interview other people, have contests, write mini-reviews of your favorite TV shows or movies, embed videos, link to your friends’ blogs.

5. Meet other people.
Take time to comment on your favorite blogs and those writers will likely come back and post comments on your blog!

6. Incorporate blogging in your routine.
Pick a time of the day when you can spend 30 minutes to write a blog post. i often do mine late at night when everyone is alseep. My friend Margot always seems to post early in the morning. another friend of mine blogs on her lunch hour at work. If you can find a regular time, it will be easier to stick to!

7. Start a multiple person blog.
If you feel like a blog is too much to take on, invite a friend or relative to co-author with you. That will ease some of the pressure because you can take turns. And it will be good for readers because they will see different perspectives.

Here are theme ideas to build a blog around:

– Chronicle a personal journey or new venture you are on.
– Things that make you smile throughout each day. Share why you like them.
– A fan blog for your favorite shows, artists, pets.
– ______ of the day. (Pick one item/theme and post a new link every day on it. Example: Pillow, earrings, fire hydrant, product packaging, etc)
– Pick a popular street that you drive on a lot and write about what you see on each day there.
– Reviews of places where you shop, eat or hang.
– Things you like to collect. Make your site the go-to place for something kitschy, like weird salt and pepper shakers.

You get the idea! Some people don’t even need to think of a theme, they just sit down and go! My advice is not to let your fears get the best of you. And don’t worry about if anyone will read your blog or be interested. Just do it because you love it! People will come.

One reason why I love blogging is because of my kids. I love that I can click on any previous year and read all kinds of stories about things they did. Time goes by so fast, and it is easy to forget day-to-day adventures. By blogging life as it happens, you are, in a sense, writing your autobiography! How cool is that?

What are you waiting for???