It’s been a weird few weeks. Since being nominated for a couple of blogging awards (which is obviously both amazing and astonishing in equal measure), I’ve been thrown head-first into the world of Being A Proper Blogger, having mainly been making it up as I went along until now.
It’s fair to say it’s been an education.
On the one hand, I’ve found even more brilliant blogs, and I’ve read a lot of great posts. I have so much still to read, I may never need to pick up a book/leave the house again. I’ve also – dare I say it – found a few bloggers I might actually (e-)know well enough to approach in person, should the opportunity present itself (I’m hoping to go to BritMums Live in June, but I’m waiting for payday).
On the other hand, I’ve also realised I’m not cut out for every element of this Proper Blogger malarkey. For example, I know I should become a prolific Instagrammer, because anyone who’s anyone is on Instagram. But I just can’t be arsed. I’ve tried – I have an account and a dozen photos – but Instagram and I just don’t get on. I find it hard enough not to filter my life on Facebook, let alone on Instagram where I can use an actual filter to make things look prettier than they really are. So for now, I’ll just stick to scrolling through other people’s pictures and feeling inadequate. It’s a winning combo.
And yes, I’m aware my posts are – in the most part – completely unplanned and I should probably have a proper posting schedule (and post much more regularly) if I want to be A Proper Blogger. But I just don’t have something to say every day. I don’t have anything to say some days. And posting more often would get in the way of my life, and my time with my kids. So I’m going to carry on without much of a plan other than ‘I fancy writing a post today’, for now at least.
The list goes on, and it’s all come to a head in the last few weeks with the awards closing dates looming. There have been a few times when I’ve caught myself getting stressed out and muttering something about ‘the blog’ in a diva-like way as though I’m bloody Anna Wintour or Arianna Huffington or something. In a nutshell, I needed to have a word with myself. So I did. And here it is – my reality check – in the style of my previous poem A Mantra For Mothers, because clearly I’m stuck in a rhyming-couplet rut and can’t get out of it. Every time I have another Anna/Arianna moment, I’ll force myself to read it. Out loud.
Why I’ll Never Be A Proper Blogger (A Ballad For Bloggers)
It’s a funny thing, this blogging lark:
Some days are great, and some are dark.
What starts as something just for fun,
Soon rises up to Number One.
First comes a name, and then a theme –
Responsive to your smartphone screen.
Pages sorted, Menus too,
The posts are published – first one, then two.
Before you know it (give it six weeks),
You’re fully-versed in Blogger Speak.
Hosting, storage, image size,
Keywords that are optimized.
Disclosure statements, About Me tabs,
Focus keywords, BiBs and MADs.
Meta data, SEO,
Why are this month’s stats so low?
DA, PA, and PageRank,
Google’s laughing to the bank.
Affiliate ads and sponsored posts,
Follow links, plugins and Yoast.
HTML coding in Text view,
(That’s HyperText Markup Language to me and you).
Blog awards and public votes,
Endless lists of do’s and don’ts.
Linky lists and forum threads,
Hashtags running through your head.
Twitter chats and Facebook groups,
‘Your stats are booming through the roof!’
But take a second, take a breath:
Is this really life or death?
Remember why you started this,
Back in blogging newbie bliss.
Not for awards, or hearts or likes,
Nor for comments or visit spikes.
Not to be A Proper Blogger,
Local paper front-page fodder.
Just to say your tuppence worth,
All that’s new since giving birth.
To write when writing suited you,
When something caught you in the news.
To keep a note, to remember this:
A normal life, with two young kids.
Because, when all is said and done,
You are just that: a blogging mum.
Brilliant! I don’t think I’m a proper blogger either…I now have a list of things from your ballad that I need to google, and add to the list of things I’ll probably never have time to do anyway…! #KCACOLS
Haha, I feel like I’m learning a new language, Liz! 🙂 Thank you for reading x
This is fantastic! You have a real flair for words and I really enjoyed reading it, nodding along to everything you say.- and it really is a reality check- a reminder to think why many of us “bloggers” started blogging in the first place. I feel I’m totally out of my depth and just post when I feel I can do, fit it in around two young children and not feel pressure to make my whole life look Instagram perfect. youve really hot the nail on the head, loved reading it! Amelia x
http://www.ohlittleonesweet.com
Ah, thank you so much Amelia! It was one of those ‘do I dare to post it, or do I bin it’ posts so I’m glad you enjoyed it!x
This is great. I’m new and trying to get s following. And zoom between frustration and worry that I might not be good enough, to remembering I’m just doing it for fun and as an outlet for my obsession with kids clothes… A hobby.
I’m glad it’s not just me. And I’m glad you remembered to enjoy it x
#fortheloveofBLOG
Ah, thank you for reading – I wasn’t too sure whether I even had the guts to post it, but people have been very lovely and it’s nice to know it’s not just me!x
Reassuring to read this 🙂
Your readers like you because of what you do, so just keep doing that, I’d say! You must be doing something right to be up for the awards, so have faith! 🙂
x Alice
#kcacols
Thank you so much Alice! I’ll just keep rambling in that case! 😉 x
Ha… Brilliant! See, I’ll never be a proper blogger as I could never be as creative as your ballad Good luck in the awards, you clearly deserve them xx #KCACOLS
Bless you, thank you so much! It’s scary putting yourself out there a bit, so I really do appreciate it x
I’m only a couple of months into blogging, I am learning so much all of the time. This ballad is great, it’s identifies why many of us start, but has also given me food for thought on where to go next!
#fortheloveofBLOG
#KCACOLS
Thank you so much for reading!x
This is brilliant, I love it! I have only been blogging for 3 days and already can feel myself becoming a bit obsessed (ok, completely obsessed) with it. Thankfully I’m not au fait with most of those terms in your poem yet so I can happily tell myself the obsession is fine 😉 #fortheloveofBLOG
Three days! How exciting! I definitely think you can carry on telling yourself the obsession is fine for a while yet 😉 Thank you so much for reading my rather random post! x
ha great post! as long as what you are doing makes you happy then that’s all that matters. right?! #KCACOLS
YES! A thousand times yes. I need to get that tattooed on my forehead I think 🙂 Thank you for reading x
This is brilliant. I am totally not a ‘proper blogger’ I don’t pan posts, I am rubbish a self promotion and generally forget to post updates etc, except instagram I do love that site #kcacols
I’ve been surprised how many bloggers have said exactly the same, Tracey! It seems a lot of ‘proper’ bloggers don’t think they’re very proper at all. Thank you for reading x
Brilliant – you have to be the blogger you want to be and you are obviously doing something VERY right. Love the verse! Good luck with your forthcoming awards x #KCACOLS
Thank you so much Nicky!xx
Love this! What is a proper blogger any way? I have these thoughts all the time: am I blogging enough; am I good enough; maybe I should do a bit more housework (OK, maybe that thought doesn’t cross my mind so much). It’s good to keep grounded and remember that there’s a whole world out there beyond the screen…PS good luck with the awards and I hope to see you at Britmums 😉 #KCACOLS
So true, and I definitely needed a reminder! Thank you so much for reading and yes, I really hope to see you there – it would be so nice to meet some of the faces behind the names! Good luck to you, too x
I love this! Congratulations on the success side of things, but well done you for keeping true to yourself! #KCACOLS xx
Bless you, thanks Clare x
I can so identify with this! I’m really just getting started and just trying to post once a week! With everything else in life, I don’t want to be a ‘proper blogger’ but it can get a bit obsessive especially when your 10 year old says that you check your phone too much lol!!! #fortheloveofBLOG
Yep – I’m aiming for once a week, too, and yep – I’ve had the same but from my 3-year-old! :-/ It’s so easy to get swamped by it before you’ve even realised. Thank you for reading x
Haha! Brilliant … But u don’t think I can be a proper blogger either as I have no idea about some of that terminology. Lol! Oh well! #KCACOLS
Haha, half of is learned through the day job so don’t worry! 🙂 We can be Not Proper Bloggers together. Thank you for reading x
Ditto! There is so much I don’t know! Half of me doesn’t want to, I think it’d become too much of a job then i might not enjoy it as much. #KCACOLS
Love this! A few weeks ago I had serious blogging blues (which I’ll blog about when I get time!) but I had to have a little talk to myself and remind myself why I started this in the first place! Thanks for sharing #KCACOLS
Ah, thanks Kerry, Yeah, I’ve had the BB for a couple of weeks now. What a plonker! Thanks for reading x
Love this! I don’t think I’m a proper blogger, I’m not sure what a proper blogger would consist of. I loved reading your poem, it just shows what is learnt in such a short space of time. Looking back 6 months nothing about blogging for me existed, now I’m someone who has to write 3/4 posts a week, run a Linky, keep up with Twitter, and keep reading other blog posts – it’s crazy! But at the end of the day, I’m a Mum and that’s what is the priority for me, not the pressure of a blog – which I can say I’ve been under. I hope to see you at BML2016. Thanks so much for linking up again this week at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
Really enjoyed that! Blogging can become all-consuming can’t it, we do need to take a step back sometimes and remember why we started in the first place! x #KCACOLS
Definitely, Madeline! Thank you so much for reading x
This was so awesome!!! Love the poem, Oh my word. So true, so fitting, so well done!!! Thank you so much for this great reminder!
#KCACOLS
Oh, that’s such a lovely comment – thank you Jen!x
I’m starting a little virtual mexican wave for you right here! (OK so it’s just me and my cat right now as the hubby is out and the kids are asleep but you know, the thought is there?) This. Is. Perfect!!! I honestly don’t know what half of those words mean. In fact I’m not sure that they are actually words and think that you might have just face planted your keyboard and hit some buttons (which is actually how I tend to form most of my posts). I love your poem and I adore the sentiment behind it. You know my feelings on all the techie stuff… bring back the biro! 🙂
Sending cake and wine.
Dawn x
aka The I.T Dinosaur
Hahahaha, thanks Dawn – both for reading and for the cake and wine 😉 I really thought most bloggers would hate it (and was a bit scared to post it if I’m honest) so it’s so nice to hear from so many ‘proper’ bloggers that they can identify with at least some of it!x
I’ve just started and can’t believe how time consuming it is ! ( she says batting away the two year old ) I’m definitely just sticking to Twitter and Instagram , I just wouldn’t have time for anything else
It can take over your life before you know it, can’t it?! Thank you so much for reading x
This is a great post! Perfect to read it at this particularly moment of my life when I was like you feeling at the top of the world being nominated for 2 awards. The reality check came last week when I realised I didn’t make it to the BIBs finalists list. After having a few low days now I’m back and focus on blogging for me and to make me happy because this is the reason why I started blogging in the first place. Well done in the awards. It will be nice to meet you at the MADs Gala. Thanks so much for sharing this at @KCACOLS. So sorry for my late reply. And thanks for joining us again this week, 🙂 xx
Ah, thanks so much Franca! And please don’t apologise – I really don’t know how you do it. I’ve found it hard to keep up with the linky love these past few weeks so am having to take a bit of a break this week to catch up! I’m sorry (and surpsied if I’m honest) to hear about the BiBs but I would LOVE to say hello at the MADs and best of luck. I’ll be the one wandering round looking lonely!!x
Blogging about blogging means you’re definitely on your way 😉
I admit I don’t know what half of it means but I love the sentiment behind it. You’re so right! Looking forward to meeting you at the MADs 🙂
Haha – you too, Fran!x
Such a fantastic post and poem! You really have summed it up perfectly! :)x
Ah, thanks so much Rebecca!x