let’s jump on this train shall we?
jess with | polished arrow, reached out to me last week about sharing my writing process for blogging. the post before hers was from paige | moments for the journey, and then it just keeps going, and going and going. 🙂 so enjoy the rabbit trail guys!
what is this blog tour?
bloggers are sharing how they come up with and execute their content/style (writing process) and are then able to see how other bloggers do it too. i don’t know about y’all but i’m constantly curious how each one of you come up with posts, where you write them, if you’ve got a planner, are you running around like a chicken without a head, or you just write when the inspiration strikes.
life.
i know that seems like a cheap answer…but truthfully – life.
i’m at a place i never thought i would be; job, relationships, creatively, friendships, family, etc – all if it is new, exciting, frustrating, challenging, joyful, disheartening…etc. so basically. life.
if i boil it down to blog world i would say: new experiences.
i’m testing a few waters when it comes to other creative outlets away from the screen. getting my hands covered in acrylic paint again, water color (new!), a little secret project, etc.
i want to capture more of my adventures in life – which means i need to be more adventurous.
man…how do you answer this without sounding weird? 😉
i am still not sure what “genre” i would consider my blog – i’m guessing i lean more towards a “lifestyle” scene…so how do i set myself apart from other lifestyle bloggers? i don’t. i just try to be myself, my whole self – the good, bad, ugly, beautiful, indifferent, brash, and weird – and i hope it translates well to others. if it does, then great – im making new friends; if it doesn’t – that’s alright too, i’m not everyone’s cup of tea.
because it burdens my heart.
no – not everything i write burdens my heart. i mean friday links, etsy crushes, & my iphone photo posts are fluffier and fun. but my you are lovely series, frankly friday posts, & thoughts come from a really burdened area of my soul.
i understand that everything i say won’t sit well with others, but i hope it leaves the reader with one of two things: encouragement or conviction. hmmm. the older i get the more i realize how needed conviction is – and how i’m so thankful for it. (i’m talking healthy, spiritual conviction here)
i want this to be a place where i share my life with others and they join me through the trials and triumphs. i also want this to feel like “home” to some – where they can come sit back, drink something hot (or not!), laugh or cry with me and feel like they are getting to know a friend.
that’s why i write.
because i’m burdened.
because i want to connect.
because i believe my life has purpose.
like a hot mess.
seriously – i am not even attempting to be cute right now, it is a hot mess.
i sometimes find myself wishing (comparing) i was more like other bloggers who dedicated a planner to schedule their posts/ giveaways / link-ups / etc.
then i have to remind myself that this blog reflects me – and i’m a better writer/communicator when i’m inspired and passionate about something.
i’ve got a few “draft” posts saved away for days where i’m completely empty of inspiration – those are always fun to keep around.
how do i get draft posts? when i’m inspired – i write, i keep writing, and i jot down a few different posts that i can go back to edit later.
some times i build posts in my home office/library (which i totally need to do an update post on), sometimes i’m on my couch, or in my bed, at the dining room table, or at work…really i’m all over the place. i’m sure some structure would be nifty – so maybe one day that will happen.
for me i have found that i write the absolute best when there is rain hitting the windows, something warm within reach to sip on, some soft acoustic music in the background, and a heavy heart.
that is when words come alive for me.
what about you? what is your writing process like?
I loved reading your answers!!! Every single one is my favorite!
It's interesting to read about what environment makes for your best writing. Everyone is so different. 🙂
"i hope it leaves the reader with one of two things: encouragement or conviction. hmmm. the older i get the more i realize how needed conviction is – and how i'm so thankful for it. (i'm talking healthy, spiritual conviction here)
i want this to be a place where i share my life with others and they join me through the trials and triumphs. i also want this to feel like "home" to some – where they can come sit back, drink something hot (or not!), laugh or cry with me and feel like they are getting to know a friend."
And that right there is why your blog is one of the ones I save and wait, until I'm at the end of my blog reader, to read. You and Kiki definitely have gotten to be some of my favorite bloggers and "blog friends" because of how real you are. Your places are so inviting and show what life is like — good, bad, and everything in between. You are real. And to me, that is the best way to blog and the best blog to read. That's one of the things I'm striving for. So glad you linked up and shared how you write and why! 🙂
YES. Loved this post (like all your other posts!). I especially love seeing how you can turn every day posts into something written so beautiful and right from the heart. 🙂
And I completely agree with you on being yourself, saving up on those draft posts when you're inspired, and sharing about life, too. Well said, my friend. Well said.
I must have missed this! So glad to read it, though. I wrote one a week or so ago, and it was a fun prompt. My blogging process is a hot mess too, so you're not alone 🙂 I love what you said about writing because you feel like your life has meaning. I think that's partly why I do it too. And I'd say you're a lifestyle blogger. (Aren't we all kind of?) But your blog is different because it's YOU. You know? That's what I love about it. And it's like making a new friend. Sometimes it won't fit, and then sometimes it does and you meet the best people. That's my favorite.
Such a wonderful post and thank you for admitting your process is a 'hot mess". I've been struggling and when I read about others with months of posts preplanned (seriously), it makes me feel like a slacker. However, your post has reminded me that writing when I need to write and about what I want to write about make my blog my own.