I remember when I first started my blog in May 2010. I didn’t have a set focus other than I just wanted an online space to write about whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. The more I blogged, the more I enjoyed it. I started wishing and dreaming to one day be a real life Carrie Bradshaw, and be a big time writer for a living. I even wrote a blog about it, Just A Carrie Bradshaw Wannabe.
My previous job and career entailed a lot of writing, but it was business writing. It was very black and white and didn’t allow for any creativity. And while I enjoyed it for a few years, it wasn’t the sort of writing or career I desired for the long term. Once I became pregnant and left that job, I did a TON of research on how to become a successful blogger. I networked with a few friends, I stayed up really late every night working on a new and more professional website, and put in a lot of time and dedication. I learned code, how to use design programs and essentially how to create and manage an entire real website. Of course, I do owe some of the credit to my brother who helped me figure a few things out along the way.
Then one day, after several months and countless hours, it just sort of all came together, and I started receiving email upon email to do sponsored posts. I also started to apply for contributing roles for other blogs, websites, companies and magazines, and to my surprise, I was accepted for most of them. I was (and still am) proud and excited that all my hard work continues to pay off.
Let’s fast forward a little more than a year since I really started putting more effort and research into this, and I’m officially inundated with requests and literally have a hard time keeping up with it all. I tell my husband all the time I need a blogging assistant; I’m half joking and half serious when I say this.
Now, am I a real life Carrie Bradshaw, hardly? Besides, her character was a columnist. But have the blood, sweat and tears I’ve poured into my blog and writing paid off, absolutely! BUT, there’s a catch… You see, now my blog is like a job. I have a list a mile long of product reviews, sponsored posts, giveaways and requests that I’ve accepted and can barely keep up with. Blogging has become less enjoyable now that I have to do it. I’ve moaned and groaned to my husband in the last month saying, “Ugh, I have to work on my blog tonight.” At first he was shocked, but then said, “That’s because it’s become a job.” Funny how that works, huh?
Nowadays I barely have time to write about what I want, as the majority of my posts are ones I’ve been asked to do or paid to write. In the beginning, I basically agreed to every single request. But the past few months I started passing on 90% of the requests to fellow blogging friends I’ve “met” along the way. I’ve become much pickier with what I accept, and I make sure it’s something that pertains to me and my interests. More importantly, I’ve started to refocus on why I started blogging in the first place, which was merely for my love of writing.
So while I’ll still continue writing sponsored posts and do some outside contributing, I’ve decided I don’t want the job portion of it taking over my entire blog or my life, especially when many nights I’d rather be spending quality time with my family. I truly feel lucky to have found success, but I also have some new and exciting things on the horizon for 2015 that I’m greatly looking forward. So here’s to me rediscovering my love and passion for blogging, focusing more on what I want and finding a happier balance!
Happy writing blog lovers! 😉
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