In 2010 I began this journey of blogging.
Back then I had no idea what I was doing. I wrote for the sake of writing. Things like search engine optimization, keywords, and ads were non-existent in my corner of the internet.
I wrote about whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. There was no predictable posting schedule and my readers could be counted on one hand.
Over the years, I’ve made The Deliberate Mom into a small business. From creating my own products to affiliate sales with places like Ultimate Bundles, I’ve tried to make a regular income. It hasn’t been easy. In fact, there have been several times that I wanted to quit altogether. Yet time and time again, I’m drawn back.
This past weekend I began the long and arduous task of migrating the photos hosted on Photobucket, back onto my blog. As I performed the task of looking through my archives and cleaning up old photos, my heart swelled with something I hadn’t felt for a while…
Passion.
I used to write with intensity.
While I was far more emotional back then, my writing was raw, personal, and full of feeling. Perhaps this was due to the fact that there were only a handful of people who read what I wrote, so I was able to be more vulnerable. Or maybe it was the circumstances of my life at the time.
Regardless, as I thought about this shift in my blog, I concluded that I want something different for The Deliberate Mom.
While this blog is my part-time business, I’ve realized that I want to resurrect that personal side of blogging. I long to share what’s on my heart and mind and I wish to show you how I weave deliberate intention into my days. I want you to know that I, like every other mama, muddle through daily frustrations, exhaustion, and struggles.
The internet is full of how to posts… and 10 ways to do this, that, and the other thing. The storytelling, for the most part, has been lost in a sea of sponsored posts and clickable titles. This realization saddened me.
While I’ll still keep the helpful tips coming, I’ll share some personal articles as well. This shift goes against all the “rules” of blogging. Bloggers are repeatedly told that no one really wants to hear about them… readers only want to hear about how the blogger can help them.
Is this true?
Do we not also learn from others’ experiences? Aren’t our stories as important as our “10 helpful tips” articles?
The tough work of being a mom is isolating. I hope by writing vulnerable parenting reflections, we as a community, can unite and support one another.
I can’t foresee how often these posts will happen. Inspiration can’t be predicted but it can be expected.
What I do know is I’m excited to dig deep and show you the underbelly of our beautiful, chaotic, emotional, intentional, and loving home. Parenting isn’t pretty. Homemaking is exhausting. Raising children is demanding work. I look forward to sharing how I sink and swim in this journey… and how becoming a deliberate mom is more about intention, rather than perfection.
SHARE WITH OTHERS
I hope that you can write what you’re passionate to write, Jennifer. I’ve always gravitated toward blogs that share scenes and moments of real life, not just tips or how-to advice. While this style of writing — personal nonfiction — might not be deemed the best blogging genre, I believe that there’s an audience for it.
Wishing you the best!
I want to find a balance. I know my style has morphed to more instructional in nature, but I really want to get back to the passionate, personal, storytelling writing style.
Thank you for the well wishes!
I’ve not read your blog before, but I’m happy you’ve come to that conclusion. Yes, the helpful posts are great for saving to pinterest (probably never to look at again), but I like reading personal stories, especially people going through the same as me (or just ahead of me). I’ve so many blogs that I used to love reading, but now as they’ve made blogging their job they’ve had to reduce the time on personal posts, and increase the sponsored and review posts. It’s a shame, it’s understandable, but it’s one of the reasons I would never want to be a full time blogger. I do have sponsored posts, and a few reviews, but I’d like to hope they are still largely personal stories, and there’s definitely not many.
It’s certainly a hard balance, but I guess the personal stories are what draws in the ongoing readers, rather than those who dip in once from google.
Good luck with the rebalance.
I’m delighted you stopped by Emma, and that this resonated with you.
While I wish to make an income from my blog, I regret that the desire to do so overshadowed my vision to be vulnerable, connect, and share openly with my readers. I hope that I can find that balance once again.
Thank you for the encouragement.
I have been blogging for seven years too!! It’s funny how it changes and we change too. I originally meant to write passionately and I do still do that, but it’s funny how it’s also a career and I do the passion stuff maybe once a week. Which still seems like a lot!
I’m so glad we crossed paths on this journey.
Blogging has changed so much over the past seven years.
I love your balance of professional and personal writing. Hopefully I can successfully do the same.
I’m delighted we crossed paths as well.
I LOVE this. I am so with you. I’ve been blogging that long, but only 3 years publicly, and man I am such a slow learner with all this social media, Top 10 Lists, teach the reader stuff. Lately, I’ve thought the same thing about some of my old posts. “How did I used to come up with such funny stuff? Now I worry more about labeling all my photos..” Thank you for this! I can’t wait to read what you have coming up.
I’m delighted that this resonated with you. I’m interested in seeing what I come up with too! lol
I’ve had similar thoughts about blogging, even though I’m less than two years in. It’s easy to get wrapped up in what you “should” be writing, but I think people truly want to read about your passion, whatever it is. Thanks for reminding me to do the same!
The “shoulds” are hard.
I’m delighted you enjoyed this Meg – and that it encouraged you to evaluate your own blogging process.
YES! I love love love that you reflected on your early days and that fire that was lit to write from such a deep place back then. I always love what you write, but man- You KNOW that depth, transparency, soul diving exploration, is where the true magic happens. Good for YOU, Jennifer!
Thanks for the encouragement Chris. I really hope that I can strike a nice balance between the two. As I would love to continue to grow my blog BUT I really desire that vulnerable, raw writing I used to do!
Happy 7 years!! Yes, I’ve seen that shift everywhere also- and found myself doing it, too. It’s been especially hard lately as the kids get older and life/homeschooling seems to ask for more. With only a small window of time, I’m drawn to what I “need” to write versus what I need to say.
There’s a balance in there somewhere. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with :) xx
You raise a great point about wheat you “need” to write vs. what you need to say. Thanks for sharing that!
Yes, I hope I can strike a balance.
Hi Jennifer, it’s been an unintentional while since I’ve read your blog. I think people do want to read about personal journeys, the good and the not so good. It gives us something to relate to and can help someone feel less isolated and alone. Helpful posts are great too, but personal posts come from the heart and it shows.
May you have many more years blogging!
xx
Hi Debbie! It’s so good to see you again!
It’s a struggle for me to get away from writing those helpful “how to” posts – as I do enjoy writing in that style. I long for the passionate pouring out of words though.
I hope I can strike a healthy balance.
Hey Jennifer,
I love to read your post. You are awesome as well as you write awesomely. I am also a blogger and working with it from 2010. Yes, there are lots of changes from then to now. I used to write 200-300 words post then and now 2000+ words post. SEO was liberal those days, and now it is not so easy. But, one thing is bloggers are helping each other nowadays by sharing great topics. BTW, Thanks for letting me share my view and for the great article.
I’m delighted you enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on how blogging has changed.