2 years ago I moved to London, I started my job, and, importantly, I started this blog. 2 years and 330 posts later (say what?!), I thought I’d share where I’m at and some of the things I’ve learned along the way, because my relationship with this medium has definitely changed.
Before I get into those reflections, I first want to say that I’m so glad that I decided to start blogging. It’s been such a great creative outlet for me. It’s pushed me to make more and to improve as I make. It’s also given me the opportunity to do so many other pieces of work. So I can’t wait to be able to do another one of these posts in a year’s time.
The Content vs Community Debate
The tension between just making content and actively trying to find an audience has always been my biggest struggle. It’s something I’m still trying to work out how to balance. My natural tendency is just to make what I want and worry about finding a community later. But while everyone says “just make good content and your audience will find you” I think in this day and age of endless content you do have to reach out. I’m in the process of trying to approach that process of reaching out in a more structured way that doesn’t feel like an add-on to “the real work” because I do really enjoy having those conversations when I make the effort.
Constant creation is draining
Over the last 2 years, I’ve written over 200,000 words on this blog and created probably close to 400 illustrations before you take into account the work that goes into my Instagram and newsletter. That’s a lot. I don’t really ever sit down and appreciate that it’s a lot. Instead, I’ve found myself going through periods of just being exhausted by this platform because it doesn’t stop. I take perhaps 3 individual weeks off a year. Stepping down to 2 posts a week has definitely helped but I can see myself taking a few longer breaks in the coming year.
I don’t see the point in making content I don’t care about
I’ve done some form of Blogmas twice, and if I’m honest with you, I don’t know why. Blogmas is a lot of work. I have to force my content to fit. It has never been that boosting for my blog because everyone else is doing it. So this year I’m not going to be following the herd. I’ll still make Christmas content, but it’s not going to be the same. That’s just one example of where I’m starting to realise that there’s no point in creating content because it’s the done thing if it’s not what I want. There aren’t any rules.
Just tell the truth
The posts and newsletters I’ve received the best feedback on are the ones where I’ve been completely honest. They’re also the ones I’ve enjoyed writing the most. Whether that’s confessing that I might not want to make my side hustle a full-time freelance career to discussing the fact that I’m pretty much a hermit. Even when the truth isn’t very exciting I just want to be honest, and not because authenticity is “in” now. Doing anything else feels kind of redundant now. I’m no longer concerned about feeling like I’m selling my soul when I bare it on a screen because isn’t creating a fake personality to sell even more damaging?
It’s an outlet, not a job
This isn’t true for everyone, but it is for me and it’s something I have to remember. I don’t owe anyone content other than myself. Workovereasy is here to be my outlet, to support my goals, not the other way around.
Any other bloggers out there in the same boat? Or, perhaps better, have any words of wisdom to share?
