Why You Should Start a Blog: 2 Years Later.
Yesterday marked two years of blogging on this little space. To celebrate, let’s talk about 5 reasons you should definitely start a blog.
1. It will force you to write. I adore writing. But sometimes, when the only writing you have to do is between you, a pen, and a notebook…it can start to feel boring and pointless.
Having a blog forces you to write pretty often. It gives you an excuse to spend time writing, and it gives you motivation when you’re just not in the mood to write.
2. It will open up a really creative side of you. When you first start a blog, you aren’t really worried about running out of things to write about. But a few about me posts later, and you have to start to scramble.
There are only so many common things you can blog about, so you’re forced to start being really creative. A normal work day turns into a chance to find some blog content, and suddenly, you’re looking at things through a much more creative lens.
3. It’s a space that’s just yours. What you have to say (or write about) is worth listening to (or reading)…and you don’t have to wait around for anyone else to start to think so. You can create your own space and put your words out there. And you can write about whatever the heck you want.
Want to comment on the huge political scandal that’s happening, but don’t want to be the annoying person on Facebook who everyone blocks? No worries, you can blog about that. Feeling super happy and sentimental and want to talk about how much you love your life? Write a blog.
It’s your space. You can write whatever you want. And that’s really just fantastic.
4. You “meet” a lot of wonderful people. Like-minded and diverse and opinionated…having a blog opens up the door to build relationships with all kinds of other writers.
It reminds me of being an English major and being constantly surrounded by people who loved to read and write and had strong opinions.
5. It builds your confidence. This may be shallow, but it’s true. Having people choose to spend part of their day reading words that you wrote builds your confidence.
Before blogging, the only person who ever saw anything I wrote was my mom. I love her, but she is a dirty liar when it comes to criticism. I really could have gone my whole life writing horrible essays on the purity levels of drinking water and, if I only listened to her, thought I was the absolute best author to ever grace this earth with my presence.
But when a bunch of strangers read your words and say nice things…well, you can take their word for it a little bit more.
Blogging is weird. You put your heart and soul into writing things that you’re not even sure anyone will read, much less comment on. You throw your words out into the internet to be picked apart by total strangers.
It is weird. It is nerve-wracking. It is exhilarating. And it is so, so worth it.
So cheers to two years on this little corner of the internet. I’m hoping for quite a few more.
Why do you blog?
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Meeting you and the other bloggers I am friends with is the best thing that has come out of A Little Glitter. I did not expect it either so it was an added bonus. š
Love it. I think I blog for exactly all those reasons. I like to write, I like to be nosy about other people's lives, I like nice pictures, I LOVE it when bloggy friends become real friends even when I will probably never meet them in person. x
Great post! Yes to all of these!!! I've found myself much more educated about current events since beginning a blog, and also much less frustrated, because when someone makes me angry IRL or on FB I can just come here and write about it. Although, I kind of wish I'd been more secretive about having a blog, because I can't ALWAYS post what I write. š
Happy blogiversary! There are so many great benefits of blogging, but the friendships that have evolved are definitely a huge bonus for me.
Love this – so dead on. Especially that blogging is weird š It is a weird, weird, wonderful world and I love it.l
Great reasons. I love writing, and always have. It's a wonderful and creative way to spend parts of my day and I love the people I have connected with.
Congrats on 2 years! I just hit one year a few days ago. One of year of public blogging that is. I had a private blog long before that. Oh how I wish I had made it public!
I couldn't agree with you more on all of these reasons. It's such a passion of mine. I'm not a great writer, I focus more on telling my stories through my photos and experiences. Just another thing that's amazing about blogging, if you're being honest with yourself, there really are not any 'rules'.
V
Life+1
Blogging is definitely so weird. There's no logic to the appeal we get sharing things to strangers, especially if you don't really share these things with the people you actually know. I can tell blogging has changed me as a person, or maybe I've just changed and I happened to start a blog during that period of change. But I can say that I blog because it's a way to open my mind to my own issues, find solutions through writing it all out, and get comments with amazing advice from people who relate. It helps me grow as a person, and through the writing of my experiences or the things I like, maybe it will open others' minds too.
Congrats on 2 years of blogging! I'm glad it's shown you many good reasons to have one.
-M
The Life of Little Me
I blog because I love to write. Sometimes I feel like I'm 'over' it but I try to push through those times because I really do enjoy it.
AMEN! I blog for ALL these reasons!
I would totally agree with all of your points. So glad to have "met" you in the blogging world š Happy 2 years!!
blogging is SO weird. I think that's why I love it so much.. happy blogiversairy!
Amen sista!! These are all so true! Happy 2 year blogging anniversary!!
Happy Blogiversary! I totally agree with you about building confidence. I have found myself so much in the last year of blogging. And the friends I have "met" have been incredible. You included!
I blog so that I am constantly writing and also because it is a constant reminder to find the adventure in everything andy anything!
I wholeheartedly agree. Before blogging I would have sworn I'm the least creative person you have ever met. But once I got started, I found a passion for photography, found my personal style, and best of all: fell in love with writing.
People like you keep me inspired and make me want to grow and get better!
Happy blogiversary!! Never stop writing.
i really love to write for a blog because it's great writing exercise, and it often starts a discussion in the comments! i too have made some unexpected friendships from blogging, that would be my ultimate favorite part of blogging. xo
Great post Chelsea! I started my blog because of reason #3 – a space that I could call mine. At my day job I had lots of writing to keep me busy, but had to do it in someone else's voice saying someone else's message. But as you can probably predict, I needed a creative outlet – something that was challenging and something I could do for me. Having all those readers follow along definitely helps, but whenever I get discouraged or a little blah I just remember the excitement I felt when I was brainstorming everything I wanted to do for my own little corner of the internet. Keep on writing girl and happy blogiversary š
Cheers to two years of blogging! Can't believe we are actually blog twins, I love all of your reasons for blogging and could not agree more (:
Always appreciate it when a successful blogger continues to show the positive side of blogging and encourages others to do so! This is why I started blogging, to be able to connect with people and create post that shares my interests š
http://www.recalcitrantgirl.com
Yes to every single one of these options! I blog because it is something just for me, that I have created entirely on my own and have built a success out of, and also because it has taught me that my words can be used to connect to others. I love that;)
I certainly hang around these parts on the daily because of the people!!!
i started my blog as a creative outlet but have been surprised in the best way possible about meeting so many amazing fellow bloggers!
I could not agree more with all of these reasons. Blogging is an amazingly fun hobby and creative outlet. I absolutely love it!
This is a great post… and everything you mentioned is so true! I also love the chance to connect with other creative people in the world. There are so many inspiring bloggers out there! š
I love these reasons. To write was the main reason for me!
Congrats on the two anniversary! I agree with a lot of your points with respect to why I blog. It's an opportunity to let out my thoughts, be creative, and have something (like a journal) to look back and see how my life has changed.
I just met a blog friend for the first time this weekend and we were in total agreement that blogging is really weird. We love it, but it's weird!
It really is soo weird but wonderful all at the same time. These were perfect points to starting a blog! To record my life and share my ideas was the main reason I started blogging, but I've loved the creative aspect of it.
Happy Anniversary! š
Congrats on two years!! I kind of think of creativity as being a muscle that needs to be exercised and blogging does just that. I feel like I've grown and learned so much since I started mine. I love that you can make it whatever you want. I went back to school last year so I already do a lot of writing, but blogging has no rules and allows me to write and create whatever content I want. It's weird, but it's wonderful!
Blogging is so therapeutic. It's like a public journal and it's a great community to get involved in, congrats on your two years!
janetteamelia.blogspot.com
Yes, yes yes!!! All of this!!!
One of my favorite reasons for blogging now isn't one I ever imagined when I first started – I love that it makes me more comfortable sharing my writing. Even if I'm only discussing my 2015 resolutions, it's still opening myself up and putting it out there for the world. It makes sharing my creative writing lots easier and gives me more confidence.
I definitely agree with the writing part! Before blogging, I was NEVER writing for fun, and it made me so sad. I grew up writing and wanting to be an author, so even though I'm not doing any novel-writing now, my blog makes me happy when I can post creative, original content. š
Exactly! All in all, blogging makes life better. At least for us who has discovered it's beauty. š
I totally get the "weird" part! HA! It is a roller coaster for me and it totally does give me confidence to stop caring so much about all kinds of stuff. Vulnerability is challenging for me and I get to exercise that muscle online! I also love finding others who are interested in this adventure with me (like you)!
Great post! I have been blogging for a few years now and I can't picture myself ever stopping, ever!
I absolutely love this list! It's all the reasons why I started blogging too š
I say the same thing…blogging is weird, but in a great, magical, threatening (not physically) type of way! xoxo, ganeeban