Today’s blog post is all about…blogging.
A few months ago Maria wrote to ask if I would talk a bit more about how/why I started blogging and what I feel I get out of the experience. Since them, some additional questions have trickled in about blog-related things and I decided my answers warranted a full post!
Before starting a blog, did you read blogs?
Yes! The very first blog I read was Young House Love, maintained by a young family who renovated homes. I was borderline addicted to that site which was one of the first “big” DIY blogs. Despite their success, this couple remained authentic and down-to-earth. While they still have an online presence, they don’t post prolifically anymore. I appreciate their minimalistic lifestyle and that they never became focussed on sponsorships and ads.
After Young House Love, I started reading a few “Mommy blogs” – before I had kids of my own – but I never commented or engaged in any way. I started reading Gretchen Rubin’s blog (after reading The Happiness Project), then Laura Vanderkam’s blog (after reading Off the Clock), and then Sarah Hart-Unger’s blog (after listening to the Best of Both Worlds podcast).
And then…I started my own!
Why and when did you start a blog?
I actually had a short-lived blog about a decade ago; I wanted to post some travel recaps to share with family members from a recent trip to Denmark. I enjoyed the experience, but it made sense to step back after about a year of blogging. I had an audience of approximately zero, so it was easy to stop writing.
My most recent foray into blogging is linked directly to Laura Vanderkam. I was a participant in her Tranquility by Tuesday time study and when we got to the Three times a week is a habit rule, I decided that blogging was going to be the habit I jumped into with both feet. I had wanted to blog again for years. Almost every time I would go for a run I would “write” a blog post in my mind and I wanted an outlet for all my thoughts.
But it felt onerous to start.
When I realized that three times a week was enough (along with the accountability of knowing I’d be reporting back to Laura Vanderkam), I took the plunge.
Did you buy a blog template?
My original blog – accidentally deleted last fall – was designed by a colleague of mine. He modified a free WordPress template.
When I started fresh in September 2023, I bought a template and paid to have it installed by the same company (I think the combo price was about $150)?
Who do you use for hosting?
The first time, my site was self-hosted. This ended up being the nail in my coffin since the blog issue happened on my end and there wasn’t a complete backup.
Lesson learned, and I now use Bluehost. I looked around at different options, but kept coming back to Bluehost (it’s also what Nicole uses and if she doesn’t steer us wrong on mascara, I was willing to bet my bottom dollar she was a good source of information for blog hosting!). Bluehost has been great so far – a few hiccups at first but their customer service was good. I think it’s about $85/year for hosting?
Why do you blog?
I love it. I feel alive when I write. It’s cathartic and theraputic. It’s fun! It’s a source of community. It’s a Happy Thing. It gives me oxygen.
When do you find time to blog?
Blogging can take as much time as I want to devote to it! When I first started blogging in 2021, I was only writing three times a week. Posts were short. No one was reading them (so there were no comments to manage and I wasn’t commenting or reading many blogs either).
The time I spend varies. Some weeks it might be 10-15 hours, others it might be 2-3! I think the biggest surprise is how long comments take; I find they are one of the most important parts of fostering community and I feel incredibly fortunate to have made so many dear friends through this online venue. Those friendships all started in the comment section of blogs. It’s always worth the investment for me, but responding to comments on my blog and leaving comments on other people’s blogs takes a considerable portion of my blogging time.
In terms of my own posts, I tend to write in bursts. I love having a few hours on a weekend to just…write! But mostly I fit it in and around other things. I am much faster at writing blog posts than I was a few years ago, so I’d say I spend less time blogging now than I did then?
I also work part-time and have more-than-usual levels of flexility in my days.
How many blogs do you read? How do you find the time?
I follow about 30 blogs on Feedly. Some are sporadic posters but I likely read, on average, 15 blog posts in a 24-hour period.
My preferred method of reading is as follows:
- Use the Feedly app on my phone. Read the post.
- If it is a post where I want to leave a comment, I add it to my “Read Later” list.
- Later, on my laptop, I will click through and leave comments on any post that I had marked Read Later (which, for me, is synonymous with Comment On).
As for time. Blogging is really my only “hobby.” I don’t have a big exercise routine. I don’t do handwork or bake elaborate cakes or plant gardens. I’m also a really fast reader! That makes a difference!
Do people who know you in “real” life read your blog?
Not many! I have purposefully kept this blogging space separate from most of my “real-life” connections. My husband and my best friend read my blog; one sister and one niece know about my blog and read sometimes. My local friend Jan Coates reads my blog. That’s about it.
My daughter used to read my old blog, but doesn’t have the link to my new blog and I like it that way! My parents loosely know I have a blog, but I don’t volunteer any information about it.
I’m never ashamed about what I publish and try to balance what I share publicly in a way that respects everyone’s privacy, but I appreciate having a space where I can process things without wondering if someone in my inner circle is going to take something personally or try to read between the lines on some topic I’ve written about cryptically.
There are some challenging dynamics happening behind-the-scenes in my life and I am doubly thankful to have this space as it feels like a safe place to land. If more people in my day-to-day life read this blog, I know I would feel like I need to censor things differently and/or would feel “watched” in a way I simply wouldn’t tolerate well.
I realize this keeps my overall readership lower than it would be otherwise, but that’s okay with me.
Your turn. Let’s talk blogging!
- Do you have a blog?
- If so, how long have you been writing?
- Do you remember the first blog you started reading?
- How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs?
- Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous?
- Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it?
Header photo by Sarah Dorweiler on Unsplash
Discover more from The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Jenny
I agree Elisabeth- reading and commenting on other blogs, and responding to comments on my own blog takes up a TON of time (especially during NaBloPoMo…. for the last couple Novembers I didn’t even read any books, I was so busy with the blog world.) But I feel like that’s the most important part! Not only do I want that sense of community (and I love reading blog posts) but I think my own blog got better and better as I had more of a sense who I was writing for. When I write a blog post I feel like I’m talking to all my blogging friends- before I had that community, I felt like my blog posts were kind of stilted and awkward.
I also don’t like people in my “real” life to know about my blog. My husband does (although he usually forgets to read it) and my sister does. Other than that, I don’t tell people about it and I’m not really sure why. It’s not like I’m ashamed of what I’m writing, or writing anything I wouldn’t want people to know about? I’m still trying to figure out why I like to keep that division.
Elisabeth
Yes! NaBloPoMo! Phew. It has been such a joy and I’ve made so many connections, but I’m not sure I have it in me this year to participate?
What an insightful point that is so true but I’d never articulated it: I definitely feel like I’m now talking to very specific people (because I am!). My posts are still very “me” but knowing who reads them almost certainly impacts the how and why I write sometimes.
Michelle G.
I’m so glad you write your blog, Elisabeth! And I’m glad you started over when you lost your blog. I also use Bluehost, and it works well for me. (So far…knock on wood!) The first blog I read was called The Selfish Seamstress, and it was so hilarious! She stopped blogging in 2013, which was SO sad. I don’t know what happened to her.
I used to be very shy about commenting, but now I know it’s the most fun part of reading and writing a blog! A few people in my real life know about my blog, and I’m fine with it. They don’t often leave comments but tell me they enjoyed something in person. I’m actually a really private person, so it surprises me that I enjoy blogging so much!
Elisabeth
Aww. Thanks, Michelle <3
There is some magic combination about blogging and being in a loving, supportive blogging community that makes it all just...wonderful and so much fun!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Oh yes blog commenting is the most time consuming but also most fun and important things to do. But it takes time and I am often behind. I am surprised your only follow 30 blogs. Ive never counted mine but maybe it’s around the same number. But then I always have like 250 unread post in my feed. I guess I am not a fast reader even though I read faster than anyone in family…
Do you have a blog? ->YES
If so, how long have you been writing? -> since Januar 1, 2013
Do you remember the first blog you started reading? -> mhm not sure but I think https://www.waseigenes.com
How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs? -> mainly weekend mornings
Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous? -> definitely commenting everything I read
Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it? -> Most of the do now after a decade but most of them don’t read it.
Elisabeth
Wow, you comment on everything you read!! That’s a major commitment!!!
Gigi
Do you have a blog? I do. I’ve had it for years.
If so, how long have you been writing? Around June 2009.
Do you remember the first blog you started reading? Not a clue. But it was either work related or a “mommy” blog – even though I was well past the mommy phase of life.
How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs? I try to read every day. Writing posts however….whenever a topic or a book presents itself as fodder.
Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous? I try to comment regularly but it honestly depends on what is going on any given day. But I do acknowledge that comments are critical to a blog and helps build a community.
Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it? No. And I want to keep it that way. I feel more inclined to “let me hair down” and vent without having to worry about what someone in real life might read into what I’ve written.
Elisabeth
Wow, you’ve been blogging a long time!
I’m with you in that I think I want to keep my blog separate from my day-to-day life moving forward! You’re spot on with the “let your hair down” analogy; I feel the same way.
Diane
I also started a pandemic blog. I think I was leaving long comments on other blogs that I thought I should find my own place to write my thoughts.
I think I started reading blogs when I was engaged – there were so many wedding planning blogs out there at the time- A Practical Wedding, The $2000 wedding, etc. For a while I was also really into reading divorce blogs- I thought those were fascinating and so honest.
I wish I had more time to write, read, and comment on blogs. I’m not at a computer a whole lot and I haven’t mastered the art of blogging on my phone like some people do. So blogging and commenting mostly is an evening and weekend activity.
Elisabeth
I never blog or comment on my phone (but I do read posts on my phone!)…I MARVEL at how Kae produces such huge travel recaps all on her phone!!!???
Grateful Kae
I knew much of this but not all, so this was fun to read! So glad you took that step to start blogging! I also don’t freely share my blog with outside people from my regular life, though I have shared it with a few certain people that I thought would be “into” that sort of thing. Like Jenny said, I feel a weird twinge of embarrassment sometimes at the idea of some people knowing about it. Not sure why that is- maybe I feel like it would be seen as silly? Or odd? Haha. I don’t know. Obviously I share a lot of personal thoughts and feelings there, too, but I’m not sure that’s it. I think maybe since my blog (sometimes) focuses on that whole positivity/ gratitude sphere that maybe I think some people would like, roll their eyes at it? If that makes sense. I also think that bloggers totally get all of it, but the average person might not really see what the appeal to blogging or reading blogs is, or just might not be interested at all in that sort of thing.
Elisabeth
Yes! Blogging is a unique way to process life and I think you’re 100% right that the “average person” – aka, the non-blogger – wouldn’t necessarily get the appeal.
I think blogging can let us both be our true selves (say, venting about something we’d be embarrassed to vent about in person) and also to be our ideal selves (discussing things like health goals or practicing gratitude) without having to share the complete story. If we mention wanting to start a strength-training routine on our blog and don’t follow through we don’t HAVE to report that on our blog. In real life, sharing those things naturally has more accountability that can feel a bit like Big Brother? I guess that’s another reason I don’t want “real-life” people reading my blog: I can discuss things more hypothetically without fear of intense follow-ups?
SHU
I need to use the “read later” feature to save blogs where I want to comment! I often read on my phone or work computer at lunch, and comments often don’t work for me. Plus I just prefer typing into my laptop to comment!
Blogging really never feels like work to me, unless maybe it’s a show notes post. (Generating a podcast script + recording definitely does, though I still enjoy it!!!)
Elisabeth
It really streamlines my commenting! Sometimes hours go by between when I read and comment, but I find I always tend to remember what caught my attention and what I want to chime in about.
SHU
Oh, and a decent # of IRL friends/acquaintances read my blog, and I am fine with that 🙂 I always keep that in mind as I post. For the most part I find I have to be more careful to keep others’ stories private (my kids, my husbands). I don’t have many secrets of my own that I feel like I need to keep in this phase of life though sometimes it can be dicey if I have something big (good or bad) coming up that I can’t share.
Elisabeth
Makes sense.
I can’t pinpoint anything in particular I wouldn’t want people close to me reading (and those absolutely closest to me DO read it), but there’s something relieving about having a space to vent where I don’t have to look someone in the eye the next day after complaining about something trivial!
I do have a few pretty major and hard things in my life that I skirt around on the blog. Part of me wants to “tell all” but it feels safer and much wiser to keep some things 100% offline!
Nicole MacPherson
Yay for Bluehost, it has been working well for me, and any time there has been an issue they have fixed it right away. I have had this blog since 2008, and it’s fascinating (to me) to look back at my early posts to see what my life and writing style was back then. The first blog I ever started reading was Bringing Up Ben and Birdy by Catherine Newman, and right now I’m reading Sandwich by Catherine Newman, and wow, is it resonant. I feel like she has been a beacon in my life for so long! I made quite a few bloggy friends back in 2008-09 that no longer write, but I’m still in touch with them.
I allot myself time to read blogs, and I try to stick with it because otherwise it would be too unwieldy. I find that if I’m on vacation, I come back to so many, and I don’t really try to catch up, or I skim them. I generally read them first thing in the morning, and I probably read an average of 10 a day. I try to comment on them all but it doesn’t always happen, or I don’t have time to give a thoughtful comment. Just like I allot time for reading, I also allot time for writing, but I spend a lot of time just thinking about posts during the day, thinking about what to share and how to do it.
Pretty much everyone IRL knows I have a blog. A lot of people read it, they’ll say in person “oh hey, I saw that you did such-and-such.” Sometimes it’s strange, people know about my life and I don’t always know about theirs.
Elisabeth
You’re so wise to have set time to read/comment! It is definitely a hobby that could expand to fill every waking minute. When I’m away I sometimes just read blogs (in lieu of a book, say in the evening when I’m relaxing) but don’t comment. It’s fun to read and not chime in sometimes!
Suzanne
I love reading your blogging origin story!
The first blog I ever read was WeddingBee (I think?) and the first “mommy blog” I remember reading was a blog called Not That You Asked by Emily Cassee. I loved her writing style so much — such a perfect blend of humor and irreverence and real life and vulnerability. I read her entire archives and every post until she stopped blogging.
I didn’t start my own blog until 2009. It felt so scary, to be posting about my life online for anyone to read! It feels less scary now (unless I think about it too much, lol) because of this wonderful community of bloggers. Feels much more like chatting with a group of friends.
Elisabeth
You’ve been blogging a long time, Suzanne! And I love when you link to older posts (like last week when you shared the link to your pregnancy announcement).
I agree – blogging feels like a big group of friends coming together and sharing our highs and lows, big and small questions and problems and celebrations. It can be downright magical.
NGS
I find it sort of hard to believe that you only follow 30 blogs! It seems like you’ve been to every blog I have on my reader and comment before I get there!!
Do you have a blog? Yes!
If so, how long have you been writing? Almost 20 years.
Do you remember the first blog you started reading? It was Dooce (Heather Armstrong). Reading her really cemented my decision to be child-free. Poor woman from the start to the end.
How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs? I frequently take breaks at work (like right now!) and read a blog or two and comment before getting back to work. I write my posts mostly at home either after dinner or on the weekends. I do a lot of writing on the weekends.
Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous? I try to comment on most posts I read. I blogged for years without any readers (or no one commenting, anyway) and I want people to know they’re not shouting out into the void, particularly small or newer blogs.
Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it? Most people know I have a blog, but they don’t read it and don’t ask for details about how to access it. I think that’s pretty perfect for me.
Elisabeth
There must be some we don’t overlap on (I went to confirm and it’s 33 blogs in my reader).
You know I am in awe of your 20 years of blogging. Just…wow!
I knew Armstrong’s name rang a bell; sadly I had no idea she had taken her life. I read The Valedictorian of Being Dead a few years ago. I read that book without any connection to her as a major blog personality.
I’m curious if Dr. BB regularly reads your posts?!
Birchie
Good times! Um yup I have a blog if I didn’t I wouldn’t know you so that’s why everyone should have a blog. I started in 2011 as a recipe blog but on a whim in 2017 I started writing weekly recap posts that have morphed into where I am today. Up until 2019 I had barely any comments, and my quip about that is that the best blogs are written like no one is reading.
The first blog that I started reading that still exits is My Open Wallet. She only posts about once a year now but I love it when she does. I also had quite a Young House Love addiction a few years ago and I miss their podcast.
Time is an issue. Part of it is that I’m a slow writer, and the rest is that life gets in the way. You wouldn’t think that something as simple as getting a puppy would have an impact, but she wants to play at night which is my writing time it’s been tough to keep up for the last few months. I’m very guilty of binge reading blogs on my phone which means that I sometimes forget to go back and comment later. See also my point about being a slow writer which sometimes makes me a slow commenter.
I have a few blogs were I lurk, and if I’m busy I trust that folks will forgive me if I don’t comment 100% of the time – I’m doing my best. I’m “semi anonymous” in that I don’t put my name on my blog, but also I don’t take it to the level where I act like I’m in witness protection. I like the separation from my “real” life and the freedom to write about work stuff without having to worry about my employer reading it. In the last six months I’ve started chatting with other bloggers off line and have met a few, and that’s been very rewarding, so I think I’m on a trend of being less anonymous.
IRL most of my family and some of my friends know about the bloggo. But I don’t talk about it a lot, so I think most of them haven’t read it. And honestly that’s fine with me.
Elisabeth
It does take a lot of time!! And you have wonderful reasons for having less time – Doggo + so many fun travel adventures. Blogging can wait and is always there when you have a chance to pop by. I can’t remember how I found your blog for the first time, but I’m 95% certain it was in the comment section of another blog!
I have two blogs I read regularly but NEVER comment on (two bigger blogs that are quasi-influencer-style). I enjoy the content but very much enjoy not adding my name to 100s of other comments. I know there isn’t any tight-knit community at play, and I enjoy “lurking”!
Cynthia lee
Thanks do the tip about using read later to respond to comments on feedly …
Do you have a blog?
Yes. Linked above.
If so, how long have you been writing?
Twenty years. Some years mor sporadically than others.
Do you remember the first blog you started reading?
I don’t. I am sure it was a homeschooling blog of some sort.
How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs?
I like to make it a ritual . Pour a cup of coffee, spend tim with friends.
Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous?
I am trying to comment regularly
Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it?
My blog is linked and shared in all the places that my real life people are so it’s available to them to read. Not sure who does and doesn’t
Elisabeth
Thanks for linking to your blog 🙂
Love the ritual. I did that for a while, too. I wouldn’t read any blog posts until I was at the table with a coffee in hand.
Ally Bean
Yay, another person who uses Feedly. It’s the fastest, most efficient way to follow bloggers I’ve found. And I’ve been doing this forever… but you know that. Wonderful answers.
Elisabeth
I’ve used Feedly (and Old Reader) for years. Before that I would just search the blogs I followed but that wasn’t very effective (especially with sites where people didn’t post often). I’m a blog feed gal all the way!
Joy
Do you have a blog?
If so, how long have you been writing?
Do you remember the first blog you started reading?
How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs?
Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous?
Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it?
Yes, I have a blog. I had to go look to see when I started–December 2013. I began it as writing practice because I had just taken over running the writer’s group at our library. The first year or so, nobody knew about it unless they stumbled across it on WordPress.
No idea which blog I started with but as it was 20 some years ago, it was most likely a homeschooling blog since I was teaching my kids at home back then.
I have Readwise Reader which feeds me the blogs/websites I follow. I skim through most days and save ones to read later more thoroughly or comment on. I try to catch up on weekends. I would love to comment more. I used to comment a lot when I was not working full-time, but now I’m usually on my phone and comments get lost so easily (this is already my second try). I mostly comment here and occasionally on SHU’s or Laura Vanderkam’s. I love the community but time is a problem at this point in my life.
Most people in my “real” life know about my blog. When I finally got brave enough to share it, I linked to my Facebook page and that actually opened the doors to writing professionally at work after one of my supervisors started reading. I think my sons occasionally read it and many of my friends at church. I don’t put a lot of personal stuff in my posts so it doesn’t matter if people I know read it.
I try for twice a month p.us I have a monthly newsletter and am writing a book. One day, when I’m not working full-time, I will post and comment more often.
Great questions. Thanks for asking and being so great about posting.
Elisabeth
That’s amazing that your blog opened the door for writing opportunities!
You’re writing a book?! Wow!!! That’s incredible. It sounds like you have a lot on the go these days, so gold star for prioritizing that goal.
Life Lately: Summer Details, Painted Nails, Portugal, and Bike Riding - The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist
[…] checked – a few people seemed amazed I guesstimated to only be following 30 blogs – and the official tally is 33. I was […]
Lisa’s Yarns
This was fun to read! I am so glad you found blogging because otherwise we wouldn’t know each other!
I started my blog in 2008! If I could go back, I would start it on wordpress. I hate blogger, especially the comment functionality but I don’t hate it enough to go through the process of moving my blog! I started a France blog that summer and loved writing so much that I started my blog after that trip. Friends and family knew about that blog so they know about my current blog. I wish I was anonymous at times but mostly it’s fine.
I use Feedly to read blogs and I do a lot of my commenting on my phone when I am monitoring the kids or when I have downtime (currently monitoring the kids while writing this comment). I also blog mostly on my phone which I know blows many people’s minds but I don’t have a laptop at home and don’t feel right about blogging at work!
Elisabeth
So true! I can’t imagine life without my blogging friendships yet none of those existed this time 3 years ago. That’s wild when I think about it.
It feels like in the era you started Blogger was the norm? But frustrating that it’s a hassle to switch over.
I can’t believe you and Kae do so much (prolific!) blogging on your phones. I feel like it would take me forever? But your posts always look great so you are clearly a wizard with it 🙂
San
I am so, so glad you found your way to blogging… and I wish I remembered how I initially discovered your blog, but I guess the important thing is that I did! 🙂
I started my blog in 2004 (I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for 20 years!) when I moved abroad and wanted to keep people in the loop. I started with a German blog (that people/friends from home read) and then I also started an English blog to connect with new readers. I am still keeping up a German diary-style blog almost exclusively for my family, but not many people IRL know about my English blog, only people who at one time or another had blogs themselves (many of them stopped blogging, sadly).
I agree with Kae that I feel awkward telling people that I blog and I don’t necessarily want people to read my blog unless they are active in the blogger community as well. It’s like a secret circle of friends here. 🙂
I use Feedly as you know and love Feedly but it’s been so flimsy lately. Sigh… it was working for my blog for a few weeks again and now it hasn’t pulled anything since last weekend. It’s so frustrating… I could easily switch to another reader but knowing that so many of my blog friends use Feedly, I am on a mission to figure out why it’s been having problems not just with my blog, but with a few other blogs too.
Elisabeth
I can’t remember how I first found your blog but I know your blog is the reason I found lots of other blogs thanks to NaBloPoMo!
Argh. You have had so much trouble with Feedly and I’m so frustrated on your behalf. I will say that my new site doesn’t pull in to Feedly nearly as well as my old site did, but it’s usually only a 15ish hour delay now (and my pictures come over this time; they didn’t before). I wonder what is going on with Feedly and the inconsistent “pulling.” Thanks for continuing to pursue this issue!
Agreed – it is like a “secret circle” of friends! I had no idea you had ANOTHER BLOG ON THE SIDE?! Wow!! That’s impressive.
San
Oh, I forgot to answer your questions:
Do you have a blog? – YES 🙂
If so, how long have you been writing? 20+ years. Gasp!
Do you remember the first blog you started reading? I remember the first blog, but she doesn’t blog anymore.
How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs? I mostly write on the weekends, but I always have a draft document open and jot down ideas or write in spurts during the week, too.) I also batch-read mostly on Fridays/Saturdays and respond to comments. Sometimes I do it on my phone whenever I have a little down-time or in between work tasks.
Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous? I usually try to comment. I think engagement with other bloggers is so important for community. I love that you read on your phone and bookmark the posts you want to come back to later to comment on your laptop. That’s a great system. I should give this a try.
Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it? Only a few. Some of them have/had blogs themselves, but I usually don’t advertise that I have a blog.
coco
What an interesting Q&A. I think we share many answers as we do it for fun and enjoy the community aspects of it.
Do you have a blog? yes. I had many version of the blog, started in 2008 first then to the newest one when we live our expat life.
If so, how long have you been writing? since 2008
Do you remember the first blog you started reading? I think it was kath eats real food. She still blogs and I’ve met her in person in a blogger event. She’s such a high spirit soul and authentic to her blog voice.
How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs? Usually in the morning quiet time or during lunch break at work.
Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous? I comment on blogs like yours that is personal, not-work-type of blogs that are more information driven and influencer type.
Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it? Very few. Although my family knows about it and can access it anytime, they rarely do.
Elisabeth
You’ve been blogging a long time, Coco!
I don’t read many “influencer” blogs but am the same – I never, ever comment. It kind of feels…pointless? Why add my voice to such a big fray?
Stephany
Love this Q&A – you always have the most interesting questions! I’m really glad you’re blogging and I found your blog!
Do you have a blog? Sure do!
If so, how long have you been writing? I started it when I was in college around 2009
Do you remember the first blog you started reading? I remember reading a lot of pregnancy blogs back in the day. I guess I didn’t realize there was a vast world of non-mommy bloggers until a few years later!
How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs? This is a constant struggle! I usually write posts on the weekends/evenings. I try to comment on posts as often as I can – I rarely use my phone for blogging so I’ll often just keep the posts I want to comment on pinned to my tabs and then exit out of the tab once I’ve commented. I like the read later function, though! That’s a great tip! I’ll read blogs during breaks at work or in the evenings/weekends.
Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous? Yes, commenting is really important to me!
Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it? Most people in my life know I have a blog but not a lot of people read it, which I’m fine with.
Elisabeth
I’m so interested how so many people have family/friends that know about their blog but don’t read it! Fascinating.
Melissa
I use feedly and the read later button to save posts I want to comment on too.
Do you have a blog? Yes
If so, how long have you been writing? I first started blogging on Blogger in 2007 but once the kids started getting older set that to private. I was on the fence with what to do but decided to start a new blog and went with a WordPress one. I use Bluehost as well.
Do you remember the first blog you started reading? I don’t remember but it would have been a scrapbooking one.
How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs? When I’m organised, I usually set aside an hour each weekday as writing time. That will include writing posts and commenting. Reading I usually do over breakfast or lunch.
Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous? I try to comment fairly regularly, but not on every blog I read.
Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it? Not now. They knew about my old blog, but didn’t really read it, except for my niece and nephew who loved following along. They complained when I set the old blog to private and I haven’t told them about my new one. I like having it separate from my off-line life.
Elisabeth
Interesting that your old – more personal blog – had a big following and now that you’ve chosen to be more anonymous, almost no one knows about it. It strikes me as a fun little secret!
ccr in MA
This was fun! Some I knew, some I didn’t.
Do you have a blog? Yes
If so, how long have you been writing? I started it in August 2006, so I’m coming up on 18 years
Do you remember the first blog you started reading? It would have been a knitter’s blog, for sure. The two I cited when I started mine were the Yarn Harlot, who still blogs a little but not much, and Crazy Aunt Purl, who does not blog these days (though you can find her on Instagram). Knitters blogging was a pretty big thing back then.
How and when do you find the time to write posts and/or read others’ blogs? I read some first thing in the morning, then if I have quiet time at work I’ll take a break for it. I prefer to comment on the computer so sometimes I mark a post unread in Feedly to go back to.
Do you comment regularly or do you prefer to remain anonymous? I comment pretty frequently, but since I chose to blog under my initials and not my actual name, it’s still anonymous-ish.
Do people in your “real life” know you have a blog and read it? Yes, some do, and sometimes I’m sorry that I can’t 100% vent about my life without keeping that in mind. But mostly I just write about my side of things and try to be honest and not mean. If that makes sense. I don’t go around promoting it IRL but it comes up sometimes.
Elisabeth
Wow. 18 years. I am just in awe of you long-time bloggers!