Why Start a Blog?

I admit it. I’ve tried in the past to start a blog and failed miserably. I’d have good intentions, set myself up with a plan. I read all these various posts and tutorials on how to start a successful blog. I even wrote out a few posts. Each attempt would fall flat.

I got bogged down on everyone else’s thoughts on how to run a blog. It felt like I was wasting too much time writing or didn’t have enough content to post. I tried following the 80/20 rule. Eighty percent of your time should be making art while the twenty percent should be marketing. There was also all this SEO stuff; you need more links, you shouldn’t be writing like that. Your work should be more cohesive. The Google analytics seemed like it was constantly changing. All of it made my head spin.

Every time I would try a different approach. It seemed like none of it worked for me. The only thing that I could agree on was that I needed to post more often.

I recently started reading the Artful Blogging magazine. I loved the beautifully curated posts and pictures they all had. It felt pristine. I wanted others to have the same feeling as I did but with my website and blog. I want to bring inspiration and confidence to others.

It finally dawned on me that I wasn’t going to have the same blog as they did because I wasn’t them. My lifestyle is not like theirs. My blog reflects my thoughts, beliefs and art. At times I can be very logical about things and at others I let me feelings dictate.

My Creative Lifestyle Blog

After thinking it over, I decided this blog would be about my lifestyle as an artist. My posts may range from processes on art pieces to my thoughts on preparing for a convention. I’ll also include my approaches to the business and aspects of being self-employed. What I won’t include is my political opinions. We all know there’s already enough of that on the internet. I might also include here my other hobbies I like to do when I’m not illustrating. Many of us know most creatives have various outlets.

My shorts may be short or long, informative or a just peek into my crazy life and thoughts. As of now, it seems the world wants to throw obstacles in my way. Internet Explorer doesn’t want to show my visual editor for typing posts and Firefox jumbles my words up when I type too fast. Sigh. For now I’ll type in Word and fix it later.  

Here’s to another start in hopes of new insights, new friends and a wonderful journey I get to share with you.

I hope you all find this blog inspiring and gives you confidence to start a project of your own. It may seem scary at first but keep at it until it works for you.