Confessions of a Blogger



Lix from A Classic Notion tagged me to do the Confessions of a Blogger post. I felt it a perfect way to collect some thoughts and for you to learn a bit more about me and why I blog here. It is also a great break from all the crafting I have going on today.

1. When did you first start blogging and why?

I started this blog in March of this year. I had tossed the idea of Oh Whimsical Me back it forth, for a year or two actually, while I was still in college. I struggle with depression and anxiety (you can read a bit more about that here and here) and hit a real low while I was living in Moscow. I started this blog after moving back to Boise, sort of in celebration of overcoming some things personally. Also because I had wanted to for so long and I was tired of not doing the things I wanted out of fear. It is a place for my to stay organized as well; to share my thoughts, inspiration, and creations.

2. Have you had any past online presence?

Yes, I've had a tumblr since September 2008. I had to go look at my archives and check, and wow that seems like forever ago. I have changed so much since then. That is what I love so much about tumblr, and why I still use it (although I must admit I mostly just reblog things I like a lot now).  It was my safe haven for so many years. I have met so many great people I call dear friends. It was even my support system at times, back when I felt like I had no one else. I love going back and reading through my old posts (I use to write there a lot) and seeing my own growth over the years.

3. When did you become serious about your blog?

The moment I started it, truthfully. Although it started out more as a place to record memories of my personal life (more for my own benefit). I still like to use this place to document those things and share them with my readers, but my vision for where I would like my blog to end up has changed drastically.

4. What was your first blog post?

The very first one is just a very brief intro into why I was starting this blog. The first full post (the second post here) was pictures from a hiking trip Will and I took with the pups.

5. What have been your biggest challenges blogging?

I have a lot of ideas constantly swarming around up in this head but I have a tendency to let the majority of them slip away unexecuted. I'm working on it and trying to keep all my ideas organized/written down for later use. At first, I also struggled with what to post because I wanted to keep my reader audience in mind. I also felt, for some reason, that there was an unspoken quota I had to reach each week or month. Now I mostly just post what I want and when I comfortably can, which seems to work out better for everyone. I also struggle with networking and reaching out to other bloggers, because I'm shy and have terrible social anxiety (yes even on the internet) but I need to more.

6. What is the most rewarding thing about blogging?

The community, no competition. I meet so many caring, inspirational people all the time. I don't know why, but before I started my blog I thought things were going to be a lot harder than they are. I didn't expect so many people to be interested in the content I post and to be so welcoming.

7. What is the most discouraging thing about blogging?

This may only apply to me, because I feel like I got myself into this situation. Sometimes I do feel a little limited. There are definitely things I keep myself from pursuing or posting about because I feel that there would be no interest. I have such a wide array of things I find interesting and enjoy, but I feel that within the context of this blog those topics would feel like outsiders (like the podcast appreciation post).  Perhaps I created the parameters here a little too thin. I love sharing snippets of my life and personal style and crafts and recipes I love. But I'd also love to discuss feminist issues, social constructs, racism, gender norms, my favorite sci-fi films, how great Netflix is, why I want to live in Canada, my struggle to build a portfolio, etc. I don't know how to balance all of that. I have created a great and supportive readership here and I don't want to burst that.

8. What is your lasting inspiration or motivation?

I just love sharing things I discover/create. I am a very passionate person and when I really love something I want everyone else to know about it too. Every time I share a recipe I wish I could come over to your house and whip you up a taste. When I share pictures from a trip I took I wish you all could have been there to witness how breathtaking the mountains were and feel how refreshing the air was too. And I wish you all could have your own personal Pippin, because he is the greatest and keeps me happy with puppy snuggles everyday.

9. What is your blogging dirty little secret?

It's not dirty, nor is it probably a secret, but I blog from bed a lot. It is the comfiest place and warmest place in this cold house, so it is bound to happen.

I'm still currently 'unemployed,' so this blog is my main thing. And I still don't do it all that well

I also really hope to collaborate with more bloggers, brands, businesses in the future.

10. What is your current goal as a blogger?

I really love seeing my blog grow organically and never try to push anything too hard. I want to maintain that, while somehow networking more and growing my readership. I do feel that my blog is currently an extension of me and a great representation of my character. I don't want that to ever change. If anything, I need to improve on it.

11. Have you learned or become passionate about anything through blogging that caught you by surprise?

When I began I never had any interest in outfit posts or personal style posts. I thought they would get boring really quickly, as my wardrobe is quite small and very few of my pieces are new. In fact, the majority of my clothes have been with me for at least 5 years. I haven't posted many, but my personal style posts are quickly becoming my favorite. I never plan them too carefully (except my Lace Dress 4 Ways for Fall/Winter post, of course), and I usually shoot a few pictures when we are out doing something already on the weekend (thanks Will) with whatever I happen to be wearing that day.

I'm tagging:

Kara from As Always Kara
Dus from Cuddly Cacti
Gabrielle from Hippie Go Lucky
Carolynn from Kitty Adventures
Jessica from Life Laid Bear
Ella from Paper Umbrella
Danica from Good Heart
Cam from Sincerely Cam

Because I want to know more about all of you! Simply answer the questions above if you'd like to participate.

xx Emorie

14 comments :

  1. Oh! I've been meaning to make a blog post about being a feminist too! Even through I would not consider myself liberal, I do consider myself a feminist. I also strongly want to stand for Christian feminism because most people assume Christian women are meek and submissive (totally stand against this egregious and misunderstood view). I like this tag and will totally participate :) and I love your blog! Even through I rarely listen to podcasts I still enjoy reading about them through your individual and very well written posts!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love all your answers Emorie! I totally identify with your struggle to reach out/network with other bloggers...meeting new people online makes me just as anxious as meeting new people in person! Also love how honest you are about the most discouraging aspects of blogging - I struggle with that a lot too. Some subjects feel scary to talk about on the internet...it's hard to find a balance between pleasing your readers and doing whatever you're passionate about. For what it's worth, I would love to see a post with your thoughts on any of those topics you listed :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would love to hear about your favorite sci-fi films. I want to broaden my movie choices. Would be great. :D

    -Cece

    Where The Water Meets The Sky

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love it! And adorable photos!
    Thanks for tagging me, I am going to do mine tomorrow :)
    Cam

    ReplyDelete
  5. Okay, I love your answers.


    1) Your thoughts about sometimes feeling there are other things you want to post about that are not topics typically covered by your blog. Have you thought about contributing to another blog (either guest blogging or paid gigs)? Alt Summit has some good advice at that. I'm taking a look at that as I'm only subbing right now (so definitely feeling you about the "blog as the main gig" thing)


    2) I would like to read about feminism from you, and also feel you could very much have it relate to your blog topics and to your readers.


    3) Oh! I went to school for a year in Moscow too. oddly enough, I also struggled with depression while there...

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are so right, the blogging community is so fantastic. Thanks for tagging me, this is so fun!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love this post. I agree that sometimes I feel limited on what I can write about. I'm an intersectional feminist and really want to write about related topics, but feel like it doesn't fit into my "brand." I like Kristian's note below about writing content for other blogs; maybe something for you and I both to consider. Also, I really relate to your struggle to network with other bloggers. I'm shy too!


    I'm really excited to answer these questions for myself! Thanks for tagging me.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I definitely agree with you on the discouraging part of blogging. A lot of the time I feel the opposite though, that I haven't defined my niche really. So it feels like nothing is narrowed down, although that's how I feel in my life right now. I guess my blog is a good extension of who I am at this moment. I am, also, relatively unemployed. My blog has definitely kept me more motivated during my times of unemployment. Thanks for tagging me, I'll have to do it soon! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I LOVED getting to know you better through this post Emorie! And I've always really enjoyed your blog (I mean, since I found it not too long ago) because of your openness and honestly. People definitely enjoy outfit posts because we all like something pretty too look at, but it also frustrates me as well that some posts I've put the most time into and were really important to me get to many fewer comments. now though w/ work/school i haven't had the time to do those sort of posts though and i fear that people will find me shallow through my blog... oh blogger problems right. anyway, that is really wonderful to hear that you received support through Tumblr as well and I'm glad to get to know you better. (And you can always email me if you're feeling crummy, most days I'm sitting under floursecent lighting at work and love emailing : ). and thanks for the tag, I'll def put this on my to-do : ). I hope you have a wonderful weekend w/ Will & Pip!
    http://cuddlycacti.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I found your blog through your banner on Paper Umbrella and I love how open you are! I struggle with a lot of the same things you do (namely, being unemployed, being on public assistance and not being sure how much of that I should disclose.) As much as I'd like to be a perfect, awesome blogger who has a clean house, bakes awesome cakes and can make pretty crafts, that's just not me. Slowly, I just decided to be 100% myself on my blog instead of just trying to be like every other blog (even having dirty house pics posted) and people still seem to respond well. It's funny that I was scared to be myself that whole time but people can tell when you are being real!

    Suzanne
    A Coin For the Well

    ReplyDelete
  11. Absolutely love this!! And you are so beautiful btw. Glad you did start your blog and happy I found it, look forward to following your journey!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I also struggle with taking all my "great" blog ideas all the way through to completion! And I didn't expect that I would like doing outfit posts so much, but I tried it and found that I really like telling the stories behind some of my outfits that have been with me for 5 or 6 years... :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your answers to #5-#7 really resonate with me. My social anxiety is slightly better when it comes to networking for my blog than networking for my business, but it's still very much there. I also never expected people to be interested in the content I posted, especially the personal things... I have a lot of ideas for posts that I think could have more reach (lists and tips and that sort of thing) but I keep not getting around to writing them.

    ReplyDelete