This week, I thought it might be a fun way to end the year by sharing my own Blogger Spotlight answers with you all.
This series will be back next year, so if you would like to take part, and your blog is under six months old, or has been re-launched in the last six months, please email me randommusings29@gmail.com
1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself
I think most of you know all of this already but here goes. I’m Debbie, I’m almost 35 and I’m from the North East of England. I have been writing this blog for nearly two years now and I also write books. I recently quit my day job to become a full time writer.
2 What is your blog’s name and what is it about?
Obviously, my blog’s name is My Random Musings and it’s about a bit of everything really. Books, writing, blogging, my thoughts and views on anything and everything, quotes, positivity, motivation and inspiration and at the minute, a whole load of Christmas.
3 Why did you decide to start a blog?
I had dreamed of writing a book for a long time, but I didn’t know where to start. I hadn’t written anything in years and I was pretty rusty. I started the blog to find my “writing voice” again. In hindsight, the voice you use for fiction is rarely your true voice – it’s the voice of your characters – so it didn’t really do what I wanted it to do, but I don’t regret it for a second.
4 Do you have any goals for your blog?
Yes, but I’m sort of in limbo at the minute. I set a list of goals last January for this year (most of which I managed to do) and I will set a new goal list next January. My main goal for the blog will always be to grow it – it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been blogging, I don’t think that will ever stop being the case.
5 Tell us one random fact about you
Does “I hate this question because everyone already knows everything about me” count? No? Ok.
Erm… I recently recorded my first ever vlog which I promptly deleted because I hate the way I sound on camera. I do still plan to do one eventually, mostly because I want to prove to myself that I can after years of saying I never would.
6 What is the best piece of blog related advice you have received so far?
I could write an entire book on this one. I think for me personally it was using images. Images were something I didn’t bother with in the beginning, and after seeing this advice everywhere, I finally decided to give it a go and my views flew up.
7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?
I love everything about blogging, but for me the best bit by far is the people – my readers and other bloggers.
When I started this blog, I didn’t know there was such a thing as the blogosphere. I imagined blogging would be a highly competitive thing with no interaction between bloggers. What a total misconception. The blogging community is far and away the friendliest group of people I’ve ever come across.
It isn’t cliquey and everyone is so welcoming and friendly. And there’s always someone who will help you out. I have met some other bloggers that I would now call friends and I know we will be friends for years to come.
8 Is there anything you would do differently if you were starting over knowing what you know now?
I always say I would have gone self hosted from the start, but the truth is, if I’d have done that, I have to wonder if this blog would even still be here. It was nice having the safety net that came with a BlogSpot blog in the beginning. The main thing I would have changed was to have a social media presence sooner. I started my blog about two months before I joined Twitter or had any social media (I had a Facebook profile but not a page or anything).
9 Anything else you’d like to share with us?
If you are a new blogger, I would just like to say don’t give up. It’s a learning curve – a really steep one – but it does get easier. And the fun you’ll have along the way make it all worth while.
You can find me here: Twitter Facebook Bloglovin Pinterest and Instagram Please do stop by and say hi!
Oh don’t delete your vlog’s, keep them and share the crappy bit’s as I’ve just done, they make for a good giggle. Good luck with them going forward, just roll with it. Happy New Year #BloggerClubUK
I kind of regret deleting it now to be honest! Thank you 🙂 Happy New Year
Ahh it’s great to hear more about you! I totally agree that the blogging community is such a welcoming and friendly place, that’s definitely been a surprise but the best thing about blogging for me. I want to see your vlogs! #BloggerClubUK
I love the community – I was so shocked to learn it not only existed but was so friendly! At least one vlog is on my list of next year’s goals so I know at some point I will have to do it 🙂
Lovely to read more about you. I’m still trying to find my blogging tribe – my goal this year to attempt to network a bit more and maybe attempt a blogging conference. #bloggingclubuk
Thank you 🙂 Your tribe is out there – networking is great. You will meet amazing people along the way 🙂
Sound advice. I thought about giving this up in the beginning but after five months I am so glad that I have seen it through. Blogging has led to so many new opportunities.
#bloggerclubuk
Thank you 🙂 Don’t give up, your blog is fab!
Really interesting and some great answers here. Plus your tip to new bloggers is one I deffo agree with. I really admire you for quitting your job to write. That’s amazing #bloggerclubuk
Thank you 🙂 It was scary at the time, but I’m so glad I did it!
Oh this is nice! I would love to take part. Sending you an email 🙂 #BloggerclubUK
Thank you 🙂
Great post, interesting read, nice to know someone is the same age as me 🙂
Thank you 🙂 And yes, it is!
I started blogging about a year ago (can I still take part in your Blogger Spotlight?) but it is only recently that I’ve discovered the blogosphere, and how helpful and friendly it is. With that steep learning curve et al, I’m now wondering where I’ll find the time and energy…
Thank you for this post!
#BloggerClubUK
Sure why not – just drop me an email 😉
It is a steep learning curve, but it’s such a fun journey too!
Great to meet you, Debbie, I do love reading your musings. And you are so right, the blogging community is fabulous. #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂 It’s an amazing community!
I sometimes feel like packing it all in but something keeps me going. It’s the reassurance that even successful bloggers worry about failing or feel silly from time to time. Really enjoyed this post 😊
#BloggerClubUK
I don’t think it matters if you’ve been doing it for ten days or ten years, that feeling never fully goes away! Thank you 🙂
I love that you’re including yourself in this. I confess that I’m one of those people who still looks for an “About” page when I go to a new blog, just to get to know the author’s context. #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂 That’s something I very rarely do, but the odd time I do it, I usually end up learning something new about the person which is great
It’s great to know more about you, you shouldn’t give up on the vlogs – one day I’d like to pluck up courage to have a go at vlogging. Well done for achieving most of your goals, I totally failed at mine! #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂 I’m putting vlogging on this year’s list so watch this space lol! Never mind, there’s always this year!
I love this! You are so right about the community, I didn’t even know existed before I started blogging, but now I couldn’t live without it. #BloggerclubUK
Thank you 🙂 It’s a fantastic community, one you would never even believe existed until you become a part of it
I love this series! I think I knew most of this already which is really cool.We have known each other for nearly two years now! I agree that images are really important in blog posts. #BloggerClubUK
Thank you 🙂 Yes, we have and it’s completely flown!
Great advice Debbie as always. I did the same as you and had no social media presence for the first few months. That’s definitely something I would change too. I still can’t get over how friendly everyone is! Shame you don’t have a series for us older bloggers … although I still don’t know what I’m talking about aftercalmost two years!! Xx #BloggerClubUk
Thank you 🙂 It’s actually something I’m considering so watch this space! x
Ha ha I think it’s the older bloggers who consider giving up lol. I was chatting to a blogging friend of mine who’s one of the UK’s top bloggers and they said they weren’t sure how many years they had left in them lol. Well you’ve read my annoying things about blogging post so I won’t say I totally agree with 7 ha ha but I still believe despite the dreadful competition and cliquishness that the blogosphere is one of the best places to be. I don’t know where or who I’d be without it frankly! And you were one of my ever blog friends Debs! I just need to finally crack the paid content mystery and actually make an income and then life will be great. #bloggerclubuk
Haha, you’re probably right there – a few years down the line when the novelty starts wearing off and you realise how hard it can be! I loved that post and I know what you mean I just feel I’ve met way more good people than bad (you being one of the good ones of course!). I have complete faith in you doing just that!
Ahh great to get to know you a little better I never knew you were from the north east! Its good to put an accent to your tweets now ;0) #bloggerclubuk
Haha love that you’ll now read them in my accent!