If you’ve followed blogs for a while, you will inevitably notice that bloggers tend to have epiphanies somewhere along their journey about their purpose for blogging, the direction of their blog, their branding.
I started this blog to create and connect mostly through my writing. I grew up with the thought of possibly being a writer one day, yet I’ve never seen myself as a brilliant writer.
Over time, as I was urged towards a different academic direction (one I never felt much passion for), I dismissed the idea of a career in writing. In any case, I have often felt my writing style tends to the verbose. I get too detailed, throwing in superfluous words, maybe even waffling at times. In stark contrast, the writing I find myself drawn to is clear and succinct, where each word is measured and purposeful, yet powerfully expressive. Maybe being a writer was just a child’s dream.
It’s been 18 months since I started this blog. The first six months were full-on, full-time, unpaid social media engagement as I worked hard to establish myself, as bloggers usually do. My devoted followers grew, however, the numbers are still small. Honestly, though, that’s okay for me. The responsibility of maintaining a large community was too daunting a thought and I didn’t want to feel I was letting anyone down.
After realising I could not sustain the time I had been investing in social media, my blogging journey changed in 2012, mostly due to a shift in priorities, a theme threaded through many of my posts last year. Family and home had to come first. Yet whilst “full-time” blogging, tweeting, “facebooking”, blog reading and commenting took a back seat, my use of Instagram continued, as my passion for mobile photography grew.
It was quite a surprise to realise I was such a visual person. I had no idea! Despite this, for some unclear reason, I’ve always felt the need to keep the writing (blogging) and photography (instagram) separate.
In 2013, I think it’s time to remove the invisible distinction between both. Maybe my other childish, childhood fantasy of being a documentary filmmaker and photographer in the savannah’s of Africa might come true one day after all!
Has the new year brought new directions in your blogging, or life?
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Linking with Jess from Essentially Jess for IBOT.
It’s great that you’re finding your direction V. You write beautifully and you have a natural talent for amazing photography. Your posts (and photography) are always inspiring and perhaps it would make things easier on yourself if you could somehow combine the two. (…And I don’t see any reason why you can’t pursue your childhood fantasy!)
Posted by Deb @ Aspiring Mum | 15 January 2013, 1:03 pmThank you for your encouraging words, Deb. I am starting to think the childhood dreams and little wishes we have don’t have to remain fantasy. I know they may come to fruition a little differently than expected but this year, I hope to actually make steps to see what happens. I can always change direction again! Veronica
Posted by Mixed Gems | 16 January 2013, 7:50 amI think I’m still evolving in my direction, Deb, but photography does play a part. I appreciate your kind words about both my photography and writing. I haven’t thrown out my childhood fantasy’s totally but I guess they evolve as we do through life. xo
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 10:49 pmI really love your photos on IG. And think that incorporating photography is right up your alley. Love that you have found this bend in your journey! x Aroha
Posted by coloursofsunset | 15 January 2013, 1:28 pmThanks, Aroha. Sometimes you have to go with things instead of fight them. xo
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 10:51 pmI always wanted to be a writer when I was growing up too, and I’m not quite ready to give up on that yet!
When it comes to blogging, however I started by wanting to share my story with the world, but have found that apparently the world isn’t overly interested. So now I blog for me. It documents my travel through this thing called life. I spent much time trying to build an audience and make friendships, but found that it got me nowhere, so I have stopped trying now and just do it for the passion of writing.
Good on you for finding your direction! xx
Posted by Chrissie at Organised Chaos | 15 January 2013, 1:47 pmIt takes a lot of effort to build a large audience in blogging. I put hours and hours into when I started but I couldn’t see at the time that it wasn’t sustainable. Still, the initial time investment did bring me a small group of followers I call friends, some I’ve even met in real life. But trying to write to attract others is hard slog. Writing from the heart just for ourselves is the most genuine way to write, IMHO. Thanks for dropping by, Chrissie.
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 10:51 pmIt’s a great feeling when you realize where you want to go next, after feeling vaguely (or clearly!) unsatisfied for so long. Good luck on this new path!
Visiting from IBOT.
Posted by Azara | 15 January 2013, 2:05 pmThanks for the encouragement, Azara, and for dropping by. I can see you are quite the prolific blogger from way back!
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 10:57 pmI have also found this blogging caper to be very time consuming. My first priority is to my family and my health so I have had to try to come to terms with this – that means growing readership a lot more slowly than I had hoped.
I really enjoy your writing style and hope your new path gets more clearly defined as you meld the two. Good luck
Becc via #ibot
Posted by becc03 | 15 January 2013, 2:25 pmI appreciate your visit and feedback, Becc. Blogging takes a lot of energy. If you don’t have a love or passion for it, or inspiration, it’s hard to keep it up. You look like you’re doing well though.
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:10 pmYour IG photos always captivate me. There’s a little part of me that wishes I could just steal an inch of your talent
As for the blogging, yes it is time-consuming. I just think back to what somebody said at one of the conferences, “Pick a couple of social media outlets and do them well, rather than do them all and get yourself in a muddle”
You’re so at home with IG and I’m loving what you do with Project Life. Keep it up! x
Posted by Grace | 15 January 2013, 2:37 pmGrace, you’ve got a great eye for photography. I really enjoy a lot of the shots you post.
Thanks for the advice about social media too. It makes a lot of sense. I just need to get organised to stick to it!
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:14 pmI think you’re great at words and pictures Veronica. Nothing wrong with detailed or descriptive writing either
Posted by Carli | 15 January 2013, 2:44 pmThanks for your encouragement, Carli.
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:15 pmYou take amazing photos Veronica and I love the way you write. Always so thoughtful and thought provoking. Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses lovely
Posted by Rhianna (@aparentinglife) | 15 January 2013, 3:30 pmGreatly appreciate your encouragement, Rhi.
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:15 pmOh I’m so excited for you V! I do think that you are a brilliant photographer, even just on IG. It’s great when you can combine both your passions and I don’t see why you shouldn’t give photography a more prominent space here.
Ai @ Sakura Haruka
Posted by Ai Sakura | 15 January 2013, 5:11 pmStill trying to get my act together with the photography on the blog, Ai, but thanks for the encouragement. I’ll get there. Just have to stop stalling and do it!
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:18 pmWill have to check if I am following you on Instagram!
Posted by redlandcitygirl | 15 January 2013, 6:27 pmYou know I’m a newbie but the blogs I adore are those that are real, honest and interesting, and it appears yours is definitely all of those, so congrats! Emily
Posted by Have a laugh on me | 15 January 2013, 10:13 pmBlogging is such an interesting learning curve. I hope you’re enjoying it so far. Being a journalist/freelance writer, I assume it’d come easy to write, but I’ve learnt over time that these may not necessarily be so. Thanks for dropping by, Emily. I appreciate your feedback.
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:27 pmWords and pictures can be very powerful. I look forward to seeing how you do bring these together. I love the IG too (was very vocal and snarky about the ‘whoops we didn’t really mean we are going to sell your pictures’ thing, but I am reserving judgement for the moment). Good luck with your new direction! Visiting from #teamIBOT
Posted by Twitchy (@TwitchyCorner) | 16 January 2013, 1:01 amThanks, Twitchy. I’m still on IG and enjoying it too but being cautious about what may come. I’m also deleting a lot of old photos and just tidying up my gallery. I follow a lot of serious photographers so am watching what they do.
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:29 pmI think there is definitely a way to bring them both together and satisfy you’re creative itchies.
I had the dream of making movies too, but not documentaries. I’ll leave that for you instead
Posted by EssentiallyJess | 16 January 2013, 9:20 pmI’m enjoying my Project Life journey so far and the challenge to find words and quotes to go with the images and themes. Whether I’ll ever get to documentaries, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll see what inspiration I get from Vine!
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:31 pmThis sounds interesting Veronica – very interesting! Don’t under-rate yourself – You are a talented writer and photographer and I’m looking forward to what’s coming up!
Posted by Kirri White (@kirri_white) | 17 January 2013, 7:33 amThanks for your encouragement, Kirri. I know you commented a while back on an earlier post about my photography. I might take up the idea you proposed to explain why I took certain photos the way I did, the filters I used, etc. I’d have blogging ideas a-plenty! xo
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:35 pmI think new directions are wonderful and am sure you are going to go far with whatever you pursue – start with where you are and keep heading towards the documentary/photography angle – must follow you on IG (onwe of my goals this year is also to be less verbose, more visual and more efficient (nowhere near the level of social media and blogging as in 2012) xxx
Posted by homelifesimplified | 21 January 2013, 9:58 pmThanks for the advice, Deb. Are you on IG? I could’t see your username on your blog. I’d love to follow you too.
I’ve seen you change and evolve through 2012 and look forward to seeing where you go in 2013 too. xo
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:40 pmI always wanted to write since I was 9. I went to uni to do a communications degree majoring in journalism and found that editing and the visual medium really spoke to me. I had no ambition of getting into film; but I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed it and was good at it. It was really by chance that I got involved in film to begin with. And now I try and do both.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Posted by Maria Tedeschi (@mums_word) | 23 January 2013, 6:28 pmI’d love you know more about your film, Maria. A work colleague of mine in administration and management is actually a video installation artist and what I know of her work is very inspiring. I did try a few short, short films but haven’t done any editing in ages. The first and most personally significant one I made was on this post about 9/11 – http://mixedgems.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/ten-years-on-–-remembering-911/. Thanks for dropping by.
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:43 pmYou hopefully know by now just how talented I think you are with your photography hun and your writing for that manner. But your photos always get me and I just stare at them and stare at them. You will rock that goal like no one can – I know it! xx
Posted by Sonia Life Love and Hiccups | 23 January 2013, 11:42 pmI appreciate your encouragement, Sonia. You’ve got a pretty good eye yourself! xo
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:43 pmBlogs are always changing because your life changes with time. You could have a blog that shows your awesome instagram pictures and other visuals. I do understand what you mean about how blogging does take up a lot of time, and to maintain it you have to keep putting in that time. I struggle with that, too.
Posted by biculturalmama | 27 January 2013, 12:40 pmIt’s funny how I used to think when I tackled projects or goals that I had to “make it” or “arrive”. But you are quite right, Maria. As I’ve gotten older, I believe we are a work in progress and that we never quite “arrive”.
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:48 pmWow! I want to see that documentary! I love your writing Veronia and I love your photos. I think that they both represent how you see the world and that is what is unique. I love a good epiphany! xx
Posted by mummy issues | 27 January 2013, 10:37 pmHa, ha, Lee! I’m not sure I’ll ever make a doco. The closest I’ve gotten to anything I felt was inspired in video was in this old post – http://mixedgems.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/ten-years-on-–-remembering-911/. Thanks for your appreciation of my photos too. xo
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:50 pmDon’t stop honey I really look forward to reading your thoughts (and seeing them in celluloid) in 2013. Like u, blogging is a passionate outlet for me, I love it, but also can’t always keep up with the social media demands. I do it when I can and try not to feel any pressure when I don’t.
Posted by Bachelormum | 28 January 2013, 7:40 amThanks so much, Kim. I’ve let go a bit more with the pressure to keep up but it’s still there far too often. It is a commitment but I know there are those that will stick with you regardless of how frequently you post, read and comment. Your comment has reminded me to go check out how your end of last year overseas adventure wrapped up. xo
Posted by Mixed Gems | 4 February 2013, 11:52 pmI love your IG stream – lots of gems there for sure
I’m doing lots of IG but its still separate to my blog too – although I do “borrow” the photos to illustrate some writing every now and then
Your childhood dream sounds amazing – I say go for it
Posted by ally (sapa) | 28 January 2013, 9:14 pmOh, Ally, I love YOUR IG stream. Your work inspires me too. I love your flowers and just how you see things around you. Your home is gorgeous too. I think you could incorporate them into your blog too but you need to feel right and comfortable doing that. I’ve lots of stored up images to post now….too many. I just didn’t get around to sharing them through January. Eeek!
Posted by Mixed Gems | 5 February 2013, 12:01 am