This is such a fantastic post - thank you so much for writing it. Sometimes it is far too easy to loose all common sense in blogging and reading this, I think I definitely have had these moments. Your post puts everything back in perspective - especially the part about kitchens and instagram - that made me laugh. a lot. I have this bookmarked for my own sanity! x
I love your blog it's been my favourite for years but, 95K views? You're by far the most popular blogger in the UK and one of the most popular in the world so I doubt your stats dropping by a couple of hundred or thousand will affect you. I really don't mean it to be in a rude way though but what about bloggers who barely get stats?
I agree with you wholeheartedly. As much as I love blogging, the stress, anxiety and constant stat checking that comes with it can be a bit of a nightmare sometimes.
With blogging awards, I love them as they can go to bloggers who really deserve it but there was a bit of a fiasco the other day with a clique of bloggers who were all nominated except for one. One of them then goes on to tweet that she didn't even know the other nominees in her category and ended it with a haha as though she and her other blogger friends were the only ones worthy. Another thing I think you should've mentioned is the bitchiness that's present in blogging. At events you'll find cliques and I love that everyone meets fellow bloggers and become friends but, some of these cliques make events incredibly hard on one another. It's as though we're back at school not blogging! That clique I mentioned earlier is a prime example, I will not mention any names but, bigheadedness will never get you anywhere ladies. Come back down to earth!
This is so insightful. I haven't lost myself to blogging and I don't intend to but when I feel that I might be getting that way I will definitely return to this and re-read it!
Sometimes it does seem as though some bloggers really don't have lives outside of their cyberspace and it's frustrating! Thank you for this post!
With blogging awards I sometimes feel it's the same old people getting nominated and winning. Why don't they let some other people have a chance too? However with the Cosmo's being announced earlier in the week I noticed a few bloggers who I'd never come across and others with very small followings which I liked because it shakes things up.
Anon what you mentioned is spot on about the bitchiness. One of the members of that clique who works for a beauty box brand tweeted something so bitchy about another blogger working at McDonalds. Not on!
hurray for this post which says lots of stuff that we are thinking and don't dare to admit out loud. - exclusivity: this is precisely why so many bloggers (including me) will try to get to the (high street) shop the very day an item you know it's going to be popular is going to get released. We all lie about it, and pretend we just rushed to the shop cos we're excited but deep down it's to be in there in good time before everybody has blogged it before you do. And yep, same goes for that nail freebie in the magazine. Which reader is going to be interested to read about your slant on it when they've seen 150 times. - envy: I am not proud of it but I am the first one to feel jealous about not being invited to events and my moans on twitter about that particular topic are legendary. I now moan less about it because I've accepted that events would be 99% of the time in London, and on a weekday. - blogger awards. This is probably the no.1 thing which causes friction in the bloggosphere instead of celebrating it. I know it, but can I ignore it? No. I fall for it everytime. There's another thing which I'd like to add to the list: This feeling of low self worth, when you feel 'so and so who is massive blogger has blogged about it, no one is going to be interested in what I have to say about it'. I wish I could get that out of my head and apply to myself because 1) even if I have read many times about, say, an eyeshadow palette, I always be interested to hear the opinions of my favourite bloggers about it, even if the subject has been covered to death. Maybe, just maybe I could be that favourite blogger of a reader 2) no everybody follows the same bloggers. I am always surprised when I am blogged about something which, I think, has been covered to death and someone says 'oh wow, never heard of that.
So true what you said about 'blogging is not about saving lives' it's just about makeup or lipsticks. And I wish some of us would remember that before profusely apologising to their readers that they haven't blogged for two weeks. If my 453 blog subscriptions updated their blog everyday, catching up on their articles and leaving comments on them (do i need to comment at this stage on how down lots of us feel when the fruit of our blogging work only harvest one comment or none) would be a full time job.
Interesting post, thank you for writing it. I've been blogging for just over three years and can wholeheartedly say that it is, and always will be, just a hobby for me. I don't look at my stats, I don't give a flying whatever about being the first with anything and I have nothing but admiration for fellow bloggers doing great things with their sites.
I don't follow bloggers unless I love the way they write (or love what they write about) and I absolutely don't get caught up in chasing after samples and event invites. I just look at anything I do receive as a real treat and am very grateful for it.
It won't happen anytime soon but if there ever came a day when I feel anything other than pure enjoyment for writing and reading about beauty, I will shut the blog down and carry on with my life unharmed.
As you said, at the end of the day, we're writing about lipstick, not saving lives.
This is an amazing post I defiantly feel like that sometimes, like why do they get to go to events not me, why do they get free stuff, the list goes on and on but I think it just makes you too stressed and tierd to worry about it, I just concentrate on my little blog. And ur right enjoy the things you did before blogging like going out with friends, go for a night out, let ur hair down it deff works
Fab post. I must admit that I always look at shortlists hopefully to see if I'm on them, I never am, but am truly and genuinely delighted to see a couple of fantastic blogs that you would never expect to see there listed. What a great surprise. Get so fed up with these blogs that are massively popular but actually not very good with terrible pictures and not regularly updated.
Still I don't blog for awards but I'd be lying if I said I only blogged for me! I blog because I hope people will want to read and its a horrible horrible feeling when you work so hard day in day out and feel no one reads! xx
This was a though provoking post. I read your blog and enjoy it and I respect what you do (as do I respect all other beauty bloggers).
However I am noticing a trend appearing. It seems that a lot of the 'more established' bloggers seem to be the ones to complain the most about how the beauty community has changed and how it's "not like how it used to be". Is it because there are more contributors to the beauty community than ever? and in turn, more competition than ever? ... but is this a bad thing? Is it bad that more women and men are expressing themselves and shareing thier passion of beauty and fasion with the world? I would say the vast majority of bloggers enjoy it and can keep a healthy balance between a proactive life and blogging.
but I can't help but loose respect for bloggers when I see prominent members talk about the community in such a negative way. It almost seems ungrateful to let all of their good that comes with beauty blogging be overshadowed by petty jealousy and paranoia. With a large following comes a responsibility to your readers. Do you think posts like this are going to empower and encourage young readers to blog?
It is understandable that if blogging is your main profession, naturally you would be slightly competitive with it, however to experience the feeling you described that you feel towards blogging is a unhealthy way for anyone to feel towards their profession. It seems like the ones who have the largest following and should therefore exercise the greatest level of responsibility seem to be acting the ones acting the lest professional.
Anon, there are negative things about blogging.. it's just a fact. I've focussed on those in this post, but there are many, many positives too. Sometimes just saying it out loud is very helpful to those feeling a similar thing. It's not like I'm lying... why shouldn't I say what I feel on, er, MY blog. So sanctimonious comments about exercising responsibility are more annoying than I can say - I am a responsible blogger, a seasoned blogger, reflecting the way things are now.
What a fantastic post and thank you for writing it.
We as Bloggers should think back to when there was no such thing as a blog - we are getting our words published and we do that without any training or qualifications . I often have to remind myself because........... ?
Envy is my number one failing. I read other peoples blogs and 99% of the time, I am thinking to my self "why didn't I think of doing that ? " Self doubt is the other one. Every body else's blog is nicer, better designed and more read worthy than mine. So thank you for giving me the gentle slap that I need and making me remember that lil ol me is getting my thoughts and ideas out to around 500 unique visitors per month !
to anonymous (well one of them) 'Do you think posts like this are going to empower and encourage young readers to blog' --> what do you suggest then, keeping it all in? The purpose of a blog is to express oneself and write about stuff which is dying to come out. We finally have a post where we could all behind and exposes the not so jolly side of blogging and now it needs to be censored? Would you also suggest I'd best refrain myself from tweeting that the weather is depressing because that might depress others at the same time? If Jane spent her time writing about some of the drawbacks of blogging, then I'd understand you'd be bored or feel discouraged yourself, but then again the post started with a preface 'and for those readers who aren’t bloggers – skip on to the next post if you prefer where it’s business as usual!'. Dear me, you apologise in advance that your post is not going to be all singing and dancing, and you still get criticised for it. I give up. x
One thing I love about you (and your blog) is that you are able to see the big picture and write about it with lovely articulation. You are so spot-on with this post. I've had a blog where I've taken mighty breaks (weeks at a time), but the reality is I am not a full time blogger.
I found myself nodding over again and again as I read your lovely post. I got into blogging for the fun of it--when it stops being fun, it's time to stop. And it does stop being fun sometimes. I guess for my part, I have to keep things in perspective. My blog is very much a reflection of how everything else in my life is going--when I have more spare time, my blog is better. When family/friends/career is busy, my blog is less active (or inactive).
What's so impressive is how quickly my readers pick up on things in the beauty blogging community. They are some smart women, who know what's what! We might ask them not to look--but they see so much. I really admire their intelligence.
Such a fantastic post. I never really used to read other people's blogs but have finally started to read some now. I preferred it when I was sort of blind blogging as now if someone gets something up first and I see it I just feel lazy or worry whether anyone will bother to read my post on the same event/launch/product because another blogger has written it first.
Whilst they may be a lot of jealousy, there are also a lot of bloggers who have made some really solid friendships with other bloggers so it's not all nasty!
I've just been shortlisted for an award which is an amazing feeling but I don't expect to win - when I look at all the other fantastic blogs in my category I am happy enough just to see my blog amidst them, that's a privilege in itself.
I think blogging is all about having the right atitude - obviously we are all human and you can't help but compare sometimes but if you genuinely blog for your love of blogging and sharing your ideas and opinions with other people then it shouldn't matter what everyone else is doing.
Great post!! As a blogger as well I do find sometimes that I get far too drawn into it and at times can lose sight of what's deep down important in life. Because it sure aint lipstick!
So thank you for putting up a post that puts it into perspective - It's still my favourite hobby though!
I've given up trying to be the first to break a story. Busting embargoes is too risky an area for me to be in. And half the time I forget when products are launched and end up 3 months late to the party!
I set my own theme, topic, series, whatever, and work to my own brief.
Much easier that way.
You'd go nuts otherwise, and trust me when I say I've been there,
Hello. This is such a good post. I am someone who has been blogging for a while and who has grown from zero, I recognise so much of what you have written. I am aware that for some of the blogging 'industries', especially beauty, fashion and weddings there is enormous pressure to get the scoop, the exclusive and that must be exhausting. I have tried to just blog what I love and over time the readship has grown organically. But along the way there have been contests and awards and guest posts and it can all add up to a lot of time and energy. It does mess with your head if you let it!
I think it's important to have some kind of personal blog concept/manifesto (at the risk of sounding too corp). For me I try to keep the content and integrity high, haven't accepted advertising or endorsements, am religious about the look of it etc etc. I am new to the beauty industry side of blogging and can see it is a formidable force. I feel like a newbie at a massive girl's school; not sure which way to turn. But it's heartening when established bloggers/writers like yourself admit to there being hardships and flaws. Makes the whole thing a tad more human.
So - a really thought-provoking post, thank you. Lou x
I'm not a blogger but I am a reader of many blogs. Blog awards mean nothing to me, hurrah for you if you have won/been nominated for one but it won't make me read or you or follow you, your posts and your writing bring me and keep me. Exclusivity isn't important to me either. If you're one of my favourite bloggers I won't care if you're a week late to the game on a launch, I'm happy to wait and read your post when ever it appears because it's your writing and your style that I appreciate. Maybe that's just me but the blogs I appreciate an follow are the well wriitten, honest and unique ones. Not the bang up to date and "award" winning ones.
I really appreciated this post - after blogging for three years in an arena that gets increasingly more competitive it's easy to let it mess with your head. There are so many other things I want to say here, but I'm going to leave it at that. Great post.
Amazing post. Once I started working full time and left university I rarely had any time for blogging and I still struggle to even post once a week. I try and tell myself I still love beauty and I still work with it on a daily basis (i'm a beauty consultant) but sometimes I feel bad about not putting enough time into my blog. But hey, we do the best we can, eh! xx
I am not a blogger nor do I have any desire to be one. Your post; however, is a reminder that blogging has become just as important and influential as composing articles for other forms of news media. Many bloggers (primarily the professional ones) are becoming aware of what journalists have known for years: The race to the top is the race for the latest scoop and news means exactly that--it's new. Drive, ambition, and pressure have become common place in the blogosphere as many bloggers strive for excellence and continued success.
Hi Emma,
I agree 100% with everything you said. I like the personal touch and want to feel a connection of some sort with the blogger. The ultra slick, thinly disguised shills just don't appeal to me no matter how many so-called awards they might have received.
We are all human and you are so right about all the emotions that come out in the blogging world. I enjoy this type of posts, I always appreciate your insights.
Really insightful post, and I've found it so interesting reading the comments too.
I went through a stage a little while back of feeling miffed that I'd been blogging for 2 years and hadn't really 'grown' at all or gained that many new readers after the first six months. Neither is there any danger of me ever being nominated for an award.
But then I realised that I needed to remind myself that this is my hobby, not my job. I have a successful career that has nothing whatsoever to do with blogging, beauty or social media and to be fair I know I don't put the hours in that a lot of other bloggers do. My life outside blogging has always and will always take priority, so I'm not going to spend my weekends slaving away at my laptop or use up my annual leave allowance taking time off to travel to events.
The odd pang of jealousy is difficult to avoid, but I think so long as it's short-lived and infrequent, it's not a problem. It all boils down to remembering the bigger picture!
You've summed up how many of us feel perfectly! Sometimes you have to take a step back and wonder if all that angst is worth it... I really value a work/life balance but it seems that with writing and blogging you never truly switch off... I'm always thinking up story ideas and stressing about whether I'm actually good enough... I think taking a step back can really help you see the bigger picture... I love your honesty - it takes real guts to talk about your fears and worries x
Emma's post a few above this one really struck a chord with me... I imagine that the majority of blog readers feel the same way. I hope they do.
I found this really useful and thought provoking Jane, as I generally do with your posts on blogging. I think of you a bit like our blogging mama :) (in the nicest possible way) - and love that despite your expertise, you never behave in a superior way towards the newest of bloggers; quite the contrary in fact.
Blogging IS hard work sometimes; I think it's impossible to understand the pressures until you're under them - and sometimes we really do need to be reminded that it's only lipstick!
hm, i dont think this is all just for bloggers. e.g. the awards thing -same with hairdressers or any other industry that has awards shows and stuff. when you take part in something and work your ass off for it, put money into it -organize photo shoots and try out new ideas -and all you get is a 'thanks for being part ofit, but the others were better' is sooo crushing. and then you either think you're not good enough, or you think they're all so unfair because the 'winners' kinda did the same thing you did or you went a step further (maybe too far?)or they had a lot of vitamin C as in connections to the jury board...it's all the same and losing hurts.
Great post! I can totally relate...my blog is just over 12months old and i have had those thoughts/feelings many times. While i still have a very small readership, i don't let those thoughts and insecurities get the better of me. If you do, it will eventually consume you and you will no longer enjoy blogging.
I only dream of having a blog that helps or influences (in a good way) people...but for now i blog because I want to. In the last few months i have been aproached to have guest posts on my blog, but i turned them both down. I felt that my blog isn't as established as i would like.
Hopefully i will be able attract a large readership one day...
Great post. Just starting out myself, I am constantly doubting myself. It took me over a year to decide to blog in the first place. I am constantly looking for that edge, but its so hard in beauty. I still feel I am over-thinking everything because I am a bit of a perfectionist to say the least! So true about the 'first looks' post views, they have been my post popular too. Thanks for sharing. I think the main thing I need to remember, is to just be myself, stop overthinking and try to get more followers...!
Love this... I was completely getting tied up in knots over blogging and ended up churning out reviews and totally blowing my budget jut to buy more stuff to review. I gave myself a mental lil up the arse a few mo tha ago and now I blog what I feel like web I feel like and I am enjoying so much more. The only person putting the pressure on me was me. Glad it's not just me xx
Very much agree with your comments. I've had it with awards too, especially since I can the see the political dimension behind them. In one awards I entered the winner happened to be someone who'd been employed by one of the judges! I also suspect that many competitions are judged by people casually looking at blogs on iPad's and thinking "that looks professional and glossy, that gets my vote" without considering the writing, the attitude, the individuality and the readership. Entering awards is a lot like asking someone out though - you have to brace yourself for rejection and it does hurt. Good for you Jane for coming out and saying it!
Quality of writing and presentation are more important that exclusives. Also I read blogs to get away from the mainstream. There is an American site that has all the Mac exclusives but I rarely read it because the layout drives me nuts. Also remember that for those of us further away from London your old new is our fresh news. I am really grateful to the folks that blog. The money I have wasted on poor products and the wrong colours has been cut to near nil and I have bought some products I never would have considered that are brilliant.
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This is such a fantastic post - thank you so much for writing it. Sometimes it is far too easy to loose all common sense in blogging and reading this, I think I definitely have had these moments. Your post puts everything back in perspective - especially the part about kitchens and instagram - that made me laugh. a lot. I have this bookmarked for my own sanity! x
I love your blog it's been my favourite for years but, 95K views? You're by far the most popular blogger in the UK and one of the most popular in the world so I doubt your stats dropping by a couple of hundred or thousand will affect you. I really don't mean it to be in a rude way though but what about bloggers who barely get stats?
amazing post! I'm not a fan of the blog awards either, certainly not brave enough for putting myself up. thank you for writing this!
Thanks for writing this and for showing me I'm not alone.
I'm a new blogger and I can't believe how stressed I get. I need to remember I'm doing this by choice, for fun! x
I agree with you wholeheartedly. As much as I love blogging, the stress, anxiety and constant stat checking that comes with it can be a bit of a nightmare sometimes.
With blogging awards, I love them as they can go to bloggers who really deserve it but there was a bit of a fiasco the other day with a clique of bloggers who were all nominated except for one. One of them then goes on to tweet that she didn't even know the other nominees in her category and ended it with a haha as though she and her other blogger friends were the only ones worthy. Another thing I think you should've mentioned is the bitchiness that's present in blogging. At events you'll find cliques and I love that everyone meets fellow bloggers and become friends but, some of these cliques make events incredibly hard on one another. It's as though we're back at school not blogging! That clique I mentioned earlier is a prime example, I will not mention any names but, bigheadedness will never get you anywhere ladies. Come back down to earth!
This is so insightful. I haven't lost myself to blogging and I don't intend to but when I feel that I might be getting that way I will definitely return to this and re-read it!
Sometimes it does seem as though some bloggers really don't have lives outside of their cyberspace and it's frustrating! Thank you for this post!
Helen xxx
beautifullysuperfluous.blogspot.co.uk
Hi Anon - my blog started with one reader. And I feel pressure like anyone else.
With blogging awards I sometimes feel it's the same old people getting nominated and winning. Why don't they let some other people have a chance too? However with the Cosmo's being announced earlier in the week I noticed a few bloggers who I'd never come across and others with very small followings which I liked because it shakes things up.
Anon what you mentioned is spot on about the bitchiness. One of the members of that clique who works for a beauty box brand tweeted something so bitchy about another blogger working at McDonalds. Not on!
Sometimes I feel like it's just best to avoid conversation with other bloggers and get on with PR's instead.
hurray for this post which says lots of stuff that we are thinking and don't dare to admit out loud.
- exclusivity: this is precisely why so many bloggers (including me) will try to get to the (high street) shop the very day an item you know it's going to be popular is going to get released. We all lie about it, and pretend we just rushed to the shop cos we're excited but deep down it's to be in there in good time before everybody has blogged it before you do. And yep, same goes for that nail freebie in the magazine. Which reader is going to be interested to read about your slant on it when they've seen 150 times.
- envy: I am not proud of it but I am the first one to feel jealous about not being invited to events and my moans on twitter about that particular topic are legendary. I now moan less about it because I've accepted that events would be 99% of the time in London, and on a weekday.
- blogger awards. This is probably the no.1 thing which causes friction in the bloggosphere instead of celebrating it. I know it, but can I ignore it? No. I fall for it everytime.
There's another thing which I'd like to add to the list: This feeling of low self worth, when you feel 'so and so who is massive blogger has blogged about it, no one is going to be interested in what I have to say about it'. I wish I could get that out of my head and apply to myself because
1) even if I have read many times about, say, an eyeshadow palette, I always be interested to hear the opinions of my favourite bloggers about it, even if the subject has been covered to death. Maybe, just maybe I could be that favourite blogger of a reader
2) no everybody follows the same bloggers. I am always surprised when I am blogged about something which, I think, has been covered to death and someone says 'oh wow, never heard of that.
So true what you said about 'blogging is not about saving lives' it's just about makeup or lipsticks. And I wish some of us would remember that before profusely apologising to their readers that they haven't blogged for two weeks. If my 453 blog subscriptions updated their blog everyday, catching up on their articles and leaving comments on them (do i need to comment at this stage on how down lots of us feel when the fruit of our blogging work only harvest one comment or none) would be a full time job.
xx
Interesting post, thank you for writing it. I've been blogging for just over three years and can wholeheartedly say that it is, and always will be, just a hobby for me. I don't look at my stats, I don't give a flying whatever about being the first with anything and I have nothing but admiration for fellow bloggers doing great things with their sites.
I don't follow bloggers unless I love the way they write (or love what they write about) and I absolutely don't get caught up in chasing after samples and event invites. I just look at anything I do receive as a real treat and am very grateful for it.
It won't happen anytime soon but if there ever came a day when I feel anything other than pure enjoyment for writing and reading about beauty, I will shut the blog down and carry on with my life unharmed.
As you said, at the end of the day, we're writing about lipstick, not saving lives.
This is an amazing post
I defiantly feel like that sometimes, like why do they get to go to events not me, why do they get free stuff, the list goes on and on but I think it just makes you too stressed and tierd to worry about it, I just concentrate on my little blog.
And ur right enjoy the things you did before blogging like going out with friends, go for a night out, let ur hair down it deff works
Fab post. I must admit that I always look at shortlists hopefully to see if I'm on them, I never am, but am truly and genuinely delighted to see a couple of fantastic blogs that you would never expect to see there listed. What a great surprise. Get so fed up with these blogs that are massively popular but actually not very good with terrible pictures and not regularly updated.
Still I don't blog for awards but I'd be lying if I said I only blogged for me! I blog because I hope people will want to read and its a horrible horrible feeling when you work so hard day in day out and feel no one reads! xx
This was a though provoking post. I read your blog and enjoy it and I respect what you do (as do I respect all other beauty bloggers).
However I am noticing a trend appearing. It seems that a lot of the 'more established' bloggers seem to be the ones to complain the most about how the beauty community has changed and how it's "not like how it used to be". Is it because there are more contributors to the beauty community than ever? and in turn, more competition than ever? ... but is this a bad thing? Is it bad that more women and men are expressing themselves and shareing thier passion of beauty and fasion with the world? I would say the vast majority of bloggers enjoy it and can keep a healthy balance between a proactive life and blogging.
but I can't help but loose respect for bloggers when I see prominent members talk about the community in such a negative way. It almost seems ungrateful to let all of their good that comes with beauty blogging be overshadowed by petty jealousy and paranoia. With a large following comes a responsibility to your readers. Do you think posts like this are going to empower and encourage young readers to blog?
It is understandable that if blogging is your main profession, naturally you would be slightly competitive with it, however to experience the feeling you described that you feel towards blogging is a unhealthy way for anyone to feel towards their profession. It seems like the ones who have the largest following and should therefore exercise the greatest level of responsibility seem to be acting the ones acting the lest professional.
Your blogpost about blogging are so insightful. :)
Anon, there are negative things about blogging.. it's just a fact. I've focussed on those in this post, but there are many, many positives too. Sometimes just saying it out loud is very helpful to those feeling a similar thing. It's not like I'm lying... why shouldn't I say what I feel on, er, MY blog. So sanctimonious comments about exercising responsibility are more annoying than I can say - I am a responsible blogger, a seasoned blogger, reflecting the way things are now.
One word........amazing.
Very very new to blogging and enjoying it. Thanks for giving me the signs to look out for.
YP
X
yorkshirepud123.blogspot.com
What a fantastic post and thank you for writing it.
We as Bloggers should think back to when there was no such thing as a blog - we are getting our words published and we do that without any training or qualifications . I often have to remind myself because........... ?
Envy is my number one failing. I read other peoples blogs and 99% of the time, I am thinking to my self "why didn't I think of doing that ? " Self doubt is the other one. Every body else's blog is nicer, better designed and more read worthy than mine. So thank you for giving me the gentle slap that I need and making me remember that lil ol me is getting my thoughts and ideas out to around 500 unique visitors per month !
One word.......Amazing!
Very very new to blogging so thanks for sharing this so I know what I should and shouldn't do.
I'm loving just being me on it!
YP
X
Dear Anon @14:45
It's British Beauty Bloggers Blog - she can put dancing green pixies on the blog if she wants and she can certainly have a moan.
Unless you tell us who you are I think your points are not valid. You could be anyone.
thanks
Claire
to anonymous (well one of them)
'Do you think posts like this are going to empower and encourage young readers to blog' --> what do you suggest then, keeping it all in? The purpose of a blog is to express oneself and write about stuff which is dying to come out. We finally have a post where we could all behind and exposes the not so jolly side of blogging and now it needs to be censored? Would you also suggest I'd best refrain myself from tweeting that the weather is depressing because that might depress others at the same time? If Jane spent her time writing about some of the drawbacks of blogging, then I'd understand you'd be bored or feel discouraged yourself, but then again the post started with a preface 'and for those readers who aren’t bloggers – skip on to the next post if you prefer where it’s business as usual!'. Dear me, you apologise in advance that your post is not going to be all singing and dancing, and you still get criticised for it. I give up. x
One thing I love about you (and your blog) is that you are able to see the big picture and write about it with lovely articulation. You are so spot-on with this post. I've had a blog where I've taken mighty breaks (weeks at a time), but the reality is I am not a full time blogger.
I found myself nodding over again and again as I read your lovely post. I got into blogging for the fun of it--when it stops being fun, it's time to stop. And it does stop being fun sometimes. I guess for my part, I have to keep things in perspective. My blog is very much a reflection of how everything else in my life is going--when I have more spare time, my blog is better. When family/friends/career is busy, my blog is less active (or inactive).
What's so impressive is how quickly my readers pick up on things in the beauty blogging community. They are some smart women, who know what's what! We might ask them not to look--but they see so much. I really admire their intelligence.
p.s
I forgot one word in my last comment
'a post where we could RALLY all behind' X
Such a fantastic post. I never really used to read other people's blogs but have finally started to read some now. I preferred it when I was sort of blind blogging as now if someone gets something up first and I see it I just feel lazy or worry whether anyone will bother to read my post on the same event/launch/product because another blogger has written it first.
Whilst they may be a lot of jealousy, there are also a lot of bloggers who have made some really solid friendships with other bloggers so it's not all nasty!
I've just been shortlisted for an award which is an amazing feeling but I don't expect to win - when I look at all the other fantastic blogs in my category I am happy enough just to see my blog amidst them, that's a privilege in itself.
I think blogging is all about having the right atitude - obviously we are all human and you can't help but compare sometimes but if you genuinely blog for your love of blogging and sharing your ideas and opinions with other people then it shouldn't matter what everyone else is doing.
Great post!! As a blogger as well I do find sometimes that I get far too drawn into it and at times can lose sight of what's deep down important in life. Because it sure aint lipstick!
So thank you for putting up a post that puts it into perspective - It's still my favourite hobby though!
http://midnightviolets.blogspot.co.uk
I've given up trying to be the first to break a story. Busting embargoes is too risky an area for me to be in. And half the time I forget when products are launched and end up 3 months late to the party!
I set my own theme, topic, series, whatever, and work to my own brief.
Much easier that way.
You'd go nuts otherwise, and trust me when I say I've been there,
S x
Hello. This is such a good post. I am someone who has been blogging for a while and who has grown from zero, I recognise so much of what you have written. I am aware that for some of the blogging 'industries', especially beauty, fashion and weddings there is enormous pressure to get the scoop, the exclusive and that must be exhausting. I have tried to just blog what I love and over time the readship has grown organically. But along the way there have been contests and awards and guest posts and it can all add up to a lot of time and energy. It does mess with your head if you let it!
I think it's important to have some kind of personal blog concept/manifesto (at the risk of sounding too corp). For me I try to keep the content and integrity high, haven't accepted advertising or endorsements, am religious about the look of it etc etc. I am new to the beauty industry side of blogging and can see it is a formidable force. I feel like a newbie at a massive girl's school; not sure which way to turn. But it's heartening when established bloggers/writers like yourself admit to there being hardships and flaws. Makes the whole thing a tad more human.
So - a really thought-provoking post, thank you. Lou x
Oh an P.S. commenting from an iphone is a perilous business; apologies if there are duplicates!
I'm not a blogger but I am a reader of many blogs.
Blog awards mean nothing to me, hurrah for you if you have won/been nominated for one but it won't make me read or you or follow you, your posts and your writing bring me and keep me.
Exclusivity isn't important to me either. If you're one of my favourite bloggers I won't care if you're a week late to the game on a launch, I'm happy to wait and read your post when ever it appears because it's your writing and your style that I appreciate.
Maybe that's just me but the blogs I appreciate an follow are the well wriitten, honest and unique ones. Not the bang up to date and "award" winning ones.
I really appreciated this post - after blogging for three years in an arena that gets increasingly more competitive it's easy to let it mess with your head. There are so many other things I want to say here, but I'm going to leave it at that. Great post.
Amazing post. Once I started working full time and left university I rarely had any time for blogging and I still struggle to even post once a week. I try and tell myself I still love beauty and I still work with it on a daily basis (i'm a beauty consultant) but sometimes I feel bad about not putting enough time into my blog. But hey, we do the best we can, eh! xx
I am not a blogger nor do I have any desire to be one. Your post; however, is a reminder that blogging has become just as important and influential as composing articles for other forms of news media. Many bloggers (primarily the professional ones) are becoming aware of what journalists have known for years: The race to the top is the race for the latest scoop and news means exactly that--it's new. Drive, ambition, and pressure have become common place in the blogosphere as many bloggers strive for excellence and continued success.
Hi Emma,
I agree 100% with everything you said. I like the personal touch and want to feel a connection of some sort with the blogger. The ultra slick, thinly disguised shills just don't appeal to me no matter how many so-called awards they might have received.
We are all human and you are so right about all the emotions that come out in the blogging world. I enjoy this type of posts, I always appreciate your insights.
Really insightful post, and I've found it so interesting reading the comments too.
I went through a stage a little while back of feeling miffed that I'd been blogging for 2 years and hadn't really 'grown' at all or gained that many new readers after the first six months. Neither is there any danger of me ever being nominated for an award.
But then I realised that I needed to remind myself that this is my hobby, not my job. I have a successful career that has nothing whatsoever to do with blogging, beauty or social media and to be fair I know I don't put the hours in that a lot of other bloggers do. My life outside blogging has always and will always take priority, so I'm not going to spend my weekends slaving away at my laptop or use up my annual leave allowance taking time off to travel to events.
The odd pang of jealousy is difficult to avoid, but I think so long as it's short-lived and infrequent, it's not a problem. It all boils down to remembering the bigger picture!
You've summed up how many of us feel perfectly! Sometimes you have to take a step back and wonder if all that angst is worth it... I really value a work/life balance but it seems that with writing and blogging you never truly switch off... I'm always thinking up story ideas and stressing about whether I'm actually good enough... I think taking a step back can really help you see the bigger picture... I love your honesty - it takes real guts to talk about your fears and worries x
Emma's post a few above this one really struck a chord with me... I imagine that the majority of blog readers feel the same way. I hope they do.
I found this really useful and thought provoking Jane, as I generally do with your posts on blogging. I think of you a bit like our blogging mama :) (in the nicest possible way) - and love that despite your expertise, you never behave in a superior way towards the newest of bloggers; quite the contrary in fact.
Blogging IS hard work sometimes; I think it's impossible to understand the pressures until you're under them - and sometimes we really do need to be reminded that it's only lipstick!
Nic xx
These posts just make me love you and your blog all the more :) x
hm, i dont think this is all just for bloggers.
e.g. the awards thing -same with hairdressers or any other industry that has awards shows and stuff.
when you take part in something and work your ass off for it, put money into it -organize photo shoots and try out new ideas -and all you get is a 'thanks for being part ofit, but the others were better' is sooo crushing.
and then you either think you're not good enough, or you think they're all so unfair because the 'winners' kinda did the same thing you did or you went a step further (maybe too far?)or they had a lot of vitamin C as in connections to the jury board...it's all the same and losing hurts.
Great post! I can totally relate...my blog is just over 12months old and i have had those thoughts/feelings many times. While i still have a very small readership, i don't let those thoughts and insecurities get the better of me. If you do, it will eventually consume you and you will no longer enjoy blogging.
I only dream of having a blog that helps or influences (in a good way) people...but for now i blog because I want to. In the last few months i have been aproached to have guest posts on my blog, but i turned them both down. I felt that my blog isn't as established as i would like.
Hopefully i will be able attract a large readership one day...
Great post. It's refreshing to know others feel this way and a great reminder of how important it is to be true to yourself.
I needed to hear this today. Thank you.
Great post. Just starting out myself, I am constantly doubting myself. It took me over a year to decide to blog in the first place. I am constantly looking for that edge, but its so hard in beauty. I still feel I am over-thinking everything because I am a bit of a perfectionist to say the least!
So true about the 'first looks' post views, they have been my post popular too.
Thanks for sharing. I think the main thing I need to remember, is to just be myself, stop overthinking and try to get more followers...!
Love this... I was completely getting tied up in knots over blogging and ended up churning out reviews and totally blowing my budget jut to buy more stuff to review. I gave myself a mental lil up the arse a few mo tha ago and now I blog what I feel like web I feel like and I am enjoying so much more. The only person putting the pressure on me was me. Glad it's not just me xx
Very much agree with your comments. I've had it with awards too, especially since I can the see the political dimension behind them. In one awards I entered the winner happened to be someone who'd been employed by one of the judges!
I also suspect that many competitions are judged by people casually looking at blogs on iPad's and thinking "that looks professional and glossy, that gets my vote" without considering the writing, the attitude, the individuality and the readership.
Entering awards is a lot like asking someone out though - you have to brace yourself for rejection and it does hurt. Good for you Jane for coming out and saying it!
Quality of writing and presentation are more important that exclusives. Also I read blogs to get away from the mainstream. There is an American site that has all the Mac exclusives but I rarely read it because the layout drives me nuts. Also remember that for those of us further away from London your old new is our fresh news. I am really grateful to the folks that blog. The money I have wasted on poor products and the wrong colours has been cut to near nil and I have bought some products I never would have considered that are brilliant.
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