confessions of a blogger. | THE KLACKNERS

12.10.2013

confessions of a blogger.

the lovely jennifer of coffee&honeycomb tagged me a little bit ago to answer these questions about blog life, and i'm finally getting around to it. so if you'e up for a little bit of reading, check it out!


1// When did you first start blogging and why?

i first started my blog during the summer of 2010, but i didn't actually post something until september of that year...i was nervous, okay? i was living in texas and interning at an architectural firm so that i could graduate that august. a couple friends had started a blog and i thought "oh hey, i could do that." so i did. tada! really my blog started out as a place for me to write down my thoughts and work through that season of life. the unknown of what life would be like after graduating college. i had no idea what to call my blog, but i'd recently watched the movie "julie&julia" and there's this part where julie goes "i could write a blog! i have thoughts." so i called my blog "i have thoughts", and as many of you know, that just changed this summer to "rivers and roads". :)

2// Have you had any past online presence?
what are we talking here? does myspace count? #embarrassing ...also, do y'all remember xanga? i used to have an account there way back in the day. i can't remember my login and password for the life of me, which is probably a good thing. there's no telling what cray cray/awkward things i wrote on there.

3// When did you become serious about your blog?
about a year ago, actually! since i started blogging i've gone through seasons of posting semi-consistently and then going months without saying a word. last year about this time, i re-designed my blog and started posting more consistently (2-3ish times a week). it's slowly evolved into what it is now. a new name and a new design (thanks to in its time).

4// What was your first blog post?
my first post was titled, "begin again." you can read it here.

5// What have been your biggest challenges blogging?
my biggest struggle is keeping up with it all. scheduling posts, reading all my friend's blogs, trying to create new prints for my shop, promoting my sponsors on social media. i have a full-time job outside managing my blog and shop and of course there's the rest of my life to live, so it's just a lot to juggle!

6// What is the most rewarding thing about blogging?
hands down, the community. i have made so many friends here in blog world. i talk about them to my real life friends like i've known them forever and like we hang out all the time. i wish! y'all want to meet me for coffee this weekend? perfect! seriously though, so many of you have encouraged me spiritually and pushed me to pursue my dreams. you give great advice and are there for me, even if it's just through email. i started getting more involved in the blogging community in january when i was stuck on the couch after breaking my foot and having surgery on my neck. it was a crazy start to the new year, y'all. i never imagined the genuine community i would find here, and it has been a blessing.

7// What is the most discouraging thing about blogging?
comparison. it is seriously the worst. i compare myself to other bloggers. to how cute their blogs are, how many followers they have, how many comments they get, how much they sell in their shops, how good their photography is, how often they post, the content of their posts...the list goes on and on. the truth is, i love this blogging world a whole lot more when i quite comparing. i want this place to be uplifting and encouraging for you AND me and that's a whole lot easier when i cut comparison out of the equation.

8// What is your last inspiration or motivation?
find your writing voice and stick to it.  when i first started blogging, i read The Pioneer Woman's blog religiously. everyday. it was my homepage, y'all. i love love love the ways she writes. it's funny, witty, real. writing in unfinished thoughts...communicating how she would in real life. it's like i can hear her talking while i read along. i'd say a majority of the people who read your blog don't know you in real life. they don't know what you sound like or how you communicate. they may not understand your sarcasm or your humor. you have to write in a way where they can learn who you really are. so be yourself!

9// What is your blogging dirty little secret?
i make notes of all my ideas. on my phone, on a post-it, on a crumpled up napkin. if i'm near my computer, i'll start a draft real quick. sometimes i won't come back to it for a few weeks, and i have some drafts that have been collecting dust for a year. sometimes i just have to write things down or type them out so that i can process my thoughts regardless of if i ever share them with you are not.

10// What is your current goal as a blogger?
i want to continue making this space somewhere we can all grow together and be encouraged to pursue the things we're passionate about. i also would like to continue working on my shop and my design style, and moving everything over to etsy at some point.

11// Have you learned or become passionate about anything through blogging that caught you by surprise?
Yes, yes, a million times yes. (name that movie.) I've wanted to pursue my photography hobby more and learn how to use photoshop, which i've been able to do a little. i'd wanted to start a print shop for a long time and i finally took the leap and posted some prints. there's a lot of progress to be made but baby steps, right?

goodness gracious. all done! that was a lot of mumbo jumbo about me. and because i love games, and tag is so fun, you're it christina, samantha, allison, and shayla. have fun!

Amy said...

+ I still have a myspace! :) the new site is actually pretty dang cool!
+ GIRL I STILL HAVE XANGA (that's how I met my ex hahahahha) any more facts to know we are twins?
+ community = agreed. seriously. I feel like I've known you my whole life. ;) truth.
+ comparison = I struggle too...girl do I struggle. it happens, it isn't worth it, and it just makes us feel like poo. we each have our own unique space In this blog land, we just need to enjoy it.

<3 this post...it was definitely insightful!

Elizabeth Mayberry said...

yikes! i hope my myspace disappeared forever. also, go meg! you blog you! and community is also my fav and comparison is also my least fav. TWINKIES!

agodfashionedlife said...

Thanks for tagging me! I loved reading your post!

Christina Main said...

eeeeeep! Loved this!!!

Samantha@Elah Tree said...

Fun! Thanks for the tag! Loved learning about your blog history!

Court | love court xoxo said...

I'm with you on the community aspect! Definitely by far the best part about blogging. I find myself forgetting that I don't actually know the people I have met through blogging in real life. I think my IRL friends think I'm crazy because of it ;)

Megan McIlvaine said...

isn't that a funny thing? i love that!

Megan McIlvaine said...

thanks lady! :)

Megan McIlvaine said...

:) thank ya

Megan McIlvaine said...

you are welcome! can't wait to read yours!

Megan McIlvaine said...

twinkies fo' life. also, amen to the myspace comment...yikes is right.

Megan McIlvaine said...

oh really? i haven't even checked it out in years haha!
bahahah. that's amazing. twinkies.
but for real, have we not been friends forever? i start to lose track of time :)
thanks for reading, friend!

Megan McIlvaine said...

you are exactly right! learning to be yourself in the blog world can be a hard thing but it's worth it!

Jessie said...

I loved this! The comparison thing is really hard sometimes. It takes self-confidence to be a good blogger! :)

Little Brave said...

How did I just see this? I'm the worst, and your'e the cutest! I love this post. Doin it.