Why did I start blogging?
I didn't believe in myself. Often, when we were asked about our talents, I believed that I didn't have any. I didn't think I was good at anything but I had accepted it and moved on.
I used to engross myself in reading and writing. I loved burrowing myself in my own little world, away from everyone else. At the tender age of ten or eleven I began to write fiction. I didn't really write it for anyone but myself. I didn't show my work to anyone either. I kept all my stories filed away and I'd read and re-read them occasionally.
In Grade 7, we had a creative writing exam. I was just eleven (I started school at five) and in that essay, I gave it my all. I still remember the first line of that exam "As Haley and Anny walked home from school in the fresh summer breeze, they glanced at each other as if looking in to a mirror."
My teacher called me to ask me about it and then he said the few words that probably changed my life forever. "You really have a talent in writing."
As of that day, I became more confident in my writing. I began to write stories more and I'd share them with friends or family. In high school, I started writing in my spare time and sharing my writing with teachers or friends.
Then Facebook happened. Those days, there were applications that you could add to Facebook. I added one where I could anonymously post stories and I started. I ended up getting thousands of likes and comments. To be honest, I wasn't really proud of that story of mine but everyone seemed to enjoy it. Sadly, that application was eventually deleted and Facebook changed yet again. I continued to write for myself but then when I started university, I didn't quite have the time. Instead, I concentrated on the large projects we'd have and I'd proofread them all (my husband says I have the tendency of a perfectionist, I don't really think that I do).
Anyway, throughout these years, I always had people telling me they enjoyed my Facebook statuses or birthday messages. I was told to write a book in order to share all of these things because people really seemed to enjoy them.
Then eventually, people would mention that I should start a blog. Little did they know that I had wanted to for years but I didn't know where to start and I didn't have the confidence that came with it. I didn't want to put myself out there, for the world to see. And to be honest, I still think that I haven't completely put myself out there. I just don't think it's the right time yet. But then, I noticed the wonderful world of Wordpress and I started a blog. In fact, I started a blog multiple times but none of them seemed to take off. I didn't know much about blogging so most of my blog posts were story chapters. In between story posts, I'd have miscellaneous posts. It looked messy and because I didn't post often, I'd lose traction.
I was young and silly so I thought that if my blog was any good, I'd get traction overnight. But I didn't realise that like everything in life, this too takes time.
Eventually I closed all my blogger profiles and stopped writing completely. I always made the excuse that "I don't have time". I had forgotten how happy I used to get when I wrote, I'd forgotten how therapeutic it is to write.
During that time, I started a makeup page and I'd write mini reviews on products that I tried. Eventually, with Instagram's algorithm continuously changing, I posted less and less.
However, I'd still joke about blogging and starting a Youtube channel (so much so, that my husband bought me a camera for that Youtube channel - which had always been a joke).
Then I came across a friend's Facebook page where she posted religious fiction. I was hooked onto her stories. On a whim, I wrote a piece and sent it to her, not expecting anything (we didn’t know each other at that stage). She replied almost immediately and minutes later, asked me to join the team. I started to write again and I remembered how much I loved it. How could I not? It was the only way I could express myself clearly.
I eventually made the firm decision to start blogging. I was going to do it myself but when I mentioned it to the hubster, he offered to create it for me. Unfortunately, he got super busy and I was getting super impatient. Eventually, I made a deal with him. He had to create my blog by a specific date and if he didn't, I threatened to throw a tantrum (seriously! Haha). True to his word, he begin to create my blog and simultaneously, I started to write posts.
So that's how my blog was born. I should give a special shout out to my husband for tolerating all my annoying requests and to my sisters for their much appreciated opinions. Also, my dear cousin deserves a special shout out because she has been supporting my blog since its inception. Thank you all!
And then of course, a very special thank you to all my blog visitor's! Had it not been for you, I would have never gotten over a mere ten views. You guys are amazing!
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