It’s been a long journey. Writing words, piecing together stories, processing life journal by journal. It’s the one thing that’s stayed constant. The one thing I’ve always wanted to be
a writer.
Six years I’ve sat and typed words across the screen. Six years I’ve practiced the craft of writing on the screen and in those six years I have been everywhere as a blogger and writer. It’s been a trial and error.
This space I call Reflections isn’t what I thought it would be. I had a vision for a platform–a women’s ministry with grand dreams of imparting wisdom and building a community. I saw bible studies and book contracts in my future. This was going to be the key to unlock my dreams.
But fear stepped in, life happened and I struggled to find my place–my voice and purpose as a writer and blogger.
More than once I’ve been ready to quit. I struggled with the why of blogging if no one was reading. I fought for links, hits, and followers. I thought purpose and influence
Then God showed up…
He said to write, but with this condition: be honest, be real, share life.
And since then, to the best of my ability, I have.
Now when I sit down to write I do it because I love it. I pour my heart out and share words that paste together the story God is weaving in my life and the lessons I’m learning along the way. Yes, I still struggle from time to time…there are times I wish I had more followers or a greater presence or whatever the next best thing is.
But then I remember, I’m doing this for the love of the written word and for the love of the journey. I sit down to write because I cannot not write.
Won’t you join me as I take a look back on the lessons learned in the past 6 years? It’s nothing formal…just me doing what I love and sharing the journey with you.
I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know everything there is to know about blogging. You can call me old-fashioned, but I think blogging should be about quality, community, and craft.
I don’t have hundreds of followers.
I still can’t figure out the purpose of Klout.
I don’t understand the ‘I’ll like your page, if you like mine’ ideology.
No one has ever asked me to speak on a blogging panel.
I think Triberr is a ridiculously, unauthentic idea. (Yes, I just went there.)
Google Analytics is still a foreign language.
I’ve never had a sponsor for a blog conference.
But I love this world of writing and blogging, and I hope, just maybe, that you’ll be inspired to do what you do out of love and not the next rung of the popularity ladder.
I don’t know how long I’ll camp on this idea, but my mind has been filling to overflowing thinking about self-promotion, bloggers as writers, the eBook boom, niches, followers, white space (it’s a beautiful thing…really), quality over quantity, community, and finding your purpose as a writer/blogger.
Find Your Voice
That’s what I’m calling it.
Join me?
******
Posts in the series:
{ 1 trackback }
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Jess- I agree 100% with this post! I wish finding your voice was an easy task, but it too is part of the journey. I am so glad you mentioned Triberr . I thought I was the only one. I refuse to click on Triberr links – completely unauthentic.
“You can call me old-fashioned, but I think blogging should be about quality, community, and craft.” I’ll old fashioned with you
Emily – Finding your voice is most definitely a journey…and an evolving one at that!
Oh Jessica I love this!!! It is so true.. To be honest.. my husband and I have been working on a book for awhile, and with the ebook boom my heart started racing. I felt like..”oh my word, we have to get going on this and get it published etc.etc.etc.”.. Thankfully God got a hold of me before I went ahead of Him. It isn’t about self-promotion, or how to make a ton of money on an e-book (I am not saying it is bad to make money on it either), but if our driving motivation is what WE can become instead of what God becomes through us then we need to step back. Thank you for writing this so beautifully and for your honesty. Amen and amen!
Ruth – I totally feel you on the eBook thing. I have had a couple of ideas and notes floating around for eBooks (some more completed than others), but since the eBook boom every few days I struggle with the “I’ve got to get it down now!!!” too. And I understand you about the making money too.
Jessica,
As you know I totally agree with this post and your view! After my post last week, and putting it all out there, and saying some similar things, I was surprised at how many bloggers struggle with their identity. We all have been in this place. I am thrilled that you have found your voice, that you have found the “sweet spot” you belong in, and are expressing your heart and craft. I love reading your words, and I am glad to call you my friend!
xoxo
Denise
Aww…thank you, Denise! It’s been a journey and still is…but blogging is fun again (most of the time).
First…can we eat peanut butter cups at Relevant & talk about our voice:)
Second…thank you for sharing it & bearing your hear in this post. Completely genuine & reality.
I would think we all get caught up in the fear of “hurry up before we miss the boat” mentality. I get that too. I wonder or frantically think about what i need to be doing to get “there;” rather, than simply be “here.” I fight anxiety & worry, so “here” is where I’m thankful to be. I’m reminded SO much by Jesus that when i get caught up in the fear game (do I jump on the ebook bandwagon, do I follow everyone in Twitter, etc) that I’m stepping outside of his plan for me. I could possibly go somewhere if I jumped, but not for long. I like being here with Jesus, enjoying my family & knowing what life as a blogger looks like for me Kamille.
I so look forward to meeting you!
Kamille – Peanut butter cups! Oh yeah! Definitely looking forward to late night chatting. But I have so been fighting the “miss the boat” mentality that my husband has been reminding me I want to do my best work and that publishing will still be there when I’m ready.
Oh, this resonates so much!! I loved everything you said and felt myself nodding my head. I read Denise’s post last week at Denise in Bloom on this topic and felt the same way…God has been working on this area in my heart for a while now, and I love reading that other women are going through and seeking the same thing! It’s so hard not to get caught up in the game. I know what you mean about “losing your voice”. Here’s to real authenticity, and just wanting to be used to glorify God through the gifts and talents He’s given each of us.
Can’t wait to hear what else you have to say on this topic.
Thank you, Jessica for posting this…it was beautiful and I loved it!
Love,
ashlie
Ashlie – I look forward to hearing you continue to find your voice! Are you heading to Relevant this year? For some reason I think you are…
Jessica – No, I am one of those on the waiting list.
I’ve never been, but would LOVE to…hopefully next year!
First of all..I have NO CLUE what Triberr is. Looks like its not that important or productive to find out.
Second, I know what you mean about the followers, hit counts, etc.
I’ve probably had less comments on my posts than anyone in the history of blogging. lol. (just kidding, kinda),
but I’m determined to blog without obligation; meaning, I write for the only reason that I write..I have something to say and with God’s blessing, I share.
I’m not holding myself to anyone else’s blogging habits/schedules. At one time I felt the pressure of wanting (or feeling the need (because of self-imposed pressure)) to write a post EVERY DAY!
That’s not what I’m about.
I don’t want a “mega-blog” anymore. I just want to relate on an everyday level. You know; doing life, falling deeper in love with my God, my man, my family and friends and writing about those discoveries.
I’ve rambled and monopolized the comment box. lol
I’m looking forward to reflecting on your journey with you!!
Kela – You’re not monopolizing.
But, yes! It’s so good to get off the following others blogging habits and schedules. That really has been one of the hardest things for me.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Seriously, thank you. You have no idea how much I needed this post today and for that you have been a blessing and a minister!
P.S. – Can I join you and Kamille in your Peanut Butter Cup feast at Relevant?
Carey – Peanut Butter Cups all around! I don’t know that there’s anything better than peanut butter and chocolate.
Looking forward to getting to know you at Relevant.
I love this post. I recently have lost a lot of followers and I’m not sure why. Probably because my blog focus has turned toward being a mom and all the beautiful and ugly things that encompasses. I struggle with feeling like no one likes me anymore, when I used to have a fairly decent community. They were all friends in real life but it seems they have stopped following, and that’s hard not to feel rejected when it’s people you know in the flesh who stop reading. But I know that this isn’t really about them, it’s more about how I’m changing and growing as a person. I know I need to focus more on how God is working in my life and your blog is a great inspiration.
Blog on. I still don’t under Analytics either and I’ve never even heard of Triberr…
Leann – I’ve had that happen before too. It can be hard, because you don’t want to be awkward about it when IRL friends stop reading. But like you said, it isn’t really about them.
Well thanks for saying what I was thinking! I think the sheer volume of women online, blogging worthwhile thoughts, overwhelms me. How can we all be heard, how can we all lead, how can we all get published? Yet God knows. He knows the purpose to which he’s called us each to, who needs to be encouraged, what will bring growth. I’m thankful for that, and I’m learning how to work it out in my life and on my blog.
Beck – Yes! That’s it…keep entrusting ourselves to God, because it really is all in His hands.
I think you already read Jon Acuff’s blog, but here’s something he wrote that pretty much sums up my personal opinion/practice with public blogging (not saying this should be anybody else’s MO, but it is mine…):
“…Do you ever think about what an ineffective communicator Jesus was? Think about it. He could have been speaking to 5,000 people every night. He could have been filling hills and shores and city squares constantly. Instead, he wasted his time at dinner with 12 people. Instead, he called individuals out of trees or chatted up one person at the well. And these weren’t powerful, influential people who could have dramatically helped his cause with their networks. He wasn’t connecting with “connectors.” These were sinners, tax collectors and fishermen. That seems counterintuitive to really building a platform. Why did he do it?
Because I think he knew how important relationships are. I think he knew that if you build a platform and when you stand on it no one really knows you, you’re alone. There might be a crowd of people around you, but if nobody knows you, that’s the worst kind of loneliness there is. I think he knew the value of a friendship.”
I think blogging as ministry has to be a calling. I’m not called that way (not right now, anyway), and so I don’t blog publicly more than a couple times a year, and that only for friends who don’t have access to my private blog. But if you are called to blogging as a ministry, you have to be content to let God make it what He wants. Yes, you can use the tools that are available to get the word out, but at the end of the day, if it’s God’s ministry, He’s going to take it where He wants. You could take the control yourself and make it go where you want, and maybe get what you want out of it (financial success, recognition, whatever), but I think the point of a ministry is to let God make it into what He wants.
And I’m totally rambling. lol. Maybe a tiny part of this makes sense…oh well…it makes sense to me…
April – I agree with you. Do you mind if I quote you in a post? Sometimes it’s a journey to get to that place in blogging (ministry or not). What’s the link to this post?
This is the post: http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2011/07/the-tell/#more-5519
You may quote me, of course.
Thanks and I did.
April–this is a wonderful quote. I guess that’s what I like about Jesus:)
Months ago I started blogging only to shut that one down, started another, shut that one down, started another, shut that one down, started another. It took me creating and writing to realize that something was missing something was not right. After taking a break, praying, reading and listening I found my voice or more the voice God gave me. Now here I am 3 days in to a blog that is finally what was the plan all along if I had just listened and allowed for God’s plan vs. my own. Now don’t get me wrong I am nervous and wonder at moments where the courage for all my honesty is coming from and then I smile and find comfort in God’s goals for me. I have not lived a loud life as a proud believer and lover of the Lord but here I am now using my love of writing to announce and confess my truth. I am a numbers girl and all I keep thinking is I want people to read and I want people to return but in all actuality I am 100% fulfilling my part of God’s plan right now just by writing everyday. Thank you for sharing with me I can relate so much.
Blogging is a deep hole of learning technique to get others to see your work. The writing part is important, obviously, since that’s why most of us blog — to write.
Ann Voskamp had some wonderful things to say at the Relevant conference last year about blogging. She then wrote it on her blog. You can see it here:
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/11/why-blog-being-an-upside-down-blogger-part-1/
This is part one. At the bottom of her post the rest of the series is listed there. Definitely read it if you haven’t yet.
And just keep writing.
Christin – I was at Relevant last year and got to hear Ann speak. Her thoughts were great and has definitely made an impact on the way I approach blogging/writing. Thanks for including the link!
Ha ha! See, I don’t remember (or even know!) everyone who was there!!
Thanks so much for this post and for your blog. I just came across your blog a few months ago and many times you have said something that has really spoken to me like this post or the “beautiful life” posts. However this is talking to me since I just started blogging. Even though I have just started it has forced me to kind of look at my life from the outside more. Sometimes in the day to day of being home with a 3 year old and 6 month old you can miss certain things that get forgotten or missed between changing diapers, cleaning off muddy shoes and going to swim class (sounds like what you were saying a few days ago). Well blogging has begun to kind of make me slow down and try to find God’s pearl and meaning in my day when I sit to draft a post. Also for me it kind of holds me accountable when I say I am going to do something. In the end like many blogs it is the story of a journey for me it is a journey of my faith, my family and finding out what’s God’s purpose for my future. And I pray that some how the story of my journey can bless just one person in the same way your words have blessed me. And so even though I currently have no following, have no clue on how to tweet, didn’t know what Triberr was until I clicked your link, haven’t figured out and am a little intimidated on how people make money blogging, and finally do not (dare I say it) have a facebook page, I will continue to blog because I’ll never know who may need to hear about my journey or some info that I posted that may be helpful.
Thanks again for your poat.
Cass
Cass – Our kids are about the same age! Mine are 2.5 and 6 months! Blogging is most definitely a journey and I think for me too it’s helped mold my spiritual journey as well. Blog to be faithful…I like it.
I love this Jess! These are reasons that keep me here reading and receiving encouragement and conviction. Thank you for sharing with us your heart! I’m still trying to learn how to do this.
I’m so behind in my reader! But, oh my word, this is right on. Thank you!!!
p.s. I love your voice!