It’s been a whole year since I started this blogging journey, and honestly? I’m so proud of myself! 🥂
When I hit publish on my first blog
post, I had so many doubts like would I stay consistent? Would people actually read my posts? Would I end up deleting my blog
(again)? 😆 But look at me now—one year, 14 posts, and countless lessons later, I’m still here, still writing, and still loving every bit of it. Btw, the picture below perfectly captures my mood
and my shadow’s mood too! 💃🏽
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| I know it's a cliché that Husbae😍 takes the best pictures but yes, he took this picture and I absolutely LOVE it😘 |
A Quick Look Back at My First Year
I originally planned to post once a month
(12 posts in a year), but somehow, I ended up with 14 posts
(two bonus articles in the bag)😏. From sharing life updates
here, reflecting on major milestones in 2017
here, and perfecting my writing skills which gave me the opportunity to write for
Newbie (
an English webpage for newcomers in Sweden), this blog has been a space where I’ve poured out my thoughts, experiences, and growth. I even wrapped up the year with a 2017 recap, highlighting how the year completely blew my mind. 🤯
(You can check it out here).
Now, looking back on one year of blogging, I can confidently say that this journey has been amazing, eye-opening, and 100% worth it.
5 Lessons I’ve Learned from Blogging
If there’s one thing this year has taught me, it’s that blogging is more than just writing—it’s a process of learning, growing, and finding your own voice That being said, here are my top five lessons from this journey:
1️⃣ Be Yourself. Your Voice is Enough
With millions of blogs out there, it’s easy to feel like you need to write like someone else, follow trends, or copy what’s already working. But here’s the thing, authenticity wins every time. At the start, I found myself comparing my blog to others, but I quickly realized that the best thing I can do is be ME. Of course, it’s okay to get inspiration from other bloggers, but at the end of the day, your unique perspective is what makes your blog special. So, if you’re thinking of starting a blog, just write in your own voice, and trust that it’s enough.
2️⃣ Always Credit Your Images, Copyright is Real!One thing I learned during my Master’s program is that plagiarism is no joke. The same goes for blogging. Using images without crediting the original source is a big no-no. For the most part, I use my own pictures, but on the days when I need an extra image to illustrate a point, I make sure to reference it properly. Trust me, you don’t want to deal with copyright issues down the line!
3️⃣ It Gets Better with TimeI’ve been writing since my university days, but I can confidently say that the more you write, the better you get. Looking back at my first few posts, I see so much growth. From the way I structure my thoughts to how I express myself. And while I still make mistakes (nobody’s perfect 😆), I know that writing consistently is what helps me improve. So if you’re ever doubting yourself, just keep writing. It only gets better!
4️⃣ Share Your Posts. Don’t Be Shy!
Okay, I’ll admit, I haven’t been the best at this one too😅 It’s not that I don’t want people to read my blog, but in the beginning, I wanted to be fully sure about my blogging journey before announcing it to the world. That said, I’ve started sharing my posts on Bloglovin’, Twitter, and Google+, and I’ve seen how important it is to put your content out there. Sharing helps you get feedback, connect with other bloggers, and reach more readers. This year, I’m challenging myself to share more and engage more, because what’s the point of writing if no one sees it? 😜
5️⃣ Writing is Therapeutic and I Love It!
This is probably my favourite of them all. I’ve always known that writing makes me happy, but ever since I became consistent with blogging, the feeling has been completely different. There are days when I read back my old posts, smile, and think, “WMC, how did you do this?!” 😂. If I don’t hype myself, who will? 😛. Writing gives me joy, comfort, and an outlet for my thoughts. It’s like therapy, and I know so many other bloggers feel the same way.
What’s Next for the Blog?
This first year has been a learning experience, but I’m ready for more!
✔ Write even more in 2018
✔ Work on improving my blog layout (I’ve already added new columns!)
✔ Enhance my sidebar with some fun extras
✔ Officially get a domain name (Update: I got my domain on January 20, 2018! 💃🏽)
I’m excited about what’s ahead and can’t wait to see how much this space grows in the years to come. Cheers to many more years of blogging! 🥂 Until next time… 💋
I am glued already.
ReplyDeleteAndy, Andy. Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate it.
DeleteAwwwww. I love my WMC
ReplyDeleteMy darling Taymitawpeh😘, I love you too
Delete