Blogging is impacting the world of publishing more and more, I think, as evidenced by the slew of talented bloggers getting book deals. Bloggers are demonstrating that they can convey their creativity to others and publishers have taken notice. These worlds of computer and paper are colliding. So today I thought I’d tackle the way-too-huge-to-tackle topic of blogging. And since I started writing this post, that topic got infinitely huger with debates over the ups and downs of Pinterest, which I’m NOT addressing quite yet. Maybe next week… Because I have many, many strong opinions on how important original sources are.
Anyone entering or already in the food blog world probably understands my title. Blogging is not an escape from the world we know offline. Far from it, I see the same dynamics of reality work themselves out in similar ways in blogland. For better or for worse. But I like to the think the scales tip to better. They must, or why else would we keep doing this? Aside from things like getting to write Sugarlicious.
(The photographs in the post are scattered from my blog, just click on the photo to go to the original post.)
How blogland can be just like Middle School, aka Junior High
aka Fisher Jr. High if you live in Trenton, NJ
The pay sucks. Yeah, like scrounging for movie money. While those more skilled in Search Engine Optimization and advertising and CPMs probably do make a nice living blogging, those of us lacking such knowledge get paid very, very, very, very little for their hours of baking and photographing and writing and creating. You definitely can’t go into blogland with a plan to strike it rich. But the beauty of blogging is that it does give someone like me, home with her daughter and needing flexibility, a chance to earn at least some income. Between my other gig (where the owners do understand SEO and advertising and CPMs) and work for other blogs, I do earn a little. I’m not buying gold toilets and diamond encrusted shoes, but I probably wouldn’t buy those things anyway.
You feel insecure and compare yourself to others. Plus, there are cliques.
Anyone who has obsessively checked their own google analytics stats against another blog’s number of followers or comments knows of what I speak. It can consume you, comparing yourself to other creatives, their popularity, their work, their numbers. Why don’t I get 50 comments every time I post? Why aren’t my monthly visitors skyrocketing? How come I’m not featured on all these other sites?
So you try hard. You leave comments, you submit to food porn sights, you add your posts to link parties, you spend hours spreading the word on facebook, pinterest, twitter, foodgawker, tastespotting… anywhere you can who will take you. And then you get a mere blip in traffic. It’s exhausting, this race for clicks.
And to top it all off, it may seem like all of these well-known, big bloggers know and love each other and you are on the outside.
It’s impossible to avoid this game entirely, especially if you do want to earn income blogging and need the numbers, but I’m learning more and more (with each and every yawn and eye rub) that it’s best to step back from this angst-provoking mindset. It’s too draining to work so hard for the numbers, when really, it should be about creating and sharing. That’s what I tell myself when I step over to the dark side, “Create and Share, Create and Share. They Will Come. Or Not.” Easier said than done, but I keep saying it anyway.
And these “cliques”? I’ve found that these cliques are not about the popular kids closing themselves off to the less popular kids. It’s merely about a continued presence and growing friendships and respect for each others’ work. I know that with the friendships I’ve made through blogging myself, it’s happened slowly and organically, much like real life. Not out of exclusion. But I know it can be tough, right?
People can be mean.
I’ve been scolded for my techniques, gotten yelled at, sneered at, been called a snob and labeled a bad mother. And I decorate cookies and marshmallows. This never ceases to amaze me. And what’s crazy is I’m really, really nice. Truly, I am! I promise I’m a nice person. But I do offend easily (dang insecurities) and am quick to scoff back. Too quick. And I’ve gotten in trouble. Showing your weakness makes you a target. Which brings me to…
(by the way, this is the closest thing I had to a “target,” as in “sitting duck,” as in “sitting chicken?”)
You might share too much and become a target.
I still get livid when I see my photos and ideas stolen. And by “photos and ideas stolen,” I don’t mean being inspired by an idea, or using my tutorials, or seeing someone else’s version of my work and making something like it. I mean someone taking a photo or idea from my site and calling it theirs. Way too frequently others have taken my photos, put them on their sites and claim them as their own. I’ve seen my treats being sold on etsy, even my photos with someone else’s watermark. And my immediate reaction is anger. I often forget my own lesson to never react with such anger online or you put yourself on the same level.
Every time I write a tutorial and post a photograph, I risk losing it to the world, and it becomes impossible to keep track of all that I create. As many know, that’s what happened with Mr. Melty. (See his story HERE.) And if I do start talking about how your work can get lost on Pinterest because of those that don’t pin original sources, I would be here all day.
So why keep sharing? For the vast majority who do NOT visit the internet to steal, but to learn. For those that actually use what I post for the sake of good, not evil. And because I need an audience. I’ve written about 400 posts over 3 years filled with illustrations, photographs and tutorials. I’ve created a body of work that will last forever, not just online, but in Sugarlicious. Much of the knowledge I’ve gained through blogging is what made it to the book, packaged neatly between two covers.
You make lifelong friends.
I can gripe about people being mean and taking things that don’t belong to them, but overwhelmingly, the online community of bakers and creative, crafty types and other bloggers and all of you readers are incredibly kind, thoughtful and supportive. A kindness, thoughtfulness and support that dwarfs all the negativity. Just like real life, I like to think. And I never anticipated making true friends over the internet, encouraging, funny, smart and creative women I know through blogging. We exchange advice, jokes, tears… stunning, really, to have never met face to face.
It may lead to great things.
I don’t just mean book deals, though many have that as a goal. (And by the way, if you do, I encourage you to read my post on “how to get a book deal,” even though it’s long. Not to toot my own horn, but toot. It has some solid info.) But blogging will help you hone your craft, be creative, push you in certain directions, bring you friends and a community, win you prizes sometimes if you’re lucky in giveaways, and yes, it can even determine the course of your career.
I’d love to hear your reactions! Any grand thoughts on blogging and books and such things?
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
Meaghan I am learning these things and feeling these emotions for myself and my fellow bloggy friends. But connecting with people like you (!) who become friends is enough to keep me going. Someone once reblogged one of my original ideas. A *big* website picked it up and praised her up and down for it. She did have a link back to me. My first reaction was anger and a little sad for not getting that praise. But then I reminded myself that I don’t do this for praise or even for the tiny amount of income. I do it because it I like to create. Inspiring other people is humbling.
The Partiologist says
Thanks Meaghan for the fab post! I am one of the worst at comparing myself to others – including the beautiful air brushed people in the magazines! After starting my blog almost a year ago, I decided to just enjoy it for me and if something good along the way happens – well, that’s a plus. It has relieved alot of pressure to measure up to the top guns! Also, I realize that not everyone can comment, I certainly read and enjoy everyone’s blogs, but don’t have time to comment (and proving that I’m not a robot LOL) on every single one. So I always keep that in mind.
Thanks for always inspiring me and keep up the good work – I’m rooting for you!
Christi @ Love From The Oven says
LOVE this! So well put. It’s such an interesting little world, and the friendships with other bloggers are so great – especially when your “real life” friends and family don’t have a clue what we do (despite our attempts to show them!). And there will always be people to criticize, I mean we do sit around and feed our kids cake pops and marshmallows 24×7, right? 😉 Thanks for such a spot on post!
Georganne says
Oooh, definitely Kirk Cameron. I’ve been a little afraid of Kevin Bacon since I saw “The River Wild.”
Bea roque says
Dear Meaghan, I could not agree more on everything you say…and the waste of energy im comparing yourself to others …it is really a waste..
I did a post on blogging back in august,, i know its in Spanish, but although google translator is not that brilliant you can make yourself an idea.. https://www.elrincondebea.com/2011/08/consejos-para-bloggers.html
Congratulations on your new book!!!!!!
Love
Bea
meaghanmountford says
BEA!!! Just read your blog post and now I have to go spread the word on facebook. It’s so very spot on, and you give lessons I myself forget. Everything just rang so true to me. Thank you for sharing this! And anyone else reading these comments and interested in these issues, be sure to click the link to Bea’s post.
Rachel says
I’m new to the world of blogging. I had no idea it could be so “cliquish” (sp?). The fact that people steal your photos and say that they created the treat just frustrates me. I guess if you put a watermark across your photo it would only cover up the picture of your treats right? I’ve been thinking of getting a nicer camera for the photos on my blog, but maybe I’ll just stick with the one I’ve got.
Thanks for sharing your creativity with us! I look forward to trying some of your recipes and creations. You are very talented!
Kathia says
I read this post on my phone a few days ago while I was feeding the baby.I need it to come and leave a comment. I feel like an outsider, everyone is so cool/good blogging but me.I am so lucky and I get all the mean people upset because I wrote “this” instead of “these” in a sentence. I get really upset at people stealing pictures and to others thinking they are the big deal.I feel funny writting tutorials because I feel mine are not good enough.
I have decided just stop comparing myself to others and post what I do and believe in.
You have inspired me to write a post about my own thoughts about blogging.
meaghanmountford says
YES Kathia! That’s exactly that same feeling I’ve had! And that I assumed so many others must have felt, too. That’s what this blogging world may to you if you let it, makes you doubt and compare and aaaagh! So silly. Like middle school. Have you SEEN your work? Just go to your blog right this instant and look at the entire first page (Now I’m like a parent telling their child to look in a mirror and tell me what they see.) Freakin’ gorgeous. Plus, you’re able to talk on the phone, feed a BABY, and read a blog at the same time?!? Are you also folding laundry and decorating cookies with your feet? Superwoman. And lastly… I’ve been scoffed at for so many mindless errors, too, like “your” instead of “you’re” and “dying” instead of “dyeing,” and yes, I know the difference. Can I brag here that I have a Masters in Literature and studied English lit at Oxford (just a summer, but still). Typos people typos. Forgive us. 🙂
LiEr says
Brava, Meaghan! I loved this post. I’m grateful for all the good folks out there, who’ve, as you so nicely put it, “dwarfed” the baddies who steal ideas. A good friend once told me that if something is supremely precious to me (like a great idea), I should keep it off the internet and never share it/blog about it because the internet has no boundaries. I’ve always remembered that, and it helps me be sure that whenever I hit “publish” with a new project I’m proud of, I’m already prepared that it might go places I’d rather it didn’t. I thought it would make me cynical, but it hasn’t – it’s given me peace of mind instead. Does this make sense? It’s past midnight!
Thank you again for all the wonderful, gorgeous cookies you make and share. They make me smile to see them. My middle daughter loves looking at your photos – she’s the cupcake/cookie/rainbow aficionado of the family. We draw on marshmallows because you taught us to, and we use meringue powder in our frosting because you were kind enough to share that secret with us. Thank you!
meaghanmountford says
Awwww, thank you!! And sigh, that’s good advice. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the division between the internet and my non-virtual life… Well, this comment would be much longer if I kept going on THAT topic :).
Susan @ Oh My! Creative says
Well said! We all just want to be the popular blogger!
I will stick with your motto… “Create and Share, Create and Share. They Will Come.”
Thanks!
Susan
maria mcdonald says
What AMAZING ideas!!! You are so creative!! I LOVE it all!! 🙂 Thank you for sharing your talent!
Katie Eisenhour says
I love all of your ideas…they’re soo creative! I wish I had that much creativity! Keep up the work and thanks for sharing your wonderful talent with those of us who aren’t as creative!
Natalie Puikkonen says
Thanks for your inspiration!
Kim Stockschlader says
I can’t wait to experiment with some of these ideas!! I love cake decorating and this is a cool way of expanding on it. These are beautiful!!!
Tiffany @ Fizzy Party says
LOVE this! I make no $$ from Fizzy Party and that’s ok. I didn’t start it to make $$. Would I like to make a little..sure. Than I could throw more parties and post more 🙂 I don’t really look at my numbers. That’s not why I’m in it. Of course I get excited when my numbers go up but I’m not # greedy. And I too have found some fabulous people out there who are becoming my friends, even if they live across the country 🙂