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?
michelle@everydaycelebrating says
hear hear!! I’ve been blogging for almost 4 years, been to tons of conferences,etc and every single thing you’ve said is true! Thanks for putting it out there.
AND.. now I’m going to pin a few of the fabulous treats in this photo. LOVE the cotton candy heart!
Michelle says
Ha!! Great article! I have felt every single emotion you laid out here. Except for the stealing of material, haven’t seen that yet …wonder will I just bump into it?! It is hard to try and keep up with those who’ve been in the game longer. But I just keep doing my thing and keep telling myself “they all started small”. It is about sharing and creativity. Thanks for this post!
Trisha says
This is by far one of the best blog posts I have ever read. Like the other comments I have found myself in a rat race and beating myself up for not being as good or as creative or post as many things as the next guy. But then I gained my sanity to realize that the reason I do blog and create apart from my day job and life is to have FUN and create memories and a collection touched by me that will be there long after I am gone. That was the point…the rest is sprinkles on the cupcake. If ya lived next door I’d walk over and give ya a hug.
Karen says
I am extremely appreciative of your posts and can honestly say that I might not have ever tried decorating cookies had it not been for your site (and a couple of others-some of which I also found through you!). I’m completely baffled by the fact that you’ve been insulted for some of your posts, but people seem to think it’s appropriate to comment on ANY/EVERYTHING these days…And unless you’re actually abusing your family with marshmallows I say keep it up (there, I’m sure that offended someone!).
Lindsey says
Thank you! You have no idea how much I needed to hear all that this morning. I’ve been toying around with the idea of a food blog for the last few weeks, and today might just be the day I start (or tomorrow, maybe monday), but really I think I will! The whole ‘clique’ thing has for some reason really hit me, and I think I just don’t want to ‘relive’ middleschool where maybe nobody will want to read it or like it. But I have to try it, to know. Now, see what you’ve done, you’ve gone and inspired me so I better go get started. Thanks again for not sugarcoating this post (that’s probably the first non-sugar coated blog post yet)!
Miss Overballe says
I’ve been blogging for almost two years now, and I’m sold. I make no money at all, my site has no advertisements, I have 69 facebook fans and 5 email followers, and even though I really want more people to discover my blog (because I think the recipes I post are worth making) I can’t help loving to blog, and it is so worth it when, once in a rare while, someone leaves a comment and says hello 🙂
By the way, your blog is amazing! and as soon as I manage to scrape some money together, your book will be ordered from amazon (it is currently on my “top priority” wish list)
Simply Life says
what a great post and yes, so true!
meaghanmountford says
Thank you all! It’s funny how common all of these emotions and reactions are! And phew, I’m not alone. Trisha, “erg” (sound of being hugged). Miss Overballe, I’m popping over to say hello. Lindsey, yep! It’s a crazy world, but fascinating! Aw, Karen, and I agree! There’s something alluring about the anonymity you get over the internet that some feel free to just let loose all their issues. (And on occasion, my critiques are accurate, so fair enough to those)
Sydney says
This was such a nice post! I’m only in high school, and I was worried if the blog world was always going to feel the same way. I guess I was just looking at it with the wrong attitude! I love your blog, too!
Corrie says
I really enjoyed reading this- what an honest view on this subject 🙂
Jnyj Cakes says
cheer! cheer! … your post is very enlightening to someone like me who just started blogging on baking. I still have zero followers and zero comments but I don’t mind. I have reposts from my favorite bloggers and I give due credit. I blog because I need an outlet to all the ramblings in my head. Blogging to me is like a diary.. so I dont forget what I did with each cake or cookie creation. When I get old,all I have to do is read them all over again.
kaholly says
WOW! You really put it all out there! Well done. I have to remind myself quite often of many points you make. Great read.
justJENN says
This is great – ‘the stealing things’ really hit home as it happens to me way too frequently. I would love to hear your thoughts on Pinterest (even privately) as I have very strong opinions about it.
I feel like we’ve ‘known’ each other for years! 😉
linzy says
I go through that middle school feeling all the time! My blog is very slow growing and I often wonder why the heck I do it when there are so many more popular ones out there. But the bottom line is I like it!
I hate that people steal ideas, I never search for my stuff but if I had time, I would and I would be infuriated if someone blatently stole my idea and coined it as their own. I have only one cookie that I think is a new, creative, never seen before idea and I worry that someone will take it and run with it!
Thank you for sharing!
Sue says
Meaghan, I told you that you have a way with words, and you just confirmed it! This post is “spot on”!
I will most likely never have a book deal, so for me, publishing a post is as close as I will probably ever get:) I do get a certain thrill every time I push the “publish post” button:) I also gain a lot of satisfaction from sweet comments(support) and real friendships gained through blogging, such as yours!
Blog on, my friend!
Michelle says
Your blog/creations are amazing! This post is full of truth. I started my blog last year and I truly enjoy every part of it. I make no money off it, and nor do I really have the time to outreach or network my blog as much as I would want to. And the ugly truth is I find myself comparing myself to others and its hard to wonder why I don’t have a lot of “likes”, comments etc as others… I constantly have to remind myself it is not a competition..and that I make these food creations for my daughter! The blog allows me to share my creations with the world.. but ultimately it is about my daughter and having fun with her and creating fun memories together in the kitchen 🙂
Not Just A Mommy! says
I love it when the big-timers like you still struggle with the same issues us small-timers do. It reminds me that no matter what, in the end, we are all just people sitting at our computers, trying to share a little happy with the world. Even though your happy is wayyyy cooler than my happy, you’ve got mad cookie skills that I so envy…I may get cookie dough out of a tube on a good day. 🙂
The idea stealing hurts so much…I actually had the ‘pleasure’ of coming across a local planner who used very well known party photos in her ad. Come to find out, she had an entire site and FB page with parties lifted from EVERYONE and even I had the honor of seeing several of my photos in there, no credit nothing. I realized, I had arrived, but it made me sick thinking I put my ideas out to inspire, not to be stolen.
I’ve seen Mr. Melty everywhere and unfortunately that is the flaw of a fabulous idea, it will be imitated, but we know where it came from! Alrighty, I’m done rambling.
meaghanmountford says
Not Just a Mommy! Ugh, I know that exact feeling of seeing your work taken! And still stings every time, more that another human actually could do that ethically, than anything I think. Also, your entire first paragraph is spot on, though I did laugh at me being a “big-timer” since I so very much feel like a “small-timer”!
susan@pocacosa says
I couldn’t of said it better myself! 🙂
Sara says
What a wonderful post! I’ve only been blogging for three months, not in it for the money or fame, baking just happens to be my release from reality! I never thought I’d enjoy it so much and gain so much inspiration from amazing bloggers like you! Thank you!
Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers says
This posts speaks so much truth, thank you for posting! I agree with everything you just said. What a great reminder 🙂