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?
Tracy says
Thanks for this inspiring and honest post Meaghan! As a middle school teacher and a new blogger I can attest first hand to all the feelings you have described. Your blog has been such an encouragement the last few years as I have tried my hand at cookie decorating. I love your detailed tutorials and your unique ideas! Please keep it coming!
meaghanmountford says
Oooh, Tracy, middle school teacher and new blogger? The perfect test case for this post 🙂 !
Kris says
Great post, I am just starting a cookie blog for personal use and to share with my friends. Great timing and well said!
Your cotton candy heart cookies are adorable. My son has had a cotton candy business for 10 years, he would love those.
Jasmin says
Wonderful post. My thoughts exactly! I do think people should credit even if it is just the idea itself. Your creativity should be honored, not taken by others who want to claim it for themselves.
I agree, blogging world is so much work but goodness it really is so fulfilling!
Cheryl@ Sew Can Do says
Great post and at just the right time to remind me of all these things!! So few bloggers actually talk about these struggles and it’s really important to hear (and remember than behind every blog is a real person juggling things too). Since blogging is mostly a labor of love it’s easy to get emotionally vested & focus on what it’s not doing instead of what it is – thanks for the reminder on keeping perspective!
m5cake -Margarita says
Wow I just find you thru one of your blog friends and you amaze me with this post. I been blogging for a little more than a year and haven’t get any money out of it,comments are not frequent, I don’t have that many followers (164 in FB) but a lot more than I expected, and had a lot of the feelings you are describing. However I’m having so much fun with my projects and just thinking that maybe is going to help or inspire somebody else. Believe it or not the best recognition of my work have come from some of the “popular kids” that I believe are so popular not only because for your talent and creativity but because you share that with passion and dedication. So Thank you for this post and nice to meet you !!!
Holly W says
I love LOVE this post! It was great to read a REAL breakdown of what the blog-world is like. You wouldn’t think that cookies and cupcake blogging would be tough, but it really is! My blog is just under 3 months old, and it is a very slow process. It’s hard not to check all the traffic on a daily basis and agonize over it. I’m constantly thinking about what I can do to increase the traffic, when in reality I should just be thinking about what new and fun creations I can make and share with the world!
Thanks for the great post and for your beautiful creations.
Kristen Best says
Grateful for your post…as an amateur blogger (and by amateur I really mean inconsistent with under 20 followers – 3 of whom I don’t know) I have found it confusing to know just where to establish boundaries and what is considered fair and just in the blogosphere. There are no style guides like there are in the publishing world. And worse…there’s far less accountability than you would find in middle school where most kiddos are just learning what plagiarism means. Your post caused me to pause and make sure that despite the vast grey area that blogging is, as often as I enter in to it I still maintain the level of integrity you’d find in stricter, more accountable modes of communication. Bless you sweet girl. You are an inspiration!
MegaCrafty says
I really loved this post Meaghan! It perfectly summed up a lot of what I’ve experienced blogging. I didn’t expect so many ups, downs, troubles, new friendships, and growth opportunities to come from the little blog on started on a whim. But if I had it to do all over again knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t change a thing. (Although it would be nice to one day have the whole attribution and photo ownership things tightened up.)
: )
Margaret Hayter says
I think the world of blogging has gotten ahead of itself. Blogs aren’t really the path to riches; they are a very public means of expression. For some people, they are a way to document their food/craft/collecting/personal activities. After all, what percentage of bloggers gave up their full-time jobs to live off of their advertising? Not many people get the exposure of, say, Bakerella who took a simple idea and made a hit of it. If something lucrative comes of it, that’s nice. If not, just remember that it’s not employment. If you need income, you probably have to be employed. You’re one of the lucky ones who got a book deal. Think of the thousands of people out there who just toil away. Hopefully they are doing it for the enjoyment of it and not the longshot paycheck.
meaghanmountford says
Totally agree, Margaret!! (BTW, yep, all my photos in the past year have watermarks, but none of these early ones shown…. a long process to go through and change them.) That’s why my advice, when I’ve been asked about making money blogging, is, while it’s possible, don’t plan on it and don’t quit your job! Same with the book deal… it’s possible, but as I mention in that super long other book deal post, it’s extraordinarily difficult and for most, like me, it’s not handed to them. It’s something they’ve worked for for a looong time (about 7 years in my case).
Margaret Hayter says
BTW, please put a watermark on your photos to help protect your work. You’re work is great, keep it YOURS.
Dee says
I blog about my weight loss trials and tribulations, if someone would like to come and steal my ass & thighs I will gladly let them. But in all seriousness, that is terrible that someone would take your idea and the fact that you share step by step instructions how to do it and not only steal your actual photo but try to pass it off as an original idea. So sorry you have to deal with this. I wish I had the creativity you have.
Jules says
Great post! I really needed to read this today, as I’ve been feeling a lot of the same things lately. But you’re exactly right – it shouldn’t be about how many comments or the number of page-views, but about sharing what you have to say or teach. If people read it and comment on it, that’s just the icing on the cake. It’s just really easy to get disheartened for all of the reasons you mentioned. It’s nice to know I’m not alone when I feel that way sometimes!
sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more says
so well put, I really love to blog, and I dream about making money at it. But I know realistically I wont, which is not the end of the world. I also know that I put things out there and people are going to see it and make their thoughts on it. I have talked to a lot of great people through my blog, so I love that.
Kieli Heart says
I’m glad someone posted this. Of course, once it’s on the interwebs, it’s pretty much out there and there’s no telling what could happen but that doesn’t mean that everything that does happen is bad. And just like face to face, if something happens, you have to know how to handle the situation and the people in a manner that will get the point across with few incidents as possible.
So thank you for making this post 🙂
~ Kieli ~
Kristina says
I always say there needs to be something that each new blogger reads before they are able to publish their first blog. I know, that only takes care of the newbies that “didn’t know” and not the people who know exactly what they are doing.
I agree, the friendships I have made are so great in comparison to the frustration of photos and content being stolen. Many of my friends are the ones who let me know something of mine is out there, even before I see it – we watch out for each other.
When I first started my website, it was to share recipes and food ideas, I honestly had no idea the opportunities and friendships that awaited. So, I keep going. When I find my content elsewhere, I deal with it, and keep going. *sigh*
Thank you for this – and for all you do and share!
meaghanmountford says
Yeeep! Totally agree Kristina, especially about the content elsewhere, dealing and moving on… And I only find my content elsewhere because of how loyal and astute and awesome my readers are!
April Yablonovitch says
THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH for blogging about this! I’ve been thinking abou starting my own blgo and this helped so much:)
Sweetsugarbelle says
Megs..you know how you giggle and cry at the same time?! Like as in gigglecry. I gigglecried. You amaze me in more ways than one, and I want to be like you when I grow up. And maybe when I am able to stop shaking and remove myself from the fetal position, I will give you some thoughts on blogging, lol.
Nicole (Life's a Batch) says
Oh, thank you for this post! So many thoughts ring so very, very true, and I love to hear advice from a gal I look up to & consider a “pro.” Much love, girl. 🙂
Georganne says
I LOVE this post. LOVE it. And you. And all your honesty and super creative ideas. And if we were in middle school together, I totally wouldn’t mind sharing a locker with you. You know, if you wanted to.
meaghanmountford says
Oooh, Georganne, we can have our little mirrors with the magnets and a pic of Kirk Cameron up! Unless you’re more of a Kevin Bacon (a la footloose) fan!
Paula says
Great post and you certainly are right on the money with your thoughts and feelings. Like any society, the blogging world has both good and bad elements to it but I like to think that the good always outweigh the bad. People may steal your photographs, copy your content, etc., but they can never take your talents, your integrity, nor the friendships that have grown from being a blogger.
meaghanmountford says
Woo hoo, Paula, perfectly put!! And I’m exactly the same Katrina. Oh my goodness, I still get pangs when I see a melted snowman cookie and want to scream at the computer, but that was MYYYYY idea!! But it’s all just part of how things go and your bloggy buds get ya’ through!