I've also learned a lot in these last two years and I needed to remind myself with this list:
10. Don't share your blog with your school district and then trash talk about how your kid's school is failing to provide a FAPE. Because they will read it. And they won't like it. (I know...seems like a no brainer. But um, I learned the hard way.)
9. Be okay with random people knowing personal sh*t about you. And wanting to talk about it. Even if you think "I just want to write to get it out...there's no need to address it after."
8. Blogging is hard work. Seriously. And takes a lot of time. At times, an embarrassingly amount of time. And often without a big financial pay off.
7. Be 100% certain about a post before you hit the publish button. Once you publish something - it's out there. There is no going back to delete. By the time, you second guess yourself and try to hit delete - someone has seen it or taken a screen shot. Someone may have printed it out or cut/copy and pasted into an email or word document. When in doubt about a post - wait until you are absolutely certain you want those words out there. (see #10 & 9 if you're not sure what I mean.)
6. Don't quit your day job thinking blogging is the road to riches and free vacations. (see #8)
5. It's okay to say NO. Just because someone emails you saying they have this amazing product or book or website, you are not obligated to write about what they want you to write about.
4. Don't take it personal. There will be times when no one comments, it's okay. There will be times when people attack you. My wise creative writing professor (Terrence Cheng) once said, "If you expect to be told what a great writer you are, each and every single you write something - go show it to your mother." The same can be said for blogging. If you are only interested in praise - write for your mother, your husband, your BFF or anyone else who loves you enough to lie to your face or blow smoke up your butt.
3. Bloggers are people too. I've met some really amazing people through blogging. I'd even go as so far to say, I've made some genuine friends - especially in the autism mom blogger community. And then I've met some not so nice bloggers. And this may totally surprise you especially if you've follow their blogs and seem like the nicest person on line. But mostly, I am incredibly grateful for all the wonderful women and men I've met through blogging. Like I said, I've made some real friends - there are too many to name but they will know who they are - thank you for your friendship!
2. Content & Consistency matter. If you want people to read your blog, your content needs to be good. And if you want them to return, you need to be consistent. Especially in the beginning.
3. Bloggers are people too. I've met some really amazing people through blogging. I'd even go as so far to say, I've made some genuine friends - especially in the autism mom blogger community. And then I've met some not so nice bloggers. And this may totally surprise you especially if you've follow their blogs and seem like the nicest person on line. But mostly, I am incredibly grateful for all the wonderful women and men I've met through blogging. Like I said, I've made some real friends - there are too many to name but they will know who they are - thank you for your friendship!
2. Content & Consistency matter. If you want people to read your blog, your content needs to be good. And if you want them to return, you need to be consistent. Especially in the beginning.
1. Always remember the reason why you started to blog. You may want to write it down and post it everywhere you write because there will be days when you will wonder: I don't know if I want to do this. Does my writing even matter? or Why didn't this post get any comments?
There have been so many times over this last year I've wondered if my blog matters, if it's 'successful.' This usually occurs when I see little to no comments on something that I've written, when something I write doesn't get shared, tweeted or retweeted, when I visit other blogs and see that their posts have like 30, 40, 50 comments and I'm hoping for just 1. And every so often, I'll read a comment or get an email or even a text from another autism mom I know with a simple, "thank you for writing what I cannot say," and then I remember why I started to blog. If anything I've written has helped just one person, then that is my measure of success.
Thank you again for stopping by, for reading my random thoughts, for crying with me, for sharing my joys, for cheering me on, for offering me advice and for being a part of our journey.
Did you know I'm nominated as a Yahoo Women Who Shine?
Read why I'm nominated & vote click HERE.
Screw that school the truth hurts I find your blog educational and inspiring and I hope you will.continue to maintain it and do great things. Not everyone will always agree but they dont have to read or follow your blogs.
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