It was a lazy day in May 2004 when, idly browsing on my computer, I came across the word ‘blog’. From what I understood, it meant a free Online Diary for anyone who writes. I was intrigued and began reading up more, and before I knew it, I had signed up with Blogspot for my very own Blog!
I thought I had done the most remarkable thing, till I began requesting family and friends to ‘read my Blog’ and was met with puzzled expressions and ‘Blog, what’s that?’.
My Blog and I have come a long way since then, and let me share just how;
1) No one knew us when we started: When I started my blog, we were both – my blog and I- strangers to the world. However, we were both keen that people should know us. While a Blog and Blogging were unheard-of terms, anyone who claimed to be a Writer wasn’t taken very seriously either! Writing, let alone Blogging, wasn’t even considered a profession! Fast forward to all these years later, to see the world going digital, and Blogs and bloggers making their presence felt. Yes, my Blog, Sirimiri – The Lifestyle Blogazine, and I have made our mark too.
2)There was no inspiration, so we inspired ourselves: Writing is a very lonely business. It is just you, your thoughts, and your ideas that form words. Every writer needs inspiration to sustain their thought processes and their writing. When my Blog was mint new, so was the inspiration. New inspiration is almost always at an all-time high, and so is mine. It started slipping after a while, but I was determined not to let my Blog idle, so I looked around for inspiration to put up a blog post at least once a week. It is safe to say that My blog and I inspired each other to keep going.
3)Curiosity led me to look for a Community: As I diligently blogged, I found myself wondering if there were more Bloggers like me. Writers who were passionate about blogging their thoughts were also wondering if there were more like them. Google led us to each other, and very soon, I was part of a Blogging Community, then another, and yet another. This journey made me realize that while we can do it alone, Blogging is far more enriching when you have a like-minded community backing you!
4)Our voices began to be heard: As the years passed, Blogs and Bloggers were no longer terms unheard of. The curiosity about both leads people’s interest to perk up. This curiosity also led to more people signing up to create their Blogs. I began to have regular readers, and I became a regular visitor to the Blogs I resonated with. Very soon, brands began showing interest in Blogs. Bloggers begin by writing for themselves, and while we continue to do so, we eventually branch out to writing for others. We become the voice of the many people who want to say something but don’t know how to say it. I realized that my blog had become an extension of my thoughts. I blogged extensively, and though mindful of not hurting any sentiments, I must admit that I did not prioritize Political Correctness as a key factor while Blogging. I spoke my mind, literally.
5)Trust was being built: Being an honest Blogger had its benefits. My readers became regular readers, and many of them even became friends. It brought me immense joy when someone told me that a review of a particular book or product had made them go buy it. Or that they watched a film after I recommended it. Honest feedback from people who read my Blog gave me the confidence to write more and write better. It was in 2016 when I finally went self-hosted. Having a Self-hosted blog is like buying your own home in the blogosphere. It was exciting to finally own mine!
6)We were accepted and recognized: Going self-hosted was the best decision I made. While Blogging continued to be a passion, it was slowly turning into a profession as well. Going self-hosted is what made me monetize my Blog.
I have been Blogging since 2004 and so many years down the line I realized that both I and my Blog have changed. We have matured; we have overcome our self-imposed restrictions and fears. We have learned discipline and commitment. We have learned to use our voices effectively. Forever grateful to the friends and work I have gained via Blogging.
So, this was my Blogging journey. Do let me know if, as a Blogger, you resonate with it.
I have always liked the way you put across your views, Mayuri. Wishing you more success in the future, Mayuri.
Thank you, Lavanya.
Happy to know about your blogging journey.
I quote ” There was no inspiration, so we inspired ourselves” – was just great.
Keep rocking!