MY BLOGGING STORY

by Chrisylla Octavia from the blog Colors in my Bubble

"Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences."                                                                 -Sylvia Plath Back in 2012, I knew nothing about blogging world until a friend of mines introduced me to Blogger and convinced me to start writing on the internet to inspire teenage girls like myself. At first, I thought fashion and beauty should be my niche; I thought I should focus on those fields because I like them. I began writing all of my opinions about make ups, perfumes, and clothes that I bought for myself. Even though I knew in the back of my head that I didn't have a lot of readers and I'm not an expert in any way in these territories, I didn't care, I just kept focusing on my writings, my photographs, and my background. For the record, I didn't know there are blogging communities on social medias like Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. I was too busy with my content to realize that communities and getting to know other bloggers are very crucial in a blogging world.  I stopped blogging for quite a while because I was occupied with my school works, moving to other country, making new friends, and all other things I gotta do to help me decide my major. Once I was ready, I realized that I missed writing and reading and creating a beautiful set of words. I started blogging again after six months of hiatus. However, beauty and fashion aren't my interests anymore, and to be honest, I don't know what has changed. They just don't excite me like they used to; I was bewildered to the point where I just stared in a blank piece of paper without knowing what to write. I was thoroughly stuck and uninspired for a second because I don't just want to write about my "OOTD" or "fall fashion and make up". I want to write things that I love, I want to be heard by the society; assuredly, I come to a realization that I can't focus on one particular field. After an hour of confusion, I decided to read my feed on Bloglovin, and I realized that the websites that I'm actually interested in are the ones who share advice, tips and tricks, beautiful stories, and perspectives. I love writers who come up with unique topics, unpredictable stories, and beautiful yet simple words; something about them astounds me. At the end, I am proud to say that I don't have a niche. I am going to write whatever and whenever I want because even though I love writing so much, I'll still feel pressured if the topic I'm able to write is restricted. The other day, a friend of mine was telling me to try writing about China's economy because it's related to my major, and I told him that I'm scared my readers won't like it and be bored the second they read my title. Then, he said something that astonished me, "Let me ask you, do you love to write or do you love to blog? Is writing/blogging your hobby or your job?" I told him I love to write, and blogging is just a way to spread my writings to the whole world. He answered, "Why do you have to care if people enjoy your writing or not? You write for yourself, not for other people. Don't confuse writing with blogging because they're two completely different things." I knew he was right; however, when you have readers, you just can't help but think about their expectations too, you know? I understand now that I gotta be a little selfish and start thinking of myself because this blog is simply MY life's experience in a bunch of words.                                                                  What's your story?                                                          LOVE photo source 1,  photo source 2