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Blogging and Writing – Finding Inspiration and a Sense of Community

I love my blog and despite recent doubts about whether I should bother at all, I feel I am actually getting a lot out of it at the moment.

These doubts made me examine why I write a blog in the first place. It started as a way to record significant moments in our lives as the children grew and developed, but I went on to write about a variety of things. I don’t have a niche and although I occasionally still write about our family life, my blog has evolved to include the things I am most passionate about.

I write about our family travel adventures, particularly as we venture further afield now the children are older. I always have trouble finding suitable places to go and accommodation big enough for the five of us (three is an awkward number when it comes to hotels), so if we have a good experience or go to a great place, I like to share this information.

I also write about our family health. Nutrition has always been a big part of my life and I’ve battled with IBS for years. During the last few years, my husband has developed digestive problems and I also have a son who can’t eat wheat and dairy, so between the three of us, we have a big list of foods that we have to avoid. Going gluten and dairy free has actually helped all of us and has made a significant difference to our lives.

Finally, there is the fiction writing. It is hard to manage writing a blog and working on a manuscript when you have more pressing (paid) work to do, but I feel that it is my blog that has actually helped me to keep going with my fiction work. It would be so easy to give up and listen to the ‘go and get a proper job’ voice inside your head, but I don’t want to give in to that. I love writing fiction. It is my hobby and everyone needs a hobby, right?

I started my Friday Fiction post because I wanted to share some of my work. One reason for this was to get feedback and another was to meet like-minded writers who were in a similar situation. I decided to start a link-up, so it could become a kind of community – a blogging wirter’s group, if you like. I’ve also shared extracts from published authors, with the idea of giving an alternative to a review and providing writing inspiraiton.

One thing that I love about doing this post, is that it keeps me writing the fiction. During a busy week, it would be easy to put it to one side and forget about it, but I feel I am committed to this post now and that drives me to keep going.

At the moment, I am still in my routine of getting up early to write. This has worked really well for me, so far. What I have found is that the more I write, the more the ideas flow. I also draw inspiration and gain ideas from the work that is shared by others.

Some of my Friday Fiction posts have discussed how to find writing inspiration. I should perhaps add another post about how you can draw inspiration from other writers and how it is important to be part of a writing community, not just tapping out the words on your own. I truly feel that this is important and I am grateful for the support and the sense of community that I have found through my blog.

Sharing this post for What I’m Writing.

Writing Bubble

Comments

  1. Iona@redpeffer says

    Oh, I agree with you totally here on all fronts. Funnily enough I think we are on the same lines again too this week.
    I’ve found this writing community so supportive, encouraging and motivating. It keeps me going when i have doubts and spurs me on as well as inspires me with ideas. I’m so pleased to have discovered it and to be a part of it x

  2. maddy@writingbubble says

    I too, feel part of a lovely community of writer/bloggers – blogging can be great in that way! And having a blog also motivates me to write and, like you say, the more you write, the more ideas flow! It can be a struggle to find time for it all though and some weeks are harder than others in that respect. Sometimes I wonder if I’m adding unnecessary pressure to myself!

    It sounds like you cover a lot of different topics in your blog and it’s great that it’s such an outlet for you. I love the idea of friday fiction and am enjoying linking up. Thanks for linking to #WhatImWriting

  3. sophieblovett says

    I can very much identify with this. I’ve had various wobbles with my blog, wondering what it is I’m doing with it and whether it’s just too unfocused – but ultimately I enjoy it, and in the moments when I don’t I’m making sure I give myself a break! The fiction is my priority, writing wise, but the blog does make the writing feel like a bit less of a lonely enterprise. Especially since joining in with this linky and yours too – it’s great to feel part of a little community, especially one which is proving so inspiring 🙂 x

  4. Virtually All Sorts (@AllSortsHere) says

    I agree Nikki, blogging does give us focus and also encourages us to commit to writing for certain linkys (or just regularly for ourselves). And the inspiration that can be found is incredible. Not to mention the support… I plan on joining in with your Friday Fiction linky this week by the way. Have been meaning to for a few weeks now and this is the one where I give myself the push! #WhatImWriting

  5. deskmonkeymummy says

    I love the community feel and the support has been mindblowing. Friday fiction is pushing me to work on this manuscript and not let it rot with the others and the feedback is invaluable. I think it’s important to feel safe when you’re putting your work out there and I know some of the other online groups are not quite so friendly when it comes to newcomers posting their work.
    We just have to keep going, we’ll all get there. I don’t think we have a choice.
    Thank you for linking up to #whatimwriting x

  6. Emily Organ says

    Great post. I think blogging is invaluable writing practice whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction. It helps you connect with an audience and get feedback on your work. Over five years ago I started a parenting blog and, although it’s no longer around, I don’t think I’d be writing now if I hadn’t kept that going for a few years. It can be time consuming and hard to find time to write the posts you want to. But if you have a week off here and there it doesn’t matter and I agree it’s the perfect way to find like minded people.

    • Nicola Young says

      It is good writing practice. You just need to get the balance right and then it works well. I sometimes wonder whether I should concentrate on one thing rather than another, but I’ve just go so much to say!

  7. Morgan Prince says

    I’ve often found myself losing focus when it comes to blogging and writing. Sometimes I want to focus on the blog, other times it’s the novel. Being part of a writing community through linkys or other ways is really useful and, like you say, you can be inspired by other writers too. I’ve managed to use blogging as a way to practice my writing skills and am definitely better at self-editing now. 🙂 Great post Nikki.

    • Nicola Young says

      I think blogging about your writing gives you a break when you need it. Sometimes you can get a bit bogged down and need to stand back a while to refocus, if that makes sense!

  8. jdtcreates says

    I only recently restarted my old blog as a space to post my writing and art. I wasn’t sure how to go about it but likes and comments from a few fellow bloggers encouraged me to try to join blogging communities.

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