First Post

Do you have a blog?

What’s your blog called?

Why aren’t you blogging yet?

When are you going to start a blog?

These are the questions I’ve been badgered with by friends, acquaintances, colleagues, even lecturers at university for so long. Most people find it odd that I’m an aspiring journalist and do not blog. I find it odd to. Over the (I’m too embarrassed to count) years I keep telling myself I’m going to start a blog and never do.

A few reasons why…

One of the things that stopped me was thinking what the blog should be about. I want to be a music journalist, so the obvious option would be to blog about music. So if it is music, it would be just urban: hip-hop, R&B, alternative soul, and indie. At first I wanted to create a blog with a niche theme and stick to it.  I had a blog for a course in university in which I discussed recent news within the rap culture and compared them with factors that define rap. I didn’t continue because I thought I would run out of definitions of rap. When really I wasn’t thinking creatively as a writer.

Sticking with music, I knew I wanted to bring something new to my blog. After all, having the same content as all the other blogs will not bring traffic to mine. There are so many music blogs which results in seeing a lot of re-blogging. When an artist releases a new song, video, or there is a trending topic, it’s on all the blogs. I didn’t want to go that route because it’s boring and my little ol’ blog would not get views when people are reading the same posts on Nah Right or Miss Info.

I wrecked my brain with content ideas but never put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).

One thing I kept questioning was whether or not these ideas would translate into longevity for the blog. Content for me is really the most important thing. Again I wasn’t thinking like a writer. Any idea could keep the blog going if I was creative about it. If I really fed off of one idea, original content and the different angles would have organically flowed and came to me over time. Blogs are successful because once someone starts one, they are consistent. When they are always blogging, always writing, and content ideas just comes to them.

My problem is I want to know all the information now. I want to know the kinds of things I’m going to be writing about in months to come. Will it just be music? Will I start other pages on the site? Am I going to get personal?

Then someone told me to just write about a number of different subjects. I’ve always been weary doing that though. I feel like there are so many bloggers who write about any and everything and thought it was such a cliché thing to do.

I’ve made up my mind now. While a lot of my posts will be about music, I’m going to write about other things that move me. I might even share some personal stuff so stay tuned. I feel like this is the best not only for me to hone my skills as a music journalist but also stay versatile.

Then the design…
I look at other popular blogs and love their layout. I want my blog to instantly be on that caliber. I forget that these blogs started from somewhere. In the beginning they probably had poor web design and look completely different than how they appear today. To be fair these bloggers are so successful now they can hire a web designer or be powered by a good web hosting. Their content is another aspect that has grown over the years as well. These writers may cringe at their first posts from years ago when their blogs were brand new.

As I frequently read blogs like Karen Civil, Pigeons and Planes or Hilly Dilly I can see these writers found their niche, what’s right for their site, and what their readers want. Their blog popularity has opened many opportunities and has helped their blogs to grow more. Karen Civil has created her own brand, she has Civil TV and more projects she’s working on.

Also the bigger they get, the more their content expands. Look at Necolebitchie.com for instance. (I’ll add this is the only celeb blog I regularly read. I support Necole’s movement). When she first started, she was mostly posting about urban celebrity news and gossip. While that is still much of the content on the site, she also posts about social issues within the community, has exclusive interviews, and one thing I especially like is the original content on her site. Also another thing I’ve noticed and found refreshing is the Bitchie Staff’s opinion on their articles.  They’re not just reporting but also have a voice on an issue (whether it be some celebrity BS).

I’ve ventured off course but my point is this: these blogs started from somewhere before they became big. Comparing to them and wanting my blog to get to that place so fast is just silly.

When did I become this greedy writer, I do not know. It’s not even like I want success or notoriety as a writer right now. If I had any paid writing job I’d be content because I know I’ll be progressing to the success I want to reach as a writer. But blogging for me is different. This is something I’ve personally created. My name is in the domain. No one is giving me an assignment. I’m not writing on a deadline. I’m thinking of the topics and writing what I want to write about. It’s kind of scary to think this is all me. This could make or break me.

I may be being melodramatic here. But now you can see how seriously nerve wrecking this is for me. It’s also exciting at the same time.

The only thing that is going to get me on the level of success is to be constantly at it.  I’ve finally made the conscious decision to stop the childish procrastination and just do it.

Welcome!