Why I Blog

Chilihead, of Don't Try This At Home, is hosting a fun carnival today asking folks to tell their blogging stories. Check it out and jump in and join if you like. She has a Mr. Linky set up for the occasion.

Here goes nothing.

My Blogging Story

How did you start blogging?
When we started our adoption process, I joined several yahoo groups and from there I discovered the wonderful world of blogging. I found adoption blogs, among them was Mary. Through her I found mommy bloggers like Shannon, Chris, BooMama & many others. After a couple of months reading blogs and having my oldest daughter suggest I start writing one myself, I began my own blog.

Did you intend to be a blog w/a following? If so, how did you go about it?
No. I really never imagined that folks would come by to read my posts. It’s still a puzzle to me that folks drop by, even if most of them don’t comment. (But I’m not bitter, really.)

What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals?
I use it as a chronicle of our family life and our miraculous adoption adventure. I think I’ve done an OK job. I’d like to be a better writer, like Beck who astounds me daily with the way she puts words together and keeps me coming back throughout the daily hoping she’s posted something else.

Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How?
I was supposed to have a focus? Maybe that’s my problem. Seriously though, I started blogging in order to write about our adoption experience and also to chronicle family events. These goals haven’t changed.

What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?
Not to get so consumed by blogging about life and reading other people’s blogs about life that you miss actually living it.

Do you make money with your blog?
Don’t I wish.

Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?
My immediate family knows I blog. Pastormac and my kids read it. Pastormac and Sweetanlo have their own blogs. Some of my siblings know about the blog but don’t visit and the ones who don’t wouldn’t visit anyway. Blogging, computer stuff - not really their “thing.” Pastormac’s family drops by occasionally.

What two pieces of advice would you give to a new blogger?
Leave comments. It's a good way to draw traffic to your blog, you may make an actual friend and we all appreciate the feedback.
Join a weekly meme or hunt like, Photo Hunters, Thursday Thirteen or Works-for-Me Wednesday. There are some that are recipe-related or for the organizationally challenged. Find one that fits you and join in. It's a great way to meet other bloggers and also helps on those days/weeks when you're lacking bloggy inspiration.