The Art of Being Unapologetic For Making A Living From Blogging

I make money from my blog, YouTube channel, Etsy, Amazon and podcast. However, today I'm talking specifically about my blog.

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be an author and artist when I grew up. However, after a few of life's experiences and abandoning my dreams, I didn't pursue my writing nor artist career. Sure I still wrote in my diary daily and lettered to pen pals ever since I can remember.

I then began dabbling in blogging in the year 2004. What I failed to recognise until a few years ago is that I was actually living my dream of being an author, in blog form. Writing is still writing whether it's in a journal or on a blog. I think often women don't realise the significance of being a blogger. As if it's not a serious occupation or proper form of employment. I look at the writing of my blog, as a way of becoming a better writer with each post I publish. So that way, when I'm also writing my novels or children books, I have been, in a sense, practising. My skills improve, and I'm much more confident. My blog is the end-all, beat all. It's never been something I began as a way to launch me to something else.

Now before I get going with this post rant, it may hit a sensitive nerve for some, but, hell, at this point in my life, I've begun asking myself as of late, ” When is there NOT a time that I don't say something and piss off someone?” Not very often, let's just admit it now. NOT VERY OFTEN!

Honest to goodness, I have had women literally tell me they can't spend the time any longer to read my blog, but then I realise it's some hangup they have with me. ”Its the whole, it's not you Raquel, it's me.” It reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Jerry gets out of dating the woman with big hands, but instead of telling her the truth, he says it's him and not her. Or another scenario is when women write me off in a friendship, and then I find out later that they hate-stalk me, ”two feet a creepin’ like a black cat do.” (Song lyrics from Great White, Saturday Night Special.)

(Those are the best kind of hate mongers. I see you, girl. I know you read my article and then blocked me on ye ol’ Instagram. Gawd, some women are so insecure and petty.) Grow up, FFS!

But, I digress.

This post is about blogging, and what I hear many times on blogs, is that the author has this innate need to preface she is ”writing for herself”, and not blogging to bring in money. Well, goooodddd, Brenda! I'm really happy for ya, and that's peachy keen. So how about I stop reading your blog, because apparently you don't give a rip if someone reads your blog then, and I've got bigger fish to fry. And hell, that's saying a lot.

(ya know, cause I'm a mermaid and all. Wink, wink)

(Tangent ensues in my mind. I just had a full-blown argument with self, while answering for the said person I was arguing with.)

(Ten years from now, I'll be the crazy lady wearing a pink bathrobe, slippers and collecting cats.)

(Not really, because I'm not a fan of cats, AT ALL. But the crazy lady wearing a pink bathrobe and slippers, yep, that's me. 1090)

{And dear Lawd, what's with the parenthesis, Raquel?}

Wait. Okay, what was I saying?

Oh, yeah.

What I mean is that if you are writing for yourself, then perhaps you might consider placing your blog on private and then, in that case, write away, sweetheart.

What I'm saying, is that half the time I think women fail to realise that they are talking out of both sides of their mouth. (Hence, another reason women get fed up with me, is that I'm gonna tell you when you're being an ass hat. Hey, Brenda, you're being a total ass hat!) Just so you know. Err...

I think the truth behind the prefacing they aren't blogging for money, is simply an excuse they tell themselves and the ”world”, so they don't have to be accountable or responsible for creating content and being consistent. When you're a " hobby blogger” you don't have to worry about putting in the work to develop a business. You can willy-nilly, write when you feel like it, abandon it for 4 years, come back, etc.

And look. I get it, if that's where you're at in your blogging voyage, hats off to ya. Just don't come on your blog and say how much you are so much different and better than me because baby's got groceries to buy and a car insurance premium to make each month.

I suppose that's why I'm an avid admirer of anyone that is the breadwinner, in which she brings in money from blogging. I'm happy to be in such an elite group of women.

So instead of drowning me in your ”Negative Nancy” because I'm a blogger, try being a bit of a supportive Mermaid. This is how we make waves in a positive direction. Redirect those sails!

Most affably yours til my next swim, Raquelxxx