Why did I start a blog?

Recently, I have noticed that this is a topic that has come up again and again during Twitter chats and conversations I've had with other bloggers. When I finished uni, I knew I NEEDED (dramatic emphasis is completely necessary, no apologies) to start a blog to let me have somewhere to rekindle my love for writing and rediscover my passion for creativity. During my conversations with other bloggers about this, I realised there must be deeper reasons for me starting a blog than on the surface, so I got to thinking about other reasons which persuaded me to take the leap and join the bloggosphere!

On a side note, I really want to write a list post, so thought I would use this as an experiment.

Reason 1 - Creativity

As I have already said, I wanted to write creatively again. My course at uni was undeniably a writing degree through and through, but it had left me feeling restricted in terms of structuring pieces, in the content I could produce and in all honesty, towards the end I wasn't really enjoying it anymore.

Reason 2 - Job Prospects

Because of what I would like to do for a career, a blog is definitely something that will help me demonstrate my writing style to potential employers. In fact, whilst I have been sifting through application after application, more often than not, having my own blog and being able to show competency with social media is a desired requirement! I'm also hoping that by writing about things I am passionate about, my writing will be at its best, and will improve more - its a well known fact that writing is often worst when its a piece with no passion behind it! Fingers crossed its been a good move for me...

Reason 3 - A Project

I LOVE lists and short term goals. It makes me feel like I'm achieving things, making progress and improving myself if I create visual targets, or can cross something off of a list. So, after uni taking up so much (all of) my time for the last three years, as much as I was looking forward to a more relaxed lifestyle for a while, I still felt that I wanted a project to make me feel like I was being productive with my time. Linked to reason number 2, I also wanted to feel like I was continuing to work towards my goals, as I know finding a graduate job can take a while sometimes.

Reason 4 - A hobby!

I think this is perhaps the most important reason, which is why I saved it until last. Everyone needs a hobby. It's so nice to have something that relaxes your mind, distracts you from everyday pressures and commitments, and makes you feel like you've had some 'me time.' My blog is a reflection of things I love, and although I don't post about my personal life, I still feel like it is becoming 'my online space' rather than just 'a blog.'

The difference here is that I've grown a little attached to this page - it's more than just something for me to aim for, something to help my career, and somewhere to be creative. My blog is something I am proud of.


Why did you start blogging? Are your reasons similar or different to mine?  Should I do more list posts in future? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for reading! x

Roald Dahl's 'Boy' and 'Going Solo'

Okay, so I realise that Roald Dahl is technically a children's author, but to me his stories are timeless and I know to many (including me!) they are well loved. Many a time I'll come across something in everyday life that takes me back to his colourful, mischievous narratives. For a while now I've been eyeing up his two-part autobiography, and as luck would have it, it was a perfect, easy read to ease me back into reading for pleasure after the chaos of finishing my degree!

As I have a love for autobiographies anyway, I found this a compelling companion to my morning coffee, but it was more than about simply satisfying my nosy needs. Boy in particular is very reflective of Dahl's writing style in his children's books like The BFG, which is great as its incredibly insightful but so easy to read. I laughed along with the children's cunning plans to get revenge on the miserable shop keeper, and felt their pain of being in a boarding school where the cane was used as punishment. Fast forward a few years, Going Solo is all about Dahl's time in the RAF during the war and takes a slightly more adult tone, yet remains very personal and reminds us as readers that the people fighting were as ordinary as you or me. I'll admit myself that I sometimes need to be reminded of this instead of generalising and seeing the overall picture!

There was a particular passage in Boy which really stood out for me. In this passage, Dahl paints a writer's life as 'absolute hell' in comparison with a business man's lifestyle, and says that it is because a writer is their own manager, sets their own work hours, and can never come up with enough new ideas. It sounds like this is something that was really coming from his heart - the words were so passionately written. I'll admit that coming from someone I admire, from someone who I thought loved writing, it upset me a little! 

I feel like this is very close to the heart of many bloggers, including myself! I have to admit, it has always been my dream to be a writer in one way or another, and at the moment it very much remains a hobby. But who knows what will happen in the future?! I am under no illusion that a writing career  would be challenging, with definite peaks and troughs, but I'd like to think very enjoyable for the most part. Being my own boss would also be great as I like to think I'm super organised, although setting your own work hours could potentially upset the work-life balance that we're all supposed to maintain.

Right now, I feel very positive about having a career that involves writing, as I have always said I want my career to be something I love, that I'm passionate about, and isn't something I've just chosen because its well paid, or because its expected of me... where's the fun in that?! However, this is possibly because I'm fresh out of uni, so maybe ask me again if I'm still unemployed at Christmas! I wonder if my view of writing for a career will change to become sympathetic of Dahl's... I certainly hope not!!

What are your thoughts on this? Do full time bloggers or novelists agree that writing is a challenging but also rewarding job? 

Thanks for reading! x