Well, friends, we’ve talked about blogging misconceptions, my day-to-day routine, what I love most about blogging and my #1 piece of advice. But, really, when you think about it, no blogging FAQ series would be complete without a look to the future of this exciting and ever-changing medium.

For me, that’s part of what’s so exciting about having a blog…there are endless possibilities for its future. It’s really what you make it. I feel like the new design has added a new, fresh voice to the blog and given it even more energy, making me even more excited about its future — I know what you’re thinking, “How can she be even more excited than this?“

Well, apparently I can.

It’s inevitable that a blog is going to grow and change — that’s the nature of the medium. We all know my love-hate-mostly hate relationship with change over the years, how I’d avoid it like ’80s shoulder pads and how just the mere mention of the word change has been enough to make me recoil in terror. But now? With my blog, this is the first time I’m actually unafraid of change — dare I say that I’m embracing it? Walking (err, rolling…) toward it even. Scary, I know, but it’s true.

My blog has grown and changed with me, and I’m really proud of that. As for the future, I plan on further developing my blog’s voice and working toward expanding my presence in the blogging community. I hope you’ll join me on the journey, friends! xoxo

P.S. You can read all the posts from last week’s festivities here and my full bio, if you’d like. 🙂

[Photo via We Heart It]

One of the wonderful things about blogging is the fact that it such a reflection of its author. From the design to the topics covered, you can really make a blog anything you want it to be. There are no limits, and I think that’s part of what’s made the blog movement so appealing and successful. I try to do that with each and every one of my blog posts. I overshare. I write honestly. I don’t hold anything back. After all, we all remember how this debacle went down, don’t we? That’s something people can relate to. With blogging, you can’t Photoshop words to make them look pretty and perfect. Bringing your true self to each post is perhaps the best thing you could ever do. Be it raw and real and stripped-down emotion, like peeling back the lyrics of your favorite song.

As for advice, pick a topic you love and people will love it. Also, post consistently, and reach out to the blogging community to get your name out there. It takes work to build up your blog, but if you’re persistent and determined, you can do it.

How do YOU do it, friends? What has worked for you? Do you have a blogging routine? What blogging advice would you give to someone just starting out in the blogosphere? xoxo

Oh, where do I even begin? I fell in love with blogging from the moment my first post went live. While I’ve loved writing for newspapers over the years, blogging is decidedly more instantaneous, which is something I love. With the click of your mouse, you can send a post out into the world and get instant feedback on your words — both good and bad feedback. Plus, blogging is inherently a creative endeavor, and I’ve loved being able to put my own spin on things. There’s really nothing like self-expression for a writer. And by far, the most rewarding aspect of blogging for me has been the sense of community and all the wonderful friends I’ve made. You think blogging is this huge, faceless universe, but really, it’s a small, tight-knit community of people who really care about each other. We get involved in each other’s lives. We cheer each other on. It’s great to have those sorts of people in your life.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with different topics and have found that as long as you’re passionate about the subject, your readers will respond to it. I love writing honestly about my life and my disability, as well as Letters To My Future Husband. And of course, I can’t resist throwing some fun things in the mix, like music, shopping, food, design, home décor and fashion. I’ve always thought of my blog as an online magazine and like to post about a variety of things.

When I began blogging, honestly, I wasn’t sure anyone would even read my blog or even care about what I had to say. There are millions of blogs out there, all vying for people’s attention. But over the years, I’ve tried to write from the heart and write honestly about myself and my life. That, more than anything, has really resonated with people. Especially where my disability is concerned, I think it’s made people think twice about all those ridiculous stereotypes they may have believed. Just thinking about that puts a huge smile on my face.

How long have you been blogging, friends? What is your favorite part of the process? Writing? Meeting other bloggers? Snapping photos of your travels — or of your adorable kitten? What are your favorite kinds of topics to write about? xoxo