THE WORLD OF BLOGGING NOBODY SEES


I don't want to come across as a negative Nancy, but I want to keep it real with you. A lot of people, followers, family members and the press, believe that the world of blogging is some what glamourous. That bloggers have it easy. We hardly work, we get so much for free and we sort of sail through life without a care in the world. For some bloggers that may be true but for me, it really isn't..

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy & I love my life. I am forever grateful for the opportunities I get, the brands I work with and being able to enjoy my work. But with every job, some days are hard - sometimes those days are f***ing difficult and I wanted to share with you a side of blogging that the majority don't get to see.

Hate & Negativity
Being a blogger means we are pretty much a gateway for online abuse. Tweets, comments, emails & forums - you bloody name it. I've had my fair share of abuse and although we can sit here and say 'just ignore it', 'rise above it' and 'they're only jealous', sometimes those words hurt, they can hurt a lot. Yup, you do get used to it and I am pretty much numb to it all now but it doesn't mean its okay. Its really disheartening and unmotivating to spend hours, days, even weeks producing content you're proud of only to receive a bunch of negative comments. An opinion, a lip colour, a change of hair can cause so much online abuse that its hard to even understand. The scale of the negativity bloggers have to face is pretty hard to bare. It wouldn't happen in a 'normal' job, yet we are made to feel like 'you chose to do this so negativity and abuse is just what comes with it'. Many of my blogger friends have stopped blogging due to the amount of online abuse they have received which is sad. Of course they're are hundreds and thousands of positive comments but at times, its hard to see how that can outweigh all the negativity..

Chasing Invoices/Payments
Im pretty sure companies or brands don't understand that bloggers have financial responsibilities just like them. Phone bills, council tax, rent, food, to name but a few and yet we can spend weeks, in some cases months, chasing people so that we can afford to live. Im not even joking, one month I genuinely struggled to put food in my mouth because I was owed so much money. Being freelance isn't easy. You are constantly wondering 'will I get paid on time'. For someone like me who suffers with anxiety it can be so difficult to get through my day knowing I have bills coming out with not enough funds to cover them. Sometimes it looks like us bloggers earn so much money and lead extravagant lifestyles, I can't speak for everyone but thats just not how it always is.


Stress
Ive suffered with stress for as long as I can remember but becoming a full-time blogger and running my own business in a sense has shown me stress on a whole different scale. There is always so much to be done.. Emails, editing, taking photos, producing sponsored content, deadlines, meetings, phone calls & on top of that cleaning your flat, cooking dinner, having 'you' time and also trying to have a social life. I'm not saying this is all the time, but I feel stressed at least once a month & it drives me insane. Trying to do everything is so draining and there have been times I have made myself ill by trying to please everyone around me. Bloggers in general are in high demand at the moment and boy, do I feel it more than ever. Sometimes I feel like people forget we are humans too. We aren't robots and sometimes we need to just take some time out.


Trying To Be Original, When Everything Has Already Been Done
As creatives, as bloggers, it is SO hard thinking of content ideas that haven't already been done. Its even more annoying thinking of an amazing idea, producing it and then realising someone else has done it a week, month or year before. Theres obviously trends that get us all producing content, fashion week, a new launch etc, but sometimes its just refreshing to think of an idea that is original to you and to the blogging community. As bloggers we can get accused of copying or stealing which is SO frustrating. I've seen so many bitchy tweets from bloggers moaning that another blogger is copying them or stealing their ideas. I get that and sometimes that is probably true. But other times it may be a coincidence or merely that blogger has taken inspiration from you. Sometimes it feels like we can't do anything that someone else has done through fear of comments like 'you are such a copycat', 'you're literally obsessed with her, you buy everything she has' or 'I feel like I've read this before, have you stolen this from someone else'.


Editing, Filters & Angles
Now, I know you all aren't stupid and you understand that bloggers will edit their photos but I think its important to just lay it on the line. WE ALL USE FILTERS & ANGLES, we also might edit our photos too. I often lighten my photos so they are brighter, clearer and fresher looking. When I pose in pictures I will arch my back or put my arms up so my body looks more fluent and in proportion. Why would anyone put up a half decent picture? If you know what works best for you, then work it baby and upload it. There is no shame in admitting that you enhance your photos so that you feel they look better. Bloggers do it, our friends do it and random people we don't know do it. Yes its important to show natural pictures too but being creative and producing photos you're proud of is important to us as well. It takes WERK to get a good photo sometimes, trust me. You haven't seen the struggle of taking 200 selfies and hating every single one lol!


Living Up To Expectations
Now, theres certain expectations that bloggers have somehow created themselves. Quinoa, flowers and candles in the background & a new one on the horizon is marble effect everything? (I bet some of you are laughing right now, I am lol) I sometimes feel like the odd one out, the one that would rather eat cheese on toast than f***ing quinoa? New bloggers or bloggers on the come up probably feel like they need all of those little extras to be a 'real' blogger or to get noticed or to even fit in, but you don't.  These stupid expectations are that.. STUPID. I remember when I first started Youtube, years ago, I would literally go broke trying to look rich, trying to look like everyone else. I would spend £100s a month on items or equipment, anything, so I could fit in and look like other bloggers/vloggers, but then you realise, it doesn't mean anything. I hope I'm not the only one who was caught in the 'living up to expectations' trap.

Loneliness
Being a full-time blogger is amazing. I wouldn't change what I do for anything. However, I spend most of my days alone, sat in my office with only the birds to keep me company. I sometimes really crave social interaction and I often miss being able to talk to other people around me. Most of my friends work in environments where they aren't allowed to be on their phone so if I want a chat during the day I often find myself talking to myself lol, or talking to people on twitter. Blogging can also be very cliquey and I am definitely not in any clique so events and stuff can be quite isolating. I tend to just do my own thing whether on purpose or not so in the end I do feel quite lonely. It can often look like bloggers have incredible social lives and tons of friends but for me its the total opposite.


Learning As We Go
From the outside it looks like we all have our shit together. We know when to sort through our receipts, do all our admin work, how to use editing software, how to write html codes, how to do everything, when reality is, we sometimes have no idea. When I was first catapulted into the world of social media and started to really take what I were doing seriously, I genuinely had no clue what I was doing, with some things I still don't. I had to teach myself everything. How to edit my videos using snazzy little things on Final Cut Pro X, when to register as self employed, how to take blog photos without the products moving, how to edit photos, how to make more money.. It was freaking hard!!!! Most bloggers learn as they go and when they launch their blog, when they go full-time, we are literally jumping in with our eyes closed. There isn't a blogging guru or teacher that helps you, you just have to learn everything yourself. I remember sitting for hours learning how to use google analytics and do you think I know now? NO I BLOODY DONT. It still confuses me years later.


So thats the world of blogging you may not have seen. Yes its a fantastic place to be but at times it can be hard, frustrating and down right annoying - just like any job right? 

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did writing it. x


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27 comments

  1. This was such a great post! It's so refreshing to see someone be so real about the blogging world instead of glamorising it. You set such a good example Gracie, keep up the good work :) x

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  2. Love this post girl, you always keep it real - making you such a huge inspiration to all. In terms of creativity and being original, I can honestly say that no one in the bloggersphere compares to you.. You have created something so different and I'm proud of you.

    Love you lots

    Zaineb - Blogging Gals Founder | www.zeenaxena.com

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  3. Your posts are always so honest and you tell it how it is. Always learning something when reading your blog! Thank you xx

    rosegoldstars.blogspot.com

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  4. Can relate to every single point. But you are doing a bloody good job so never feel disheartened.
    x x | daisydaisyxxo

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  5. I really liked this! I've just moved my blog to a self hosted domain and am taking it "seriously". I love it, but explaining it to my family is another story! Great post, made me feel loads better about it all! :-)

    brightgreenroom.com

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  6. Very insightful blog post :) Sadly, people often fail to realise how much hard work, late nights and effort goes into producing and maintaining a blog/YouTube channel. Well done to you babe X

    THEFASHION-JUNKIE

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  7. Great post, I found this really useful. Keep doing what you're doing!

    Christie x
    http://christieslifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/

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  8. This is such a refreshing post! I have my blog as a hobby and get stressed out about it. It's nice to know I'm not alone :)

    beautyoncrackers.blogspot.com

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  9. I love this post. I blog as well as a little hobby and it's a little stressful coming up with ideas to post.

    http://lifeasacaribbeangirl.blogspot.com/

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  10. Fab post as always, your words are always on point and so real x
    xprincessjas | ♥

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  11. Ha ha, marble everything. So true! The real side of blogging

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  12. Amazing post as always! So true, on point & relatable 💛

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  13. Enjoyed your post. I like your honesty. Blogging ain't easy.

    mistakenbeauty.blogspot.co.uk

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  14. I love this post so much. This is why you are my favorite person ever when it comes to online youtubers/bloggers/etc. You always keep it real and I appreciate that. Great post Gracie! <3

    xx

    KJRBeauty.com

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  15. Love this post =] i havent experienced hate yet and im not looking forward to it as im over emotional.

    emyii90.blogspot.co.uk

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  16. When ever you're lonely... just publish a post an interact with your readers who enjoy what you do!! Have a fab weekend.

    Megan || www.ohheyblog.com

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  17. So, so, so true! Bloggers do the work of an entire office! We are the creative directors, the copy writers, the photographers, the stylists, the social media managers, the online marketers, the editors, the videographers, the PR agents. We do the job of a ton of people just for one blog and yes, we have to teach ourselves everything. Being a full time blogger takes a lot of skill and passion. I may work from my bed 90% of the time, but I clock in 12+ hour days most days, researching, networking, creating content, it's non stop and I wouldn't change it for the world!

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  18. Great post, interesting to see it all from a different perpective!

    www.ajourneywithjo.wordpress.com

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  19. On-top of blogging I work as a Care Assistant, as well as study. It's definitely a hard slog, especially when your having one of those days... but I've always felt it was worth it if I enjoyed it. I'm still very new to blogging so nasty remarks hasn't been a thing for me yet, although I'm definitely worried about it x

    www.sheintheknow.co.uk

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  20. loved this.. xx
    http://exitwonds.blogspot.co.uk/

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  21. Love this. I haven't experienced hate as I'm not a popular blogger, and as much as it sucks the more successful you are the more hate you get, so you're clearly doing something right lol. I especially understand what you mean about it being very cliquey, I find myself feeling quite isolated at blogger events because everyone else seems to know each other. But as tough as this may be you are doing a great job Grace :) x

    http://sonyalovesmakeup.blogspot.co.uk/

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  22. Love this post! Hope you keep writing honest articles like this one!

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  23. Lovely honest post! All those haters are just jealous!

    www.beaucience.co.uk

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  24. Such a great post ! I'm not a professional blogger and it's interesting to have someone's point of view. I always thought too that I'd be quite lonely if I had to go to an event. It must be quite akward. Anyway, thank you for this post.

    www.basicish.wordpress.com

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  25. WOW. Just discovered your blog via Channel 4 and I'm so impressed with your honesty and compassion. Keep doin' what ya doin' and keepin' it real girl.

    Love from Heather xx

    www.Hippie-Goth.com

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  26. Thank you so much for sharing this great blog.Very inspiring and helpful too.Hope you continue to share more of your ideas.I will definitely love to read. High Quality blog comments | Niche Relevant backlinks | Web 2.0 Backlinks | http://embossitworld.com/ultimate-buster/ | Content Writing

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