finding my blog voice

Posted: August 19, 2010 at 7:02 pm

Last night, Julie from Savvy Eats posted about finding her blogging voice. The post resonated to my core. For the past 7 months I have involved myself in this world of blogging. I knew what I wanted my blog to express. Positivity. Living life to the fullest. Good health. Support for others, and myself. In the most basic sense, I wanted it to express me and my passions.

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Even knowing all these things, I feel only recently I have fully come to find my voice in the blogging world. Before, I would have the occasional honest post that I knew I had to share from my heart, but I would also include things I felt a blog was supposed to have. I would compare myself to other blogs. I would over-think and over-analyze everything.

That all changed when I unlocked myself from trying to fit some mold of healthy living blogger that doesn’t even exist. I broke out and gave up all my expectations. I started experimenting to find what works for me with a posting schedule. Now I know two shorter posts – one around 11 am and one around 7 pm – work best. I stopped planning out blog entries and simply went with what came to me. I devoted my heart to trusting God to take this blog where He wants it to go, instead of fretting on why I wasn’t getting more readers. Then, I blossomed.

Now my posts more truly reflect my style. Me sense of humor. My interests. My tastes. My hopes. My passions. From simply revealing little nuggets of information about myself, to tips on living, to frustrations, to going for a dream, and all that falls on the spectrum of my jumbled mind in between. Finding my blogging voice has helped me to achieve so much. And not in the traditional sense of more money, more exposure, or more popularity. It’s helped me achieve confidence. It has brought me to the crossroads of refusing to give into fear to share a positive message.

Finding my blogging voice provided a large motivation to finally dive in head first with the 30 Days of Self-Love Reflections. That movement is the essence of Faith, Fitness, Fun. I know I have shared it a lot, but I don’t want it to be forgotten. I want the energy for its start to remain. Which is why now, I must once again thank the fabulous women who support this cause by sharing the 30 Days Button. I also thank each of you who anxiously await the movement as I do.

There you have it. My blog is ME. It is REAL. I give of myself in every single post because I have so much love for what I share here and each of you. Thank you for reading. Thank you for your comments. Thank you for your support. Thank you for being YOU.

  • Check out the blogs listed above. They are awesome!!! And let me know if you add the button to your site or post about the 30 Days. Find the "sign up" post here.
  • Do you feel you have a blogging voice? How did you find it?
  • What about blogging fulfills you?

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44 Comments to “finding my blog voice”
  1. I love this post. I am right there with you, trying to stay honest, open and unique and true to you. That’s why we love you and keep coming back!

    I am So excited for you that Caitlin is promoting the 30 Days of Self Love!! I AM super excited for it! You are amazing!!!

  2. That’s great about publishing your Healthy Tipping Point story in conjunction with the 30 days! Look how many people you’ve reached already! God is working through you and you are awesome for being open to His ways:)

    Right now my blog is a bit lighthearted and I haven’t really touched on things too deep, but I think as the blog progresses, I will feel more comfortable talking about more importance issues. I already pray to glorify God in all I do, including my blog, and I am open to His guidance as to where my blog will take me.

    As for now, I am truly loving getting to know my (handful of) readers! At first I was scared nobody would read my blog, but then I realized that it doesn’t matter if I have one or one hundred readers. I am writing because I enjoy it as a creative outlet and I will always have this blog to look back on once I reach my goal! 🙂

    • Tina says:

      Yep. We have to write for ourselves and just see where it takes us. Focusing on getting readers isn’t fulfilling.

      And it took me awhile to work up to more heavy topics as well. You have to go with what feels right.

  3. Holly says:

    Tina, I REALLY love this post. I have been thinking about my blog a lot lately too. More or less getting away from talking about what I eat so much, and more focusing on my life & just different aspects of it. This is a really great post- thanks for sharing with us 🙂 And I’m glad that you have come to your true blogging self!

  4. Camille says:

    Blogging fulfills me because it allows me to talk about all the things that matter to me to other people who share the same interests!

    • Tina says:

      I love that about blogging too! You can connect with people and discuss things that others in your regular every day living might not “get” or care for. It’s awesome to know other people out there excited about food, workouts, revolting against negative body image, etc.

  5. ashleigh says:

    Great post! I have only been reading your blog for a short while but I really like it so far. You are honest, positive and share some really great tips and insights. You’ve already become a must read for me. Keep doing what you’re doing!

    I can’t wait to read your HTP story!

    • Tina says:

      Aw, thank you!!! I have a big smile right now thanks to your words. I’m excited for the HTP story. I could have gone on longer than I did because so much is involved. I kept it basic and then the 30 days will delve into more specifics of things that helped change me for the better.

  6. Jess says:

    I love your blog voice!! PS. You inspired my post tonight. I think you’ll like it 🙂

  7. Lindsay says:

    thanks for your comment on my blog and congrats on your pregnancy!!!!! pretty cool that we are due only a few weeks apart 🙂 i am glad i found your blog too – adding you to my google reader, can’t wait to catch up!!!

    ps. i am really bad with updating twitter!!!! oh and i LOVE this post!

  8. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Elizabeth Newidomy, Tina Reale. Tina Reale said: finding my blog voice: Last night, Julie from Savvy Eats posted about finding her blogging voice. The post resonat… http://bit.ly/crJYvK […]

  9. Katie H. says:

    I am a new reader and I’ll be honest- your blog is one of my favorites! There are only a few blogs that I get excited to see a new post in my reader and yours in one of them 🙂 So, thank you for staying true to yourself and finding your blogging voice.

  10. Tina what a great post! I am so glad you found your blogging voice. I am in the process of really finding mine, but I am enjoying the ride along the way!

    I am so looking forward to Sept 1st, and I especialy cannot wait to see your HTP story on Caitlin’s blog!

  11. Yeah, I’ve only been blogging for about eight months and it really did take me a bit to find myself and once I did I felt so much more comfortable!

    Love your thoughts here.

  12. andi says:

    sounds to me like you’ve definitely found your niche. what a great post. it makes me happy for you. you are a strong, passionate, inspiring, amazing woman, Tina. I hope you never lose that fire. <3

    and I'm with Holly – I can't wait for September and for your HTP story. I have a feeling it's a good one!

  13. So glad you found your voice! I love the genuineness of your posts – which comes directly from that voice. It’s why I keep reading!

  14. i love how crazy different blogging is for all of us…and just so you know, you have the most beautiful blog voice. i truly look forward to every.single.post 🙂

    • Tina says:

      Yours is one I have to read every single one too. And I always have something to say to them because I love them. Even when you make me crave brownies. 😉 LOL

  15. I am so happy to hear that YOU’RE happy with your own routine and style! That’s what we, your readers, are here for – just YOU. Thank you for staying true to yourself!

  16. Sana says:

    I love reading blogs that speak to me. As if the writer is right in front of me and we are having a conversation!

  17. here’s to you finding your voice, and sounds like you are “here to stay” with it. you know who you are, what you want, where you’re headed..and it’s clear, rock solid, and resolute. amen girl!!!

    glad we’re on the same wavelength too 🙂

  18. Ela says:

    Hey there – I found your blog via your comment on Averie’s blog today and wanted to tell you I loved reading about your process of finding your voice, and seeing your freshness, sincerity and self-love – it’s good for the soul! Finding one’s voice is something I puzzle over a lot myself, especially as I’m a writer as well as a blogger, and write a blog that’s about all kinds of things besides just food and diet stuff.

    I’m going to check out your 30 days thing – sounds like it might be up my alley!
    love
    Ela

  19. I like your blog just the way it is 🙂 I think you have a great voice and a knack for expressing yourself.

  20. I also enjoy reading your blog … it’s like sitting down to chat with a friend.

    I haven’t given a lot of thought to my blog voice, but I’ve written a newspaper column for years, and people tell me they love my voice … I don’t think I write the blog any differently.

  21. Shannon says:

    You have a beautiful “voice.” That’s why so many of us come back to read every day 🙂

  22. A lot of the time I feel like I need to edit my style, write better posts, have a more cohesive product…but then I fall back on that it’s really just a journal for me, and while readers are nice? I’m not too concerned. I’m certainly not making money!

    I must say that I LOVE the voice that you’ve found, though. I can count on being uplifted, challenged, or encouraged to think. Thanks!

  23. You are so right about trying to do your blog and over thinking it. Expecting some miracle when that really isn’t what blogs are all about. They can be informative, faith, happiness, or just sharing your day. I don’t believe our blogs should be a chore or make them like work almost, they are to enjoy and be enjoyed by others. Thanks for all your thoughts, did enjoy the read this morning.

    • Tina says:

      Definitely so. If a blog becomes work and doesn’t give you a sense of pleasure, you’re doing something wrong. Blogs are sharing yourself and an outlet. They are meant to be a positive experience. Making it your own helps ensure that.

  24. Kristy says:

    The place between finding your “voice” and actaully expressing it is kinda where I’m balancing… work in progess. Great post 😉

  25. Very insightful post. This is why I had to stop blogging for awhile because my blog was not ME. It was what I thought I was supposed to be. Now it is getting to where I want it and I am finally happy with what I am writing. I still have aways to go but I know He will guide me through the process.

    Enjoy your Friday!!!

    • Tina says:

      Isn’t writing so much more enjoyable when you can be true to yourself? I have never been so happy about blogging.

  26. I’ll be adding your 30-days of self reflection on my blog!

    I love your blog!

  27. Jolene says:

    I love this! I just posted similarly on this topic (http://tbdetermined.wordpress.com/2010/08/11/writing-for-myself-dammit/) and am already loving your blog (found it through my sister Jess – EatDrinkBreatheSweat) and will be reading 🙂

  28. Rachel says:

    I don’t know what my voice is except that I just blog about what I want to blog about when I want to blog. If it ends up getting a million hits, then great, if not, that is okay too.

    It is more of an outlet for me than anything, and I love connecting with others in the blog world.

  29. I’m so glad that you have found your blogging voice. it is what makes your blog so special to read! I feel like I am getting to know you bit by bit and that is amazing!

  30. Jennifer says:

    Wow this is EXACTLY what I’m feeling. I didn’t even get a chance to read this post before I posted mine this morning and I cannot tell you how much I relate to it. You’re so right, I’m done with writing about what I “should” write about and just express my feelings and be ME. I really need to send you an email because I have an idea of something for me and you to do together for the blogging community and I think it might just be one of the greatest things. 🙂

  31. Dorry says:

    I love your blog voice – it’s unique and honest and beautiful! I’m getting to know mine pretty well lately but I think it will be a work in progress and ever-changing depending on where life takes me. )

  32. Penny Knight says:

    I posted the on my blog. Thanks for setting this up. I also wanted to say we share a Birthday:) I feel a bit like an elementary student saying that, but I always get excited when I find someone with my birthday:). Happy Birthday

  33. […] reading here: FAITH, FITNESS, FUN » Blog Archive » finding my blog voice Click here to visit WP Robot. Click here to visit AutoBlogged. Share and Enjoy: Posted in Fun […]

  34. Sarah says:

    You keep it up, Tina! Honesty and authenticity are two things I really value in a blog. Kudos to you for maintaining a blog that reflects who God made you to be.

  35. […] get the recipe section worked out, the categories and tags, work out my “tagline” and find my blog voice. I also need to define my goal in blogging (within myself so that I can better display it through […]

  36. […] session touched on the importance of simply being yourself as you blog. We all have such unique voices, experiences, insights, and strengths. We need to trust those and tap into those as our resources […]

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