Transparent Blogging

Posted: August 16, 2011 at 4:00 pm

Sometimes blogging comes with the challenge of opening up and making yourself vulnerable. Of exposing raw emotions. Of unveiling the layers within and etching the reality of the blogger deeper into the blog itself.  

transparent blogging source

Each blogger has a different level of openness they feel comfortable sharing. Some use every post as a personal diary to expunge their deepest thoughts. Some rarely if ever get too personal and simply strive to keep their blogs information based. Some focus on keeping their space light-hearted for an always positive place for readers to visit and have fun together. There is no right or wrong. I certainly don’t discredit any blog for not sharing the personal nitty gritty from time to time. I simply know what feels right for me. Personally, the longer I blog, I only feel more strongly the need to blog transparently. For me, I could not blog any other way. And the response to my post this morning solidifies that necessity in my blogging voice.

Blogging transparently goes much deeper than simply hitting publish on a more controversial or personal post. Could a post go too far in sharing personal information? Does it carry extra weight and play into that whole blogger responsibility factor? Could it put off any readers? Does it negatively impact the “feel” of my blog? Does it reflect poorly on companies I work with and represent as a healthy living blogger? Those all could pose downfalls to divulging certain aspects of the inner workings of my heart and mind from the rough moments that we all inevitably face from time to time.

However, transparent blogging also allows…

…the chance to garner support and outreach from fabulous friends, which all of you are to me on a daily basis.

…the opportunity to become more relatable and possibly uplift someone else with the knowledge he or she is not alone.

…for every relationship I build through this blog (from fellow bloggers to the silent readers to companies) to sit on the solid foundation of trust. Above all else, I always hope you can expect genuine honesty when visiting FFF. In the many years I intend to blog, I want you to know that I will stand for transparent blogging. I will always hit publish with the satisfaction in the knowledge that I expose truth. It may only be my truth, but it will be truth nonetheless. That I promise. And I thank you for making it easier for me to keep that promise. Cheers.

  • On a scale of 1-10 how “transparent” would you say you are as a blogger? Any things you don’t feel comfortable sharing?
  • As a reader – what level of blogger “transparency” do you appreciate? What takes it too far

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86 Comments to “Transparent Blogging”
  1. Tina- you are amazing. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how you are transparent and share your true feelings and struggles. I find that I have to be more transparent otherwise the temptation to binge or hide things from readers just tears me down. It’s hard to put it all out there though. Much easier in writing than in person. 🙂 I LOVE how you said in your last post that you’re a fighter. So true. There are worse things out there that we could have to fight. 🙂 So glad I found you and your blog. Yay you!

  2. Great post, as always Tina! I would have to say I’m semi-transparent. I always like to think through situations hardcore for a couple of days before I share them on the blog (if it’s something I’m struggling with). I tend to overreact and write/say things I would regret, so I feel for me it’s the best fit!

  3. Coco says:

    I love your transparency and think it is *perfect* for your blog. It’s hard for me because many of my “issues” relate to my kids (teenagers) and I am respecting their privacy by not writing about them (much).

  4. I was actually thinking about this same topic after reading your post yesterday. In general, I am a reserved person. One of the reasons I started a blog is to help me open up and express myself more. Sometimes I think “Do I really want people to know all this about me?” But in general, I keep my blog related to the healthy living aspect of my life. For me somethings are off limits when it comes to blogging, like relationships. And in general I try to stay positive, but real. You always do a great job of that!

  5. Kara says:

    I love blogs that don’t hold back! I’m pretty open on my blog, but only about certain parts of my life. I could open up a few cans of worms, but I haven’t felt like I want to do that yet. I don’t want my blog to get pigeon-holed. 🙂

  6. the genuine honesty of your blog is what keeps me coming back! I haven’t truly opened up on my blog, but I haven’t found the right topic or time to do so yet. I’ve only been blogging for a little while (and I’ve only been consistent with it for a little while). Once I become more comfortable in the blog world, I think I’ll begin to open up more.

  7. One reason I love your blog is because of the honesty and openness. I think you can tell when a blogger is hiding or holding back. I am probably 9 on the transparency scale. I will always be open and honest. There are probably a few topics I would avoid, but for the most part, what you see is what you get.

  8. I am probably a little too open about stuff on my blog, but less than I used to be. My husband got a little irked at how much of an over-sharer I was, so I scaled back a bit. I think you have to let a little of your personal side shine through to let your readers know who you really are, though!

  9. I’m going with about a 7. I am always honest, however, I think I omit or make light of darker situations because sometimes my blog is a more positive outlook for me. When I make light of something that bothers me and write it in a different way, it makes me feel a little better and makes me look at it in a different way.

  10. I’m actually very private on the blog, don’t share much of my life unless it has to do with food or fitness & even that I monitor. Like you said though, there’s no right or wrong answer, you share what you’re comfortable with 🙂

  11. Megan says:

    I think I can relate to bloggers better when they are honest and sometimes transparent. On my blog, I’m definitely transparent, especially with this whole TTC business. But I don’t want to hide things, I want to be honest with my readers. I don’t want to seem like I live in a perfect world and have no problems being healthy or losing weight.

  12. I tend to be pretty honest about most things, but there is a certain level of ambiguity I’d like to maintain as well. Some things I get into on my blog I don’t talk about with the rest of the world, specifically my weight and issues surrounding it. As far as Real Life is concerned, I don’t have a weight problem because I never talk about it or even acknowledge that I’m over weight.

  13. Sophie says:

    I love how transparent you are! It makes reading your blog feel like really getting to know you and I think overal I prefer it when bloggers are honest. Having said that as I’ve only had my blog for about a month and a half I’m still quite reserved about personal issues. I plan on eventually being open about most things though! You’re such an inspiration 🙂

  14. Deborah says:

    Tina

    I think you are very open in your posts and like so many others who have commented, it gives me an idea of who you are, from across the other side of the world.

    I get a lot of comments on my posts about my honesty so I guess people do appreciate it. Having said that… only people who know me from my weight loss program know about that blog. Family and (other) friends have NO IDEA!!!

    Deb

  15. Beautiful post, as was the earlier one.

    I am a pretty transparent blogger myself. The more raw and exposed and honest I am, the better the feedback and support I get from my readers. I feel like flat out honesty is the way to go for me.

  16. I am definitely a “no holds barred” type of blogger. I am very intentional about being open and transparent on my blog and I think people really appreciate it. I think it can be taken too far, especially when it comes to IRL relationships. It’s definitely a balance. I like to have light-hearted, informational posts as well, but I definitely get the most reponse and feedback when I am more vulnerable with my readers. I think you have the perfect mix!

  17. I love your transparency as a blogger. Life comes with ups and downs and overall you are quite positive! The honesty is refreshing.

    I like to think I’m totally transparent but other times I feel like I might be too positive in my thinking and glazing over things that seem negative simply because I don’t want negativity in my life at all, let alone my blog. Who knows? I try to put it all out there!

  18. […] sure if this post makes sense, it’s just been on my mind lately. Tina wrote a somewhat similar post recently which prompted me to reflect on it […]

  19. […] more than diet and workouts. Powered by WP Greet Box WordPress PluginThings got a bit heavy in here yesterday. I think its time to lighten up the mood a bit. Put a smile on and talk about something that gets […]

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