The Darker Side Of Blogging? 5 (10) Things To Ponder Before You Start Your Own…
I’ve been thinking a lot about blogging recently, partially inspired by other blogs & conversations with friends and partially because…well…I’m a blogger.
So, just like I’ve written about the darker side of RVing in the past, today I thought I would write about the darker side of blogging. To keep it real (and so that all you aspiring bloggers out there don’t get too depressed) I figured I would balance it with the positive side too. A kind of tennis match of blogging….a back and forth of the written word…a ping pong game of light and dark…
Well, you get the picture.
Not everyone will be interested in this since it’s specific to…well…blogging, but some of you aspiring bloggers may find it helps you on your own blogging journey, and some of you non-bloggers may find it interesting to peek into the murky depths of what happens behind the scenes. Plus I’m sure seasoned bloggers will find something they connect with in here. So for those curious read on and for those not, maybe I’ll see you in the next blog 🙂
1/ Blogging Takes Up WAY More Time Than You Think
Besides being a perfectionist (which really doesn’t help), part of my problem is that I’m dyslexic. Not terribly so mind you, but enough that my brain mixes letters, makes up words that aren’t there, and completely misses others that are. So, I usually have to proof read blogs 5-6 times before I post, and then another 3-4 times after publishing simply because I can’t see my mistakes. So, many days I’m stuck behind my computer writing (or editing) blogs when I could legitimately be doing something else. Sometimes it feels like a full-time job.
BUT/
2/ It’s a Great Way To Keep You Engaged
Also, to be honest, I wouldn’t remember half of what we’ve done without the blog. It allows us to re-live some of the special moments we’ve had together in our travels and remember details that would otherwise fade into oblivion. Plus when we’re old and senile we’ll be able to look back and read it like a brand new storybook “Oh look honey, these nice young people went to Oregon….”
3/ It Pays Terribly
To give you an idea, Amazon Affiliates pays between 4-8% on sales depending on how many items are bought (and some items, like electronics, are capped). So, let’s say you want to make $500/month on Amazon. That means people need too buy over $8,000 of product from your links, each and every month. That’s a TON of sales!!! Google Ads is way worse. There are ways to make more money through sponsored posts and such, but then your blog morphs into something else. Getting that balance right can be tricky.
The truth is that most folks don’t make much, and when you add in the time it takes it’s practically not worth it. For real $$ you’d be better off doing just about any other job out there.
BUT/
4/ It Can Self-Sustain Quite Easily
I was worried & super insecure about the whole thing (frankly I wasn’t even sure my blog was worth anything), but to my amazement it worked out. Folks supported the switch and every month since then, thanks to the generosity of those who use our various links we make enough to cover blog costs plus a bit more. It’s not a big money-maker, but it self-sustains and for that I’m deeply appreciative.
5/ Internet People Can Be Vile
BUT/
6/Most People Blow You Away With Their Love
During my darkest moments on the blog (there haven’t been many, but there have been a few) I’ve been BLOWN AWAY by the comments and support I’ve received from readers. People have shared stories that touched me deeply, or provided words of love that lifted my soul. Blogging allows you to touch people and be touched in return, on a scale that I’ve never otherwise experienced elsewhere (that sounded creepy, but you know what I mean). It’s a pretty amazing phenomenon.
7/ Writing Can Become A Burden
Even if you only blog a few times a week, that’s a few times a week you could be doing something else with your precious time. You could legitimately be hiking, or biking, or drinking beer and instead you’ll be thinking “I’ve got to go write a blog” and you’ll feel the obligation to sit down and do it even if you are not in the writing mood.
If you’re super self-critical (like I am) you feel an extra burden to put out “good stuff”, and as your blog grows (and your viewership increases) you’ll always be second-guessing yourself and wondering if what you’re writing is good enough. When that blank page faces you and the words aren’t coming it can be both a frustrating and depressing experience.
BUT/
8/ Writing Can be Cathartic Too
When I write like that I never want to stop, and I think people respond to it in themselves too. My thoughts will touch someone else who’ll share their own story, or perhaps it’ll change their day or give them a moment of joy which they then pass onto with others…and so the cathartic experience grows. Circle of love, baby.
9/ It Can Take Over Your Life
Almost every blogger I know that has blogged for a long(ish) time is constantly thinking about blogging in some form or another. You go to a restaurant and you think about how you’ll blog about it. You go on a hike and you think about how you’ll blog about it. Sometimes it can feel like life is about “how is this going to fit into a blog post” rather than “how am I enjoying my life”. It can honestly be hard to find the balance here and I know bloggers who’ve quit writing for this reason alone.
BUT/
10/ It Can Expand Your Life In Ways You Never Imagined
In the end blogging is a deeply personal pursuit and like everything in life it evolves and changes over time. My writing has changed (a ton) over the years, but I started this whole thing because I wanted to share a story and I continue to enjoy sharing that story today. The day I feel differently is the day I’ll no longer blog and yes, that day will come (eventually). Life is an evolution after all.
There’s many more aspects to this whole blogging thing, but I think these are my top 5 (10) both good and bad. Have I inspired you to blog? Or to never touch it with a 10-foot computer-blog pole? Feel free to share your thoughts below.
Love the balance in your pros and cons! I suspect a lot of the haters don’t even bother reading the blogs they sprinkle with hate; they just copy and paste the same thing they puked into the comments of a dozen other blogs that day because they feel so horrible about their own lives. But anyway, I think this post has pushed me more towards blogging because when those hate comments roll in I’ll feel less alone and know it’s not personal just something losers do with too much spare time on their hands. Thanks for sharing!!! 🙂
You made a very key point about the negative comments. It makes ALL the difference to know that you’re not alone going through it (that applies to so many things in life). I’ve talked to other bloggers who’ve been hit by the trolls, and we do “bond” in that way too. Glad I inspired you to blog!
Nina
Exactly. Most hate comments are from people who don’t even bother reading. Talking to them is almost like a religious argument at some point, not worth the time and effort. “Haters gonna hate”, it’s easier to ignore them after a while.
I, personally, am glad you started blogging and that you continue to do it despite the “cons” you’ve listed. We would have never done and seen so many things if I hadn’t started reading you. Most importantly, we would have never met you if you hadn’t been blogging, and in my mind that would have been a real shame.
I agree with all your positives and just a few of your negatives. Of course, my blog is really only read by friends and family….I have no other following and that’s fine with me. I see the world differently because I know I’m going to “show” it to my “folks”. I do think about how a picture will look in the blog….just ask Dave. I always ask him to wear a bright shirt when we go somewhere, so it will show up for the camera! Or I see something that I know Fred, or Bill, or Pam, etc. would love to see so I take a picture of it. Oh my, I’m going on aren’t I…..
Thanks for your blog Nina.
Sue
Totally agree. You’re one of the people we met because of the blog and that’s a precious thing. My life wouldn’t be the same without Lewis, or Sasha…or you guys!
Nina
Thank you SO much for writing this “blog”. Great info. Though I don’t believe I will ever become a blogger, your information was relevant to my wildlife conservation start-up and some of what you wrote definitely is relatable to what I can expect in my future.
Btw, having known you for over 13 years now, I can’t even imagine anyone saying anything mean to you, let alone the kind of vile comments you mentioned. I’m sorry you’ve had to experience that.
Big hug!
Thanks Linda. I guess a lot of these struggles could apply to so many efforts in life. I can’t wait to see what you do with your conservation start-up. I know it’s daunting, but I also KNOW you’ll do amazing stuff.
Nina
Thanks for helping to keep the dream alive!!! Some day soon we too will be fulltimers and for now I read every post you write.
Thank you for writing your blog! Beautiful pictures!
Oh, girlfriend, your blog is great! We started RVing 6 months ago and I started a blog of sorts – I e-mail about 20 people who want to keep us with us. I try to write as eloquently as you do, but I fail miserably. The reason I started doing this is because of YOUR blog, and, as you said, when we’re old and senile, we can look back at it and say, as Erkel says, “Did we do thaaaat?” Anyhow, thank you for your blog. It is inspiring. Tren
Oh Nina.. you’ve done it again. Expressed the thoughts in my head so eloquently! We go through so many of these ebbs and flows in our blogging, and it’s so wonderful to be able to connect with others and know we’re not alone in them.
For sure, the greatest gift blogging has given us is all the amazing people its brought into our lives. Yourself included, of course.
Well you’ve inspired me in so many ways too. We read Technomadia way before we started RVing, and were excited as little kids when we first met you. Who would ever have guessed the deep friendship that would ensue? Deeply thankful for that.
Nina
Boy, can I relate to this post! Points #2 & #10 are what I like most about blogging. Blogging seems to give me purpose; a reason to research, explore, and take photos, and the friendships we’ve made are amazing. Putting a post together does take time, but it’s worth it. Earlier today I looked up a post I did in 2012 on the Apache Trail and commented, “Oh honey, look at the nice gal with the cute dog”. So I guess that means I beat you in the senile department LOL (a race where coming in last is preferable)
HA! We’re already there. I think the most embarrassed I felt was when I met a blog reader who proceeded to tell me about something (that I had blogged about) which I had TOTALLY forgotten. Gone…zip…blank. I had to go back and re-read my own blog post to remember. Ooops…
Nina
Hi Nina
I do hope you continue to blog for a very long time..thanks for every blog you’ve ever blogged. I will some day try it myself. Mostly for our family and friends to read [when we start our travel adventures] but also to meet new friends. I love your pictures and all of the information you’ve provided. Good job!
When you really care about some thing it is hard to get it off of your mind. Blog on!
Best Wishes and Happy Holidays
Tracie
The community & other bloggers you’ll meet out here is one of the most positive things about blogging. Many people get into this lifestyle because they have a love of travel, of exploration and feel and instant connection to others who do the same. We connect thro’ the blogs and it becomes like a huge, extended family.
Nina
I started subscribing to your blog earlier this year but I never wrote, even when I very much appreciated your writing. Well, I finally am because I like your sensitive writing and the goodness that your represent.
I am inspired by your RVing even though I had to get rid of the small RV that I had a few years ago. I am retired now but my wife doesn’t like RVing, but your adventures inspire me and even if I never own another RV, I take great pleasure in vicariously living the life on the road with each of your posts. Ride on!!!
Boy, did you nail it. Sitting here munching on my sandwich while catching up on blog posts for blogs I subscribe to and I just sat here nodding my head again and again. Good thoughts and observations on both sides of the ledger. For us — as long as the positives outweigh the negatives, we’ll keep on plugging along.
thanks for a good post!
Laura
Great Blog, Great Subject! Thanks for sharing and the honesty. I’d also like to ask, do you ‘regret it’ from the point of view of ‘being stalked’ by your fans, the loss of privacy and freedom? I have often wished I could share some of my experiences – I have a load of RV Tweaks I’ve done and even written them up in documents, but have no platform to make them available to those ‘would-be-grateful adoring fans’ who I could gain if I could ‘go public’! But, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise? Recently I’ve ‘started following’ the exploits of another full-time Rver who posts lots of YouTube videos, and I realize (a) it must indeed be a very time-consuming passion; (b) you do still get those bad people and things to deal with, for no justifiable reason it seems to me.
So I think I prefer the anonymity of my freedom!
THANKS again for all your time and valuable details!
That’s a VERY good question. “Loss of anonymity” is definitely a factor that any aspiring blogger should think about before they launch themselves into it. Some folks actively seek recognition, but I also know many bloggers who struggle with it. It takes a while before your blog reaches the readership level where this becomes a factor, but for most longer-term bloggers you’ll eventually get recognized somewhere.
For me personally it’s been an OK balance so far. The RVing community is pretty relaxed and the vast majority of RVers are sensitive to our privacy needs. I’m also a pretty laid-back down-to-earth person so I don’t think I inspire “fan adoration” in the classic sense. It’s more like folks are happy to meet us, much like you are happy to meet & chit-chat with your RV neighbor in the campground. At least that’s the impression I get most of the time. RVing is not like rock music 🙂
That said it can feel very strange to be “recognized” especially since blogging is such an isolated activity. For introverted people I could see it being a very uncomfortable experience. It’s definitely a factor to consider.
Nina
Thanks for your insights Nina. I’ve been blogging for the three years we have been fulltiming. It has been mostly for family and friends and those we meet on the road. At one point I needed to make the decision whether to begin to promote it and realized that I didn’t have the discipline to write as frequently as needed to keep new readers. Also, I decided that I didn’t want to monetize it. So for now I am happy writing for loved ones, new friends and anyone who comes across it on Google. That said, I so respect and admire the fact that you have been able to provide a marvelous blog that so many of us are able to enjoy and learn from. Knowing the discipline and effort it takes, I thank you for your sacrifice and internet love!
Monetizing a blog is an agonizing decision which I understand more than anyone. I struggled with it for a long time, wondering if my blog was “worth” it, whether folks would hate me for it and so on. And it’s definitely not for everyone! Once you monetize you do kinda commit to that “next step”.
Sounds like you made the perfect decision for you. Blogging is SO personal, and if what you’re doing now is making you happy then you’re doing the right thing. Blogging should be a fun activity, especially a personal blog.
Nina
I retired on November 1 and we have been on the road since November 7 – this year. It has been a 40 year dream to RV full-time and we are finally getting to do it. About 6 months ago I started reading RV blogs to learn tips and tricks, where to visit and sites to see. Of all the blogs I read, yours it the one I look forward to the most. As soon as it comes up on my computer (or a signal on my Windows watch), I drop everything (most of the time) and go right to it. Ironically, when this post came up today, I was exploring the MyTripJournal.com website, getting ready to start a blog for family and friends. It couldn’t have been more timely. Thank you for the time you take to do such a great and inspiring blog. You make this RV lifestyle seem do-able.
Well congrats on realizing your dream! I’m happy the blog has been an inspiration and wish you many wonderful travels in the future.
Nina
Hi Tracy – We’ve had some friends use MyTripJournal and it’s really hard to read & use. Its also not optimized for phones and tablets so is even harder to read on those devices. Are you looking to “protect” a blog so only family & friends can read it?
I have to agree that I find Tripjournal hard to read. A few of my buddies have used it, but I found the format difficult to follow. I think a blog (like WordPress) is just as easy to start, gives you much more control over how your stuff is displayed and there are ways to keep it private if that’s what you prefer.
Nina
Thanks Nina
Your blog is one of the first ones Mark and I started to follow. Probably because we love your life style and want to dry camp as much as possible. You have given us some great places to go and we thank you for that.
I have wanted to start a Blog even before we set out full timing. It’s been almost 1 1/12 yrs. on the road now
and I haven’t done anything about it yet. One thing is, Mark and I can’t agree on a name.
I post at least one good post on our adventures every month on facebook and that even takes time, but I do enjoy it. I am told by many bloggers that most people go to FB. because it’s easier and it gets out to more people. Some have dropped their blogs due to this.
I do like the idea of blogging to just those who really want to hear what you are doing, and not to the world of FB. This would allow me to be more specific than just a photo and caption.
So could you please tell me how you started your group list? Is word easy to download pictures to?
I guess I would use my FB friends to start, but I don’t want to hound people either. Was this an issue?
Any advice on where to start would be much appreciated. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Patsi @ TourRVenture
When I started blogging all I did was send out an email to friends and family, and post an announcement in Facebook. That’s it! Granted I only got around 3 views/day for my first few months (and probably two of those were my mom), but that’s how a lot of bloggers start out. Just friends and family and it grows from there.
As for WordPress, yes it’s super easy to use and post pics too. If you’re not sure how far you’ll go with blogging then I suggest starting out on the free WordPress.com platform. It’s free, easy to use (you don’t have to know anything technical) and you can have a blog up and running within 10 minutes. It’s the platform both Paul and I used when we started out.
Nina
Keep in mind that when you put stuff on Facebook you are agreeing to all of their terms and conditions. And you are beholden to them – if they suddenly decide to change those terms you could lose all your content.
Basically you are building a house on land you don’t own. Much better to own the whole deal and use WP like Nina suggested. You can always use FB to promote new posts and then link to your blog.
And FB doesn’t get out to more people – not everyone has a FB account, and even then FB won’t show your posts to all of your friends or people who “like” your page, etc. They’ve changed that and want you to pay to promote posts so that more of your entire audience sees it.
GREAT article! Personally, I LOVE your blog! And please don’t allow nasty people to communicate with you more than once (hopefully you never answer them)! Definitely Block them from future communication. Unfortunately, the internet is the perfect vehicle for nasty people to spew their vile.
BEST WISHES and Happy Trails ahead for you guys!!
Larry M
Yup I’ve learned NOT to engage with trolls and to block at the first comment. Of course once you’ve read the comment it’s hard not to let it affect you, but in truth the positive comments FAR outweigh the negative. I always try to keep that in mind.
Nina
Nina – Thank you for all of ‘you’ that you put into your blog’s! You’re honest, open, and at time bare bones posts – have touched many, many people.
I think most of your blog followers ‘get it’. While yes this is a lot of work for you, it is also for now a part of you. I hope the positives greatly outweigh the negatives – specifically for you.
When you need to, just post that you’re on sabbatical – and take as much time as needed to recharge…
As for negative posts that we never see, though I know it is easy to say ‘Don’t let them get to you!’, delete and block. Reality is you are compassionate, and it is understanding that they get to you. But please consider the way over 100,000 to 1 ratio – of those that appreciate and consider your blog to be a well received gift to us all – compared to those that obviously have their own problems.
Thanks for sharing the darker side, and again your frank sharing of how the real world of blogging can be!
Best,
Smitty
You are absolutely right Smitty. The positive comments most definitely outweigh the negative not only in number, but also in true worth. It can be hard to “see” that balance when you’re hit with a troll (the mind is a strange thing that way), but it’s definitely there.
Nina
Very nice post! I’ve been a non-commenting reader for a while but your thoughts are so true. I began my blog only as a way to remember our motorcycle and RV trips and record some of my quilting projects. However, it was so liberating to let my blog go into hibernation of sorts. Even with my few followers, and no plans for making any profit, your #9 hits very close to home! My little blog is still there, and I have hopes of reviving it when we travel to Alaska next summer. Thanks for sharing !
Sometimes a little “vacation” from blogging can be just the ticket. I’m sure you’ll be re-energized to write when you do that Alaska trip (very exciting by the way).
Nina
We started a free blog, Nomadic RVers, mainly for friends and family and associates. But our pictures started disappearing off the first blogs so I kind of just let it sit there. We started a closed group of the same name on Facebook. Our latest edition was City of Rocks NM in fact I believe our space was right next to where you guys were at one time.
You guys are our inspiration and then we found out that there are other great blogs out there too like,
http://www.gonewiththewynns.com/
http://rvgeeks.net/
http://www.technomadia.com/
Don’t stop writing, you have captured the imagination of the full timer!
See you on the road…
Those are some of our favorite bloggers too 🙂
Nina
You have given me a lot to think about! I’ve thought about most of the points but did not expect #5. I can’t imagine anyone saying anything negative to you or about you or those vile comments. I think I would have quit right then….why would people be so mean? Your blog is so positive & informative.
I was excited to start my blog when we begin our adventure next year. Writing is very cathartic for me & thought it would be a wonderful way to keep a travel journal, showcase our experiences, let family & friends know where we are.
I just never thought a stranger would make negative comments! Guess that shows my naivety and my “Pollyanna” personality!
I may need to rethink this idea before I put myself out there! Or grow a thicker skin.
One question, where do you suggest getting pics for the header? Are there free sites?
I’m really glad you have continued your blog despite the meanies!
Debbie
I have to admit the first negative comment I ever got on my blog hit me pretty hard. It took a while before it happened (my blog was pretty big by then) and it did not happen again for months after, but my skin wasn’t quite thick enough to handle it at the time (still isn’t) and I really wondered about giving it all up. BUT (and here’s the big but) positive comments FAR outweigh the negative (I mean by miles and miles) and if/when you ever get that first negative comment, just remember you’re not alone. I really don’t get many negative comments. It’s just when I do they can be so vile and hard to digest….part of being sensitive I guess. But it’s really just internet trolls.
For header pics, whatever template you download for your blog will typically have several free options as part of the template. So, you can just use that until you’re ready to take your own pic. Once you take your own pic, just upload it and make it the new header. Then, your header will be personalized.
Nina
I use to blog and might in the future, but more to a topic position statement to bring about discussion. You bring information and experience in your blog that allows us who aren’t in the area a chance to experience you without being there.
As your only Hawaiian follower I cherish the moments you share.
In Hawaiian we say” Mahalo Nui Loa” “Thankyou Very Much”
Another great blog post! Wow you have done a lot of blogging! It is amazing to see how blogging has exploded when it actually didn’t start til 1994! Fun fact! Blogging is definitely not the easy money maker some think it is. It pretty much just becomes a way of life. Like you said for every trip we take or site we see, I am always thinking of what photos I should take and how will I describe this when I blog about it. But I still like doing it and love learning from other bloggers! Thanks!
I think blogging was definitely bigger $$ 10 or so years ago. I know some of the original RV bloggers out there (e.g. Tioga George) were able to live almost exclusively off their blog earnings. But things have changed. These days the money is in video and the written word has fallen out of fashion. Even big-time magazines & newspapers are feeling the crunch. I’m definitely not in this for the money 🙂
Nina
Nina, Thank you. It’s clear that you do put a lot of time, skill and care into your posts. I’m a part-time RVer based in NC and have learned so much from your postings about what’s possible and places that are so worth seeing. Some of those places I may never see, so I’m especially grateful for you taking me there (and with a dog! — Icing on the cake.)
Please do know that those of us who read but often don’t comment are grateful! It might be clearer to authors if there were an option for “liking” a post without making a comment (outside of any Facebook link). That way you’d have some feedback, but also wouldn’t have to take time to read the comments.
Re monetizing… The infrastructure isn’t free and I’m sure many would agree that Amazon links and donations are just fine.
— Anne
You are AWESOME!
We live in Colorado both of us own our own business, married 35+years. House is up for sale, sold almost everything in our 20 yr lived in home, buying a Airstream and heading into the unknown.
Don’t abandon me, we follow and depend on you.
Maybe someday even meet up.
Dayna
Like so many of your readers, I agree that you hit the nail on the head for those of us who blog. So many of the “cons” that you mentioned are the reason I have never aspired to being a daily blogger or building a huge following. So many of the “pros” that you mentioned, are the reason I blog, why I started it privately in 2001, continued a public but hidden blog in 2007, and then found the RV blogging world in 2010 and enjoyed it so much.
As the years go by, I have discovered in myself less need to “comment”. Most often what I think to say has already been said, and I feel a bit redundant. I notice the same thing happening on my own blog. Fewer comments, although that is obviously because I don’t blog daily, and people forget to check it out.
One thing I will say, however, is that there are a very few blogs that I consider necessary on my list, I can count them on one hand, and yours is one of them. Thank you for all that you do, Nina.
You’re yet another of the great connections I’ve made thro’ blogging and I’m so glad we “discovered” each other thro’ our respective blogs. I can’t believe you’ve been in this gig since 2001!!! That’s a lot of years of writing.
Nina
Hi Nina, Just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to share your adventures, guidance and fabulous humor with us through the blog. You have truly been inspirational to us as my husband have been making plans to begin our full time RV life since last February when I stumbled upon the post about 10 things you wish you had known before RVing. I have enjoyed catching up from the beginning and through your years of the blog and now continuing on with each current post. It was the spark to begin our own RV adventure and now the countdown has begun…6 months, 8 days, 3 hours, 27 mins…..LOL! Thank You, thank you, thank you!!! Really hope to get to meet you and Paul in our travels sometime.
I have been an editor (of sorts) in my past and discovered a handy way to review something that I wrote myself. It also helped in reviewing others’ writing. Start from the bottom and read everything backwards. This slows down the reading process so you will look at each word more carefully as well as grammar.
Anyway, it worked for me. Might work for you, too. Enjoy your blogs. Keep it up!
Goodness I’ve never tried that. Not sure it would work for me since (due to my dyslexia) I still miss or inject whole words without ever “seeing” them, but maybe the slower reading will help that. I’m willing to try it.
Nina
I could never imagine someone lashing out in hate towards your blog! You are so inspirational and positive. I, for one, am very grateful I found your blog before heading out on my journey. Thank you for the years and time. I know how time consuming it is.
And blogging is addictive! I started blogging in 2006 on the My Trip Journal site then moved to Blogspot in 2011. It is really hard to keep it interesting unless we’re on the move. Down time around the holidays and family time are tough, so I’ll usually end up recycling old photos amongst a few new. Several months ago I had an intensely bad personal experience which I shared on my blog, but ended up deleting. It was so personal I considered quitting. But I couldn’t. I needed to show off photos, track our travels, books, recipes, you name it….blogging is addictive for sure.
It truly is. After you do it for a while it becomes part of your life, so much so that it can be hard to imagine your life without it. As habits go, it’s not a bad one.
Nina
All the even numbers outweigh the odd numbers, Nina! Your blog was one of the first I read, and it’s always been like sitting down with a bowl of ice cream with chocolate syrup on top (only not as fattening!). You definitely inspired me in starting our blog a year ago, and the good has far outweighed the bad. Thanks for sharing your journey with us! 🙂
Jim
Well I LIKE your analogy haha. Of course now I’m craving ice cream 🙂
Nina
Nina–I know from whence you speak! Having posted a blog for a few years now, I totally relate to all your pros and cons. To add a “pro” of my own, when writing a blog and the words aren’t exactly flowing, when each sentence composed is like pulling teeth and searching for just the right word is agony, I tell myself the mental strain is surely helping to keep my brain active! Maybe all this blog writing will help to stave off the advent of dementia in my old age–the silver lining in the dark cloud. At least, that’s the tactic I often use as my posting takes me into the wee hours of early morning!
Looking forward to ALL your coming blogs–Live long and prosper!
You know I do believe you have a point. I feel blogging taxes my brain and keeps it active. Plus it does get easier the more you do it. I think writing is like every creative endeavor that way. The more you practice the better you get.
Nina
Yes, keep on blogging, love reading you, for me blogging not in me.
Ahh, the dread of hearing, “the end”. I have been reading your blog for a long time, don’t comment much but love to dream along with your travels. All of the good blogs, other than yours, that I have followed have ended and I thought I was about to hear that when I read the title and saw the uphill boulder push. Wife and I are not retired yet but have been storing away a lot of the info we get from you, especially good out of the way spots and techie stuff. I know you can’t do it forever but when you decide to stop you will be greatly missed. You have inspired and helped prepare my wife and I (and doggy) for retirement on wheels. Thank you for many years of joyful reading.
Don’t worry, I’m not about to drop blogging (although I can see how the post may have read that way). I’ll still be here for a long while longer, or at least until it no longer feels right. But I’m glad I’ve helped inspire you.
Nina
Nina, your Rv Blog is one of only a handful of “successful” blogs to come down the internet “pipe,” and by “successful” I mean, Highly Informative, High in Quality (both photos and writing), High Readership/Audience, High Response/Comments/Praise (which means you are connecting with your audience).
If you are like most creative types, you suffer the “slings and arrows” of blank pages and self doubt because you must express what builds up inside lest you burst. I appreciate your honesty, that you point out both the roses and the thorns of living full time on the road, as well as personal blows that Life delivers, and now the pros and cons of blogging. Personally, I lose interest in the Rah Rah Cheerleader blogs… “every day is groovy, full of sunshine, and no wind.” I also find your Boondocking style more interesting, as well as your “work camping” stints.
Your audience is good at “rewarding and reinforcing” your efforts with comments. That, in and of itself, will keep a blogger going even when they are running on empty 🙂
Keep up the good work,
Box Canyon Mark
Well {{blush}} thank you for the most kind words. And I like your analogy of the sling and arrows of self-doubt. Sometimes creativity feels exactly like, and in fact i think it’s those very feelings of self-doubt that push us to improve. It can be painful, but I guess that’s part of the package. If I was finally satisfied, I would have nothing to aspire to?
Nina
Nina, we have enjoyed your posts for several years now and thanks to you had a fabulous trip up the 395 last spring.
Thought of you yesterday as we did a one day visit to Borrego Springs. Are you still out there?
My husband David suggests you look at Grammarly
https://www.grammarly.com › … to help with the editing. You might already know this link.
Cheers,
Eva
Interesting link. Now, if they’d just integrate it into WordPress. Glad you enjoyed 395. One of our favorite drives! Oh and this year we probably won’t make it to Borrego. First year we’re skipping it and I’m definitely going to miss it.
Nina
This is a wonderful post Nina!
I’ve been blogging for over two years now. I started it for many of the reasons you talk about in point #2 – a journal of our sailing and RV adventures and something to look back on later in life. Over time, as our blog has gotten a larger following, I’ve discovered one of the real joys of blogging is connecting with other like-minded people through social media, some of whom I’ve had the pleasure to meet in real life. Fortunately, I’ve yet to experience the dreaded trolls. I hope they never get so bad that they cause you to stop blogging.
I’m curious, how big of a following did you have when the trolls started emerging?
Cheers – Ellen
I’m trying to remember when I had my very first troll. I don’t have an exact date, but I think it was shortly after I hit 3 million views or so. I haven’t had many of them, but I’ve had some very persistent ones.
Nina
I really enjoyed this post. You have confirmed everything I have always thought about blogging. I have toyed with the idea as I have been keeping travel journals and doing photography for over 30 years. For me, the ping pong ball is still in motion. You have not convinced me to do it or dissuaded me from doing it. It is a very big, time consuming commitment. Thank you for all you put into your blog. You do a wonderful job and, I for one, am very appreciative.
Yup, it’s not a straight-forward decision and I certainly wouldn’t push it on anyone. If I’d know what I know today, I think I would *still* have started my blog simply for the community aspect and the pleasure I’ve derived from writing & photographing. But yeah, I could do without the cons.
Nina
I, for one, am most grateful for your blog, Nina, and the many others that I follow in the RV world. I’ve learned so much from all of you. When I first became aware of the RV lifestyle a couple of years ago, my education was from the websites ran by those of you who were already out there doing it. I’m retiring at the end of the year and we’re hitting the road full-time in our 5th wheel. If not for people like you, the future for my wife and me would be much different. Thank you for what you do, and don’t let the trolls get you down. Just know that the good you do WAY overwhelms what the haters have to say.
Congrats on the upcoming adventure! I hope it turns out to be everything you imagined!
Nina
I think you once again hit the nail on the head. You made blogging look so easy that when mom and I started rving I started blogging. That’s when I really found out that I’m not a writer by nature. But like many others I stick with it so friends and family know that we are still alive and enjoying our life on the road.
I love reading your blog because often you see and say things that I haven’t thought of or couldn’t put into words. Just like this blog.
Thank you.
Evelyn
And you bring up another good point. I don’t think you have to be a natural writer to blog. Many folks aren’t and yet they still derive immense pleasure out of it, and impart interest and joy to others. And that’s perfectly fine! I did pastel drawings for years despite zero natural talent, but I always enjoyed it and felt it broadened my mind. Everyone should do something creative in their lives.
Nina
We can relate to a lot of your points. One thing for sure is that you know a lot of people read and appreciate your posts! Our blog is a little over a year and a half old and am amazed at the number of people who are non-family/friends that read it. There is something rewarding in doing something you know others appreciate.
We have not had any “trolls” yet but it will happen eventually, you would think people have better things to do than post negative comments on a blog!
Thanks for everything you do and keep it up!
I still remember the fist time I got a comment on my blog that wasn’t from someone I personally knew. It blew me away! How did they find me? Are they really interested? It was a fascinating thing to experience. Continued luck to you in your blogging (and RVing) adventures.
Nina
Hi, Nina! Your honesty, openness & comprehensive list (I love lists) make this one of your coolest posts for me. I began reading your blog about 2 years ago when we made the decision to spend an extended period of time on the road once we were both retired & your blog has been so very informative for us! You’ve helped us find some of our very best boondocks & we’re very grateful to you for that. You’d be rich if we sent you a nickel for every sentence we spoke that began with “Wheeling It says…”!
I would never have known you have dyslexia–I simple can’t imagine the time & care you give to what you write & it’s all beautifully crafted. You have a special talent for expressing yourself openly & honestly & I’m in awe of your photography as well as your words.
You have my deepest admiration, Nina. I tried blogging & lasted for a very short time. I began self-talk about content, photos, & relevance & decided that blogging just wasn’t healthy for me. There were more thoughts about the blog than just experiencing the moment. But i’m very glad I tried it. I like using Instagram while we’re on the road. It’s one photo–maybe two on a super special day. One- or two-line posts & a pretty limited online community for me. It’s perfect. We all find our comfort zone.
Happy trails, Nina.
Thank you for your lovely words. Blogging definitely isn’t for everyone and I think some of the other avenues (like IG) are great alternatives. In fact I think you’ve just given me the idea for my next post….
Nina
Hey Nina,
This blog really touched me. Thank you. I decided to start a blog back in 2009 when my wife was diagnosed with cancer. I shared our day to day struggles and victories and how we coped emotionally and spiritually. Initially, I felt that maybe my ramblings would be helpful to others that may go through the same circumstances as well as be a testimony as to how our faith helped us or even how we failed to cope. I soon realized that not all people received the blog as I intended it to be. The majority were very supportive and expressed themselves well. Others did not take it as well as I thought. I soon realized that the reason for writing the events of the day and the feelings we had through this terrible disease was not necessarily to be a “blessing” to others. It became apparent to me that my words did not necessarily evoke a blessing. That was up to God to take care of. What really was happening was that it was helping me to cope and to process all that was going on as I saw my lovely wife valiantly struggle with the cancer. It was for me! And that is not a selfish statement. That’s just how it works. Now, 6 years later, I have decided to get back into the blog and to become a full-time RVer. I’ll see you on the road in about three months, maybe. Thanks!!
Wow, what a poignant and touching story. I can completely see the evolution you described happening…where you came from…how the world responded. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been at the time, on top of the medical struggles. What you said at the end is so true. The blog must ultimately be for yourself, otherwise it makes no sense in the long run. It’s not selfish, it’s self-healing. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
Nina
I agree with all ten points. I’d guess your negative comments are from people who are envious – people who don’t have half the fun, life or love you have and just need to try to bring you down a bit. That’s usually it, right?
My first post was August 8, 2010 – when I realized I wanted to get an RV and loved reading all the blogs written by RVers. So it’s been over five years since I started my blog. When I began to feel like I didn’t want to post so much, I decided it was okay to cut down until I have something I want to post about. I used to feel guilty, though, but now I don’t (so much).
I really don’t want to stop, though, because it’s such a wonderful way to journal and post photos. I’ll be able to look back on all my adventures when I’m old and have white hair. Oh, wait… I think I’m already there!
Thanks for this post. I figured everyone else wrote it up, slammed up the photos and hit Publish and got perfection. It’s nice to know other bloggers take so much time to get theirs ready to post, too. :)))
I think every blogger struggles with blogging in some format or another. Even the best writers get blocked every now and then, so I think that’s something we all share in common. Sounds like you were able to cut down your blogging time in a very healthy way, which I think is great. It can be hard to get rid of that “guilt” feeling when you don’t blog as often you think you should.
Nina
I’ve been following your blog for almost 2 years now, and have saved many of your posts for future visits. Please keep at it, for folks like me, who enjoy traveling by RV and enjoy visiting some spots through your eyes as well.
Believe me, you are not alone on the negative stuff. I don’t even have a (public) blog, but I DO have a public website. And I get plenty of “hate” mail. And in my case one has to go out of their way to send it – it is not as simple as posting a comment. They have to find my email and bother to write one. But they do….more than one would imagine. But as you said, the good outweighs the “bad”.
Oh I can totally imagine. Your website was invaluable to me back when I did my solar planning, and I can’t imagine why anyone would want to hate on it. It’s free info, well-written that’s helped a ton of people. What’s not to love? But I also know the trolls and what they can be like. I wish I understood, but I just don’t.
Nina
Swings and roundabouts. I knew that it took you a lot of time to write your posts, the detail is very informative and told in your own great personal style. I too find that I learn more about a place when finding out some interesting facts to add to my posts, something I only just noticed recently after we went to Crater Lake. I hardly get any comments, so luckily I haven’t got any horrible ones. I’m not going to wish for any more now, I don’t need to hear from those sort of people! Don’t put pressure on yourself to write posts, just post when you want to. You don’t want to take the fun out of it. The people that count will wait for you.
It is always a risk to let people into your lives, but I’m so glad you have found it to be worth it, because, although I follow several blogs, yours is the one I wait for. Some of your photos just give me such a lift! I think you have to love your subject through your camera to get such great shots. I don’t know why people feel like they can be so rude when their identity is protected. Maybe it is just their true nature and they feel free to let it out! We have lots of drivers like that here in NM. I often think if they were that rude and inconsiderate in person, someone would have shown them the error of their ways by now! Maybe some are just so sad in themselves, they want to spread the misery. I try to take the high road and just feel sorry for them. Anyway, thanks for your blog. You are very appreciated!
All the positive comments prove how valuable & worthwhile your blog is to so many of us! Keeping up must be a full-time job! Thank you for your time! You would probably prefer hiking!
OK, first of all you are an inspiration. Second you write very well. Not that I am any worthy critic but I enjoy your whim, your direction, your babble and your beer tasting. I do read a lot though……do You? I find there are a lot of things I would like to ask you, but you have probably answered them in your writings so I will jump in a little deeper. So here is my predicament……..I am a musician of sorts(reference to movie “ladies man”, you may know it), and have a bumper pull large trailer, and not the situation to take off yet. It’s gonna happen though. I hope to meet you, my wife and I are Colorado’ans, love the west but are about to head out. We can’t sell our urban townhouse, just not yet, but need to feel the road. We have taken some extended journeys. I think often about blogging, as I ramble on and on from music, geography, great books, personal relationships…….and of course 50 shades of gray——so am not so into great literature, though have made it through Tolstoy. Anyway I will stop, thanks for indulging me and I hope to email again and some day meet. Have a great holiday……..frydad and wife from colorado
Sounds like you already have the natural creative gene in you, so blogging would be an easy extension of your talents if it doesn’t take you away from what you love to do. It’s got to be a balance, and that balance is different for each person.
Oh and to answer your question I read a TON. Probably at least one or two books a week. Thank the Amazon Gods for Kindle.
Nina
I HAD to respond to this. Thank you for the depth and personal connection of this and so many blogs.. You are an absolute gem. I am a 69 yo retired Operating Room supervisor, avid hiker, tennis player, meditator, joyful grandmother of 2, blessed mother of 2 who live close by, happily married 41 years in Hailey , Idaho. My husband & I after many years of happy camping in a VW Vanagon finally switched to a 24 ft 5th wheel 3 years ago. That’s when we met you. The wealth of knowledge, wonder of wisdom, delight of experiences, helpful hints, tons of tips, glimpses into your life, travel tales and traumas have enriched us beyond measure. We have spent the last 2 winters in Arizona….with your blogs guiding & entertaining us. Thank you so very much. I wish I could meet you, have you over for dinner or send you cookies! Blessings on your path dear one! Charlene
Hi Nina. I have been reading your blog for a couple of years now. A HUGE thank you for all of the effort and time you put in to it! Your info is educational along with entertaining. Your flow is great. Because of your blog I purchased the Dewalt stapler on your recommendation. How great is that. We’ve been doing the RV thing for over 20 years but 6 months ago started our full-time adventure. I’m sure you know this but who you are, what you do and what you provide is soooooo valuable! Safe travels.
So there’s an example of something I totally forgot. Took me almost 20 minutes to remember when I had recommended that stapler. I mean I know we have it and like it, but I’d totally spaced on writing about it. I’m losing it already LOL. Thanks for the lovely comment.
Nina
I remember one time when we were hiking, and I was thinking about how I was going to blog about it. My next thought was, blogging has ruined me, I can’t lead a normal life anymore. But, I do enjoy it, and do hate it. I love that I can look back and say, hey, we were in such a such place on so and so date. And I like that people enjoy what I write about. But sometimes, like right now actually, I am struggling and not a fan. That’s when I take a break, and re group.
I totally get it, and I think every blogger at some point goes through that struggle. Am I blogging about my life, or has my life become blogging? I think when you get to that point taking a break and re-grouping is exactly the right move.
Nina
Great post, and it’s wonderful that you’re willing to share the “real world” of things like blogging and RVing, not just the sterilized “everything is awesome” aspects. We started our blog so our friends and family could keep up with us, and so we could remember all the places we’ve been and seen. We still find it kinda weird (but flattering) that lots of people we’ve never met follow our blog, and a few weeks ago we had our very first run-in in a campground with someone who recognized us from our blog and came over to say hi (which is cool, but a bit of a wake-up call for what’s in store for the future). But most of all, we struggle to ensure the blog remains something we *want* to do… a few times it became a “chore” that needed to be done, which is a big red warning sign! We love reading your blog… but don’t write for us, write for you! 🙂
You were recognized! It’s super weird the first time it happens (actually it’s kinda weird every time), so I know how you feel. And yes, keeping sight of that balance between enjoyment and chore is super important. You may end up struggling with it many times.
Nina
Nina,
Funny you are writing about this topic as I was going to ask you on the previous post if there were “trolls” on your site or if you ever received any nasty comments. I was really curious since Cheryl @ Technomadia was going through that and you know what nice folks they are. I think it is most likely kids or children playing games. Please don’t let them get to you and know you have enormous support from your readers and followers.
I wish to meet you once day on the road!!!!
Nina, I can only imagine the time it takes you to compose a post. I don’t do near the amount of research you do, and I know how long it takes me. Although I write the blog mainly as a journal so we remember what we’ve done, the meeting of fellow bloggers, including you and Paul, has been a wonderful surprise that has come about through blogging. Thanks for your eloquent expression of how most of us feel at some time or other.
Gayle
Nina: Your posts are often so helpful. I’ve directed a number of new RV owners to your analysis of extended warranty coverage, which was very helpful to us. I’ve been thinking about blogging for awhile and wondering about the “burdens” involved; thanks for clarifying them. I hope it’s a long time before you stop blogging – but don’t feel any pressure – lol!!
Wow, a lot of comments!
I started a blog because the blog itself keeps track of the people I read, that made my life simple! I check my blog and see what new work Nina (and the others) have done to entertain & educate me! Then I became tired of seeing the same photo so I started thinking and writing. Even my little thoughts take serious time to go from “I’m tired of that picture” to having another up.
Then two people started watching… now I HAVE to do something new, I owe to them! 🙂
But it’s still fun… Great post Nina!
It’s the evolution of blogging…a bit like Hotel California. You can check in, but you can never leave
Nina
Ditto what Smitty said.
One of my friends has dyslexia also. She is one of the smartest people I know. She was a Microsoft Engineer for a long time, then turned artist and now sells her paintings. You both are extremely gifted right brain, left brain people which I think is very unusual.
Love your blog and thank you for sharing.
Such a lovely compliment. Thank you 🙂
Nina
Great post! We are in our RV in our son’s front yard for the past 3 weeks and I have not written a single blog post. I am way behind (about 8 weeks) and can’t get motivated. Feedback from viewers is the best motivator I have. It is always great to know that people are actually reading what you put out there. Congratulations on your blog. It is one of the best and one that I read every installment of. I would read it even if it was without pictures, but your photographs are the best!
I find it super hard to write about anything past, so I totally get that struggle. If I don’t write about it when it happens I just can’t seem to get back in the moment and pick it up. Maybe it’s time for an 8-week-in-one-post wrap up? Sounds like you’re having fun though, so don’t stress about the blog too much. And thanks for the lovely comment.
Nina
Great post, Nina. I laughed when I read “blogging can take over your life” — I’m always writing in my head about adventures, landscapes, people, food — everything! But I’ve done that all my life, way before I ever started a blog. Telling stories is a way of anchoring experiences for me. Our blog makes our travels richer, and I’m all the happier that other people seem to enjoy it, too. Plus, as you said, it’s a wonderful way to meet like-minded souls (that’s how we met you!) and makes for a great storehouse of memories. Thanks for your always delightful posts and photos.
I’m totally with you! I’ve always told stories in my head, and I really like the idea of telling stories. It’s a way of continuing a human tradition that’s been going for tens of thousands of years. Before agriculture, before writing we told oral stories and that’s how our history and culture was passed down. I like to imagine that in my own small way I’m still doing that. It may be a modern blog on modern technology, but I try to keep the essence of story telling in there. Maybe some day someone will repeat mine.
Nina
Great post Nina. I have considered blogging often, since I retired, as something to sharpen my writing skills. Instead, I seem to spend the time reading blogs. That is ok, since I am not out fulltime RVing, or doing much of anything of general interest. Your post was pretty much spot on, as it reflects my experience writing the monthly newsletter for a regional non-profit. How could blogging about RV travel correlate to writing newsletters for non-profits? Leading a volunteer organization is all about communication, and good leaders have great communication skills. I admire you blog, because I can see the work, not only the writing, but also the subject research and photography. I enjoy reading and dreaming of your travel, wishing I was free to do the same. Thanks!
Well if you ever decide to blog you’ve definitely got the perfect background for it! Thank you for the lovely comments.
Nina
Excellent thoughts on blogging. I think you make some very good points. Yours is one of the very best. Thanks
Nina, those haters can actually serve a useful purpose.
Save a previous printing mistake, and load it face up in your printer. On your computer, highlight the pen name and email address of the hater (don’t worry about the actually comments). Print using the “print selection” option (draft mode works fine).
Now, line your kitty potty box with the recycled printing mistake, the hater’s pen name and email address face up. Cover with a little less litter than normal and Presto! the hater is finally serving a useful purpose: saving kitty litter.
I really cannot think of anything else they are good for.
Reread the silly thing repeatedly and still missed a typo: …”(don’t worry about the actually comments)”. should read …”(don’t worry about the actual comments)”.
My apologies.
Steve
I LIKE your approach LOL. Kinda like the good old days when we’d print out hateful comments at work, throw them up on a dart board and have target practice on them. Sometimes a good “burial” is all it takes to feel better 🙂
Nina
Wow, so many great comments here that I don’t know what I can possibly add, other than to say what a gift your blog has been to me in so many ways. I could write an entire blog post on places I’ve been, things I’ve experienced, and friendships I’ve made, (namely yours!) all as a result of finding your blog. You nailed this post. I can’t think of a thing I would add, other than a thanks for not just the places, experiences, photography, and reviews, but for always supporting us “lesser known” bloggers through your own blog. I am reminded of a Zig Ziglar quote, “You can have everything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what they want.” Thanks for inspiring me to want to be a better blogger…
And you’re yet another of the wonderful people I don’t think I would have met without blogging. Plus your blog is awesome too. And you’re a fellow lighthouse nut (us “extra special” people must stick together). From blogger-friend to real-friend, I’m so very thankful we met.
Nina
Hi Nina,
After reading your post, I have a better appreciation for the amount of time, energy and emotional commitment involved. Sorry to hear about the horrible comments you’ve received but try to remember those haters are imposing self-hatred on you. Those self-loathers are filled with envy. They want what you have. Don’t take their hatred personally. It’s NOT about you.
Thank you again for sharing not only wonderful tips, knowledge, etc. but also for sharing a part of you.
It’s very true that a person who feels the need to give out “hate” online is almost certainly miserable themselves. It can be hard (very hard) not to take it personally, especially when the comment is written to be personal (about your appearance, or manner or something like that), but taking that hatred to heart is never a healthy thing.
Nina
thank you for this post. I love to write and have often thought about doing a blog. I enjoy reading yours as well as other’ blogs. I thought your post was a very balanced view of blogging. As a side note, back in 1989 (pre WWW) I developed an online learning program that really took off with the advent of the Internet. What I found was that for every negative or super cranky comment in a social group, the group came to the rescue – in other words, all I had to do was sit back and allow the comments from the group to take care of that cranky character ! At any rate, thanks for what you do. It is helpful to fellow RVers
That’s a good point. I’ve never let the hateful comments “ride” mostly because I don’t like that kind of negativity to persist on my blog, but I’ve experienced exactly what you mentioned on many of the forums I’ve been part of over the years. Internet crowds can be fiercely protective too.
Nina
Not much to add to all the comments, except that I’m also very glad I got to meet you through this wonderful blog of yours! Hoping our paths cross again one of these here days.
Oh me too. You are one of the special connections I’ve made that I would certainly NEVER had done without the blog. We’ll definitely see each other again.
Nina
I have such a huge respect for you both for your dedication and commitment. Being ‘TV folk’ it’s in our DNA to publicize. When we started our RV adventures earlier this year, blogging was on the radar. Ah, yeah… it takes a CRAZY amount of time! But it’s worth it for all that money that rolls in… kak! 🙂
Our humble little blurbing has increased our appreciation of blogs like yours tenfold. Respect! 🙂
Anthony
Thanks! If you’re TV folk you may want to look at starting a channel on YouTube. HUGE audience (way bigger than blogs) & Google Ads pays sooooo much better there. If I wasn’t such a dork on film I might actually consider it. Video is king these days.
Nina
Very well written! And all so true:) But, boy, I would be lost without bloggers showing us so many places. I can’t tell you how many times we have changed our plans because of some blog I read. But most of all are the fantastic people and doggie friends we have made along the way:) It is such fun to reconnect with them even though it may only be every couple years. So very glad we crossed paths in DHS:) It was great fun to hike and have Polly along. Remember that she is now a HUGE Pop Chip fan!! See you again down the road:)
TOTALLY happy we met you guys too. From our very first meeting in Anza Borrego to our reunion just last week in DSH. We’ve made some GREAT friends thro’ blogging.
Nina
All good points. When I started blogging in 2008 I didn’t figure anyone would care to read. I searched for other blogs and soon became friends with many bloggers. Seems the best part is staying connected with people of similar mind and interests. Now I’m addicted. Sometimes the words come easier than others. And it does take a lot of time. A journalism teacher once said, “write, rewrite, rewrite again, and rewrite some more.” I took that as gospel and often work on a post for days. I foolishly thought I could make money from the blog. HA! I’ve never made enough from Amazon to even get a check. But then I don’t push it because I’m not much of a consumer. But I love it! And especially love learning from and meeting other bloggers, like you. I must have good spam control because I don’t see the haters.
Yeah, I think most bloggers quickly realize blogging isn’t the big goldmine they hoped it would be, but it can be very addictive and (indeed) very rewarding in other ways. I love to read ladies like you that are out there exploring, sharing and blogging. It’s very inspiring.
Nina
Keep up the good work. We’ll meet somewhere along the line.
Thanks for all you have written.
Great post, lots of thoughtful advice. I’ve only very recently started blogging and can already feel some of the pressures you write about here. I’ve saved this post for future reference so that I’ll know it’s not just me! It’s clear to me that you put a lot of work into your blog in terms of the writing and photography, which is why I, and so many others, keep coming back to it. Great stuff.
The truth is we’re never truly alone in our struggles, although it can often feel that way! As long as the pleasure you get from blogging outweighs the burdens, blog on! Best of luck with it!
Nina
Oh, dear Asphalt Trail Travel Goddess, what a wonderful post. For what it is worth, while I’ve only written one previous comment on one of your posts, my remarks to my husband about your invaluable information and advice, and The times we’ve started a sentence with, “Nina said,” must surely rival the number of written comments you’ve received from your followers. We appreciate the effort and love you put into your posts more than you will ever know.
I have learned so much from reading your blog, and this post was no exception. I am not a blogger, and truly did not realize how the advertising aspects worked. I’ve always assumed bloggers were paid based on volume of views or whatever. It never occurred to me that one needed to link to a seller from a blog to enable the blogger to be paid. Mental forehead slap. I will make a concerted effort from here on out to link to Amazon via your blog.
My husband and I are fairly new to RVing, and your expertise is invaluable to us. Ultimately, for me, though, it is your poignant, funny, self-deprecating, interesting, engaging, and entertaining writing style that keeps me coming back for more. Reading one of your posts is like curling up with a good book.
As I said, I don’t blog, but I have written two (unpublished) novels, and much of what you wrote about writing your posts rang true for me, too. I think all writers must have a love/hate relationship with writing, but ultimately we write because we enjoy it. Like traveling, writing it is as much about the journey as the destination.
I’m in awe of the fact that you have written two novels (you should definitely publish!). Knowing how much effort it takes me to write a menial blog post I’m not sure I’d have the fortitude to do a whole novel. The task is daunting! Maybe one day I’ll manage to accomplish something of that magnitude.
Nina
Nina, every point was spot on! I started blogging about fitness and nutrition because after so many years being a health nut and constantly being asked questions in this area, I decided it was time to start documenting my opinions and thoughts on these subjects. And I do point it that this is strictly my opinion!
What I soon realized is that it also became my own personal library of knowledge that I have acquired and I have started to add posts about my vacations since I am a wanna-be rv blogger. I just find it enjoyable for myself, an electronic diary for me to reflect on and share with others if interested.
I still have a long ways to go but I enjoy the writing styles of certain bloggers, you being one of them.
Keep up the great work and as always, another great post!
Some of the very first blogs I ever followed (waaaay before RVing) were nutrition-based, so I completely understand the passion. Sounds like you have a lot of great experience which I’m sure will translate into many other blogs down the way.
Nina
Oh man, this is perfect and just what I needed to read as a newbie blogger and full timer. Your blog was one of the first that I followed before starting out, and it has helped give me the confidence needed to make it happen. Thank you very much! Cheers!
Jeff
Well I’m happy it “hit the spot” for you. ENJOY your blogging time. I wish you all the best!
Nina
My husband and I always enjoy your blog. It stands out from the rest in the quality of the prose and photography. Thanks for all of your effort. You brighten our day!
Thanks for your consistently helpful insight and travel planning tips (would make a great book!). You are one of the best.
Larry
Hello Nina – loved reading your timely post this morning! The hubby and I are preparing to go FT next August. I currently write a small blog and share with family and friends whenever we travel – mostly when we take extended motorcycle trips. I often wonder what “blog-worthy” events will happen on each trip that will make my writer’s block become unblocked. On one such trip, a group of us were riding our motorcycles on a beautiful day when around a sweeping curve a large work truck came towards us. As it sped through the curve, we saw “things” start to fly out of the truck into our lane. Fearing gravel, we prepared for impact. However, it was dried cow manure and it pelted all of us. Who-Flung-Poo was the theme of that ride. Ha!
I plan to continue my small blog when we go FT and wonder if some day I will have the desire or need to go big or go home. Time will tell! Thanks for all you do and just remember, “Haters gonna Hate”. Peace, Love, Out.
Ouch!!! Yeah, those poo-events (anything poo related) ALWAYS makes for a great blog-post, although sometimes it takes a few days to see the humor in it. What a funny story!
Nina
We heard about your blog from my Brother who you met on the Florida Panhandle. He suggested we might want to check it out, and we did. Several years later we still look forward to your Monday post. We enjoy your travels, and cover some of the same territory you pass through. Thanks for the positive feelings that you show through your blogs. Hopefully we will meet some day and have one of those beers with both of you! Thanks Bill & Karen
I do love how my blog gets “passed along” to others. The whole process of how people find the blog is actually quite fascinating to me, and I love the fact that people enjoy it enough to pass it along to others. Such a great community experience.
Nina
First, yet another sincere ‘thank you’ for the time, energy, detail and beautiful photography that goes into each one of your tremendous blog posts. As avid part time RVers (about 100 days a year), I have looked up many of your former blog posts in order to gather information about places we’re planning to visit.
I blogged fairly intensively for about three years, and although I never came close to any sort of readership that would necessitate self hosting (or monetizing), I can appreciate and relate to every one of the other sentiments you’ve expressed. I did eventually burn out on the responsibility of maintaining a readership-worthy blog, but I found I couldn’t give it up entirely so I switched over to a friends-and-family only blog that allowes me to be a little, um, less-polished. 🙂
P.S. Thank you also for allowing us the privilege of sharing vino with you and Paul during your recent Grand Canyon stay. I did try hard not to let it show, but for me it was a bit of a rock star moment!
I think blog “burn out” is a common thing that EVERY blogger goes through at some point in their blogging lives. I’m glad you were able to find a stress-free avenue which allows you to continue what you love to do without the pressure. Oh, and cheers for the wine (we had fun!).
Nina
Kære Nina. Jeg nød dit velskrevne indlæg. Det var interessant og befriende at læse om de positive og negative sider, du har oplevet ved at blogge.
Tak fordi du også valgte at beskrive de negative sider.
Jeg kan nikke genkendende til mange af de følelser, du beskriver.
Du har givet mig lyst til at fortsætte, endnu en gang tak <3
Kærlig hilsen Hanna
Det er jeg rigtig glad for at høre. Tak for de dejlige ord.
Nina
When we first started thinking about fulltiming I decided to make a board on Pinterest. One of the first “pins” was the pic of Paul in the zero gravity chair in the desert, and the link that went with it. From that first blog post I was hooked, and have been reading ever since. As in all things, I believe balance is key and it’s heartening to see you’ve found that in the blogosphere – hopefully translating to your hanging in here for a lot longer 🙂 I have found blogging to be so much more than I ever thought about in the beginning – great community being at the top. And after only six months on the road I realize I would never remember half of what we’ve seen and done without the record! Thanks again for your post, honesty and good heart.
We were your first RV pin! So cool! So agree with you about the community aspects. That is really THE most positive thing about blogging. I have no idea if that’s true for all bloggers, but it’s definitely the case in the RV blog world.
Nina
I’ve been following your blog and comments for a number of years now. I’ve learned a lot, and received a lot of enjoyment, from the blog and the great comments, both. I’ve never understood why trolls do what the do. What a waste of time and life. I had no clue there were so many trolls on RV blog sites until recently.
I hope you’ll be continuing the blog and will continue to draw inspiration thru it yourselves. And…just maybe I’ll get to meet up with you and Paul again so we can share a couple brews and a bite again. 🙂
Thanks Rowanova. Truly the positive comments far outnumber the negative, and for that I’m most thankful. I do enjoy that we have regular commenters (such as yourself) that we’ve gotten to know over the years.
Nina
All your points are so true, and I love that you commented on both the down and up side of blogging! I am a new blogger but I have already felt most of what you mentioned
Great timing… Great article…. Great blog… Great info in the blog… Great writer…Great photographer … And most of all a great person, proud to call my friend.
Thank you my dear. VERY thankful to have you as friends too….and YOU knew me waaaaay before my blog even reached 10 views/day 🙂
Nina
Love it!!
Item #11 would be demands of your time dealing with responses to the many comments made on your posts..!
Your astute observations at various camping areas reminds me of how ridiculously LAZY we are. We have stayed at many of the same places you blog about, but you always unearth many more layers of facts and activities than we had any idea existed. I often think, “When we go back there, we’ll have to look into the things Nina talked about”. All the while, fully realizing that we’d probably do little more than sit under the awning and read, or grill something tasty, just like the other time we visited there!
Thanks for your inquisitive mind, and for taking the time to share details of your experiences with those of us who are way too lazy to seek them out on our own..!
I do admit that just putting together a blog makes me research a spot more than I probably otherwise would. I keep thinking “what did I miss?” and I like that aspect if it. It gets me into the nitty gritty of a place which meshes well with my slightly OCD personality. It’s a healthy outlet for me 🙂
Nina
Wow! That was an eye-opener. I suspected it took a lot of work and I very much appreciate you blog. Good grief, I never imagined there would be haters, much less trolls.
Every day I look forward to reading your RV blog and several others, as a non-RV person. Many thanks to you and others, I enjoy my home state (Oregon), traveling on Hwy 395, the lighthouses, and all of your adventures.
Thanks to you I’ve traveled Hwy 395 from Canada to Mexico via Goggle. What a trip.
Wishing you safe travels!
Jerry
Ah yes 395. One of my MOST favorite drives. So glad you “discovered” it and were able to enjoy it. We’ve never actually done the entire thing (only up to around mid-Oregon) so we’ve got more of that road to discover.
Nina
Nina,
I have been following your blog for a few months now, and I have found them to be colorful, inspiring, and well-written! I look forward to reading each of your new posts. I will be retiring next month, and my husband and I will begin our full-time RVing journey. Your blog has provided us facts and information that we could not find elsewhere as well written. Thank you so very much!
All the best to you,
Lindy
Hi Nina, Just wanted to take a moment to let you know how much we enjoy reading your posts. We are not RVers – live fulltime in Buckeye AZ. Started reading RVSue, after an article about her helping Rusty find Timber (after he was lost in the woods) appeared in the Phoenix newspaper. From her we found the Bayfield Bunch, and from Al we found you. (And from you we found Gone with the Wynn’s and followed their Alaskan adventure this summer). We sure do enjoy reading about all your adventures and experiences and seeing all the beautiful pictures you guys post – especially with the furkids. Just can’t believe some of the comments / complaints / and corrections that people will make about all of your posts. Often think, if they don’t enjoy the writing, why are they still following all of your posts? My hubby is not a computer guy, so I print out the posts from the 4 bloggers that we follow regularly and then we read each morning at breakfast. Makes a real nice start to each day. We laugh (and cry) along with all of you. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your lives with us – it’s much appreciated and enjoyed. Linda
I love the fact that you actually print out the blogs and read them together like a good ol-fashioned book. What a wonderful idea! Thanks for the lovely comments & the long-time follow 🙂
Nina
I know you know the anger comments are not about you. And I will tell you your blog brings smiles, laughs, WTF’s and many enjoyable hours to me and many others.
David Hawkin’s book “Healing and Recovery” talks about the Map of Consciousness. It helps explain why so many are so angry. Interesting reading.
Please keep up the great stories, info, and thoughts from the road.
Hi Nina,
Thank you so much for writing this. It really hit the nail on the head and I related to all of it. I’ve only been blogging for the last couple of years and started from a place where I thought all blogging was somewhat self indulgent and had seriously never read a blog to now when it’s become a huge part of my life. It is very difficult though to not let it take over and I do find myself wandering off mentally throughout the day as I write part of the posts. Anyways, really great summary and one small tip. My husband Lee does a final edit on ever post I do. Two reasons, it gets to veto anything he doesn’t want out there (which he’s never done) and he can quickly see the grammar errors. When I have tried to do it myself it takes 3-4 reviews as you said, but because he is fresh to it, takes him very little time. And since this is the first time I have written, thank you for what you do. You blog is what inspired my husband to bring full timing to me and it is quite likely we would not be doing this now if it wasn’t for what you wrote and the pictures you posted. So you changed our lives. Not bad return for the hours invested…at least I think so 🙂
Well I’m very happy you took the leap and are enjoying it! That’s probably one of the things I love most about blogging…hearing how other folks have been inspired onto their own journeys. Continued good travels to you.
Nina
Nina – I’m so glad you blog! We’re on our way to boondock in Anza for thanksgiving thanks to your inspiration! We also often wonder if 2 out of 3 views on our blog are from mom:) ! We are overnighting just down the road at Caliente springs. Someday our paths will intersect and hopefully get to share a bottle of wine or two. Danish sounds a lot like my native Dutch… Tot ziens.
There are new rules around Clark Dry Lake (Anza Borrego) this year (state acquired the land and has apparently posted new rules), but there should still be boondocking opportunities out there. Hope you find a sweet spot and get to enjoy the area.
Nina
Nina, thank you for investing the time and energy in your awesome blog. I look forward to seeing it pop up in my Feedly feed. We hope to be full timing (and bligging) ourselves within the next few months. Just need to finish clearing out our “stuff”, sell the house, and get on the road. 🙂
I’ve read your blog from the very beginning, and value the wealth of knowledge and experiences that you have shared. Why anyone would send negativity your way is rather incomprehensible. Those must be sad, sorry irrational excuses for human beings. I’m sorry that they have found your blog.
Count me among the many many who appreciate your writings, and can perhaps cancel out some of those spammers.
I hope we can meet in person one day.
Here’s hoping for a spam- and troll-free future for you and your blog.
I have to admit I am in AWE of the folks that have read my blog from the beginning! Sometimes I read my own old blog posts and cringe a bit. My writing has certainly changed from that time. Thank you for being a follower and for the lovely comment. I hope your travels turn out to be everything you wished for!
Nina
HI Nina! Love your style of writing and the information that you very generously share. We learn something from your site quite often. Hoping to one day start my own blog. Thank you for all the effort you put into it! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving Safe travels!
Nina, Life is like this…this is a school called School House Earth. We are down here to learn and to teach. For the most part you are the teacher. I think you are pretty darn good at it too. You have that way about you that makes us smile. Keep going girl your blog is not just another blog ya know…
So many comments, I am sure that people have said what I would like to and probably phrase it better but I just want to say thank you for taking the time and effort to do this. We are not sure what we want to do in retirement but we do want to spend time on the road. Your blog is very informative and gives us a lot to think about.
Thank you again!
Just about every one of my blog posts requires research. That takes time but it makes me learn things and I am richer for it. I like that. Secretly, my blog is for my grandkids. They are still young and their parents are busy making a living, so they don’t get to travel so much (and they have to go to school). My blog is my way of trying to excite their interest in travel and writing. I think I am ready to start converting blog posts into travel stories and maybe pick up a few bucks. I know it will be very few.
The down side is the time it takes. I find myself spending the most time processing pictures. Also the material is piling up and I have so many unwritten stories. I’m falling behind.
Thanks for your writing. I enjoy your blog.
Nina, I have been following your Blogs for the last couple of years and hope to someday soon be traveling in the same RVing circles. I love your blogs, have found them very engaging and super educational. The more I read the more I yearn for the nomadic RV lifestyle. Don’t let the trolls get to you.
Chris J
Very interesting, informative and eye opener comments!
Nina, you have expressed eloquently what has been lurking in my mind about blogging. On the other hand I could not imagine what I would have been doing if I was not sharing our stories and photos. To me blogging is my way of keeping my brain cells in tip top shape. Unknowingly however it seems it has taken over my life!
I thank you for this insightful post and appreciates all your time and effort to put them together where I can say, I am not alone 🙂
The conversation I had with you about blogging in Prescott was part of the inspiration for this post. I had to laugh when we all took out our cameras at the happy hour “for the blog”, but that’s part of our life now. And yes I do also wonder what I’d do without blogging. It really does keep me engaged and active in our travels, in a way that I don’t think I would be without it. You’re definitely not alone 🙂
Nina
I’m one of those newbie bloggers, so thanks for this article. Although, we have been blogging a little bit for years whenever we travelled, mostly just for family and friends to read. Very recently I have decided to get more serious about it and write more often. I have not monetized it yet, but maybe some day! Who knows? For now I’m just enjoying writing the articles, as I love to write!
Well you’ve started with exactly the right attitude. The fact that you love to write is CORE to blogging and will ensure you will enjoy it for many, many years to come. I DO love the writing (and the creative aspect that goes into it) of blogging.
Nina
Nina,
Thanks – just thanks.
I have loved your blog for years as your insights, writings and photos have been a gift to all of us travelers.
Most of us give up blogging after a year or two, as I did, so congratulations for hanging in there. It’s a shame about the negative remarks and comments. The world is a bit wacky it seems these days. So… a long thank you and wishing you the best in whatever adventures you pursue in the future, blogging or not.
David and Nola
I appreicated your post on blogging as we have been doing the blog thing for many years and lately have grown less likley now to do a big blog post every few days. I was big over the years sharing or travels and creating a following of our travels. Do not have a comment section as didn’t want to deal with the the comments. Had email link if someone was bent on contcting us. But as time goes on it has been less important to me to update my blog. I remember for many years I posted everything about winter in Quartszite. Now not so mutch as becasue we have been there and done that and don’t need to repost about it again. Also holds true to summer travels in the northwest… have been there and done that and not much new to post about. I do try to update now with where we find to camp as in boonddocking. I do update facebook on the Free Campsites, Boondocking group site. And personal facebook page. NOW why should I do this as it might encourage others not to continue to make current travel blog posts…. AS I do http://www.hitchitch.com which depends on fulltimers updating their web blogs. People are still following the site big time and will keep it going especially with the travel resource help section. Just wnted to let you know the quality of your writing. You have a gift. Take care.
Lovely to “meet” you Ron! I LOVE Hitchitch.com and the fact that you carry so many interesting bloggers on there. It’s quite the resource. Thanks for your lovely comments!
Nina
Sums up my thoughts exactly and I couldn’t agree more on every point!
Great post, Nina. I’ve had a website/blog since 1998. I’ve experienced a lot of what you wrote about in that time. As long as its still fun, I will keep blogging. I even have a YouTube channel now. You think blogging is tough sometimes, try shooting and editing video. It all about keeping it in perspective and having fun. I must admit, however, you have an amazing record of regular updates and interesting information. You deserve each and every fan.
A few of my blog friends do YouTube and it’s definitely a TON of work. Great format if you love video, but it can also be a tough crowd (more trolls there IMHO). It’s definitely the future though…writing is going out of style and video is king.
Nina
Nina, first about the negative comments you and all bloggers get. You have to stop and ask why would someone waste their time to be so negative. To me its only a few reasons, one they are insanely jealous of your experiences in life, two when they down someone else it makes them feel better about themselves. People like that I feel sorry for them because they have such low esteem.
The positive for last to leave a smile on your face. Would like to thank you for all you share with us. I have learnt so much from your blog. I’m not out there exploring yet but it want be long now, months. You may not see it yourself (we seldom do) but you are a very talented at what you do. Your way with words is amazing. Even with out the pictures, your words paint a very vivid picture in one’s mind. Again I would like to thank you for sharing and all the time it takes for you to do so. I hope you and Paul receive all the blessings and happiness for the holiday season you can handle. Happy Thanksgiving….
We started full timing 3 months ago and life is pretty good right now. And a big part of inspiring us to make such a radical change in our life is your blog. And hardly a day goes that I’m not digging thru the archives trying to figure out,
What would Nina do? I feel like I have a complete set of fulltime rving encyclopedias right here in your blog. Thank You and Happy Thanksgiving.
Nina, thank you. We have been reading your wisdom since the old WordPress days. We have learned so much from you. We continue to follow in your tire tracks. Sending loving hugs!
Thank you for blogging, Nina. I don’t always comment, but I love following your journey and I enjoy the way you write. Happy Thanksgiving to you & Paul & the pets. 🙂
I’ve been a professional writer my entire working life and RV blogger for the last dozen years. Every point you made in this post is spot on. I read your blog because of its professionalism and I am constantly amazed at your output because I know the amount of work and time it takes to produce good copy and images. I, too, am dyslexic.
Continued success.
Thank you so much! And what a treat to hear from a fellow dyslexic writer. It’s definitely a challenge when writing, but not an insurmountable barrier, as you know. Funnily enough I can “skim read” really well (and quite fast). It’s just the details that escape me. Continued good travels to you!
Nina
Nina, I have been following your travels for years and I have used the information provided to plan the day when we push off for retirement and semi-fulltime rving .
Your website is so well done, I applaud you and your husband.
I realize the day will come when you hang it up, but it would be a loss to the rving community if all the data were lost. Perhaps you should consider writing a book of your travels, kind of like a reference type book containing the information in the blog. I’m sure it would be a hit and I would surely buy a copy.
I’ve considered some kind if book, although I have to admit the work involves seems overwhelming. On day!
Nina
Nina… great blog entry……about the pros and cons of blogging. One of the more difficult things to do is to open yourself up in front of others and be transparent about any topic. Not anyone can do this, it takes a person that is comfortable in their own skin and secure in who and what they are. Unfortunately there isn’t good without bad in our world of dualities. What you find is a humanity with different levels of maturity and spirituality. You deliver interesting content that is always well developed about your travels and i live vicariously through the site. Keep it up!!
Very true. There is a dual nature in everything. You also bring up another interesting point. It actually took me several years before I “opened up” and revealed anything about myself on the blog. It was a real turning point for me (and rather scary at the time), but it engaged me in blogging (and with my readers) in a much deeper way. Much of my opening up has been cathartic and (perhaps oddly) self-healing.
Nina
Hey Nina –
Not sure if you’ve ever noticed but we carry your site on http://topfamilytravelblogs.com – one of the few (only?) blogs that isn’t by a parent/child unit.
The reason is your stuff is too good to not pass on – we’ve referenced so many articles for our use and pointed others to them as well.
And yes – monetizing a blog is tough work these days. You have to look past affiliate links and ads (although those can still bring in a bit of money). You could probably look at putting together some eBooks (boondocking guides, etc) or speaking gigs.
Thanks so much Boyink. Your family blog is certainly my go-to of resources for family RVers, and I’m most honored to be on your list. Hopefully we’ll get the chance to cross paths again in the future.
Nina
I really admire you writing through your dyslexia, that is beyond amazing. I can relate as a fellow blogger to all of your points – trolls, time, and connection. In fact, at one point along my five years I got so frustrated, that I just started over with a whole new website!
I used to think that there wasn’t much money in blogging until I attended BlogHer in NYC and met a lot of people who are making enough to support their lifestyles. It was eye opening to learn about the various ways women were choosing to go after brands and make some money. For me, as a creative and a woman I think I have settled to get paid less than I am worth. I am changing that this year!
Thank you for your article. Thank you for your honesty. I hope to meet you one day in person.
StudioJema
Interesting. I know a few gals who’ve used BlogHer and liked it. Maybe I’ll check into it at some point. I’m not really looking to support our lifestyle via the blog (that was never the intent), but a few extra $$ is always nice and if it does it without being intrusive then it’s probably worth a look.
Nina
I happen to be one of the many that love your blogs. You have a gift that most people don’t. You have this natural ability to turn words into beautiful art. Not to mention the fact that the information you so unselfishly share has helped so many new RV travelers find areas of interest, fix common breakdowns, amazing views and the list goes on. My Wife Jenny and I have followed your blog for three or four years now and are looking forward to doing the same on a part time basis anyway. I am taking early retirement (55) in about 9-10 months and she has a seasonal business in Northern Minnesota that we will continue to operate during the summer. Your page has been an inspiration and a great planning tool for us. We have our first winter (2016-2017) all planned out and are going to spend time in some of the places we have seen from your reviews. So keep on blogging Nina, you have touched a lot of souls out there.
JB (almost out there)
Thank you much for the lovely comments! It’s always great to hear from folks who’ve followed the blog a long time. It’s nice to know I’ve still “got it” enough to keep your interest even after all these years 🙂
Nina
I have been blogging our RV travels (we are on the road 6 months full time) mostly because all of our friends and family want to know where we’ve been, where we are and what we do. It seemed the easiest way to let everyone know. I also love to write and take photos and like you I love to dig in to the stories of the places we are and the local happenings. I definitely relate to many of the things you wrote – I look forward to being able to look back when we are no longer able to be on the road and also so anyone who reads it may see something that makes them want to visit some place we have been. Occasionally I have even promoted a place we’ve eaten or something we’ve seen. I have never really felt pressured as I write when I feel like it – no one to please but me. So thanks for writing this (heard about it on Nick Russell’s blog). It makes me know that I am absolutely doing the right thing for us!!!
Sounds like you’ve found the perfect, happy blogging medium…which is what it’s all about after all. Continued good travels (and blogging) to you!
Nina
I definitely agree with all of your points, though I have yet to receive any nasty comments (not enough readers). After reading your posts, I often think about how much time and energy you must have put into them, and whether you sleep :). I have lots of respect for what you do. Your blog has become a huge resource for many, including us. And your writing and photography has blossomed over the years. Just today, I checked your blog before checking into Nehalem Bay State Park to see whether you recommended one particular loop over the other (you didn’t), I so appreciate the level of detail in your posts. Rock on! btw, no reply needed, you have so many comments!
Hi Nina! I discovered your blog recently while searching for all things motorhome and full time RVing with cats. I really liked it and I subscribed, this is not something I do very often, so for what it’s worth, your blog is awesome!
It’s so cool that you did this blog post because it’s easy to disregard negatives in any experience, but they are really important when considering doing something long term, so I think this will be helpful to many people, not just full time RV bloggers.
To help you out in return, I clicked on one of the sponsored links even though I had no need for the ‘toenail fungus cream’. It made me laugh, seeing the disclaimer – apparently, it’s only to be used on toenails, and not under any circumstances to be put into mouth, eyes or ladies private parts. The disclaimer said nothing about gentleman private parts so maybe it’s ok to be used there, I don’t know.
I hope this makes you chuckle and here’s again heartfelt thanks for writing the blog and reading all the comments. Fingers crossed the nasty ones peter out.
Funny story 🙂 Thanks for sharing (and for using my link too, of course).
Nina
You hit this one right on the head, Nina! There are days when I absolutely hate my blog, hate the fact that I can’t stop framing everything I do in terms of a blog post, and hate the pressure to continually top what I’ve done. BUT there is something addictive in knowing that what you’re writing may be helping someone else. (And your blog has helped us many times.) Traveling with Rod and the dogs would be fun, but being able to share what we’re doing with other people who want to travel with their pets makes it special. And we’ve met some fantastic people because of the blog – including you and Paul! As much as it can feel like a burden, I know I’d miss blogging if I gave it up. Safe travels!
Exactly right. Agree on every point!
Nina
Hi!
First time commenter here but I’ve been reading for a while 🙂 This was such a true post and very much appreciated! I have been blogging for just over a year and am torn between quitting and continuing. I have a FT job, two toddlers, a husband and I freelance write! I’m leaning more toward just freelance writing as that is guaranteed income, but then I miss out on the community aspect of the blog. My blog has probably made ~$500 or so in it’s first year, which isn’t terrible, but it’s by no means paying the bills or consistent.
I also started blogging to make money, I’ll be honest hahaha. I LOVE the friends that I’ve made, though! It is just a matter of deciding whether or not the time commitment is worth it at this point in my life.
Also – I started reading your blog because my husband and I will be RVer’s one day! We actually planned on hitting the road with our toddlers in tow, but ultimately decided that would be a little more stressful than fun, haha. So, we wait. I can’t wait for the day we hit the open roads!
Hope you are having a good day!! I really appreciate you blogging 🙂 I’m from AZ (we moved to NC last year) so have been enjoying your recent posts!
Thanks!!
Honestly I don’t know HOW you find time to blog with everything you have going on! That’s a full plate! If you started blogging mostly for the financial aspect, I would certainly recommend focusing your efforts on the freelance writing instead. Sounds like a much steadier income and it’s something you can build-up for your future mobile lifestyle. Either way I’m in AWE of how much you do 🙂
Nina
Nina, I haven’t made a comment in over a year, I am just stopping by to say thank you for all you do.
This is a wonderful post, Nina, and so helpful to would-be bloggers. There’s an awful lot to blogging that goes unnoticed, and you’ve done a great job of exposing the underbelly of this interesting occupation we undertake.
I have logged 70-100 hours on some of my more informative blog posts, and have posted only a handful that took less than 3 hours to create. It is a full-time job that is not a job but a passion, and passion has its ups and downs.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject. I’ve written two posts on this exact topic that are still unpublished because I can’t strike the right tone and balance. You did it masterfully here.
-Emily
Your posts are amazing Emily so I know how much goes into them. It seems effortless to those that read, but you’ve put hours of photography, research and writing into each one. Thanks for chiming in…always great to hear from other established bloggers.
Nina
I really enjoyed reading this post and learned alot. I would like to blog when we hit the road, but just not sure, trying to learn what I can. I was totally shocked though to read about how mean people can be. That was just unreal. Thanks for sharing.
I love this blog! We are starting our full time RVing in February (2018). You a quite inspiring, kind and so helpful in your essays. I will be blogging, although I am kind of at a loss on how to get started.
I think that I will be more engaged with our journey and I will have that record of details to look back on.
Keep on keeping on!
Michelle
If you don’t know much about blogging and just want to get started quick and easy, then I recommend a free wordpress.com blog. It’ll take you literally 10 minutes to set-up and you’ll be ready to go. It’s how I first started blogging and it’s super easy to use…and FREE! You can’t monetize it however, so if you think you’ll want to monetize down the down then look at Bluehost and getting a blog on there.
Hope that helps!
Nina