How did you start blogging?
I started out just reading blogs. Then one day I clicked on a Blogger button. Once I realized how easy it is to blog, I created my own. It was my 8th wedding anniversary and I thought it would be a neat little surprise way to wish Karl a “Happy Anniversary.” I fully intended to delete the blog the next day. I posted again about a day later. If you look at any of those early posts you will see that Karl is the only commenter. He really loves me.
Did you intend to be a blog w/a following? If so, how did you go about it?
No.
What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals?
Well, I hope to read great books and write helpful book reviews. I hope to become a better writer by practicing writing every day. I hope to encourage other women. I hope to write in such a way that Christ is glorified.
I usually check my site meter before I go to bed each night. It is amazing to me to think that men and women living in China, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, New Zealand, Germany, etc., could read this blog and learn a little something about God’s grace through Jesus Christ. I never know who could stumble upon this blog. God could use one of my posts to draw someone to Himself. Hmm, maybe I should quit posting so many dumb quizzes about myself…
Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How?
Not really. Well, this blog is more than one short note after another just to my hubs, so I guess it has changed. I remember writing in my journal one morning and thinking, “Why don’t I just put this on the blog instead of this notebook?” Overall, though, I don’t think the focus of the blog has changed that much.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you started?
I wish I had known more about blogging etiquette.
Do you make money with your blog?
Yes. I have an Amazon Affiliate account, but in a whole year of blogging and links to Amazon, I’ve made a whopping $2.78, and they aren’t going to give me anything until I reach $10. So, no, I guess I don’t make money with my blog.
I recently signed up with Westminster Bookstore. They count clicks instead of dollars (yay!), and thanks to all your clicks last month I received a $10 gift certificate. Guess what I bought? BOOKS! I ordered Pursuing Holiness in the Lord by Jonathan Edwards, The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson, and When People are Big and God Is Small by Ed Welch. Thanks to the great prices at the WTS Bookstore and your clicks, I bought three books for less than $20. Thank you very much!!
So, you could say that I earn books, but not money. I don’t really want to do ads or anything like that, so I don’t really plan on making money with this blog. I have a secret desire to write books and make money that way, but don’t tell anyone.
Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?
Yes. I think most of them know about it. I didn’t tell anyone for a very long time, then I wrote something Karl thought was pretty good, and he decided to email the link to everybody who has an email address. I was a little embarrassed at first, but got over it. I know my parents-in-law read my blog (Hi, Mom & Dad!) and Aunt Terry reads it when she has time at work (Hi, Terry!), but I don’t know about everyone else. The ones who don’t read it either do not have a computer, do not have time, or they hate the internet.
What two pieces of advice would you give to a new blogger?
1)Try to get in the habit of writing everyday. You don’t have to post to your blog everyday, but writing is a wonderful discipline.
2)Write about what interests you…don’t pander for a “following”.
Leslie Wiggins 
20 responses to “How I Became a Blogger”
Great tips Leslie. As a reader of your blog from about the beginning, I think you’re doing a great job! I agree that writing is a great discipline. It has definatly helped me think through things more clearly. But I don’t have near enough time to post every day!I’m glad that you were able to earn some book money too!
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I wanna know more about what you mean when you say “blogging etiquette.”What kinds of things would you have liked to have known about earlier?Enjoyed reading your bloggy-story. 🙂
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Blogging etiquette?? Oh dear, I think I missed that somewhere!! And I have heard about these site meters now quite a bit. How do I get one??
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Great post. I secretly want to write a book one day. But I am sure it will be many years from now. I still write more regularly in my paper journal…..I love a nice pen and high quality paper :o)
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Thanks for sharing. Love the part about wanting Christ to be glorified through your blog, because I try to do that too. I’ll have to come back and read more!
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I think it’s sweet that your hubby promoted your blog…mine does that, and although it is a tad bit embarrassing, it’s nice to know he’s proud…Thanks for sharing…I love your header, BTW!!
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Your clicks for books is so tempting to me because I love books, and especially the WTS ones. I just haven’t made that leap yet. Instead, I’ll continue to click through you. Great to hear your story.
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This was fun to read. You have some very interesting things to read and so much discernment! I appreciate your blog so much!!! I started out just writing to tell our adoption story…that way we would have things documented in a *blog* as we went through the process. Then, as I read others, I knew that this whole blogging thing could be fun for me and encouraging for others.I am amazed that anyone reads mine…and I certainly did not go at it to have a following or to gain a lot of readers! But, it has been really fun *meeting* people!Kim
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Hey, earning books isn’t anything to sneeze at, if you ask me!And writing about what interests you is excellent advice.
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Interesting! I was wondering about “blogging etiquette” too….
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Sounds like I’ll be doing a post on blogging etiquette in the near future…
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I enjoyed your blogging story! Thanks for the link to the Westminster Bookstore. The program sounds pretty cool, and I do love books! 🙂
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Great tips!! I would blog for books too if that was the only payment offered me.
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Ditto on the blogging etiquette! I love your site, and the story of starting it to write messages to your husband. How sweet. I’m glad I stopped by.
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wow, thanks for commenting on my blog! you’re the first person, other than Big Mama (which was kind of solicited!) that i don’t know in “real” life to post a comment! how fun! i read a few of your posts and really enjoyed them. i love how you’re using your blog as a witness!
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How fun that you get books for clicks! Did you approach them about that?
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Excellent advice. I enjoy everything you write, and I find that I feel better when I do a little writing every day.
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I agree with all you wrote. Please do tell more about etiquette. (built in blog prompt)Thanks for sharing your blogging story.
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It’s fun to see how we all got started in blogging, isn’t it? This has been a fun carnival!
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Hmmm…”blogging etiquette”…can you give a class on this? I’m probably insulting people left and right, completely clueless that I’m doing so!
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