Why Blog?
My conversation with Rebecca Johnson at the Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre prompted some serious questions about my blog. Some of which I’ve never really thought about too seriously, and others that I’ve shared little tidbits about over time. Today, I’m popping it all into one post.
Why did I start to blog?
I love writing. My dream is to write for a living someday. I started this blog in January 2015 as a bit of a creative outlet to complement my studies in marketing and communications. I guess, even today, this blog remains a glimmer of hope that one day I might find work more closely aligned to where my passions lie.
Diabetes seemed like a natural choice to write about. I didn’t even think there were many diabetes blogs out there, let alone an active community sharing their stories online. I know so much more about diabetes than I ever did before I started my blog. I am far more empowered and passionate about the condition that I live with, and I credit that to being a part of the diabetes community.
Is it hard to come up with ideas for blog posts?
It was definitely difficult to come up with ideas in the beginning, and get them onto paper cohesively. Today, the ideas come to me quite naturally. I’m really interested in what’s going on in the diabetes community. Diabetes follows me around in whatever I do, and something interesting always happens along the way. It’s amazing how the tiniest thing can become a blog post. Like, for example, finding a test strip on the hotel room floor. Other days I just want to empty out what’s on my mind, such as this post from last week. You get better at it over time.
Do I feel the pressure to constantly pump out content?
To be honest, I’ve surprised myself in being able to write so much here since I started. It’s more a thing of personal pride that motivates me to keep going. I’m really proud of my writing. I’m proud of my own personal development with my diabetes since I began this journey. I’m really proud of this space that I’ve created, and that people can come here to find a new post almost every day of the week. That was always the vision I had for my blog when I started it.
How has Type 1 Writes evolved over time?
When I started Type 1 Writes, I imagined it would be more of a thing where I would give diabetes advice and lifestyle tips. I don’t think I realised the value of my own voice and my own story until a little later when I began to connect with others in the Diabetes Online Community.
A lot of my initial blog audience and DOC connections were from the United States, and I felt like I had to fit in with that. I don’t think I realised the value of my perspective as an Australian person with diabetes. I guess today, I’m proud to be an Australian diabetes blogger. I proudly publish my posts during the daytime here in Australia, even if that means that my friends in the US and UK are sitting down to dinner or heading to bed. I’m proud to be a part of the Oz Diabetes Online Community, even if it’s not as huge as DSMA or DCDE groups in the US.
What does the future hold for Type 1 Writes?
Hmmm…I hope I’ll be able to keep doing more of the same. Publishing great content, sharing my story with diabetes, being part of an inspiring community and hopefully reaching more people. I’d love to meet more DOC connections in real life, and attend diabetes conferences. If I could find a job or side income more closely aligned with my blog or my writing someday, that would be amazing too.
One thing that won’t change, however, is that I will always continue to write what comes from the heart.
