How I Caught the Blogging Bug

Wow, have I ever been going through an eye-opening learning curve experience! As you all know from my recent posts on my newfound Twitter experience, a few weeks ago I not-so-whole-heartedly came to the conclusion that I really should get more into social media and blogging. I knew I needed to do this and that if I did it, I should learn to do it the right way. Not that the way I’ve been doing it is necessarily wrong. I don’t know (yet) if there is a right or wrong way to blog. Everyone has their own writing style and in my mind a writing style isn’t right or wrong, it just is what it is.

I’ve been avoiding this leap for a very long time but there comes a time when the avoiding has to stop so you can move forward and grow. I wanted to not only improve not only my own sites but help better my client’s sites as well.

I haven’t had time to take a class in a very long time which is something I’ve missed doing. I’ve also had to do a lot of penny-pinching for a few years. I decided maybe it was time for me to not only make time but quit pinching quite so many pennies.

I Didn’t Wanna Twitter but I Did

I remember how I originally felt dragged into joining Twitter. I didn’t want to go there, but I kept being told that it would be good for me and my business. So, I finally went … kicking and screaming all the way. Ya know what? I surprised the heck out of myself (and a whole bunch of people who never thought I’d do it!) Twitter turned out to be a really good move for me! That experience reminded me that I needed to take on a more a positive attitude and shake some of the cobwebs out of my brain. Getting more serious about blogging just might have the same outcome. How bad could it be anyway? After all, nobody’s forcing me to do this, right? If I don’t like it I can just quit, right?

Then there’s the matter of that little whispering rolling road block inside me that’s wanted to get more into writing but has been afraid of being laughed at or criticized. I haven’t been able to get past it so far so what do I do with that?

The Blogging Bug Bites Me

About 3-4 weeks ago I was hanging out on Twitter when I saw a tweet referencing an upcoming blogging class. My ears perked up, my eyes popped and the hairs on my arms began to wiggle. Was it coincidence or fate that I should see this at the same time I’d been thinking about learning more about blogging? I don’t even remember going through the point & click thought process of “Slide the mouse and click the link, Deb.” My mouse hand leaped into click mode before I had a chance to even think about and I’d clicked without realizing it.

There I was looking the 31 Days Blogging Challenge website in the face. Gulp! They were offering a FREE blogging class! My jaw dropped and the hairs on my arms wiggled some more. I started looking for how the class was going to work, starting dates, time-frames, other requirements and all the other stuff that I needed to know so that I could decide if I could sign up.

Uh ohhhhh … Roadblock for a Cheapskate! It’s not really free. I’d have to spend some money because to participate I would need to buy the book required for the class. The book was just under $20.00 but to the cheap in me twenty bucks was twenty bucks! Grumbling, I figured I could find a way to force myself to part with twenty bucks. I reminded myself I’m not destitute, just cheap. Oh, cool! They’re offering a discount on the book when you register for the class! Ok, so now I’m feeling better about the whole thing but I still wanted to think about it some more. I don’t move quickly when it comes to spending money. I first have to analyze it and justify it to death.

My First Hint That This Might Not be So Bad After All

I was simply delighted to see that this class is run by two gals who have the kind of experience and skills that interest me a great deal. Lis Tanz is a copywriter and editor into marketing articles. Michelle Schaeffer’s a Work-at-Home Mom who makes a living helping people with their home-based businesses. Hmmm, I could probably learn a lot from both these talented ladies!

They managed to catch my interest because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I finally couldn’t stand it anymore and gave them my “substantially less than twenty bucks after discount” and I was officially registered to be a blogging student! I was really going to do this! I found myself going from agonizing over how how I was going to make the time to do this, fretting over spending the money on the book to getting impatient and excited waiting for the class to begin. I’ve got people that have known me for many years wide-eyed that I’ve been able to step forward and “just do it!” Hey, what can I say. The old girl still has some spunk and surprises inside of her! It sure has been fun watching their reactions!

Good Thing Nobody Promised Me This Would be Easy

Well, class started four days ago and I learned (groan) that this isn’t going to be easy. I got hung-up, stumped and frustrated on the very first lesson! It didn’t take me long to realize that it’s going to be real work to keep up with the others who absolutely must have more available time on their hands than I do. Its taken me three days to do what many of the other students were able to do in one. But, I can’t let that stop me. I want to find a way to do this because after digging into the book and “meeting” Lis and some of the students I really like it here! In the short span of four days, I’ve already come to the conclusion that I’ve got a lot to learn, that I want to keep going and that I think I’m going to enjoy the ride!