Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog!
So what I'm going to write about this week is something I think about a lot. So like most of my blogs, I decided to write about it instead of just keeping it to myself.
(FYI I FOUND AN UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF INDYCAR GIFS ON HERE SO BE PREPARED TO SEE A LOT OF THEM IN THE FUTURE)
Anyways.
We live in a world that is all about blogging.
Everyone has a blog.
Everyone wants to start a blog.
Blogs are everywhere, okay?
Don't get me wrong I love blogs, I'm all for them.
I mean look at what I'm writing right now and what you are reading.
It's my blog.
That being said, I take blogging very seriously.
I created my first blog when I was 14 years old, I was going to be a beauty blogger, I was really really into makeup back then (I mean I still am I just am not beauty blogger worthy).
But I knew at 14 that I wanted to write about something I love, I wanted to get my writing out there.
Well, that first blog was not too successful. It had a totally of like 3 blog posts before I decided to re vamp it.
Long story short I decided to start blogging on tumblr and then last spring I switched to my current site which I am dedicated to for the long haul.
But if you want to know more about how I got into writing you can read my blog How I became a writer.
Back to my point, almost two years ago I decided to go out of my comfort zone and actually really start a blog.
So I did.
And my first post was about IndyCar.
When I published that first post I dedicate myself to blogging 100%. I'm all in.
Almost 2 years later I still am.
So not to squash people's blogging dreams, but if you are going to start a blog then actually freaking start a blog.
You can't just publish one post and call yourself a blogger.
I don't even actually know what you are if you do that.
I'm sorry but you are not a writer or a blogger for that matter.
If you have some thoughts you want to share by all means go for it.
If you think the easiest way to do that is through a blogging site then go for it.
But for heavens sake do not say that you started a blog.
You can say you wrote something that you want to share.
But until you are consistently posting content on your "blog" it is not a real blog.
Cause let me tell you.
Blogging is not easy.
I wouldn't do it if I didn't love writing.
And I wouldn't do it if I didn't love writing about IndyCar.
I take blogging very seriously.
When I started my blog I said that I would post weekly.
Its been almost two years since I made that commitment and I haven't broken my promise.
Having a blog isn't just something you do on a whim.
It takes time, commitment, motivation, and passion among many things.
I see it as kind of a part time job.
It takes a lot of work on my part to get a blog out each week.
Each week I am continually thinking about and trying to figure out what I'm going to write about.
Sometimes the ideas come easily, sometimes I sit at my computer and stare at a blank screen for an hour after I've already procrastinated writing all afternoon.
Like last week, writing about the IndyCar season premier was a no brainer.
A couple of weeks ago when I essentially wrote a blog about nothing that was hard.
But I made a promise that I am going to keep.
So even if I have nothing to write about I still have to find something to write about.
Sometimes I even plan out what blogs I'm going to write when and I put them in my calendar.
No kidding.
And I keep a list in my phone of potential blog ideas.
But even so, sometimes if I am not passionate about wiring about a certain topic at a particular time, thats when I sit and stare at my screen trying to figure out something that I actually want to write about.
And then I need to make sure I set aside at least an hour a week to work on my blog and try to get it published by Wednesday or Thursday.
I write and then I need to find images to go with the blog and then if I have time I proof read my blog. But if you’ve read my blogs you can probably tell that proofreading is not always a priority.
And then once my blog is live I make sure to share it on all of my social media platforms with corresponding hashtags with the hopes that it might get read by other people.
That’s my life as a blogger.
But really that’s only scratching the serface.
Being an sports blogger demands a whole other level of commitment.
Blogging about IndyCar I have to make sure I keep up on everything happening in the sport.
Keeping up on social media is a big part of it.
I follow most of the drivers and teams on Twitter and Facebook, and on my blog instagram account I follow every driver and team along with previous drivers and one offs. I also follow all of the tracks they visit and big sponsors. And I follow some of the drivers in the Mazda Road to Indy who race USF2000, Pro Mazda, and Indy Lights (and I will proudly admit that some of them follow me back).
And I even follow drivers dogs, I'm not even kidding. And I follow some of the drivers significant others. Well, basically only Emma Davis Dixon because she's very amusing and Susie Weldon because her boys are adorable and mini Dans.
I try to read everything that Racer.com puts out about IndyCar, especially if its by Robin Miller or Marshall Pruett.
I also try to read most of the content put out by the IndyCar Series and IMS.
In addition to staying up to date on social media I am a subscriber and weekly listener to the Week in IndyCar Marshall Pruett Podcast.
And The Mayor on Air before it was no more, but now we're getting Off Track with HInch and Rossi which I will be listening to.
AND I was told that dinner with racers is a must listen so when I get the time I'll be going through that and listening.
Instead of listening to music while I get ready in the morning I listen to racing podcasts.
Keeping up during regular day to day life is one thing, but during race weekends its a whole other ball field.
I am basically on twitter 24/7 during race weekends (I usually just check in on twitter when I have the time on a normal day).
I make sure that I see every tweet that comes from drivers and teams so that I know their reactions to everything.
I do this staring with the first practice session until 24 hours after a race.
Crazy right?
Tell me about it.
It's a lot of work.
But its important for me to be in the loop.
I need to have all of the information when I write my blog and while engaging in IndyCar related conversations in the first place.
And I'm always trying to find more ways to educate myself.
I'm a young fan, I don't know all of the history.
So I'm starting to read books.
I asked for The Sheer Force of Will Power and Lionheart: Remembering Dan Wheldon for my birthday and I finally read them a month ago.
And in my Amazon cart there are currently like 20 books about the sport that I do not have the money to buy so I just look at them and read the descriptions over and over again.
So why do I do it all?
Is it even really worth it?
Sometimes I think it might not be, I mean how many people are actually reading my blogs?
But those moments are only fleeting, because yes, a million times yes, all the hard work is worth it.
Because every once in awhile I get someone like Josef Newgarden or Alexander Rossi to read my blog.
Or I see that James Davidson, Ed Jones, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway have liked my instagram post.
(James Davidson actually watched my story the other day you guys).
Or my question for Josef Newgarden is answered on the Marshall Pruett Podcast.
My writings may not be published my actual publishers, but I have faith that I will get there someday
I mean I never thought that I would hang out with Will Power, but that happened.
But what it all really comes down to is that I love blogging.
I really really love it.
Like when I have an idea for a blog and my fingers just fly across the keyboard and I cannot write fast enough. Writing blogs like brings me pure joy: those are the moments I live for as a writer.
This blog made me feel like that.
So as much as everyone saying "I want to start a blog" drives me crazy, I not one to keep people from doing what they want.
But do hear me out, if you are going to do this, make sure you respect people like me, who commit to their blogs 100%, don't abandon your blog after one post. If you are going to start a blog then actually start a blog.
It may be a lot of work, but its worth it.
xxkaitlyn
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