Born to Blog?

*This post contains affiliate links.

 

So I got this email from my hosting provider HostGator recently.  I was cleaning out my email, and I thought I’d briefly scan it before I deleted it. The title of the email kind of grabbed my attention. I’ll link to it below.

I was shocked how much it inspired and reaffirmed something I already thought was so firmly fixed in me. It just goes to show me how much we all need constant inspiration and motivations to move toward the dreams in our hearts.

If I’ve learned anything these past several years…if I’ve had any revelation from God, it’s this. Hope needs to be nurtured. Dreams should not be set to the side. With God, there is a Hope and a Future. It goes so much deeper than I can really put into words here.

Suffice to say, it’s good to remember why you do what you do, and that you are going in the right direction. We all need that.

Here’s the article:  Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

What I took away from this article:

1. I’m a writer at heart. -I’ve been writing since I was a child. I just LOVE it. I also love reading. I read A LOT.
2. I’m a natural creator. I take great joy in creating all sorts of stuff. I actually get depressed when I’m not creating something. That’s a Godly attribute. My heavenly Father is The Creator, and we are all made in His image. So I embrace creating as a lifestyle and a part of who I am.
3. I’m a teacher. I’ve held a variety of teaching positions before and after I was married. I was a Camp counselor, Sunday school teacher, youth leader, arts and crafts teacher, Teacher’s aide for elementary school aged children, and now the ultimate teacher (in my opinion) as a homeschooling mother to my children. And really, as a mom I am All of those things and more combined in one.

So I just want to encourage people to take a step in the creative direction they are feeling led in. Start small and build it from there. Create that place, that space online that inspires you and others. What is it that you are feeling led to write or to speak or to sing or to make art or to create about? Just take a step in that direction. Don’t let that inner voice be stifled and dry up. If you feel it’s been too long, throw some water on it and nurture it. I believe it can be revived.

So…if you’ve been on the fence about starting a website or a creative online outlet in the form of a blog,  here are a couple places you could start:

After looking over so many website building options (and trying several) I lost count and starting to feel not so creative at all. I finally decided to go through a class.

I mean, I tried doing it all on my own. And I would end up feeling like I was just wasting time and money, and get frustrated. I read an article by a blogger I was subscribed to where she talked about this same issue. And what she said really struck a chord with me. She was talking about her own success, and attributing it to taking a course and just walking through it step by step and not giving up.

So I waited for the course to re open and I joined it. It’s been totally worth it so far. It’s just what I needed. Step by step. Don’t do this until you’ve done this kinda steps…

That course only opens once per year in Febuary. So while I was waiting for that course to open I bought Building a Framework by Abby Lawson and it really got me going in the right direction. So when I started my other intensive course I already had the groundwork laid and a lot of the technical stuff out of the way.

I first bought my domain names from www.1and1.com because they were only $1 for a year and always  (so far) come with free privacy protection (always get that or you’ll get weird telemarketer calls and emails because your info will otherwise get published online every time you register a domain). But now I buy them from www.namecheap.com.  Their prices are consistent and reasonable and also always (so far) come with free privacy protection. Their site is also way easier to navigate. I seriously hated trying to find anything on www.1and1.com’s site. But I managed it somehow.

For Hosting I signed up with HostGator.com

I first used their shared servers for a couple years and have since upgraded to their cloud hosting service which was the best deal I could find for the added security and speed of the cloud.

Once I had a hosting account I installed WordPress on my site through the hosting account I got.

When it came to site design, I kept hearing about the Genesis Framework .

 

Since all the site Themes and designs I wanted were always made for Genesis, I ended up purchasing it. And if only I’d done that sooner. I love Genesis, it’s always being updated (which makes it safer) and I can put it on as many of my sites that I ever want to.

I did end up buying the Market Theme from Restored316designs.  I did this separately after buying Genesis but you can get them bundled here: Market Theme .  It, like quite a few other beautifully designed themes, requires the Genesis Framework.

 

For a beginner, the important thing is to just start somewhere. You can always change any of this stuff and start over. But just start.

You actually could start a blog or website for free and make money from it, or just be super creative and have an outlet, but it wouldn’t really and/or totally belong to you. Your content would. But if the host went out of business or really for any reason didn’t like you or your content, they could erase it and your site if they wanted. So that’s why I’d say, definitely host your own site on your own hosting account, and back it up on a hard drive or 2. Just to have multiple copies.

The important thing is to create something. To make something. To say something. To help someone. To speak up. To sing out. To do what’s on your heart. To take a step toward a Hopeful future. To dream and to do. It’s not always easy, or simple. But just start. Things become more clear if you just put one foot in front of the other.

What’s God stirring in your heart? Do you feel like writing? Do you feel like crafting? Singing? Making? What is it?

What’s 1 step you could take in that creative direction today?

Has God already told you something to do? Write it down somewhere!

If you are interested in starting a blog on the topic burning inside you-

Here are some Actionable Steps:

1. Come up with a domain name.
2. Set up Hosting for your site.
3. Install WordPress to your site.
4. Choose a Theme or web design.
5. Start creating content for your site.
6. If you want a free tutorial by Abby Lawson sign up here.
7. If you are having a hard time choosing a topic for your site go here for a free webinar series.