Writers Block

Well, it's been literal ages since I last posted. 

I'm hoping that if I share my past few weeks experience I can inspire some dancer, dance lover, dance blogger or just any blogger in general.

So as most know, I have shared on various posts that I basically decided one day that I needed to start a dance blog as a source of inspiration. The aim was that this would build a foundation and create awareness for my various ideas and goals I have while working my way towards my dance studio.

The challenge has been that I'm not very tech savvy and everything blog wise is self taught. It's been my project on the side and it took ages to build up the courage to even mention it on a public platform. As there isn't a budget currently for this project everything has had to be self made or left for the moment. 

I'm quite happy with my logo for instance, it's not perfect but through various free apps I finally have a logo I love the look of.

Content hasn't been very continuous as there have been some personal health and circumstance struggles but I have loved growing with it and seeing my content develop.

A few weeks ago I decided to start looking for a charity I can work alongside for my Dancing Shoes Campaign, I received lovely emails encouraging my work but the two charities I reached out to weren't offering that kind of service to trafficked survivors. I felt I had done a leap forward then a few steps back right to the beginning.

I then decided to submit examples of my blog posts to try get the opportunity to be a writer for a magazine. It wouldn't have been a huge writing opportunity but my love for the magazine as well as a platform would hopefully give me some writing experience for my blog.

A few days after the submission, I received a lovely response from the managing editor saying that my work had potential and they liked my content but currently wanted more experienced writers.

I took encouragement from the lovely reply and that my work wasn't totally amateur but I was told to try again in 6 months.

I know people apply and have countless rejections in this sort of thing and that some responses can be absolutely brutal but as positive as I tried to be this feedback really knocked me.

I started researching blog tips, how to improve and build better content. I found some really useful tips and ideas that will help me improve in a few months time. I also noticed some points to work on like content consistency.

I suddenly found myself frustrated with everything - my logo wasn't professional enough, my content wasn't like other websites or blogs and that in comparison my actual content maybe did look amateur. I lost interest and went from wanting to improve to simply forgetting my blog out of frustration. 

Weeks passed and I realised that actually this isn't just a good idea that I can stop doing when I'm tired of, this is my starting ground for my various projects, my future website and eventual dance studio/school.

My logo might not be developed by a brand designer yet, my content might not be magazine worthy just yet and I can really improve on my blog's photography but why should I stop. I might have one reader that really needs my posts and that is what my blog is about - inspiration for dancers and dance lovers.

So practising my blog photography, content consistency and trying to grow and engage with my audience; through the blog and Instagram are my current focus points but it doesn't have to be a chore. And yes, the emails we don't want mustn't stop us from finding that charity to work with, that sponsor or that connection!

May we find inspiration in the frustrations and the steps backwards but may we continue to find inspiration, dancers and dance lovers. 

Share your setbacks and how you found your inspiration again by blog post or by email on dancegrace2@gmail.com

Love to all xx