I share about my personal life and about my family on my blog and when life changing events happen, I write about them. They may not always be positive things, like my daughter’s wedding. Negative things happen too, like my uncle passing away, and not writing about it would seem like I’m leaving out a big part of my life. I’ve dealt with my mother’s breast cancer, my ongoing health issues and currently my daughter’s medical conditions. It helps me to share my feelings and in return I share information and resources with my readers.
If you’ve blogged about life changing events or are considering it, you may have some questions. How do I do write about negative events without being a Debbie Downer? Do I have to change your niche when there’s a long lasting life changing event? Will my readership change?
Writing About Negative Life Events
Even if you don’t write a personal, family or parenting blog, sometimes something happens in your life that turns your world upside down. Writing about it can be therapeutic. You may need to explain your absence, want to reach out for support, or share to help others. (The only exception to writing about any life event would be a business blog that is professional in nature where personal posts are not included.)
Most people understand the shock you go through when you are facing a life changing event, so a post sharing your emotions is accepted and often commented on with well wishes, offers of help and advice or suggestions. If you chose to continue to write posts as the event unfolds, keep in mind that someone else is going through something similar, so you are doing a service. Begin to thank those who comment and stick by you, anyone who has provided help of any kind and if possible, share any positive news.
Change My Niche?
If you life changing event is in the area of becoming a widow, moving to a new country, going through cancer treatment, having a baby after being childless – something that shapes you as a person – you can consider changing the niche of your blog. The main question to ask yourself, “Is this what I want to write about?” And I’ll add, “for the long run”. In other words, you and your life have changed, but will this be a topic that you’ll be interested in writing about for a long time? Will it get depressing or boring? Will you run out of things to write?
On the other hand, perhaps, your life changing event has helped you become an expert or an advocate, and it is your passion. Then changing your niche seems like the right thing to do. Instead of changing your entire blog, you can include a main category about the topic on your blog, or even start a new blog.
Where and Who Are Your Readers?
As you write about your life changing event, do you still have the same readers? Are you gaining or losing readers? Use your stats program to see what posts are popular and if your traffic has changed. If you are monetizing your blog, this is important information. You may still feel the led emotionally to write about your life and that’s OK. Even if your traffic takes a dive for a few months. However, if your blog is your main source of income or a large part of it, then consider another blog for these type of posts. You can easily start a free blog and share your feelings there. Invite your close friends and readers to it.
Blogging about life changing events can be beneficial to your well being. Sharing your feelings, even if they are negative allows you a way to release them. It can change the focus of your blog or create the need for a new blog. You may gain or lose readers. And you may make a difference by helping others going through similar circumstances and providing necessary information.
This post is part of the BlogHop Blog Conference at Home. To see the full agenda of learning sessions visit Blog Conference Newbie.
Twitter: 1momof5
says:
I completely agree that blogging through challenges and changes (good ones and bad) is very beneficial to your well-being. Writing has always been excellent therapy for me, even long before blogging was “born.” Thanks for this perspective!
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Thank you. I struggle with how much personal stuff to share on a mostly craft blog.
Twitter: jodifur
says:
about 3 years ago I was diagnosed with Lupus and my life changed, and if it wasn’t for my blog I don’t know if I could have survived.
Great post!
I totally get it. While my twin pregnancy and the adventures that came after were not negative, they were life changing, and I think they changed the focus of my blog. In some ways, the twins GAVE me focus. I think to have ignored that massive event would have left my blog inauthentic at best!
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Thanks for sharing! I was recently diagnosed with PCOS and have been struggling with the decision to blog or not to blog. You’re absolutely right, it is a part of me and would be hard to leave out.
Hi, I stumbled you, my post is http://coreenamcburnie.blogspot.com/2011/08/book-review-dust-decay-by-jonathan.html
You provide some much needed suggestions to bloggers.
I blog about a bit of everything
I’m not really in just one niche.
Twitter: blm03
says:
That makes it easy to know that you can blog about it
Interesting post. I know that I try really hard to avoid negativity on my blog, but there are times when it is tempting to lay it all out there.
Wonderfully informational post! It’s difficult to write about events in your life that lean towards the negative end of the spectrum without getting over emotional, which will always show in your writing. I’ll definitely refer back to this post when I need to do so without making everyone totally sad
Ah, such a tough one, huh? If you have a particular ‘niche’ and you are going through personal stuff, do you risk “watering it down” to post about your struggle? I say, write. Write with conviction, with forethought and from your heart, regardless of ‘niche’ or topic, whatever it is, write it well, write it as often as you can, and that’s all that matters. Writing is so therapeutic, why NOT write through the bad as well as the good?
Wonderful post! xo
Twitter: blm03
says:
What I’ve learned in my years of blogging is that you aren’t alone and by writing about whatever happening in your life, you are finding a whole support network you didn’t know you had. Plus, you can help others going through the same thing.
Twitter: MomMaven
says:
Great article Connie. Write from your heart and you can’t be wrong
Twitter: 89linz
says:
You know, I really have thought about writing some recent events in my life. But, I don’t want my readers to think ill of me and my family, so I haven’t. However, I think one day I just might get really honest with them.
Twitter: momof3boys3702
says:
Loved your post. It isn’t always easy being open. Thanks for sharing. You gave me a lot to think about.
I tend to keep personal life things out of my blog. I had a life changing situation come up a couple years ago and I all most left my blog all together. I didn’t feel I could share that much about my life on my blog. I couldn’t share any of it on my blog so I started a journal that led into multiple books. I wonder where my blog would have went if I had shared about my situation. Writing for me is definitely therapeutic whether its shared on my blog or not, I love it.
Twitter: Pamlovesbooks
says:
i figure if its helpful to me it might be helpful to someone else. if not, its still helpful to me and thats all that matters, right?
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There are some necessary information on what and what not to comment in the blog that determines the page redundancy.
Life changing events are always known to be a good read. Not that people are curious or gossipy but people normally read blogs because of the blogger. This means that they see value in that person. This is seen through the writing and the content that the blogger provides. So it’s okay to write about them. The blog’s followers and readers will sure do appreciate it and see the value in it.
Caesar Parisi
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