Success for me is just about doing it. Finally thinking, “okay, lets run with this and see where it takes me”.
I fell into blogging by accident. I have been a writer for years, mainly comedy editing for Stand Up comics and television shows. I also write web copy, and while revamping a nanny agency website, I asked the owner who wrote the parenting blog that appeared on it every week – it was frankly dire and did the website no favours. As it turns out, she hated it too and asked me if I could write a parenting blog for her site.
I said, no, but I will write you funny articles centred around parenting that you can put up in blog form, and that’s what happened. The blog on the site was a huge success and a part of me thought, “Hang on, I want a bit of this” and one night, notaneffingfairytale born.
It took a while to find my blogging voice – these days its not all parenting, I write about anything and everything. I swear. A lot. I tell inappropriate stories. A lot
. It’s not a diary of my life. Every piece begins as a series of notes for a Stand Up routine and slowly turns into a blog from there.
I don’t sugar coat, I don’t talk about what I do and don’t do as a parent and I unashamedly bare myself (metaphorically speaking, you’ll be pleased to hear) and take any criticism on the chin.
But, that is my personal blogging success – finding my voice and just bloody doing it. As a writer and even when I was a Stand Up comic myself, I have always been constrained in what I can and can’t write. My blog is my platform to get away with saying whatever I want to.
I will never be nominated for any blogging awards, I will never be asked to review anything and I will never reach the hallowed inner circle of the ‘mum bloggers’ (because a) all the swears and b) it’s not really wholesome family fun) but I am happy with what I am doing.
So Success to me is three simple things: Going for it, doing it and being happy, no matter what anyone else thinks.
You can find Terry-Ann right here so go give her some blogging success love…
website – www.notaneffingfairytaleblog.com twitter – @cookiekibbles facebook – notaneffingfairytale insta – cookiekibbles
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35 Comments
Thank you so much for having me!
finding your voice is probably the most successful thing to do! The best way is definitely just to keep writing, a lot! Having your own space to do that is pretty amazing! Toddles off to follow terry-ann #abloggingoodtime
I love this: “finding my voice and just bloody doing it”. That’s what it’s all about it, isn’t it? So much of blogging is about just sitting at the computer and actually writing the stuff, rather than just thinking about doing it.
Also, I’m a big fan of all the swears. #ablogginggoodtime
I love hearing how things start – an unexpected conversation, an apparently random turn of events, a chance encounter. Keep on writing. #ablogginggoodtime
I have just read one of Terry-Ann’s posts – what a great writer. I started mine because people were interested in my photos on facebook (I was also keeping people up to date with wedding prep). I hated sharing it at first but now I love blogging. Sarah #ablogginggoodtime
Not worrying about what other people think is the number one thing for me- easier said than done though sometimes! #ablogginggoodtime
Oh you sound right up my street, Terry-Ann! I love a bit of funny sweary writing so I’ll be checking out the blog. Love your definition of success too, it’s not about the numbers or awards or trying to break that inner circle. Love it! #ablogginggoodtime
Uhm, completely disagree with your second to last sentence. Why not? Brands want to reach real parents and real parents do swears 🙂 #ablogginggoodtime
I’ve recently come across your blog Terry-Ann and I find it hilarious! I love hearing how people start their blog, and your outlook is refreshing and it’s great that your blog is your outlet for writing what you want, when you want. #ablogginggoodtime
Loved her recent article about dick pics! #ablogginggoodtime
A great interview – another great piece in the series! Looking forward to reading the next one – always so inspirational. #ablogginggoodtime
Love you both ! What a great post and your reasons for blogging are terrific. I love learning about the inspiration and the perspiration too. Thanks for #ablogginggoodtime all! <3
As a newby I’m ‘just doing it’ but am not really sure what I’m doing! haha… the more of these interview type posts I read the better I feel about just letting it be and seeing what happens. We will see what the next year brings 🙂 #ablogginggoodtime
So much love for this… anything in life should be done because you love it! I too have always loved writing hence the reason I started blogging… It feels great to be doing something I love even if it is not making me the mega bucks (I mean fingers crossed right… haha!) #ablogginggoodtime
Wow, such lovely comments! I look forward to reading more about other bloggers too!
I love this – it’s our space to be able to say what we want when we want and that’s how it should be for everyone. Everyone has their own different successes – mine change all the time. I achieve one thing and I move on to another. It’s my way of keeping motivated – but in all honesty, I’ve already succeeded by keeping it going as long as I have. #ablogginggoodtime
I love this series. It’s so interesting to read about why and how others blog, and also about what success means to different people. I love the story of how Notaneffingfairytale started to blog, and love the Snow White pics too! #ablogginggoodtime
Terry-Ann – good on you girl – finding your voice and just doing it – love it! I love this series and how diverse the response are to what seems like such a straightforward question. x #ablogginggoodtime
That’s really awesome. I love finding out what makes other bloggers tick and to what they owe their success #ablogginggoodtime
Exactly how you say it – doing it, loving it, not worrying what others think. thank you for inspiration..
#ablogginggoodtime
This is the best definition of success I’ve heard yet x
#Ablogginggoodtime
I love this and totally agree – blogging success can often be defined as the amount of followers you have or how many big campaigns you have but for me it has definitely been about gaining the confidence to put myself out there and have a little something that is mine. For me that is quite an achievement! #ablogginggoodtime
Awesome. What’s the point of any of it if it doesn’t make you happy?
Such a fab post, I love the bare all blogs and yours is perfect, thanks for sharing #ablogginggoodtime
success is just bloody doing it. I agree completely. It takes a bit of courage to put yourself out there like we do #blogginggoodtime
Goind for it, doing it, and being happy. Sounds like a success to me. Good for you! #ablogginggoodtime
The snow white picture is amaze-balls! Thanks for sharing your bloggin stories, they are inspiring and educational! #ABloggingGoodTime
I always say write for yourself not anyone else. It is the only way you will feel good about it. .#ablogginggoodtime
Brilliant. I love her approach. #ablogginggoodtime
Blogging for yourself, for your own pleasure, is the only way to truly enjoy what you do. Great post.
#ablogginggoodtime
I think this is my fav one of these – what a fab way to determine your blogging success. Saying/writing what you like and sticking to it regardless. I love all the swears and the honest posts and admire those who write them! xx #ablogginggoodtime
Definitely going for it and just being ‘you’ is vital, I think. Thanks for hosting #ablogginggoodtime
Love your definition of success and it’s nice to find someone that’s doing their own thing. Being individual and true to yourself is a great start for success. Don’t put yourself down Terry-Ann anything is possible in the future ? x #ablogginggoodtime.
Haha i love Not An Effing Fairytale. Mostly because I wish I’d have thought of that domain! I love her honest style. Loving reading this series hun x #ablogginggoodtime
That’s a really interesting interesting way to ‘fall’ into blogging – it’s funny where life takes us! #ablogginggoodtime