I’ve had a relevation, and it’s a big one. I am a bad food blogger. Or at least mediocre.
Don’t try to deny it! I am not fishing for reassuring compliments. Sure, I’m an alright cook, a decent writer, and enjoy the connection I have with my readers. When it comes to calling myself a food blogger, though, I fall a little short. There is a lot more to being a good food blogger than I am willing to find the time to do. And I’m okay with that. It all has to do with me being that under-ambitious overachiever type. More on that later, perhaps.
Were this a part-time job versus a fun hobby, things might be different. Time is certainly a factor. The time it takes to research, cook, photograph, devour, document and publish a blog post is significant. For sure, I’ve got the cooking and devouring part down :). It’s the rest of it that has me on the ropes.
The good news? I truly do want to be a better food blogger. I want people flocking here to read and comment. I want more visitors, subscribers, and clicks. I want to be Pinned, Shared, Stumbled Upon, LinkedIn, and Liked by the masses. But, for now, I am satisfied with 200 or so ‘hits’ on a great post, a handful of comments, and the shares here and there I get on various social media outlets.
Here’s what I know about being a good blogger, and why I am not quite there yet:
GOOD food bloggers read other blogs. Voraciously. It’s just what they do. Not me. I am aware that there are other food blogs out there. 1,000,000+ or so, but I don’t spend much time looking at them. It’s quite simple: I’m worried that, the more I expose myself to other bloggers content, the more likely I will end up inadvertently copying someone’s idea and not give them credit for it. That would be horrible. Worse, that’s unoriginal, and there is nothing I hate more than not being original. So, even though I am a huge fan of Sally’s Baking Addiction, In Katrina’s Kitchen, and For the Love of Cooking, I don’t read them too often for fear of losing my genuineness. It’s probably the most most backward logic ever.
GOOD food have a publishing schedule. Every bit of blogging advice I’ve ever come across says readers like regularly scheduled content, whether it might be weekly, twice weekly, or daily. I like to keep my readers guessing 🙂 I seem to be plagued by irregularity (hey, no fiber jokes, we are talking laptops here, not lavatories). I blog once, twice, or not at all per week depending on what degree of chaos we have planned, as well as how long it takes me to find the all-important notes I took about the recipe. Actually WRITING the post is sometimes a Herculean effort. It takes me 50x longer than I ever think it will to write a post from start to finish. My family thinks I’m bad at math, because ‘5 minutes’ is always 45. I truly want to be regular, though! Good intentions abound. Evidently I’ll be well-stocked with them on that long cold road to blogger hell.
GOOD food bloggers plan content around major food holidays. And there are plenty, believe you me. But guess who missed National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day on May 15th?? This girl. I need a Food Holidays Around the World calendar. Does Hallmark make that? Because I should NOT be missing National Bacon Day (August 31st – yup, missed it). Would’ve been the perfect time to re-invent this Summer Garden BLT.
GOOD food bloggers take great food photos, because they know that their readers eat with their eyes. I’ve definitely gotten better, from the early days of taking photos at my filthy stove in a too-dark kitchen with -gasp!- a flash ( a foodie photo no-no).
But I still have issues…
First of all, I’m not even using a real camera. My iPhone 4S has been my only camera for the past 4 months, and, bizarrely it takes better photos than my Canon Powershot ever did. Someday maybe I’ll own a “real” camera, but for now I’m okay with my iPhone.
2011 Photo with Canon Powershot
Tomato Toast…In The Dark
2013 Photo with iPhone 4S
Second, I am about as good a food stylist as I am a home decorator (hint: our home portrays what I like to call distressed school clutter sheik). Here’s how prep goes when it’s time to shoot photos:
First, I swipe the dirty counter or table with my sweatshirt sleeve so there are no crumbs in the shot. Next, I plate the food on one of the few suitable dishes I have — most often my fave square dinner plates, handmade with love by my brother and talented artist brother-in-law, Clark. I futz with the placement of food for a nanosecond, mostly just to wipe up any shiny spills that will reflect the light. Then, I take 10 or so shots, trying to make sure there are no obvious shadows casting a pall on the food. That’s all I have time for – for now.
So there you have it – Why I Am Not A Good Food Blogger
What’s interesting is though, is that I am right where I would expect an under-ambitious overachiever like myself to be. And now that I’ve confessed this to the world, I am doubly motivated to get better 🙂
Have a wonderful day, ya’ll! I promised there are recipes coming soon. Just need to find my notes… 🙂
OMG – this blog is SO YOU and why I love it so much. I actually LOVE that you don’t overwhelm us with posts, and when you do post it is quality stuff – like this one!!
Love your guts girl – keep doing what you LOVE!
Shirl
Quality over quantity. I will keep saying that to myself. Thanks for reminding me Shirl! And you are such an awesome fan and supporter and cheerleader – you know I can’t thank you enough!!
Well, I can’t really compare since you’re the only food blogger I read and I love your site!! By the way, I’ve made your summer ratatouille twice the last week with different veggies each time but same spices and it was devoured (even by the kids!) both times and I paired your whole wheat buttermilk biscuits with it one time (also devoured).
Thanks!
I wish MY kids would devour the ratatouille!! Zach says he would if I added beef stew to it 🙂 My mom loves it and so do I, so I am still making it CONSTANTLY. So thrilled that you read my blog — thanks, Melissa!!
Yes, you are a bad food blogger. That’s why yours is the only blog that I subscribe to! I read your post to my parents while waiting for our flight home from the west coast yesterday and they agree with me that your blog is engaging, beautifully written, and funny!
That blows my mind! You don’t subscribe to any others?? W.O.W. Thanks for the ginormous compliment!!!
Some day I will subscribe to others, but I have so little time and so much spam in my inbox that I just have to limit things… I find your writing very engaging, genuine, and fun so I like to read your blog.
Well, I am so honored to be your one and only subscription for as long as it lasts!
Best blogger EVER! You sound just like your funny lovable self. In a day where e-mails are a chore, yours are a treat! Bacon loving dietitians of the world unite!!!
Bacon for the win! Thank you, thank you for the nicest words. Such a treat to hear those from a person/woman/dietitian who I’ve admired for so long!
I laughed so, so much today when I read your post!!!:) I just recently discovered the world of blogs , in particular food blogs and I have to say I am amazed how creative, talented people are. …. and you my dear are one of them. Your writing so hilarious, your post are full of great advice and your recipes are what most people with family want!!! There is always room for growth but that applies to all aspect of our life. I am sure if you review your very fist post and compare to the latest, you would see tremendous growth and I am sure 1-2 years down the road you will see even more… that’s the nature of life. Keep doing what you are doing. Trust me, I would love to have a blog like your; I just don’t have the writing talents:(
Thank you so much, Joanna 🙂 I agree there is room for growth! Working on it 🙂
Don’t worry, we love when you get around to posting. Call it busy Mom syndrome rather than bad anything. Overbooked, over-scheduled, over committed and still, you find time to make delicious, nutritious, beautiful food for your family and to share it with all of us. We win!
Well thank you so much – busy Mom syndrome indeed! I hate glorifying ‘busy’ but that is the truth of it. Thank you for commenting!
Well, I respectfully disagree, Julie. I think you are a GREAT food blogger – and here’s why. Your love of food and cooking and feeding your family comes through with every single post. A great cook isn’t someone who puts out a flawless, picture-perfect meal every time. A great cook is someone who is striving to put love on a plate in front of her family each night. You excel at that. That is why you are great at this. You are not just trying to teach people HOW to cook or what to cook. You are teaching them how important it is to cook. Ironically, the food is sometimes the least important thing. The most important thing that you are conveying is that, in spite of a crazy schedule filled with a million other things to do, that it is important (and possible!) to put some love on a plate and sit down with your family at the end of the day and have a delicous, potentially photo-worthy meal.
Unlike you, I do read other food blogs and enjoy many of them. They can be very entertaining. But when I need a fool-proof recipe that my family will love, I go right to JWJ and you’ve never let me down yet. For my money, you are the very best. Keep it up, Julie. I’d be lost without you!
Janet, can’t thank you enough! Your words have totally made my day, my week, my year! And, since you are such a FAB cook yourself, the words have extra-special meaning. It’s because of you that I cook with fresh garlic now 🙂 See? We’re helping each other! Thank you, my friend, for the lovely kindness you gave me today!
HERE HERE – well said Janet!!
the pictures left me drooling for more!
and of course, your blog is the only one I take the time to read, too– and I am always bot delighted and inspired by it….
keep it up
Thank you, cousin 🙂 [yes, folks, many of these commenters are blood-relatives or close friends] — thrilled to be the only blogger whose stuff you read!!
I love the post but especially the “under-ambitious overachiever” term. Perfect and made the reading of the whole thing wonderful. I don’t mind the irregularity (as long as it’s not personal, at my house if you get my drift). And don’t feel guilty about the iPhone 4S being your main camera. What is handier? And the pics you take are great. I love some of your plates. Keep up the irregular, under-ambitious posts!
I will do my best, Lisa! Thanks for commenting – nice to know my attempts at real-life humor are hitting home. I have known for a long time that I’m an under-ambitious overachiever. It’s a burden somebody has to half-heartedly carry 🙂
What are you TALKING ABOUT?!?! Keep doing exactly what you’re doing, sistah. Keepin it real.
Thanks, my bestie and #1 fan 🙂 I would give up some blogging time to see you more, just FYI 🙂