Woah, it’s been over 9 months since I first wrote this post about my secret blogging life.
Things have changed quite a bit since then!
As I mentioned in the original post, I was always so protective of my blog because I was afraid of being laughed at. I didn’t want people to read my blog and laugh at my vein photos of me in dresses and putting makeup on. When I first started blogging, I was in a job where it was a bit of an ongoing joke that I was a tomboy. Also that I used to be a man. Which I didn’t, FYI. Not like that’s anything wrong with it if I was. I’ve just always had ovaries and stuff and been pretty okay with that.
I have no idea where this idea came from, but for some reason, they thought that I wore cargo pants and trainers when not at work. The complete opposite of what I’m actually like.
They probably would have pissed my pants at photos of me looking like this:
Also can we please just take a moment to say RIP to this dress. It was one of my favourites and the zip is broken. It hangs dead in my closet because I am too sad to chuck it away. RIP DRESS.
I think I was very aware that my blog was shit when I first started. The design was pretty rubbish. I took tiny, unclear photos and made all my text central. BAD.
You can see how my blog has looked through the years in this post: Evolution of my blog. See, I wasn’t kidding, right? It started of wank, then got.. less wank. Back when I started blogging, it wasn’t so easy to find out how to get your blog looking decent.
I don’t know why I am trying to justify myself on this. Basically, I didn’t feel comfortable being open about my blog. So I wasn’t.
That’s my right. That’s your right, too.
I feel very strongly that you shouldn’t feel like you should tell others if you don’t want to. Also if anyone finds out about it and knows you want it kept private, they should respect that.
Although from my experience, you’d probably surprised at the reactions of people when they find out. Especially as you get older and people are less as of a dick than they were when they were younger.
How people reacted when they found out.
Some of my friends have known I blog since the start. My housemates and a few others. Most thought it was cool and would read from time to time. My old housemate’s boyfriend seemed to really love it.
At told my manager at work because I wanted a Saturday off to do a talk at WebWeWant fest. He didn’t know the site, exactly, but he said it was amazing that I was blogging. Before I told him, he knew I was doing something else outside of work but didn’t know what. He used to call me Batman because of how many plates I was spinning at once with a full-time job, blogging, and fitness.
Other colleagues at work knew I did something and called it my Secret Life. They thought I was on YouTube doing gameplay videos. I just said yes to anything to distract them.
Last boxing day, my Facebook schedule messed up and was posting Instagram photos to my main page instead of my Facebook page, then one of my colleagues saw and told everyone in a Whatsapp chat we were in. I was full of fear, but they didn’t really care. Apart from the girl that saw the Instagram post, the rest were guys and blogs aren’t even their things. Now they occasionally made jokes about having Internet friends and a digital life. Every time I have plans, they are like ‘Is it with you digital friends, Col?’ (they called me Colin), and I’m like ‘yes’. The end.
I’ve recently told my Mum about it and all she said was ‘as long as you’re socialising’. She’s worried that I’ll spend all my time cooped up in my flat not talking to anyone in real life! I don’t think she realises that now all my friends are other bloggers and my social life is much healthier now as I now actually have friends in Leeds. If it wasn’t for blogging, I’d only have my old housemate as all my other friends have now moved on!
I’ve had a cousin find my blog and send me a lovely message about how she thought it was great, which was very reassuring and I’ve recently told my sister-in-law.
Now I’m much less protective over it. I don’t go to great lengths to hide my blog. Although I don’t post about it on my public Facebook, I post photos at events with my blogging friends. I also have my blog URL in my Instagram bio, which many of my Facebook friends follow. A guy from work keeps talking about my Instgram and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s been on my blog through it.
But you know what? I don’t care anymore.
It’s dead easy for anyone of my Facebook friends, that includes family and work colleagues, to find me on Instagram and see. It wouldn’t surprise me if some had! My blog also comes up if you Google my full name.
I’ve not had any bad experiences with people after they’ve found out. Not to my face, anyway. They either think it’s fantastic, or don’t really understand or care.
I think we get it built into our head that it’s this massive thing that people will be shocked at. That people will judge us for and even laugh. But it’s not a big deal at all. The amount of times I’ve felt worried that someone has found out, but then realised they actually don’t even care. It’s almost underwhelming at times! But nothing to be worried about.
I’d love to hear about what reactions you’ve had towards your blog. Do you keep it private or do people know about it?
I never really kept my blogging life secret, to be honest. I shared it on my own Facebook page, made a Facebook page for my blog and invited my friends to like it. I know a handful of friends, and family, do read it, but I don’t think most of them bother, or really care. But no one has ever said anything negative. In fact, just the other day one of my old school friends commented that she loved reading my blog, and was really excited to follow my wedding planning in my new series. So that was lovely. I’m glad you haven’t had any negative experiences in coming out into the open with your blog 🙂 x
I never kept mine secret but I never mention it at work. My day job is really different from my blog so I just like keeping it completely separate. Please don’t throw away that dress – can’t you just get the zip fixed? Also I hope you do atleast end up telling your mum that you are quite a successful blogger! Mum sound exactly like mine – mine keeps telling me to go out etc etc. also!
I tell people that I have a blog. I mentioned it at work after a year, but I do not tell about it often. It’s a totally different job! And what a pity about the dress, it’s a wonderful dress!
I’m kind of in the “breakout” stage of blogging life. With my previous blogs, they’ve been super personal and a bit out of character for the person I am to some of my friends & coworkers, so it’s made sense to keep them separate. This one? Well, it’s more general, and I wouldn’t be ashamed if my mother read it.
It’s still not public knowledge though. I don’t hide it, and my personal Instagram is also my blog instagram. I’m not afraid of people finding out, but I don’t advertise it.
Also, get your dress to a tailor/seamstress. £10 for a new zip is not too bad if it means you can keep an old favourite alive!
I can actually relate to all you said here, Corinne as I was the same and was very protective over my blog. Initially I hide it from everyone because I know it’s not up to the standard that I want it to be but I’ve come a long way since then. I even include it in my resume these days because I’m really proud of it.
Oh I hate it when you have a piece of clothing you love and it breaks. I bought a top I loved only the other week, wore it once and then it developed two big holes! Not happy! I haven’t told anyone I know about my blog yet, other than my hubby, but I will do at some point. I’m not sure my friends and family will be interested!
I kept my blog quite private in the beginning but now I am at that stage like you, I don’t really care too much as my blog is better than it used to be and also it’s an evidence of some of the skills I have.
I 100% relate to this Corinne, I think it’s absolutely fine to keep your blog secret if you want to as I did for over a year. Eventually it just got to the point where it was such a big part of my life that I decided I didn’t want to cover it up anymore and you’re so right that people aren’t as big a dicks as you’d think, everyone was either really supportive or just didn’t really care!
Amy xx
http://www.callmeamy.co.uk
I love this post wow! My friends all found out about my blog in the last two days because Instagram decided to reccomend my blog Instagram to them all! I was so nervous but everyone was surprising nice and airport ice about it! It still feels so weird that people I know read what I write, but it won’t stop me!
Emily xx
***suportive
Autocorrect oops!
This was such an interesting post! For the first couple of years I kept my blog secret from everyone, then I gradually told a few friends. My family at home found out because I kept getting parcels to review and they were like ‘Why are you shopping so much??’ so I had to explain. Then my grandad discovered my blog when he was searching for my Etsy store haha. Because he lives in Ireland where people tell each other everything all my Irish family found out. Recently I shared it on my public Facebook as I thought family and friends may be interested in reading about my transplant experience. I was SO scared but everyone has been so lovely and supportive. Most don’t really understand what blogging is, but still.
I agree with you, most people AREN’T actually dicks! x
Josie | Sick Chick Chic
I “came out” on Facebook a few weeks back, most are shocked, or think its silly or lame, I don’t care haha. They just don’t understand it at all
Erin || MakeErinOver
Absolutely loved this post. It’s funny how you only just told your mum – my mum was the first person I told! It took me a while though and even now, only my closest friends and family know. I really want to tell everyone, but am so afraid of their reactions… but I have to do it some day!
Sofie x
Yes, I know EXACTLY what you mean! I kept mine a secret for yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeears! One or two of my work colleagues and PGCE pals found out about it independently and read it. The only people I told about it were my husband and older sister. My Mum found it by herself. I don’t mind that though. She likes it and always wants me to post things on it (e.g. “I hope you are going to post that TARDIS dress I bought you!” Yes Mum). I was mortified recently because my younger half-sister discovered my instagram by accident because she saw it as a suggesttion from my older sister’s IG. I quickly went to it and removed my Blog url because I do not want her to see it- I just have this feeling she and my Stepmum might think I’m a complete idiot if they read it or worse think I have far too high an opinion of myself to be posting outfits on the internet!
I enjoyed you talking about this last time and pleased that you have started to share your blog more. You should be really proud of yours. Girls I find really bitchy when it comes to my blog, they either think it is funny, are derogatory who would want to read a blog or I should start one I could get loads of free stuff. Little understanding of actually the commitment or time it take Lucy x
Pretty much everyone I know, knows about my blog. All the family and work people! I don’t think my Mum understands it at all, but my Dad, sister and boyfriend all do! They all seem supportive of it, and even help with ideas or pics sometimes 🙂 Tania xx taniamichele.blogspot.co.uk
I haven’t told many people but I do post things to my Facebook so I assume most people know. Sometimes I think it would be cool though to have another blog that only close friends or family knew about. Chloe x. P.S That dress is stunning !!