Whenever I meet someone new, our conversation inevitably turns to our interests, what we do, how we spend our time. And, since it’s an important aspect of my life and one that I’m proud of, I mention this blog.
Nine times out of ten, this is the part of the conversation where the other person lights up, excitement infusing her voice. As it turns out, she has been “thinking about starting her own blog!” And do I have any advice to offer?
Blogs are the new calling card de rigeur. Many people have one. Many more are thinking of starting one. But not everyone understands what blogging entails. They get all excited, fire up their computer, pick out a theme and a clever name and sit down to write that post that’s been rolling around in their head for months. They hit publish and wait. Maybe their mom or best friend leaves a comment. Maybe no one does. Undeterred, they press on to the next great idea they’ve got rolling around. Write, publish, repeat. And so it goes. Until life gets busy or they run out of ideas or the lack of audience makes it all seem pointless. And they stop.
Most blogs fail in the first three months.
I’ve watched it happen to friends and acquaintances and it makes me so sad. There’s a slippery slope that appears somewhere in the first few months of blogging. I stared down at it, and it’s ugly and steep. But here’s what I’m hoping—if you know the slope is coming, and what it looks like, you may be less likely to tumble down. Or, at the very least, more likely to get back up and keep going once you do.
Maybe it’s a bit presumptuous to dole out blogging advice seven months in. Call me presumptuous. There are a lot of things I wish I’d known when I started this blog. Things that would have made the process a little easier. Things we all learn as we go but would love to hear voiced by someone who’s already gone through them.
So, if you’re a new (or struggling) blogger, here are some road signs to prepare you for the ups and downs, useful reminders you can turn to when you get a little (or a lot) stuck.
Blogging Is About the Long Haul
You may spend hours and hours working on a fantastic post that gets very little attention. Or maybe it gets a ton (lucky you!). But, no matter, once it’s up, you have to sit down and start working on the next one. People will remember you as a summation of your work, not just the person who wrote that post. You have to show up and put your ideas out there week after week, post after post.
The good news? That gets easier the longer/more often you do it. What once took you five hours will eventually take you two. What once felt painstaking will grow into a sense of ease. There will be plenty of road bumps, dry spells, ihatemyblogwhydidistartablog moments. The trick is to keep going. If you do that, you’re part of the 5% of blogs that stay alive and kicking. Congratulations. No, seriously. You rock.
And speaking of the long haul: I wouldn’t worry too much about how often/when you post in the beginning. Non-bloggers ask me, “So, do you post every day?”
Ha. No way. Not at all.
Some people love to post every day and can produce quality content on a daily basis. If that’s you, go for it. If you’re an all or nothing person who needs the daily act of pushing “publish” to keep you blogging, do it. But for most of us, in the beginning especially, it’s important to pace ourselves. That momentum you feel when you first start will (most likely) wane. What are you going to do if you find out two months in that you can’t sustain your hectic posting schedule? Start small, once or twice a week, and go from there. If you have a lot of ideas, write some posts ahead of time to see you through dry spells. Then, if the creative fountain is just overflowing, by all means, post more often. The more you write, the more you’ll want to write.
Don’t beat yourself up if you mess up your posting schedule, skip a week or go on vacation.
Remember, blogging is about the long haul. It’s more important to create a blog that you and your audience want to keep coming back to. Don’t neglect your blog for too long, but don’t throw in the towel just because it got away from you for a while. Forget the guilt and write about what you love—that’s what will draw people to you and your blog. People crave the real stuff. Give it to them.
Blogging Utilizes a Specific Skill Set
Blogging is like running your own mini-magazine. You are the ideas guy, the writer, the editor, the photographer, the moderator, the promoter, and the techie all rolled into one. It’s really, really fun for people who like that kind of varied, creative work. It’s helpful to know your strong suits going in, as well as what you need to work on, or possibly outsource. If you aren’t a great editor, you can always barter with a friend: ask them to lend an eye in return for your rocking CSS skills. If you suck at design, hire someone to give your blog a facelift. It may not seem like it matters, but you’d be amazed at what a professional, aesthetically pleasing blog can do for your readership.
The look of your blog will enhance the content. Some of us (hello, me!) are seriously visual people and will close the browser if the blog is too cluttered or dark or hard to read. You may have something really amazing to say, but, I’m not gonna lie, if the layout is overwhelming or distracting, I probably won’t make it past the first paragraph. My brain just can’t handle it. And I’m not the only one.
Blogging offers a wonderful opportunity to hone a wide range of skills that will serve you well in other parts of your life. Take advantage of that. When I started this blog, I sat up for hours late at night teaching myself Photoshop. Maybe, unlike me, you have a baby or a really demanding job and you can’t find the time. That’s totally fine. Stay simple. One of my favorite blogs, Zen Habits, contains no photos. It’s spare and beautiful. And it works. It doesn’t have to be complicated to look good. But, just like your writing voice, it should be recognizably you.
Blogging Is About Letting Go
Want to know one of the big reasons I started a blog? It was to LET GO of my stuff, to stop coddling and rewriting and over thinking everything. It was to get my stuff out there, to you. I like to edit. Left to my own devices, I will keep chopping and rearranging and rewriting something until it gleams. That tendency kept me from sharing my work because my work was never ready.
Blogging doesn’t allow you to be too precious about your writing. You have an idea, you get it down, you edit it, and out it goes into the world, for better or worse. When you first start blogging, you may be scared to hit that publish button. You’ll reread your piece. You’ll change a few words. And then a few more. You may even throw the whole thing out, convinced that it royally sucks. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Get it out there! Stick with it and you’ll find an audience who’s receptive to your ideas and not nearly as critical as you feared.
Try things out, set your ideas free, have faith. Blogging has blessedly helped me release the death grip I once held on my writing. I wrote this post in my notebook yesterday morning. I typed and edited it this evening. I’m hitting publish…NOW.
Stay tuned for “So, You Want to Start a Blog: Part II” this Wednesday (also my birthday!). I’ll be talking about:
The Blogging Community, and Why it’s Vital to Connect
The Blogosphere’s Fickle Nature
Blogging’s Big Payoff, and Why It’s Totally Worth The Ups and Downs
As a non or newbie blogger, do you have any questions I (or my fellow bloggers) can help you out with? As a blogger, what advice do you wish you’d received when you first started out? What have you learned about blogging the hard way?
Related Posts:
So You Want to Start a Blog: Part II
Steal Like an Artist
Tagged: Blogging Advice, Blogs, Editing, How to Blog, Newbie Blogger, Promoting, Skills, writing
You are the best!!! I love this. I think I would have liked to know that it is OK to tweak your blog as you go – don’t feel like your first idea has to be the same aas your last one. And, take time to exlore alll the eother brilliant writers. And I have loved having themes like Tunes Tuesday or Photo Friday, which helps inspire with new ideas. I just love it!and definitely, don’t take yourself too seriously. Just enoy the ride. Great post, as always!! Looking forwartd to Part II!
Great advice, Jennifer! And very useful, coming from a prolific blogger like yourself. I especially like the not taking yourself too seriously comment. I think, for some new bloggers, the lack of instant gratification can be incredibly disheartening. But the more fun you have with it, the more rewarding it is. Community and journey are a part of the next post, so we’re on the same page there ;) Thanks for adding your two (very valuable) cents.
Anytime! It sounds funny to hear you call me a prolific blogger…I’ve only been blogging for seven months, too so I am just coming into that identity, if you know what I mean. But I guess we are veterans now! :-) Love your advice and insight.
Ahh, but I bet you’ve written at least 3 x as many posts as I have in that time. Prolific, indeed! Seven months in, I feel like a blogging teenager–still a little awkward but no longer in need of a diaper change ;)
Great post! And i got it in my reader YAY! (The Unfollow/ Follow thing worked, thanks for the tip!)
Oh good, I’m glad! Welcome back :)
Definitely, going to be listed in my “Best blogs” page or whatever I called it, lol. Helped me to think again and to redecide to keep going.
Thanks. Speaking of it all, next time you go to my blog page, would you mind doing a once over and telling me, seriously, if there is something bad about the layout or anything. Obviously, it’s not horrible as you do keep reading, but…
:-)
Scott
Hey Scott, I’m glad you found something worthwhile in the post. And if it encouraged you to keep going, well man, that really makes my night. Because you’re just so inspiring and consistent. Your blog is quite easy on the eyes–streamlined, light colors, lots of visuals (which I like!). I’m wondering if it’s just my browser, but your posts show up really close together on your home page–the likes and comments butt up next to the title of the following post. I’m not sure if that’s just the theme or if there’s a way to tweak that. But that’s such a minor thing, really. And maybe move the subscribe button up a bit so that people can find it more easily? I think your look really suits you. I always feel it’s very “Scott” when I come by to visit :)
Thanks that means a lot to me. Your blog was one of the very first I followed and I got there through “Freshly Pressed”. I hope, someday, I will be on that section, but I am not losing any sleep over it.
But, it did introduce me to you.
Scott
I checked and don’t see any way to alter the closeness of the posts except by changing the theme (and I like this theme).
I did move the follow button up to halfway.
Thanks again,
Scott
Great advice! While I’ve had my blog since January 2012, it’s been such a work in progress. I didn’t use photos for the first 3 months and no tags for the first 6, so other than facebook friends it was crickets chirping. I also didn’t realize the fun and necessity in connecting with other bloggers as well as commenting on posts I liked. I too have taught myself photoshop, painstakingly, and have refreshed my blog for a third time -arenaissanceglow.com- now ;) What got me passed the 3 month mark was your blog. I saw one I liked, one that inspired and kept me going. I write in notebooks as well (currently a pink lollypop one with glitter) and then “translate” on to my laptop, polishing while I go. It’s amazing how that first writing emerges rather quickly after letting it settle for a bit. I look forward to reading the next installment! Be well, Rian :)
Not to advocate relentless spammy plugs on other people’s sites, but making connections and linking back to related posts you have written can help bring in new readers. I think the other biggest thing is interacting. I try to “speak” to readers like I already know them. It makes for a comfortable atmosphere, which is a good incentive to stick around! It isn’t a fake thing either. I make a point to check out damn near everyone’s blog who comments or follows. I truly enjoy making those relationships. Basically, I have stopped sleeping ;). Good post Rian.
Love these points. I think the “aesthetically pleasing” point is so crucial. Unfortunately, I think a lot of people get discouraged with their layouts because WordPress has templates that aren’t easy to mess with. But if you put in the time, you can definitely maneuver and tinker with your blog until it’s the way you like.
Another piece of advice I wish I had known right when I started is to reach out to the blogging community. People are so friendly and willing to help you, if you only ask.
I agree with the aesthetically pleasing point as well. As a new blogger, the greatest challenge for me was finding a “look” that suited me well enough to actually start posting. I couldn’t stand the thought of turning someone away because it was tacky/loud/distracting.
Thanks for this post, Rian. Very helpful
Great points and great advice. I wish I had more thoroughly defined my “voice” before I started. It’s true, some posts that I have been really proud of have been just a blip, while others have really taken off. I still maintain that yours was the first blog I started to follow after I start my own and it blows me away the success you’ve had and you’ve only been at this a few longer than myself. I’m slowly learning and slowly trying to transform my blog into something I’m really proud of.
Perfect timing. I’m three months in to my blog and needed a little bit of cheerleading today.Thanks!
I would have loved reading this when I was starting my blog. You give such good insights! I am planning to buy my domain name and do a blog makeover sometime in the near future. I told myself that if I could keep the blog going for over six months, that I could spend a little money and make it more “legit.” The thing that still confuses me is RSS feed…Like dude, I just don’t get what the crap it is…Help?!
I understand being a perfectionist with writing. I have deleted many a post right before publishing. In college, I hated turning in my writing to be judged, and peer editing made me want to crawl into a dark hole. Blogging has made me much less timid about my writing, although I still get pangs of self doubt each time I hit ‘publish’.
Congrats on six months, Tobi! Can’t way to check out your blog makeover, though it looks pretty fab already. RSS is confusing–if you have an RSS reader, like Google Reader, you can just enter the name of the site you want to follow. So I’m not sure why there needs to be an RSS feed link on the blog itself. Maybe someone more tech savvy can help us out!
I’m glad to hear that blogging is slowly but surely getting you over that self doubt. Because, as you know, I think you rock!
Thank you!
Love your insights on blogging, Rian. I’m sure they’ll be of great help to new bloggers or hesitant ones. I would have loved to stumble upon this post when I started. Other pieces of advice I would add:
1. Don’t hit publish too fast. Let your post simmer at least one more day before posting. Letting go eventually is important but some people (including me!) can’t wait to share and have the opposite problem of yours.
2. Don’t expect your mother and best friend to comment. Sometimes they will, but most of the time they won’t. It doesn’t mean they don’t read your blog, they most certainly do. They probably just don’t know what to write or don’t understand how much it would mean to you if they did.
3. Check out freshly Pressed (it took me more than a year to check it out and understand what it was!)
4. You can improve your blog style and writing as you go. Don’t wait until you master everything to start.
5. Make it easy for your readers to find other posts of yours, use categories, link to other posts…
Okay, I’ll stop here- maybe I should write a list of my own :-)
Can’t wait for part 2!
xx
First, let me say that I don’t think you’re presumptuous at all. As you said yourself, most blogs fail in the first few months, so in my opinion that means that anyone who makes it to double that failure rate time frame can be considered an expert. Go you!
I can’t recall the precise date I started my blog but I’m definitely past the three month mark and I’m so proud of myself. :) It’s very difficult to fit posts into my already hectic schedule, but I think it’s worth it. Even if the overwhelming majority of my readers are family members who happen to stumble onto my posts via FaceBook, it feels good to know that I’m writing and someone is reading.
Congrats on making it past the three month mark! Here’s to many more posts!
This is a great post that came at a time when I kind of needed it. Blogging is a funny thing, one moment I’m in despair, having written some (I think) good posts and seeing little interest shown in them only to find that someone nominated me for a blog award! Connecting to a larger community and being able to perfect my writing, photography, layout and editing skills are, you’re right, very fun! It’s a great hobby!
It can be so hard to gauge where we stand in the blogging world without consistent feedback. Tomorrow’s post addresses that issue. I’m glad to hear you’re having so much fun with it–that’s what counts!
Don’t feel like you’re obliged to post regularly (i.e., once per day), rather wait until you have a good post you want to write. Quality not quantity after all.
Actually, I think blogging consistently requires a certain type of person, perhaps more introverted or reflective than the average individual. The happy extroverts of this world are probably too busy going out and doing stuff to nurture a blog.
I’m also still learning about perfecting the balance between writing for myself and writing for an audience. Part of blogging should be about expressing yourself in your own voice…but it should also be about creating something that outsiders can read, enjoy and relate to.
Looking forward to part 2. :)
Interesting point, Claire. Blogging certainly requires a good dose of introspection. But I wonder if many of the people who post brief, lighthearted content on a daily basis might do so for the sake of interaction. I know some incredibly social bloggers!
I absolutely agree that blogging is about expressing yourself authentically while simultaneously creating content that others can gain from. Thanks for sharing your insights!
My Writers’ Group has asked me to do a presentation on blogging — with your permission I would like to present some of your ideas–maybe you will get a few more followers – I was impressed by this whole post
Hi there– You can absolutely share my ideas, I would be flattered. Good luck with your presentation!
thanks so much :)
Hi Rian, I first discovered your blog in July through the byw course (it was the one that stood out the most for me) and I’ve been following since.
I started my blog in early September and (typically I guess!) this post couldn’t have come at a better time! Thank you for this, looking forward to part two : )
Me again, I was just re-reading your post and copped that you also kindly offered help to new/struggling bloggers i.e. me!
While it’s tempting to let loose with a long list of questions I would be thrilled if you and/or any fellow bloggers/readers here would visit my blog and let me know any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks again for the inspiration Rian..
Hey Jane! How’s it going? I would love to visit your blog. Neither your gravatar or name are linking to your blog. Can you send me the site link when you have a free sec? Hope your week is off to a great start!
Thank you for mentioning the letting go aspect of blogging. I got a comment on my blog a few days ago that really bugged me. It was all about how I had several grammatical errors in my blog, but that the commenter would not point them out because they didn’t want to be one of “those people.” We’ll, too late, I thought. But my point is, that blogging is a place to let your hair down and make mistakes and be creative with language. I am glad you agree. It is helping me to feel better and to let go of that comment!
I saw that comment, Emily. It’s a shame that people can be so careless when there’s a screen between them and the person they’re addressing. I’m sure the commenter didn’t realize it came across that way (or at least I hope that’s the case). Your posts are very well edited, so it’s silly to criticize your grammar! I totally agree that communication and creativity are at the heart of blogging–and there are so many, many ways of communicating. It feels like some people spend so much time looking at the tiny, insignificant details that they miss the point entirely. Oh well, their loss. I think your blog is very well written!
A great post! I found myself floundering for things to write about when I first started out and had zero audience members. Even now, my audience is relatively small, but my blogging has become something that is more for myself than anything. I love the idea that we are living in the age where we can record, publish and archive our lives in such a detailed way and be able to look back on it.
I love your advice and your writing style – thanks for the post!
It’s always exciting to see a a new Truth and Cake notification in my in-box. I’m never disappointed in your themeand what you have to say…..always you are a great motivator. Thanks.
That is the best compliment–thank you!
Thanks so much for posting this! I just started blogging and feel sort of like I don’t really know what I am doing. Any tips help, and yours are great! I look forward to your next post!
great post Ryan! I believe in my own experience that read other blogs, finde interest, and share are a good a way to begin. An is so important to writte the heart. That always work!
I would love to hear your thoughts on finding your voice and direction with a blog. I jumped right in and am still figuring this out 6 months into it. I’m glad I’m doing it this way because I could have waited forever to figure out my theme and direction, but I’d just love to start a conversation about some of the themes other bloggers look for in their work to help them realize their voice.
Thanks as always for sharing.
I feel like a write the Seinfeld of blogs sometimes, its is literally a blog about nothing either than the (what I perceive to be) funny or interesting stuff that happens to me on a daily basis. I think that’s the hardest thing when trying to find an audience for a blog like mine, what is incenting them to come back? I may talk about fitness one week and whinge about a coworker the next. I think I need more focus!
Hey Nancy! You know, I wouldn’t worry too terribly much about sticking to a specific niche at the start. That’s something that will probably come to you as you continue blogging. If you start out restricting yourself to only A, you may find you grow tired of A and don’t have as much to say about it as you originally anticipated. If there’s something that really gets you going, that will emerge the longer you blog. As I discussed in Part II, what you write about isn’t as important as how you write about it. People will be attracted to your writing voice and they’ll come back for more of that. Besides, Seinfeld was a great show ;)
So well done Rian, fabulous post. I can relate to so much of what you outlined, and I love the honesty with which you share your own experience, what got you started and what you have learned. Thanks !!
Rian, one of my favorite things about you and your blog is the encouragement you give to other bloggers. This post is fantastic because you break down the everyday struggles that come once a person decides to join the blogosphere and how to get past them. You don’t talk down to your readers, but rather advise each of them as if you were a close friend. You’re an inspiration, Rian and you have turned Truth and Cake into a must-read. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for this post! You are the first personal blogger I found so far. I feel like I ended in a world that corporations or ”big names” haven taken over as well. I recently started blogging and I try to keep up the good work. But most of the time I think ”Is there anybody out there?” Where do the personal bloggers unite?!
I hope Part II answered that question for you a bit. WordPress is full of personal blogs–I’ve found it to be a fantastic gathering place full of really interesting, welcoming people. You can click around and pay a visit to the readers of my blog and see if you find any kindred spirits (just click on the gravatars and it should link you up to their blogs). I did something a few months ago called “Freshly Press Yourself” where readers shared their own posts and dicovered new blogs to read/follow. You can check it out here: http://truthandcake.com/2012/07/12/freshly-press-yourself/ . I’m going to do another one soon, so keep an eye out. It’s a great way to meet people. And don’t forget to visit the Freshly Pressed page now and then. You’ll find lots of great new blogs to follow/establish relationships with there. Let me know how it goes for you!
Really enjoyed reading your post. Lots of useful help, thank you. And happy birthday!
Very good advice! I need to be more consistent with my posts because I just love writing them. Writing keeps me sane while also stressing me out, if that makes sense.
Also, we share a birthday! Only 45 more minutes until we begin a new year of our lives. Enjoy and have a wonderful day.
I hope you had a fab birthday, Alyssa! One filled with lots of cake!
Great post! I love hearing blogging tips.
And HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Happy birthday! Such a fantastic post. Really. Having the courage to insert yourself into the white noise of social media can be daunting. I always struggle the most with creating the time to write when it gets hard. Ahem. Like right now. ;) Perfect timing to read this. Thank you!
Ahhh Rian! You have NO idea how much I’ve been looking forward to reading this post. Your advice is eerily similar to what I just wrote for an upcoming guest post – I’m so glad you made that point about the look and feel. It’s NOT just about the writing – if it’s too hard to read, people are going to jump ship (like you said)!
I had no idea so few blogs made it through the long haul! For me, that’s actually encouraging, because I’ve just been reminding myself during dry spells to, “Just keep going. That’s all you need to do.”
And you taught yourself Photoshop in one night?! I just downloaded a free trial, opened it a few days ago, and got completely overwhelmed. I really thought I’d be able to figure it out on my own. Blarg!
This was awesome. Can’t wait to read part two.
Only 5 percent of us keep going? I’ve been doing this 3/wk since July 2009.
I read Freshly Pressed every day and would urge others to do so as well.
I spent a hour every day (or more) for probably a year to read other blogs and leave comments. It took a lot of time and energy but it paid off as almost every single person came back to my blog and subscribed.
One reason I’d strongly urge people to read Freshly Pressed is to see what sorts of things get FPed — my blog has been FPed five times, and thanks to that, has grown a lot. The instant and huge exposure it gives you is worth years of posting to a smaller audience, so it’s well worth aiming for.
I’d also urge bloggers to add links to others, and not just blogs — videos, newspapers, magazines…it seems that very few people do. And have strong opinions about something current and newsy…readers are hungry for smart, thoughtful commentary on the news of the day, not just cute stuff about love or life or cats.
This is a fantastic post & I love the points you talk about. A lot of blogging tips is all about how to gain readerships but hardly anyone mentioned that to start with you need to be ready for the long haul.
I have been blogging since I was 15 and over the last 5 years have learnt how to continue throughout the ‘dry’ spells. But the biggest think it has helped me with is my writing skills. It helped me with essay writing at University & man did it teach me how to spell whilst in secondary school.
My tip – enjoy what you do & write about topics/things you want to read.
Hi Rinn,
I just started a blog recently and had just reached that slippery slope you mentioned, when I saw this blog.
It has inspired me to keep working at it and to improve myself over time.
Thanks !
Have been following your blog for sometime and love your work :)
- Rajni
Thanks for sharing your brilliant insight into the world of blogging! I’ve tried time and time again to get a blog off the ground, but I always end up abandoning them when I feel my own energy/ideas lagging. I’m not giving up on the project I have now, and, if I may add my insight from so many failed projects: don’t quit the blog you’ve got! Even if you don’t feel inspired, you should give your blog a second, third, fifth chance. You won’t be able to blog until you’ve stuck it out in good times and bad.
Wonderful post and some great advice here. I can’t believe you have only been at this for 9 months. You sound so wise.
I have been blogging since May 2009 and as you said, the more you post, the easier it gets. I was very disciplined and forced myself to post once a week. I left lots of comments on other blogs and eventually my following grew. I have been FP’d 3 times and my views per day and followers grew each time.
P.S. Just lost myself in your blog for the last 90 minutes. You write beautifully!
We’re FP twins :) Thanks so much for dropping by and taking a look around. I hope you stick around and join the conversation–there are lots of cool folks with interesting opinions hanging out here. Your blog looks so tasty. I think I’m going to have to give those honey roasted peanut butter cookies a shot. Yum.
It goes without writing how insightful and great this blog post it. Thank you for posting real tips and advice on how to be a blogger. I just started a blog in early 2012 and I love it, but I know I have room to improve and it’s only with practice and reading other blogs do we improve. The eye on the prize should be self-fulfillment through writing and not fame or fortune as a celebrity blogger. Only a few know that, but we all have something unique to say and the world online provides that stage! We can all be a STAR, a Blogger Star! One thing I have learnt from my 1 year of blogging is to be consistent, which is the hardest thing to do, when life gets in the way, but that is the challenge! I hope you will post future articles on how to blog better, it’s very helpful. Cheers :)
I just had a flashback.. I wrote on my first blog and was all excited and it turned out that nobody was interested in it (not even me!) so I closed it down.. The best things come in three so I don’t think I’ll have to close my current blog down anytime soon… hopefully! :)
As someone who’s been blogging for a year now, seriously fabulous post! I really enjoyed reading this, and wish I’d seen it earlier throughout my beginner months!