With ten years of blogging behind me, it’s time to re-introduce myself (or my blog, anyway). Here’s how my blogging journey began, where it’s going & what the future holds for Formidable Joy.
2021 officially marks ten years of my blogging journey. In fact, tomorrow marks the ten-year anniversary of my first ever post. My first post, I introduced myself to the world, which is quite good timing to coincide with ten years of blogging.
I’ve told this story before but in case you didn’t already know: I launched the blog whilst studying in my final year of university. I was working on my own ‘magazine’ for my dissertation. The magazine was called Inspire Magazine, because I’d always feel so inspired reading magazines like Cosmopolitan or More Magazine (if you remember it!). I felt inspired by the fashion, by the career advice, by the love stories. All I wanted to do back then – and still want to do now – is inspire people, much like I felt then.
For my dissertation, I wanted to make a magazine that featured people of all shapes, sizes, colour and abilities. I wanted to share fashion that was affordable and worked on all shapes. I wanted to create a magazine that didn’t exclude anyone. Of course, for someone in their final year of university, that was wishful thinking! But I created this blog alongside creating my ‘inspiring’ magazine. Originally it was to ask for feedback on my magazine but overall to share my opinion and to share tips on life. And to basically own my own little corner of the internet.
The way I saw it, if I shared a discount code for a shop and someone used it, finding a nice dress that gave them a confidence boost and made them smile, I was happy. If I managed to relate to someone by sharing my thoughts and opinions on love, I was happy. If I managed to make someone laugh their ass off at my terrible attempt at fashion in my first ever ‘look of the week’ I was happy! Can you see why I stepped away from trying to make it as a fashion blogger?!
Blogging in Modern Times
I still have those values. Though some posts I write ‘just because I want to’ overall, the majority of posts are written to inspire or help people. Some of my content has changed a little. I no longer share the latest discount codes for shops, but I do focus on ways to save money instead now! My Wednesday Wishlists have faltered to occasional wishlists. My terribly named ‘Snapshots of the Present’ gave way to what was supposed to be monthly round-up lifestyle posts, until, well, Covid-19 happened.
There have been bigger changes too, during my ten years of blogging. I stopped my ‘Hottie of the Week’ series completely. Although I definitely harboured crushes on very good-looking famous men, it was also, er, probably quite objectifying too.
My life, outside of the blog, has changed entirely. I’ve gone from a student to a graduate, to now working full time. I lived in Sunderland when I launched this blog. Then I moved back home to Luton once I graduated and now I live in Milton Keynes starting the next chapter of my life. I never really blogged about being a student. But I can now share content about living in my first home. Posts like making this rented house a home, subscribing to food subscription boxes and saving money towards future travels.
So although the content has changed and grown – as I’ve practically grown up from a teenager to an adult over these past ten years of blogging – my (writing) values have always stayed the same. I still want to inspire my readers. I aim to bring back more inspiring and thought-provoking posts from here on out.
Read more: Happy 1,000 posts!
Here’s What You Can Expect from Formidable Joy
Whether you’re a long-term reader or a new visitor entirely, here’s what you can expect from Formidable Joy:
Lifestyle
I’m a lifestyle blogger through and through! So you’ll find posts ranging from my favourite apps helping me get my sh*t together to what I’ve been up to in my personal life. Basically, anything that can’t be categorized into a specific subject!
Travel
We can’t travel much right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t plan ahead. Or get inspired by the idea of future travels. In the (hopefully near) future, most of my travels will feature diary posts from around Europe, more American road-trip planning and tips and tricks for budget travel.
London
Again, I’m a little unsure whether going to London on a regular basis is going to be a possibility next year or not. But I love to write about cool events, quirky pop-ups and fun things to do in the capital. I hope to hone into this more this year – and not just at Halloween!
…And More Local: Milton Keynes
I’ve dabbled a little with writing about Milton Keynes recently, being that I moved here around about this time last year. I’m well aware that I’ll be joining one of many Milton Keynes based bloggers, but I’ve come to realise that’s no reason to stop me. In fact, it’s all the more reason to join the community of local bloggers!
Entertainment
Entertainment is probably going to be a regular subject I blog about in 2021. Especially if we’re all going to be stuck inside for months on end.. again. You can expect book reviews, movie and series recommendations and even gaming related content!
Activism
Through lack of a better word, I want to focus more on more important issues. Things like tackling racism, supporting charity and standing up for what you believe in. In all honesty, I haven’t focused much on this type of thing in the past. I’m simply uneducated in politics or the struggles other countries may be facing. But I want to change this, even if that means posting very simple posts about ways we can do better. Or ways we can learn to understand better. I know I’m not the only one who isn’t as educated as they should be. Particularly in terms of activism and what is going on in the world right now. So hopefully I can help my readers learn as I do.
Adulting
I’m going to continue to share tips on ‘adulting’. Subjects like money (saving, investing, budgeting) and renting a home as a 30-something adult. Also dealing with being in your thirties and still not knowing where the hell you’re going with your life!
The weird and the wonderful
And finally, I’m going to be introducing some more ‘weird’ posts in the near future. You can expect content like my favourite podcasts all about horror and the best true crime documentaries to watch. From next month, I’m launching my Freaky Friday posts talking about my favourite mysteries from around the world. As it stands, these will be posted the first Friday of every month. But I am very open to better name ideas. So although these will be a monthly post, the day may change.
So there we have it. Moving forward, the above will be what you can expect on Formidable Joy. Although lifestyle and travel posts will be my main niche, you can expect a lot more from me. I’m especially excited to get back to my roots of inspiring and thought-provoking posts to help us be our best selves in 2021. Or maybe this year will continue to be a total sh*t show..who knows. At least you’ll still find some cool conspiracy theories to read about or fun video games to play if that’s the case!
And finally, cheers to me. Cheers to managing to blog (semi-regularly) for an entire TEN YEARS whilst also studying/working full time/experiencing all the troubles of growing up. The sheer fact that I still have content ideas, still enjoy everything about blogging, still work as hard as I do is something I’m incredibly proud of. I’ll certainly be having a glass of wine to celebrate tonight!
What type of posts would you like to read on the blog this year? Do you have any feedback to share with me? Let me know!
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