I started my first blog on July 29th of 2010, not knowing really what to expect. I wanted to do something challenging, something fulfilling, and something fun. I basically needed a new hobby since I had been having a lot of stress that year and wanted to take my mind off of these negative things and put it into something a bit more positive.

Starting Noirgossip.com was a whirlwind of an experience in just a short amount of time.  For the average person who knows just enough about the internet to open an email account, chat, and find their way around Facebook, I soon found out that I certainly was not prepared for doing something so big-on my own.

All of my experience in working with posting articles alone came from my limited experience on a overseas entertainment website.  Watching the CEO and founder of this now extremely successful African entertainment online source build an simple idea into this very successful reality from the ground up, is really what ultimately inspired me to do the same.  I had never seen someone I personally knew, put their heart so strongly in everything they were involved in… The man breathes passion for his work.

In learning the ropes of the ends and outs of blogging in the first month I started writing, I was somewhat consumed in what makes blogging successful.  I am naturally a worry wort, so its hard not to think that I am not doing something right when every time I look for a post or a new visitor, nothing is there.  At that time, I brought some of my frustrations to light with the only one I really looked up to, and his response was  ”Maybe you should quit.  After all, blogging isn’t for everyone…  What makes you think people will run to your site, unless you give them something they want…I have been doing this for two years, you are complaining after one month… you have to have passion.”  I admit when I first heard these words, I felt sad, I felt like a failure, I felt bad for complaining, and I felt like a fool for bringing it all up.  I was rather disappointed because in the back of my mind I was looking for a pick-me-up, an word of encouragement from someone I always admired so much.  But, I’m now so glad that he gave me a bitter pill to swallow, because he is right.  You need tough skin, you need determination, you need willpower, and most of all you have to be passionate about whatever you want to do, otherwise you will not be successful.  Your heart has to be in it, something I always saw when I would notice his workings.  I then took my involvement with NoirGossip in a different way because  I really wanted this to work and be successful but most of all, I want to please my audience and have fun while doing it. And I was successful for a few years, until I got burnt out doing everything on my own.

Looking at other successful black bloggers online, I can see everyone has their own niche.  They own have their own writing style, their own reason for reaching out to the world.  Some do it as a hobby, others as their job.  When I was first introduced to the website SandraRose.com, she was probably my second favorite black blogger.  Then I was hooked on TalkingwithTami.com and Necolebitchie.com’s style. I loved that they all seemed to talk to their readers, a style I feel most comfortable with also.  When I read their posts, I felt like they were talking directly to their audience, and that is a cool relationship to have with your visitors.

There are so many lovely blogs out here from haircare to love and relationships that our brothers and sisters are putting out for us to read and enjoy.  Lets support each other more and learn from each others experiences.  Just being a person of color gives us this unique perspective and point of view, that we all have something of value to share with the world.  Thanks to my old mentor for not only the tough love, but also to those I loved to follow for instilling the willingness in me to come out and open up my thoughts and ideas, share my personal experiences and be willing to talk about anything, with anyone, anywhere.  People like you are appreciated.  I’m glad i’m back writing again, and I am in this for the long haul.