Things to Know Before Becoming a Chronic Blogger

In my last post I discussed the movie Me Before You and suggested that in order to change perceptions about disabled people, more disabled people need to share their experiences. The long story shorter is this: We need more disabled bloggers sharing their lives on the internet.

But it isn’t always easy to step out of your comfort zone and start sharing details about your life.

It can be unappealing to know you’re baring these details on the internet to strangers everywhere. And it also can be daunting if you haven’t shared some of this information with family and friends. But if you think that blogging or writing is something you may be interested in, I hope this post finds you well.

The first thing I want to stress, which you need to always remember as you begin your journey as a blogger or a writer, is that you have something to offer. Your life and your experience is valid and worth living. Everyone has a unique style, be it fashion or writing, or both. Everyone has a unique viewpoint and ideas about life based on experiences. We all have individualized life hacks, tips and tricks to live our disabled (chronic lives.)

All of that is valuable, and someone on the internet will care about it and care about you. They will read your content and you will help them not to feel alone. You never know the impact you might have or the people you will reach.

And, there will be times during the blogging journey when it seems useless. That’s when you remember why you’re doing it: You should be blogging as much, if not more, for yourself, as you are for your readers.

Blogging your life

You’ll need to decide on your content. What kind of posts will you write? Will they be lifestyle pieces with a humorous twist? Will they be advocacy pieces written to inspire and encourage others based on your own experience? Will you focus on others’ experiences as disabled persons and rarely mention your own? The choice is yours, and you can be multiple things posting a variety of content. But identifying your niche and acknowledging “I am a disabled blogger and this is what I focus on,” will help you tremendously in the long run. It will help you stay focused, and to find and produce content. It will help you grow and expand your blog when you’re ready.

An essential component in becoming a chronic blogger is finding your audience. This is where your niche blog topic comes in handy. Searching your diagnosis, i.e., “(insert illness here) anxiety support group,” on Facebook, for example, will help you find people who may become your friends and become curious about your work as a blogger. You’re likely to find people who are doing what you’re doing, or aim to be doing, in these places. These are good resources.

Search the hashtags at places like Tumblr and Twitter — #chroniclife or #chronicblogs #chronicillness, etc. — to connect with people. You also can share links to your work using hashtags. I recommend looking into the Chronic Illness Blogging Network once you get started. Being a chronic illness blogger is a great way to grow, make some money, or maybe get some cool products.

The possibilities for blogs about the disabled are endless. This is a growing community that needs you. Good luck, and happy writing!

Note: Cerebral Palsy News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cerebral Palsy News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cerebral palsy.