Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Personal Belongings Post 12 :: Write 31 Days




This idea of sharing your personal things may seem strange at first but can make for an interesting post. Followers, and people in general, are curious and most of us like human contact. I may not be able to visit you personally, but as I get to know you via internet, I am more and more likely to want to more. Sharing your personal things is a way of sharing your life.

Keeping in mind that TMI (too much information) is real, let's consider what you might share and why.
  • vehicles--For some people the vehicle you drive and take care of is an extension of you. You can be honest and show the Cheerios that your kids spilled. You should clean out the car if it's looking like a pigsty. While you are not seeking to impress readers with expensive things, you don't want them thinking that you are disgusting. 
  • work space--Regardless of the size, your workspace can motive others to organize their spaces, help them to see the difference that curating their supplies can make, or encourage them to work toward the goal of having a dedicated studio.
  • niche specific tools--Sharing photos or videos of your favorite tools is much like recommending them to your readers. Tell them what motivated you to make the purchase. Include the cost of each item by looking it up online or add a link to a place where they can make a purchase. (Be sure to inform readers if you are affiliated.)
  • home--Your house and décor are quite personal but, if you are willing to share, they can give much insight into who you are. My family has lived in this home for almost 25 years. Pictures of any room would show just how comfortable and lived-in it has become. No showroom-worthy life here!
  • items you've made--I keep an updated quilt show on both my Pinterest and my blog and find that many people visit those pages. 
  • closet or wardrobe--Again a very personal look at your personality and taste, you might look around carefully about what is visible before turning on the camera.
A flatlay of a magnifying glass, a cup of coffee, cameras, photos and various travel items on a map
Photo credit: Ian Dooley @nativemello

  • things that are "odd"--Collections that you've curated for years are compelling, especially if you tell their story.Perhaps you have several vintage items that are rare or that you are proud of. Items handed down through generations are always interesting. 
  • sports or hobby items--Do you play a sport or hobby that you don't blog about? You can write a couple posts detailing your engagement, your equipment, and people who share this passion.
  • volunteer work--Keeping the privacy of others in mind you can share those things that you do to make the world a better place. Consider taking photos when possible. Ask permission first, or take pictures at an angle so no one can recognize the subject. 
  • special/surprise gifts--When I retired in May, the faculty gave us an after-school party. While it's common to give a small gift, there where five or six retirees--many more than the usual one or two, so we didn't expect anything a nice as the outdoor rocking chairs that the teachers presented to us. That was a surprise gift I could have shared.
Although I noted both the items and why they might be a good topic for your blog, I'd like to reiterate that there are stories in every aspect of life. You want to tell the story of those personal things you share: the time, place, event, why you (or someone else) chose it, where it was purchased, and so on. 

Then encourage your readers to join the conversation by asking a question that connects them to the item. For example, if you write about your hobby supply closet, ask how they organize their supply space. 

Finally, remember that you can be yourself in this type of post. Your house doesn't have to be immaculate, or your studio a cover page for a magazine. If your favorite tool has a nick or scratch, point it out and tell that story, especially if there's any humor to be told. 


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