Words with a Blogger Wednesday

Hello readers!

This week's Words with a blogger Wednesday will be taken from my book, Get your blog on, due to come out next year.

Words with a blogger Wednesday is

Izzy Rose from:

http://stepmothersmilk.com/

Tell us about yourself:

My name is Izzy Rose and I am the creator of Stepmother’s Milk, a site for and about step moms. I blog about my step mom experiences, host a step parenting forum and spotlight other step moms across the country. My memoir, based on the blog, has recently been purchased by Random House, Three Rivers Press.

When did you start blogging and what made you decide to blog?

I started blogging the year I moved from California to Texas— leaving behind my long-time single lifestyle, including my career, my family and girlfriends— to become an overnight mother to my new husband’s kids from a previous marriage. As a new step mom, I went looking for a “stepladies” support group and when I didn’t find anything off or online with the right attitude, I started my own online community.

Do you make money from your blog?

If yes, what do you recommend to make money on your site?I feature some ads on my site, but so far, they haven’t made me a millionaire. I’m wary of over-populating my site with ads. I think this can compromise the integrity of the writing and the message and turn readers away. My main objective for creating Stepmother’s Milk was and still is not to make money (although— let’s be honest— I won’t turn it away), but to connect with other women who have valuable stories and advice to share.

What do you do to network/promote your blog to bring in readers?

I read other sites about step parenting, leave comments and make connections with the authors. Creating a word-of-mouth network is the best way to build your reader base.

How frequently do you post?

I try to post 2-3 times a week.

Do you own a business and blog about your business?

I don’t do this

What do you recommend to blog about?

Find your niche and write honestly about your experiences. Readers adore the god-awful truth and will return regularly for a good laugh.

Have your readers influenced you in any way?

My readers are smart and savvy and constantly give me things to think and write about. I take my cues from them.

What have you learned from your readers?

I am not alone and there is strength and power in honesty.

Has blogging changed your life in any way?

Absolutely. Blogging has connected me to a group of women I would have never met otherwise. It’s virtual therapy.

What is your blogging style?

I keep it personal, but I try to craft a narrative— stories with universal truths.

What do you do when you get writer's block?

When I have writer’s block, I get up and walk away. I take a run, go to a yoga class— something physical usually breaks the block. Sometimes, I’ll sit down and read an author I really love and admire and this will inspire me to open up. Sometimes When things getting really bad, I’ve been known to scream obscenities at the computer, open a bottle of wine and call it a day.

Do you have any advice for newbie bloggers?

SPELL CHECK. You are publishing your own work— keep it tight, clean and grammatically correct. Sloppy writing is a big no-no.

Thanks, Izzy!

Would you like to be my next victim-er, I mean interview?
Comment on this post and I will stalk you and peek in your windows to watch your family eat dinner just like the Australian guy that follows that gecko character on Geico-Or, I'll just send you an email with a list of interview questions for you to answer.