Alice Catherine Alice Catherine

I wanted to write about something that’s been on my mind a lot lately – especially since I started blogging full time and have seen first hand how much the blogging world is growing and changing. I often find myself plagued with this idea that I’m not doing enough with what I’m being offered, and sometimes it makes me feel as though there’s a part of this industry that doesn’t quite connect with the way I want to participate in it…

Let me try and make some form of sense here. Blogging in 2019 is very much to do with networking and seemingly being everywhere all at once. It’s extravagant trips, it’s event appearances, and all the fancy panels in-between…

I guess what I’m trying to say is that sometimes just creating blog posts from your desk doesn’t feel like it cuts the mustard anymore. The blogging world demands more and more, and it’s hard to know where to draw the line. I even started a YouTube channel because I thought that’s what the next logical step was for someone who was ‘serious about blogging’ – I never really stopped and considered whether it was something I was passionate about doing. Photography and writing – yes. Youtube content – not so much. A dozen videos later and I just felt like my interest in making videos completely fizzled out. That’s not to say I won’t make any in the future, but the idea of having this strict posting schedule in order to stay on top of it all just felt suffocating and forced. I’d just never seen myself as YouTuber despite enjoying lots of other content creators on the same platform…

About a year into blogging, I started getting invited to events that made me pinch myself. Being in Manchester, I very much have to cherry pick the things that I go to – trains to London aren’t cheap for events that seem so short. I’m currently saving for a house, and I guess there’s a huge part of me that is content with my life in Manchester, and doesn’t feel as though I need to be in London every week. However, there’s always that niggling ten percent that feels as though by being in Manchester a lot, I’m not pushing myself enough. It’s a tough one, but I truly believe that there shouldn’t be one set mould for all of us when it comes to being a blogger. Of course I want to cease opportunity, but I also don’t want to make myself unhappy in the process… 

Freelancing should be about constructing a lifestyle that suits you. It’s the joy of working for yourself and managing your own time that I find so appealing, so I definitely don’t want to start living my life for other people. I wrote about this recently in my Letting Go & Living Differently blog post, and it’s something I’m determined to live by. As someone who suffers with anxiety, I often find working in London to be overwhelming – I find myself mentally exhausted and just itching to get home and switch off for a bit.

For me, blogging is typing my thoughts on here in the early hours of the morning. It’s connecting with likeminded people, exploring with my film camera, and creating a lifestyle that makes me feel proud. I want to travel the world and share as much with you guys as possible along the way, but I don’t have a burning desire to be everywhere all at once, and I don’t want to say yes to things that don’t feel like the right fit. For now, images and words feel like enough for me – my blog feels like my safe space, and I’m looking forward to working on it harder than ever before this year…

There might be times where I feel like I don’t quite come up to scratch – I’ll probably never be a great public speaker, and I’ll probably always be just a little bit awkward and anxious. I accept that along with all the other things that make me who I am. I feel as though there’s a big pressure in a lot of industries to be this bold and powerful version of yourself that’s always confident and striving for greatness.

I happen to think that there isn’t just one set recipe for being successful. Sometimes it’s not shouting from the rooftops or running around a big city – It’s whispering softly into your voice notes on an empty train carriage. It’s scribbling down ideas into your notepad late at night. It’s sharing ideas you aren’t sure about over breakfast with the people you love most…

Feeling pressure can sometimes be a healthy source of focusing ourselves, but other times it only exists because we see a consistent pattern of what others are doing laid out before us. I’m not sure if this blog post makes any coherent sense. Often, I’ll just experience a thought or a mood for a couple of days – I’ll then open my laptop,  stare at the screen in front of me for a while, and try and make sense of it all.

That’s what blogging means to me. Making sense of it all in my own way. Sometimes following trends, but not the crowds. Reminding myself that there’s room for everyone to do their own thing at their own pace, and we don’t all need to be heading in the same direction in order for things to work out. Less keeping up appearances and more keeping in line with why I carved out this little corner of the internet to begin with…


Photographs taken by Catherine Booty. The Hoxton Hotel, Paris 

Jumpsuit – Mango, Beret – vintage (similar here)

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8 Comments

  1. love this and relate entirely. I’ve been blogging nearly 8 years now and decided early on not to take it full time (i have another career which i wasn’t ready to give up), anyway, half the reason I felt I need to choose was because I simply couldn’t be all the places that everyone seemed to be, working full time and blogging full time. Even now I get invited to so many things and often after a day at work I just don’t have the energy to go, but there is such a huge drive towards networking and I can see those who are attending all these events growing thier instagram and blog as a result – getting exposure not just at the event but of course all the coverage from other people there too. I find it quite disheartening sometimes, as in todays blogging era I feel very ‘left behind’ and actually have come to accept in some way that my blog won’t grow and my instagram will forever be stuck in it’s small rut, because it simply isn’t getting out there so to speak. It’s a harsh reality and one I don’t particularly like, so I agree with you, it’s about carving your own mould. One things for sure so much has changed in 8 years, I think doing whats right for you is the only way to survive the longhaul.

    Mel x mediamarmalade.com

    1. alicecatherine says:

      Totally feel you on this! And I think I’d rather have a smaller community of people who ‘get me’ than endless followers that I feel like I have to constantly please. I definitely feel so grateful for where I’m at currently, feels very much like a sweet spot, but then there’s times when I feel as though I should be doing more. I think networking is obviously important but like you say, it’s time and money sometimes that people don’t have. I love being in Manchester because I feel as though it stops me getting carried away too much with all of these industry woes ha. Plus, it’s a lot bloody cheaper than London! xxx

  2. Frany says:

    Absolutely agree with this! Always stay true to who you are.

    1. alicecatherine says:

      Thank you! xx

  3. Melina says:

    I’m so glad I found you on instagram. You have come to become one of my favorite bloggers. I live extremely close to NYC, and have just started getting invited to events, and I honestly just don’t feel like I need to be there all the time. Not that the trains or expensive or anything, but I feel like for me, blogging is something that gives me completely happiness with my little safe corner. Going out to events gives me the exact opposite feeling. I feel anxious and nervous, and just overall extremely uncomfortable.
    I have considered going into youtube, and I made a few videos two years ago, and they weren’t terrible, they were just extremely time consuming, especially when I was giving my blog my all. This year might be the year where I take the plunge and MAYBE, try making some videos again, but who knows. I’m not pressuring myself too much. Great post Alice xxx

    Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com

    1. alicecatherine says:

      Thank you! This made me smile. You really described what I’ve been feeling lately – blogging is definitely my safe little corner too. I don’t feel like I need give that part of me to every event and opportunity that crops up. It’s something I started for myself and I definitely feel as though I’m happiest/creating my best work when I’m not distracted by the lifestyle of it all. Youtube is so time consuming! Really gotta hand it to people that spread themselves across all platforms – it’s dedication for sure. Sending lots of love to you, keep protecting your little safe space at all costs 🙂 xxx

  4. Holly White says:

    “That’s what blogging means to me. Making sense of it all in my own way.” – this hit me! This is exactly what blogging is for me too. There is so much pressure to be doing everything, from YouTube to IGTV and creative content, that sometimes I get so overwhelmed. In reality, blogging is about putting out there what you love and what you want to share and however you want to share it. Blogging is personal and unique to everyone. I think you expressed this so perfectly! xxx

    1. alicecatherine says:

      Aww so glad it resonated with you! Totally agree – we don’t need to feel so much pressure to spread ourselves thin xx

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