As I sit here staring at the blaring screen of my laptop, I realize that—for the first time—I am confronting the truth that has been hovering over me the past few months: I’ve outgrown my blog. It’s a scary realization when I think of the years, money and effort I’ve poured into this tiny corner of the internet I can call my own.
Then again, I can’t say I’m entirely surprised. I have see this happen to other bloggers I admire, who have painstakingly cultivated an online persona around being nomadic, single or a solo traveler only to have no idea how to reconcile their blog with their new lives once they inevitably marry, settle down or have children.
The telltale signs are aways the same when a travel blogger has outgrown their blog: the once travel-focused content starts to make subtle shifts towards lifestyle topics. Instagram feeds that once shared daily snapshots of new trips become less frequent, sharing past memories instead; meanwhile photos and captions give a nod to a loved one, a baby or a new business back home. In short, their life is going wonderfully, but they don’t know how to share that with an audience that has been cultivated to love a certain version of themselves.
For me, the outgrowing of my blog has been less subtle. Rather, I’ve just stopped updating my blog altogether, which (it must be said) is hardly the way to go about this. In one of those teachable ‘do as I say, not as I do’ moments, if you’re outgrowing your blog, don’t simply throw in the towel on your hard work. The truth is that my blog just doesn’t reflect the person I am anymore. Somewhere along the line, the dial of my life turned ever so slightly, creating ripples on the surface of my world until everything changed.
Back when I started this blog, it was to escape my life. I was unhappy in my marriage, unhappy at my work, unhappy in the predictable carousel ride of adulthood. My entire existence felt grey until I pressed publish on The Pin the Map Project and let my mind wander to the furthest corners of the world.
Truth be told, my blog never did take off the way the way I had hoped it would, which is to say it never became profitable enough to allow me to live off of it. For years, I pushed this blog uphill, determined to craft a life where I could write for myself, travel the world and afford NYC rent prices. This did not happen.
Last summer, the cold realization that my blog would never be profitable enough crumbled my resolve to keep it up. I went back to work, refusing to relegate myself to the grey cubicles of advertising agencies, and instead landing a job as Travel Editor of Culture Trip. My new job, by all accounts, seemed perfect. I have a full-time position, a regular paycheck and a job role that basically is a glorified version of what I had been doing for my own blog. I drifted away from my blog—too exhausted after nine-hour days spent travel writing to give the pages of this site anything new.
I never intended to quit blogging though. It is because of this crackpot idea of a travel blog that I managed to ride camels in the Sahara Desert in Morocco, that I walked alongside orangutans in Borneo, that I found myself learning about shamans in Mexico, that I did many of the incredible things I’ve done. It’s because of this blog that I came home to my writing, that I realized I wanted to be more than a blogger, that I called off my wedding, quit my job, moved out, found the love of my life and had the courage to start again.
Since my early twenties, my life has quite literally unfolded on the pages of this website. I have fought like hell for this blog, have cried for its failures, have felt at times as though this blog were my only damn friend. I will never stop keeping this blog alive, but like any relationship, it is time The Pin the Map Project grow with me.
So, here it is then: I do still travel, although not on a monthly basis as I once managed to do. I do still enjoy travel writing, although I’m more and more less inclined to write about travel tips and personal memoirs, focusing instead on global issues that matter to me. I do still solo travel, although much less frequently as I prefer to travel with my better half. I no longer care to lament the trappings of adult life because (spoiler alert) I’m now 30 years old and in the throes of the very adult things I once used to run from.
Yes, I have a home that I enjoy decorating. I have a pet cat whom I have gone full blown cat lady for. I have a loving boyfriend whom I live with and am keen to marry. I have a full-time job that I actually enjoy. This is who I am now. I don’t dream about backpacking throughout Asia for six months anymore; instead, I dream of getting married, of growing my journalism career, of traveling abroad in search of powerful stories I can write. At 30, I am more concerned with creativity and being a good writer, than snagging free press trips.
How The Pin the Map Project will evolve remains to be seen. I am hardly one to attempt to be Julia Childs in the kitchen and share recipes on my blog. I am not one to compose sonnets to apartment decorating and I doubt I’ll whip out some undiscovered DIY talents and start crafting rocking chairs out of pipe cleaners. Whatever this blog will or will not be, it will be a reflection of me now. A little bit of travel, a little bit of journalism and a lot of life musings mixed in. I hope you’ll stick around, dear reader and grow with me.
Hey Nikki, I really appreciate this post and I’m sure it wasn’t easy to write. I actually think this is a positive post. You haven’t outgrown your blog but you’ve grown as a person and it’s only natural for our blogs to grow with us as we change. The worst is when bloggers have these growing pains, say nothing, start posting less frequently or not at all, and then disappear without any explanation. It leaves readers scratching their heads. Blogging is far from easy and I respect the fact that you pulled back the curtain a bit. I don’t think you’ve outgrown your blog at all… it’s just that it’s growing with you, and that’s a good thing. You have my support!
Hi Nikki! I’ve kept up with your blog for years 🙂 I can totally relate to what you’re going through. I work full time and never get to travel as often as I’d like. I began to run out of content for what was my blog about travel plus I became a new mom. It wasn’t until last year when my husband pointed out that I should start writing about other things that I enjoy - make it a travel and lifestyle blog and it will reach a broader audience of people who are living an everyday life like us. I fought him on it at first, afraid of losing readers and followers but it actually brought more readers! So I did and I’m glad he suggested it. Good luck and I’m sure you’re long time readers will stick around. I’m looking forward to reading your future posts 🙂
- JaMeka
https://www.gotthetravelbugtoo.com/
Hey Nikki, thought I left a comment this morning, so if this posts twice, please delete! Anyway, I really appreciate this post and I’m sure it wasn’t easy to write. I think the best thing we can do as bloggers is to allow our site grow with us. It’s exactly what you’re doing and a natural part of of how we evolve and change as people. The worst is when bloggers post infrequently or stop altogether with no explanation. I enjoyed this look behind the curtain and I support you 100%!
Thank you so much for the supportive words! It is definitely tricky to usher my blog into this new chapter of my life, but at the end of the day I started this as a passion project and I want to keep that passion alive and going!
Thank you for the truly lovely and supportive words, JaMeka! I really appreciate it and it warms my heart to know that long time readers first of all exist (haha!) and are willing to stick around as I take my blog into this next chapter.
Mario Manlupig says
Can I just cry? Wow! Your honesty means so much to me. I have yet to start my blogging career as I’ve just left my job at a TV broadcasting company. I am learning so much from you, Nikki! For as long as you keep on producing relevant contents, we’ll be right here. All the best to you!
chewy travels says
Great update! Much better to be honest than try to try to make this blog something it’s not (or let it die cold and alone). There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that you and your life have changed! 🙂
I think I knew from the beginning that my blog would never be my full time job. I am passionate about some issues in science and society that I want to help work towards making progress, so that was always going to be my main focus. But I do sometimes fantasize about having a fabulous travel writing career that was launched by the work I’ve done on my blog!
thank you! It feels very freeing to just be honest and take back my blog 🙂
aw thank you so much! This comment warmed my heart 🙂 I can’t begin to tell you how magical it is to put a piece of yourself out there and receive such loving and supportive responses 🙂
dreamofadventures says
Thank you for the update =o) I found your blog about a year or two ago and have always enjoyed reading your posts. I think travel attracted me to your blog but it’s your writing that has made me stayed interested. You always have such a beautiful way of sharing what you do with us. No matter what you write I will continue to read your blog =o)
https://dreamofadventures.com/
Thank you for the truly lovely comment 🙂 It means the world to me that my writing can bring joy to even one person!
Traveolani says
Hi Nikki, the truth is that this happens to most bloggers, and it’s normal your blog to grow with you, and it’s ok if you publish posts on other topics. Most likely your readers changed as well and would love to read some lifestyle posts :).
Me, personally, I am tired of most travel blogs for the last two years - it’s the same headings, the same advices, the same skin deep stories, it’s not interesting and exciting anymore. I am tired of people telling me where go (right now), what to do, where to eat, why I should “love” doing something etc.
So we should accept change and it’ll all be ok 🙂
Traveolani says
I knew my blog will be only a hobby, i started it as it made me happy. However, I have two kids and a full time corporate job, and life is so busy, that I can’t be bothered anymore with posting often. I post whenever I can and I am ok with it.
I would love to read articles on other topics on your blog :). Good luck 🙂
It takes a LOT to realize this, let alone publish something like this as a blogger so kudos to you for being really transparent. I’ve come to the feeling, unpopular as it might be for some, that travel blogging is not a long-term sustainable thing ultimately and why I’m not trying to go hard on making my blog happen. I’m in my early thirties, with some mild health issues, and I mean as great as the idea of saying “eff it all!” sounds and quitting my job to be a full-time travel blogger, I rather need health insurance, student loans billed paid, etc. etc.
It seems like the natural evolution for many is some expand to more lifestyle (as you mentioned), become full on brand ambassadors or go work for a brand/company/publication, or develop their own business. Or some just call it quits for something else. All of this, honestly, is fine. Content has to evolve at some point, especially if the creator needs to expand or move on to other things. I’m sure it frustrates most readers, but I’d rather read blogs where the author is clearly still into it than something lacking the heart it used to have (but frankly still wants to get that blog traffic dime with less effort than previously shown)
Anyways, hope you figure out where you want to go content-wise!
Thanks for your comment! I agree, I don’t think that blogging is very sustainable long term. I’m sure there are exceptions to the rule there, but I know that these A-list bloggers juggle multiple revenue streams in order to keep their lives afloat. The dream of writing a blog post once a day and some how earning enough just on that is far fetched, especially as competition gets ever more fierce.
Thank you! I think it’s great to keep your blog as a hobby! Take away the pressure for monetization, likes or comments and you’re left with a pure passion for simply sharing your thoughts with the world. Now, that’s a beautiful thing!
Shawntelle Moncy says
I am so grateful I found this blog through YouTube! I’ve been researching how to help my blog takeoff for months and you are the first person that has given me useful and personable tips! Thank you so much for that and I’m sure that you get this a lot, but if you could check out my blog and please let me know any tips for my future in blogging, that would mean so much to me. My email is on my blog as well, it’s http://fortheloveofyourlife.blog
Thank you so much!
I’m so happy you find my posts useful! Make sure to check out my blogging and travel writing section here as I have put a lot of useful content there for aspiring bloggers and travel writers!
Agreed! I think it is the posts that marry personal stories with travel that stand out to me the most.
dreamofadventures says
I will definitely be staying around =o) I found your blog right when you started at the Culture Trip and have been following your journey since. You have such beautiful writing and inspiring posts that I love reading them xx
https://dreamofadventures.com/
HandLuggageOnly says
You’re so right! Your blog should be a reflection of you and what you love. Looking forward to reading your musing and seeing your new direction. 😀
Thank you! I adore your work so that means a lot coming from you guys 🙂 Here’s hoping the next chapter of PTM is strong!