Normally, the main subjects of my posts are the recipes.
I’m actually somewhat shy and don’t like a lot of attention on myself.
But many people have asked what I do as a full-time blogger.
I do not just sit around and eat cookies all day. (Too bad, ‘cause that would be fun.) I work really hard! So today’s post is going to be a little different from the normal recipe posts.
A Day in the Life:
I wake up naturally around 5am, amble downstairs, and start replying to a massive amount of emails, comments, facebook messages, and tweets. If it’s a running day, I’ll eat pre-run snack, then and answer more questions while waiting for the food to digest. [Insert run here: a little over an hour]
Upon returning, I quickly check the computer again, then eat a real breakfast.
Yesterday’s breakfast was this: 5-Minute Chocolate Oatmeal.
With breakfast done, I go back over to the computer, this time to ensure the day’s post published as scheduled. I work on writing new posts for about an hour and a half, taking mini breaks to measure dry ingredients, get one or two things started on the stove or oven, and cook something else in the microwave. (I’ve become a master at multitasking.) Then I run upstairs for a quick shower, after which I do maybe 20-30 more minutes of blogwork (writing posts, editing photos, answering questions) whilst also making lunch.
After lunch, I take Henry and Batman for a walk (unless they’re at my parents’ house, in which case I go by myself). I come back and do a photoshoot or two, since it’ll usually be nice and light out by this time. I also do some taste-testing of whatever recipe experiments were cooked that morning. Yesterday, I tested chocolate peanut butter pie and peach cinnamon coffee cake.
About two hours after lunch I’m usually hungry again, so I’ll have a snack. Sometimes the day’s experiments have turned out so well that I’ll just eat them for snack.
Yesterday’s snack was one of my favorites: Fudge Brownie Energy Bars.
Yes, more chocolate.
Then it’s back to the kitchen for more recipe experiments (and washing dishes!). I also continue to check the computer intermittently, answering questions and emails. Y’all ask a lot of questions, which I love because it means people are reading and making the recipes. I do try to answer as many as I possibly can!
Some days I run errands, often with a friend (or my roommate, if she’s off from work) to keep me company. And then it’s dinnertime, which is often followed by hanging out with whatever friends (if any) have found their way over. Our house is quickly becoming the “hang out after work” place, and I take advantage of this by giving out samples of the day’s experiments, asking for honest opinions.
Not all my experiments turn out; it sometimes takes two or three trials before I arrive at a recipe worthy of publishing… or ten in the case of my Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies!
Sometimes we’ll watch tv (Gossip Girl, Friends, whatever sports are on), but I always have a notebook in hand to multitask—brainstorming recipe combinations, writing out new posts, making a to-do list, etc. After people leave (or even sometimes when they’re still over), I’ll schedule the next day’s post, continue to tackle the never-ending inbox, eat a nighttime snack—usually more chocolate!—and finally turn off the computer. I don’t take days off, and even if there’s no post for the day I’m still working on all the other components of the site. When it’s time for bed, I rarely have a problem falling asleep.
I know some people (a lot of people?) think blogging isn’t a “real” job, but truthfully it’s no different from saying my job is: photographer, photo-editor, recipe developer, writer, and often–too often!–web technician. It’s definitely never boring!
What do you do as your job?
Do you enjoy what you do? I love almost every minute of this (except when the site crashes or an experiment fails… those times are no fun), and I really hope to continue running this website for as long as people continue to read.
EDIT: By popular demand:
Part Two: Questions and Answers
is this a joke? this is your idea of a hard day of work? I hope for your sake that you never have to get a real job, because there is no way on Earth you could ever handle it.
Uh oh, looks like someone’s jealous ;).
And I bet YOU couldn’t handle a day doing what Katie does!
Because if you could, you’d do it! I sure would. Katie, you’re awesome for figuring out what you’re passionate about and then making your dreams come true. Kudos to you. Not many people are able to make that happen (as evidence by all the naysayers who wish they could figure out a way to blog for a living. If it was so easy, everyone would do it!)
I work as an accountant because I found my passion for food as I was almost done with a finance degree. Now, I wish I had know earlier. I’ve been working hard trying to manage the blog and long hours at work with hopes to increase traffic and maybe one day be able to focus all on food and blogging.
Reading your posts have been a huge inspiration, so I thank you for your great work. I agree that it’s easily a full time job trying to create quality posts; and I have just the weekend to really work at it!
My wife and I plan on have a kid in the near future, and I’d love to be able to have home-based job where I can watch our kid (no daycare!) and focus on food blogging!
Keep up the great work, can’t wait to see your follow-up post on the income part!
It’s definitely a misconception that bloggers just eat fun stuff all day…it’s a lot of work…very admirable! 🙂 I am a pediatric occupational therapist working with children with autism and a certified health coach, plus blogger!!! 🙂
I work at a wildlife refuge where we rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife and then release them to the wild when they are ready. I LOVE my job and wouldn’t want any other job in the world! It is amazingly fulfilling!
Awww that is so wonderful! I would love to have a meaningful job like that where I get to help others every day!
They say that you should find what you love doing and make that your job and it will fulfill you, maybe even send more money your way than you’d expect it to.
As for me, I’m a full time stay at home mom, I adore it and wouldn’t change it for the world and even though it sure doesn’t pay the bills, it pays big in many other ways! Before having my kids I thought that as soon as the youngest would be in first grade I’d go back to work but things didn’t work out that way. I find myself still needed on a regular basis and enjoy not running to get stuff done on week-ends and evenings, instead I get to spend quality time with my kids and my husband. and I have time to try many of your delicious recipes 😉 So that’s what I’m going to do for quite some time still!
Exactly! Katie, I think it’s so cool and inspiring that you took a risk and made blogging your full-time job. The best part is, you love what you do. So many people hate their jobs, and that’s a terrible thing because you have to do it almost every day! It seems like with you, while blogging is a lot of work, you enjoy it, which I’m sure takes away some of the “work” feel to it. Some people may call it crazy, but doesn’t that make it all the more tempting??? Thank you for your genuine posts. You speak from the heart and are so relatable. Keep up the great work! 🙂
I am a full time jewelry designer and am lucky enough to LOVE what I do everyday. I didn’t figure out what I wanted to do until I was 30 (after 8 years of flight attending which was pretty cool too!) Love your blog and am really looking forward to trying out the ultimate chocolate brownie recipe!
Great post here 🙂
I’d really love to read the follow-up!!
Jade C.
Thank you for this post! It’s very kind of you to share your daily life with us all 🙂
This was a great post! Some day I would love to have my blog as big as yours but I know that takes lots of work and dedication. Keep it up!! 🙂
This was a great post, and I LOVE those brownies! Really they might be my favorite of your recipes. Wait, no I take that back. I can’t pick just one favorite ;).
Katie, I was wondering if you have a hard time meeting people outside of the blogworld? I just finished college and moved to a new town and I know no one! And I don’t live anywhere near my coworkers. Any tips for making friends if you don’t have coworkers?
I love your blog and am glad that you did a post like this. 🙂
hope this isn’t a rude question, but how many page views do you get per day? i am just curious because i want to know if i get a lot or a little, and i want to know how many other people get who are full time bloggers! hope its not rude!
Hey, I’ve been reading your blog for a while, and I loveeeeee it! I love chocolate and sweets. I was wondering do you workout? Anyone would say if you eat lots of treats you’ll get extra weight but you look pretty thin 😉 Anyway, congrats your recipes are great!! 🙂
I run around 4-5 times a week, not to race or anything… just for fun. I also force myself to lift weights 2-3 times a week, but it’s nothing strenuous and I’m pretty much just lifting dumbbells in between answering blog comments for like 20 minutes during those times. I hate weight lifting!
I’m a veterinarian but I don’t think too many people know what all that entails. Yes I get to play with cute puppies who come in for vaccination appointments but I also play the role of dentist, surgeon, grief counselor (for euthanasias 🙁 ) and even therapist at times – you’d be surprised how many clients talk to me about their personal problems! I love having variety in my job, it definitely keeps things interesting! 🙂
I wouldn’t be surprised at all! We just had to put my dog to sleep, and the vet was so kind and caring… we probably did talk her ear off about our dog’s life. I’m so thankful there are strong people in the world like you, because someone needs to be there for people when they’re losing a pet. Obviously the caring vet didn’t make our sadness go away, but she knew the right things to say to make it just a little less awful. 🙁
My job is being a stay-at-home mom. Definitely the best job ever. Sometimes I have a request for a custom made waldorf doll which I love to make as well.
This post was very interesting. I love all the recipe you propose, I’m happy I found your blog.
I work with spreadsheets all day. Baking cookies sounds much more fun!