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
I dont think I knew you had a dog named Henry. I also have a dog named Henry. Its actually King Henry Alexander. He is a chihuahua who needs to go on a diet. I hope he makes anyone on here smile like he makes everyone in my life smile..
[img src=”http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1nj36Kywn1rqg5njo1_500.jpg”]
Oh my gosh, adorable!!
Currently I am unemployed in the “real” world. On the flip side I am a blogger and am currently taking steps to build my handmade business as well. I would love to know more about how you got to this point of full time blogger. I love your recipes and know that is your primary focus on your blog, but would love to know more about how you became full time at this awesome gig and how you earn your living from blogging. Thanks for sharing your story with all of us.
Great post, Katie! I’m a full-time musician (singer-songwriter), and people assume I just sit around playing guitar and sleeping all day! In truth, I work really hard – the difference is I work for myself rather than for a boss, and I don’t get weekends off, nor do I stop working at 5pm! I totally love my job – wouldn’t swap it for anything – and working hard is what allows me to to do it full-time. It’s great to see you challenging preconceptions about what it means to be self-employed.
I’m a full-time student at university here in London, and a part-time waitress, but I wish my job was to be a full-time blogger/recipe developer/photographer/web technician/etc. Fortunately I’ll have more time for that this summer. Some day I’ll hopefully be a food writer/assistant editor/blogger/novel writer. Yep, lots of things, and I like it that way 🙂
I’m an accountant business/systems analyst turned stay at home mom. It was the best decision I have ever made! And I applaud you for all your work! It definitely helps out this girl:)
Thanks for the insight ,but it would be great if you could please explain how you can earn a living as a blogger and help others who are interested in doing this but don’t know if how this earns an income.
Thanks for the great post, Katie! Gosh, I can’t imagine being a full time blogger with a blog at your scale. I spend so much time already on my blog and I don’t even post everyday! Truly amazing, Katie.
Currently, I am a tennis-playing, student-athlete, sugar-free blogger, dietitian-to be 😛
I loved this post! like everyone else, I’m curious about the life of a full-time blogger. I have to say, it’s pretty much what I expected 🙂
My 2yr old saw this post over my shoulder. He asked if I would make him the chocolate oatmeal. I said yes. Then he asked if we could eat it. Also yes! I whipped it up while I was up with the baby last night. It’s waiting for him in the fridge 😀
I am homeschooling mom to 4 boys, 9, 6, 2 and 11 months. I do some work from home making baby carriers, but mainly, my focus is on my kids.
I hope your son likes the oatmeal! I also tried it last night (sort of became my dinner). For someone who eats a lot some form of oatmeal daily (so that was my second oatmeal event) it was stunningly filling. I swirled in some peanut butter by the way. 🙂
Yup, that about sums up my day as well except I don’t get up that early and I’m not cooking *every* day. But yeah, I have PLENTY of family who don’t know ‘what I do’ and like to think that I am apparently someone to take them to their doctors appts, wait for their cable guy or deliveries or their “so you’re ‘unemployed’ too let’s gripe about our lives together” person. The Mr told me to make it very clear I am none of those things. I didn’t quit my job of 12 years to be a place holder or eat bon bons while watching Y&R. Blogging is hard work to upkeep and it’s nice to know there are people who understand that! 🙂
Thank you SO much for posting this!
Katie, thank you so much for fully demonstrating how difficult “working from home” can be! I also work from home as a research analyst. While I have the envy of most of my friends for being able to work in t-shirts and sweat pants (most days), it is very easy to be ALWAYS working. Working from home gives an illusion of more free time, but really it just means more work time. I love what I do…but eating more chocolate would definitely make it better! And, I have to tear myself away sometimes (by, like you, running, running errands, doing housework, visiting friends) just to keep things fresh and not get stir crazy from being home all day.
Thanks for sharing!