Every year in January (for past 5 years), I take some time to reflect about blogging and share my thoughts (here’s last year’s). This past January 1st, Just One Cookbook became 5 years old.
There are so many things that I’ve learned from blogging, yet I’m still constantly learning each day. Today I want to share 5 lessons which I learned from 5 years of blogging.
Lesson 1: Not able to respond to every email
Even though Mr. JOC has been telling me for several years now, it took me 5 years of blogging to realize that I was chasing the impossible.
The number of emails I receive each day grows as time passes by. I tried my very best to respond to all my emails. However, as a result, I am spending more time at the desk than I was in the kitchen.
Trying to reply to every comment and email dug myself into a hole because I wasn’t spending enough time to create new recipes, and I sort of lost myself between my desk and the kitchen.
At the end, I accepted that I can’t respond to everyone and I need to be more effective with my time if I want to create more recipes. It’s very difficult because if someone takes the time to let me know they enjoy my recipe, I want to reach back out as well.
P.S. Some suggested a virtual assistant might help, but I can barely manage what’s going on in my family right now. Yikes! Adding one more person to my responsibility will most likely add more stress… One thing at a time. 🙂
Lesson 2: Allocate time for creativity
From my Lesson 1 experience, I learned lesson 2. You need to set aside time and space for your creativity.
Food blogging is very interesting occupation: it requires you to wear many hats. You have to be a:
- recipe developer to make delicious recipes
- food stylist to make sure the food looks perfect in the photos
- food photographer to take the gorgeous food
- creator of videos to film and edit how to cook the recipe
- a writer to tell a story behind the food and write a recipe
- web savvy to fix your blog related issues
- a secretary to keep track on everything going on
- customer support rep to help the readers with cooking questions
On top of it all, the contents need to be entertaining and everything has to work in order to create an identity on the web.
When I realized that I was in slump, I tried to block out time for my creativity outlet. For me, it was to get my cooking mojo back. So I allocate my mornings when the kids are not at home for developing recipes, and use the night time when the kids are sleeping for a desk job. It’s also the quiet time when I can write a post.
Lesson 3: Take step-by-step pictures
One of the most common feedback I receive from readers is that they LOVE the step-by-step pictures. Now if you’re a food blogger, you’ve probably encountered discussions talking about step-by-step pictures. I learned that most bloggers discourage putting step-by-step pictures for every single step.
Somehow, that never applied to my blog. My readers often tell me that how helpful step-by-step pictures are. For those of you who try making Japanese food for the first time, I hope my step-by-step pictures help confirm what you are doing is correct. I know I really appreciate it when recipes I am not familiar with share step by step images – such as dessert and bread recipes!
Lesson 4: Talk with Japanese accent
Next two lessons came from my experience with making videos for the past 2 years. For all these years of living in the U.S., I wished that I could speak English without a Japanese accent.
My American friends would say “oh but your accent is cute!”, but I rather wanted to be a cool bilingual who could speak both languages perfectly.
Well, that didn’t happen and I still struggle speaking and writing in English (I have accepted that I am not good at languages in general).
So you could tell how worried and terrified I was when I was forced by Mr. JOC have decided to appear on my YouTube channel. Me speaking in English on YouTube? No, thank you!
However after many videos and encouragements from friends and family, it starting to give me some confidence and I suddenly felt more comfortable about speaking with my heavy accent on camera. So please forgive me if I can’t say “fry” and “fly” collectly. 😉
Lesson 5: Smile while talking
Seriously, I don’t know how many can do that!
While filming, Mr. JOC keeps reminding me to smile every few seconds while I’m talking.
I concluded that it is physically impossible for me. I look at awkward footage of myself trying to speak while smiling…. any tips???
Maybe it’s because English is not my native language. My mouth is very confused when I try to speak English and smile at the same time! I’ll try to do better this year so it appears more natural in the videos.
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I hope you enjoyed reading 5 lessons that I learned from 5 years of blogging! I look forward to your comment below!
Nami,
First of all, congratulations on a very successful and growing 5 years of blogging. I think you and Mr. JOC have created a beautiful website, youtube channel and great videos. It’s time for a printed cookbook, no? 😉
These are great tips! and about your accent: it’s who you are and I think it’s lovely.
xo, Debra
Hi Debra! Thank you so much for your kind support! Thank you for your interest in printed cookbook… maybe one day! 🙂
You’re the best! I love what you do!! Recipes, videos, photos, etc… one of my absolute favorite bloggers. ♥
AND, your Japanese accent just says that you know two languages, which is brilliant! Congrats on 5 years, Nami! xoxo
Thank you so much, Katerina! I love getting your newsletter too! You are my inspiration! xoxo
Wow has it been five years already? Your blog just keeps getting better and better. I appreciate all the hard work you and Mr JOC go through to put together the absolute best blog out there. Arigato Nami and Mr. JOC!
Hi Miriam! Thank you so much for your kind words! Mr. JOC sends you his thanks too!
Congratulations and countless more blogging years!
Thank you so much, Jayashri! 🙂
I enjoy you just as you are! Thank you for the time spent sharing your delicious recipes and I too, appreciate the step-by-step images!
Hi Lei! I’m glad to hear you like step by step pictures too! Thank you!! 🙂
Happy 5th Blogiversary Nami-san! Wow has it been 5 years already. Where has the time gone. I am glad you took the time to review and reflect on your accomplishments as you prepare for the next 5 year goals. I am so glad JOC pushes you a little bit as you have loads of potential yet to be tapped. You guys are an awesome husband and wife duo.
Hi Bobbi! Yeah, 5 years, so hard to believe! Thank you for your kind words. Mr. JOC is almost always right, but I just don’t want to believe it and accept it.. haha! 😉 Hope all is well with you! xo
5 years! Congratulations!
I don’t think you need to smile all the time while doing a video. Your pleasant, calm and gentle manner is enough to involve and hold your viewers. Then you can save your smile for the ‘whew, that’s a cut!’ End. I don’t think many people expect you to smile all the time; it’s unnatural (sorry Mr JOC ????) keep up the great work and thanks.
Hi Sally! Thank you! I look serious and scary when I forget to smile… 😀 Your words are too kind. Thank you so much! 🙂
No worries. You are doing a great job. Love your blog.
Thank you Elena! 🙂
Hiya Nami!
Thank you for these inspirational 5 lessons. I’ve enjoyed reading them and i did read them with a big smile on my face. For a beginning blogger like me, this is a huge help. I also know how difficult it is to switch languages. I am from the Netherlands, but was raised 2 languages due to me being half Australian. (Half my family lives there from my father’s side) Other then english i also know german and now learning Japanese. I say do not worry at al about your accent. It is not disturbing at all, after all your videos are about Japanese food. How can we not like your precious accent and your Japanese background!
Smiling and talking the same time seems impossible now, but honestly it is just the ” flexing” of your face muscle’s. My tip is to just practise it each day in front of the mirror, and soon you will see you’ll get the hang of it!
One last thing. IF you ever need help with virtually managing your posts and email.. I’d be delighted to give you a hand. I have the time and means. I have also worked as a secretary for 4 years as i have my degree for it. Just contact me in case you change your mind about the virtual help. I will do it with pleasure, and most important at all. For free, since i enjoy helping people.
Lots of Love
Skye
Hi Skye! Thank you for your tip on speaking while smiling! I’ll practice and hopefully it will come naturally. 🙂 How amazing you can learn different languages like that. I barely keep up my 2nd language… Also, thank you for your virtual help offer. That is SO sweet of you! Thank you!! My life is so chaotic right now and I can’t even organize work around me. That bad… One day I need to sit down and figure out everything. I keep your kind offer. Thanks so much!
Thank you very much for all recipes!
You’re doing a great job.
The blog is very interesting and informative.
This is especially very helpful for beginners trying to cook Japanese food.
Albert
From cold, snowy Russia 🙂
Hi Albert! Thank you so much for your kind words! Stay warm! 🙂
Dear Nami,
What I have learned:
Not to email you any longer! HA! (Sorry for being a pest!)
What you should know:
There is a song by John Legend called “All of Me.” (Google it.) After reading your post, the first words of the chorus of this song came to my mind:
All of me (“me” meaning all of us who can’t wait for your next post!)
Loves all of you
All your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Have fun…leave some of the edited out takes in…none of us is going to be perfect and we don’t expect it of you…be yourself because you’re the reason we all tune in! As Billy Joel would say, “I (We) love you just the way you are.”
(I made Chicken Tonkatsu as an appetizer this last weekend and everyone wanted the recipe…thanks!)
All the best,
Don
Hi Don! I love talking to you! Let’s keep our communication going! Thank you for always cheering me and supporting my blog. I’m glad to hear everyone enjoyed chicken tonkatsu. 🙂
Hello, Nami!
You’ve done such a wonderful job in so short time! Congratulations and thanks for sharing all your knowledge and experience with us.
Please don’t worry about your videos… They are great, the scenes are beautiful, you speak very clearly and you seem very natural on the camera. They are amazing! 🙂
I’ll try to use your experience on lesson 3 for me, too.
Thank you again and happy birthday JOC!
Cheers,
Fabrício
Hi Fabricio! Thank you for reading my post and for your kind words! Good luck with step by step pictures!
Hi Nami,
One of my favorite accents is the Japanese accent. It is the cutest thing in the world. In fact, your accent may be your asset because people prefer to learn from someone who sounds local (ie. a Japanese chief for Japanese recipes). Most importantly, your English is very clear and I never had problems misunderstanding you.
Finally, you look very natural on camera so I hope you will stop worrying about it next year! Haha
-Carrie
Hi Carrie! Haha I’m glad someone likes Japanese accent! 😀 If someone will think my recipes are authentic just with my accent, I should speak English with even more heavy accent! 😉 Hee hee. Thank you for your support!
Nami さん,
I can’t help but giggled when I was reading your post. 5 years blogging seems like you have been blogging for longer than that. I am glad I found this wonderful blog , as I learned tons of interesting things from you not only your recipes, but also information about your culture.
Even though I came to the US for 20+ years, I am still speaking English with my Chinese accent. So you’re not alone!
I tried your salted salmon recipe tonight, my husband and I loved it so much! I used the frozen salmon fillets from Wholefoods, so the fillet is a little thicker than yours, but the flavor is awesome. Thanks for your easy recipe and all your hardwork throughout all these years of blogging. Looking forward to your future posts!
いつも ありがとうございました。がんばれ!
Hi Carrie! Thank you for reading my blog! I’m so happy to hear you liked the salted salmon recipe! It’s easy and delicious! どうもありがとう!!
Keep it up! Your blog has been so enjoyable ever since I found it a couple of years ago. Thank you for all the work and time you’ve put into sharing and teaching all of us. You’re an inspiration!
Gam-ba-te!
Hi Mei-Yee! Thank you so much for reading my blog for a long time! Arigato!!