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!
Thanks for sharing as many of these lessons are relevant in life and work as well.
HI Irene! Thank you so much for reading my post! 🙂
5 stars. I agree. Your step-by-step photos are very helpful, and I think your manner of speaking makes the recipe videos all the more authentic. Keep up the good work!
Hi Sara! Aww thank you so much for your encouraging word! 🙂
While I have only been a fan of your blog for one of your 5 years presenting recipes, tips and, yes, entertainment to us, I don’t see a big need for any changes except those which might make YOU feel more comfortable in what you do…
That’s a wordy way of saying that I am thrilled with all aspects of your unique blog..
Congratulations on 5 years and my wish for you is that you have many more of the same..
Thank you Nami…. :O)
Hi Ross! Thank you so much for your kind words! 🙂
This is the first time I’m leaving a comment, but I’ve been following your blog for a very long time! You’ve helped me recreate many Japanese dishes I could only admire before. I’m surprised to hear that most food bloggers discourage step-by-step photos. For me, that’s the main reason I continue to follow your blog.
Whenever I have to smile when speaking I try to pretend I’m speaking happily to a friend. If you are happy when you are speaking, the smile will come naturally!
Thank you very much for creating this blog and sharing Japanese food with everyone!
Hi Emmeline! Thank you so much for leaving a comment today and following my blog for a long time! Happy to hear that you’re cooking Japanese dishes! Ah! Thank you for your helpful tip too! 🙂
Hi Nami, you are so sweet! I always love everything you post. I don’t always watch your videos because your step by step images in recipes are so good. But it’s so nice to know there’s a video if I need it. Keep up the good work, you’re the best!
PS, you look great on your videos, no need to worry about smiling all the time. ????
Thank you Alice! I’m glad to hear my step by step pictures are helpful. Thank you for your support all the time! 🙂
Nami, I think you are doing a good job. Sharing your recipes with us and continuing to do so.
Keep up the good work
cheers
gina khoo
Hi Gina! Thank you so much for your kind words and support!
Big thank you Nami, for sharing your recipes. I love your posts and have referred your blog to numerous friends. Like you I used to struggle with speaking correct American. I do love your accent and it makes you unique. My American friends are even envious for they can’t speak a second language. Keep up your good work! You’re doing great!
Thanks so much for referring my blog to your friends! That’s so kind of you! Thank you for your sweet words and support!
Congrats on 5 years of blogging! I think I’ve known you since the time you started. Thanks for these valuable and helpful lessons you shared with us. I always learn a lot from you. Good luck and looking forward to more of your recipe posts, Nami!
Hi Elizabeth! We’ve known each other for such a long time! Thank you for your support all the time!
Nami, thank you for sharing your reflections of the past 5 years with your followers! I truly appreciate all the hard work you put into your blog – it shows in your gorgeous photos and how-to videos.! I love step by step photos and the music selection for your videos. I’ve expanded my cooking repertoire by following JOC!
Hi Eileen! I”m so happy to hear you are cooking more! Thank you for following my blog and for your support! 🙂
Congratulations on the five years! How time flies. 🙂 I am always so impressed by your efforts regarding Lesson #1. Hardly do I ever expect a reply to my comments, but I am always delighted when I see a message go to my inbox. I often wonder how you manage to do it with your blog’s growing readership and popularity—and really, what a great problem to have!
Hi Kimmi! Thank you! Everyone is busy, but they (including you) are kind enough to leave a note, so I’d like to respond as much as I could. Thank you for your kind support all the time!
One of the things that made an impact in me is that you usually answer to the comments that your readers make. Trust me, that does not happen a lot. I know is an imposible task but at least your desire is to do it 🙂 the intention means a lot!
About the language, I know what it feels 😛 English is not my native language. If you feel confortable about it you can algo speak in japanese, at least sometimes and add subtitles. Your blog is in English, I think that’s enough effort. 🙂
Hi Libni! Aww thank you! I really enjoy connecting with my readers and conversation should be two ways! 😉 I wish I had more time… Thank you for your kind words and thoughts. 🙂
You go girl! Love your blog, and your recipes….and your travelogues! Here’s to another 5 years…and another and another. You get the idea, <3 ya!
Aww thank you Ava! 😀
Are you kidding? You are great on video! [My Japanese father-in-law spoke with a Japanese accent, and he was born and raised in Hawaii (nisei).] Keep doing what you do. I am truly loving your blog and trying different recipes. I have scoured our local Marukai and Don Quijote stores and even Amazon.com for ingredients and cookware. And thanks to you, a nagashikan is on its way to me. Today or tomorrow, I am going to try making taiyaki. So, mahalo nui loa for all that you do.
Hi Deborah! Aww thank you so much! I don’t think I can lose my accent… 🙂 I’m so happy to hear you found some ingredients and cookware! Enjoy making Taiyaki and I’m excited about your new nagashikan! 🙂
Hi Nami,
Congratulations with your 5th anniversary and special thanks for all the recipes.
You are doing a great job and don’t worry about your English which is very good as even I can understand every word.
Your blog helped me very much as I try to cook washoku.
Greetings from Belgium…in the rain
Hi Jan! Thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear you are cooking washoku at home! Stay dry!
Love the posts. Don’t change a thing. Look forward to each to installment.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
Thank you so much for your kind support all the time! 🙂