So really why write a blog? Why put all that time and effort into something? Maybe you feel that your writing is not good enough. Maybe you just have not got time or maybe it is concerns about the cost. Are you feeling you could not design a website? Feeling it is too complicated?

Well to set aside all those questions and fears, blogging can be free! It can be easy and it could take you maybe 1 – 2 hours a week or whatever you are prepared to commit.
I started blogging due to feeling stressed with life and my children. I also love to write, my writing is not wonderful however, I like to think that I have a good imagination. This blog encompasses my children – my mum life and my writing. You will find poetry as well as fiction stories as well as tales of my children, they are hard work!

So why blog? Why put the time and effort in?
1. If you are creative and want to build on your writing skills or just enjoy writing it is a very worthwhile hobby. It also means that you have your own part of the internet.
2. I find it cathartic with all the stress of life, family and kids.
3. There is a large supportive blogging community. If you like to sit behind your computer and chat then blogging is something to consider. This is one reason why I love it so much.
4. There are many Facebook groups dedicated to blogging.

How do you have time?
1. It is your blog, you can do as little or as much as you like.
2. Once you start, you may suddenly find time that you did not know you have. Chatting to people and making new friends has that effect.

Creating your blog

I found WordPress, and I signed up for a free account, they then have free themes. This means that within minutes an amateur could be pouring all their feelings into a blog. Blogging has honestly helped me plus there is a whole blogging community.
1. Go to www.wordpress.com enter in your details and what you would like your domain name (web address) to be.
2. Choose a theme, there are many to choose from. My blog theme is Ashe and yes it is free.
3. Start blogging and publish, it really is that easy.
4. There is then the  WordPress reader where you can read other bloggers blogs and they can see yours.

Once you start blogging you might decide that you enjoy it enough to want more web-space and consider paying for it or trying to monetise it. Don’t be in to much of a hurry but if you are ready then go for it.

You can sign up for a plan through www.wordpress.com and create a custom domain name. However, many bloggers are self hosted which allows you more blogging freedom..

My blog is hosted by Lyrical Host. I highly recommend them as they have been very helpful. Their customer service is excellent, for more see my review of Lyrical Host.

As a lyrical host affiliate if you enter my affiliate code Muddling10 at check out you will get 10% of your hosting plan. (This means I will earn some commission which will help pay for my blog).

Something to bear in mind is that other hosting companies might give you a good deal at the beginning but at renewal are likely to put their prices up. Lyrical host promise not to do this. Please look at my post and their website for their benefits. You will not regret choosing them if you do.

So I hope this answers some questions.  if you are still considering starting a blog there is no harm in signing up for free and seeing how you get on.

This is based on my own personal experience and there are other blogging platforms such as Blogger.  However, I have only ever used  WordPress  so I can not comment on the difference.

I hope this post has helped you and if you do decide to go ahead, happy blogging!