Did you know that my blog got started as simply as me posting diary-like updates while I was pregnant with my first baby and feeling miserably sore and alone?
Once I completed the pregnancy, I began formulating what I had learnt into tips. By my second pregnancy I had hit my stride and utilised my own tips and began gathering the resources that now find their home in the free resources pages.
I wonder if you have considered sharing your unique perspective about fighting Fibromyalgia (or chronic pain, fatigue, xx symptom)? I thought I would share this post about what I did and some resources that might help you if you had though about it but didn’t know where to begin.
Please note that some of my links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my link, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It all supports me running this blog.
The Tech Stuff
I started my blog on WordPress.com the free version. After a while, reading a lot of advice that we need to be self-hosted, I chose a hosting company and transferred to WordPress.org. Well, I ended up hacked, lost my information and having to fight with the company for automatically charging my credit card three times the amount they had charged for the first year. I am now back on WordPress.com and pay for the personal plan. It’s worth it to me to not have that stress. Plus I don’t have a lot of extra money lying around, so I run my blog on the smell of an oily rag.
I pay WordPress.com a small annual fee. I pay Amazon a percentage of royalties on my books, Etsy (digital products) and Teachable (courses) take a cut from sales. So for my products, I don’t pay much upfront.
How to Start a Blog
If you want a free course on how to start a blog from the bottom up, see this free one by Michelle from Making Sense of Cents. Do also browse through her archives, she has a lot of good content.
If you want to learn about making digital products and an Etsy shop, I love Paper and Oats. Great content, free products and eCourses to get you started and products you can buy later to take the learning further.
Kenz Soliman has a cool blog, YouTube channel and free course about blogging and passive income. I enjoy her content.
A Blog I’ve Been Following for a While
I like Caroline Vencil. She talks blogging, side hustles, budgeting and making money. This link is to her whole shop which has a selection of paid and free options. I particularly like 10 Steps to Start a Profitable Blog.
The Blog Structure Blueprint, Goal Setting Workbook for Bloggers and 7 Tips to Boost Your Income Overnight are all free.
This blogging bundle is for those who are ready for the next level with their blog.
Blogging for Those with Chronic Illness
I have done everything bit by bit over five years, as my health has allowed. Don’t be afraid to start small. Don’t be afraid to do it a little at a time.
Here’s my blog post process:
- Idea into Evernote
- Flesh it out when I have the time and energy
- Load it into WordPress, format
- Create an image for it (or ask my brother, when I wasn’t able to use the computer as much)
- Set it to post
- Share it on social media
Please don’t think that because you can’t sit at the computer for hours and hours that your story shouldn’t be heard. I’d like to hear your story.
It was only as the Low Dose Naltrexone started helping at the end of last year that I was able to start making my images myself (on Canva), put my book together, create templates and open my Etsy store. Even now it is a constant cost vs benefit analysis as to where to expend my energy: content creation, learning about marketing ideas and utilising Pinterest properly, posting on Pinterest, coordinating my Facebook group, etc etc. I just put one foot in front of the other and do what I can when I can.
My Resources
Below are the resources I have created, in the order that I created them.
My blog posts (over 180 now)
Pregnancy and Fibromyalgia Resource Page – this finally looks how I envisioned it, but I really had to do one step at a time.
What I Offer Page – which includes my free library of resources and printables.
Pregnancy and Fibromyalgia book – published first in November 2017 and updated March 2018.
Melissa vs Fibromyalgia: My Journey Fighting Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue and Insomnia – written slowly over five years!
Pregnancy and Fibromyalgia course
You vs Fibromyalgia: Arm Yourself with Knowledge FREE Micro Course.
Etsy Shop with printables, templates, micro courses and workbooks.
Please do let me know in the comments if you start a blog, or if you already have one – I’d love to come visit and say hi!
