The Magic of coming up with blog post Ideas!

Assalam Aleykum Warahmatullahy Wabarakatuh

Hello everyone!

Whether you’re starting out in the blogsphere or have been in it for a while now, but are still struggling to find blogging ideas, you need to know that that is a perfectly normal phase in the development of a blogger or a writer. In the writers' world this would basically be termed as writer’s block, which is known to be quite natural.However staying in that zone is definitely not recommended.
When I first started blogging I was highly inconsistent and most of the time, posting simply for the sake of posting.I was not keen on my content nor intimate with it. However, I was extremely fascinated by the aspect of blogging and I knew deep down that this was a sphere I wanted to be included in.

Hence I kept on with blogging, posting once or twice in three months because I simply had no idea what to post!If you read my post on why I started blogging, you would remember me saying that I looked to what everyone else was doing and tried to mimic that.However it just was not happening because I was not being authentic with the content I was putting out.The worst part about taking this route is that writing or blogging, however you want to look at it becomes more of a chore than a hobby.Little by little the thought of posting something on your blog becomes a dreaded and exhausting issue, like school assignments.However, if you keep at it, you will find your way and your voice just like I did.

The first tip I have to ignite the magic of coming up with blog post ideas is to:

Explore.

Honestly, there is nothing wrong with checking out what other bloggers are doing.There is however something wrong with copying because that’s basically plagiarism, however no one said you couldn’t try something new that you discovered on someone else’s blog.Moreover, that’s how you find your voice.By exploring new and different avenues, you get to discover more about yourself and the things you’re good at and enjoy.When I first started blogging, I could never see myself doing fashion and beauty posts, blogging to me was more of a diary style type of thing. But while I still enjoy posting my 'honest to God posts', I am also posting more fashion and beauty related posts and I’m absolutely loving it!Through this, my photography skills on my blog have also greatly improved (atleast i hope so!) because now I am also keen to learn new things in order for me to produce content that I am proud of.So don’t close yourself in, allow yourself to explore and grow.

Find inspiration in the world around you.

When I first read this on Lily Melrose’s blog, it was like the words came to life simply to slap me back into existence.I had never imagine finding blogging ideas could be so interesting and fun. When I say finding inspiration in the world around you, I mean look around  you and ask yourself, what’s going on around me? What’s going on today?Are you making breakfast? Maybe you could make a recipe post.If you’re having exams, you could make a study tips post.Or maybe you could simply rant about how you feel.Write about the new café you went to with your friends or the drama that went down at school yesterday and your thoughts on it.When you think of blog posts ideas in such a manner, you realize that inspiration is all around us and there’s so much to write about!So there you go, whatever category of blogger you are, find inspiration in the world around you.

Learn from the best.

Do you have any bloggers that you admire, who blog about the things that interest you? Why not take a page from them and mix it up with your own personal twist. If you try to copy someone else’s art you will only end up frustrating yourself because no two people can make art in the exact same way.You have to make your own art.Learn from the people you admire and then do it the way you do it because no one can do it like you . No one can make art the way you make art.Also, strive to create work that you are pleased with first and foremost before pleasing anyone else.

Lastly, Be Patient

I know how frustrating it can be when you feel like you are putting so much effort and not moving an inch.Furthermore, you look around you and see all these people doing great things and you simply sit there wondering why things are not happening for you.Be patient and be vigilant.You smart girl, you loyal.Don’t give up because you’re not creating content like so and so. Or your content isn’t getting as much traffic as nani’s blog.Everyone’s journey is different and sacred.So trust in your journey and enjoy the ride.

I hope these few tips helped you understand the magic of coming up with blog post ideas.As always, I love hearing from you guys and thank you for stopping by!

Why I started Blogging.

Assalam Aleykum Warahmatullahy Wabarakatuh

Hi Guys!

When I first came across the concept of blogging which was around 2012, I was simply amazed. I had always loved writing and the fact that anyone in the world could create content and place it out there to be received by a multitude of people was simply fascinating to me. I immediately knew that I wanted to have my own blog. However I had no idea how I would create one, what kind of content I would be posting or even where I would access wi-fi from, but I knew with all certainty that I wanted to have a blog.

When I moved to Nairobi for university in 2013, I moved in with my aunt who had access to wi- fi, hence giving me the opportunity to create the blog I had always desired. In case you didn’t know, which I presume you don’t, I had another blog prior to this one. It was more so a test run, rather than an actual blog. I rarely posted on there because I never really liked the content I was putting forth. I did not like the aesthetics of the blog and frequently questioned why I even created the blog in the first place. However, i still had that burning desire to have a blog; to create and share my content with the world. I felt that I had so many things I wanted to voice that no one was talking about. And so I believed that having a blog would not only be a way for me to get creative, but to meet like minded people from all over the world.

It was clear that I was not going to give up on blogging. I therefore deleted that blog and started NNF. I had learnt so much about blogging already, but I had not learned enough. As most of the people who have been avid readers of my blog know, this blog has been almost always under construction. My blog name has changed a couple of times, the aesthetics of my blog have changed a number of times and the content on my blog has changed drastically; in my opinion, all for the better.

Initially, I had wanted to angle my posts focusing on life as a Muslim girl in Kenya; for the simple reason that I felt there was so much in the Muslim community that people were not talking about. Things like depression, suicidal thoughts, drugs, boys, youth…I wanted people to talk about issues such as these that appealed to young Muslims like myself; and were relevant in today’s day and age. However no one was shedding light on such issues other than the regular, ‘don’t do this, don’t do that- that’s haraam (forbidden), and you’ll go to hell if you do that’ type of talk. I felt betrayed and saw society as a hypocritical one, because most people were constantly pointing fingers at the decadence of the Muslim youth and how we left our Islamic ways and were continuously derailing in our morals. Yet, it was members of this same society that had raised us. But somehow, we as the youth in general were the only ones to blame. I was hurt because I for one did not want to be a ‘bad Muslim’ I wanted to be good. However people were busy pointing fingers and no one was really working to help improve the situation. I was done and I wanted people to hear my voice.

However, I was 18 and inexperienced. I needed help and direction on how to go about telling my stories. As I scouted the internet for blogs that tackled issues in line with what I was thinking of, I realized that there were close to none. Most Muslim bloggers weren’t doing the honest, heart to heart blog posts that I was particularly interested in but rather more of fashion, beauty and ‘how- to’ blogs were what existed; of which I have nothing against. But that was not what I wanted to focus on. And so I panicked, I kept on asking myself, if no one else is doing such posts, who am I to start now? Then I thought, what would the community even think about such posts? Would they accept where I was coming from or would I end up being shunned?

I have always loved and will always love my Islamic faith. The last thing I would want to do is to portray it in a negative light or have my words commit any injustice towards it. However, there are things that I felt needed to be said. But I panicked and started doing what everyone else was doing even though it felt a tad bit fake. But hey, most people were doing beauty and fashion posts so why not do the same? I wanted my blog to be popular too. I wanted to have a bunch of comments in the comment section and I wanted to have people follow me on my social media. Because what is the point of having a blog anyway if no one reads it?

So there I was, doing things to please others and not myself. I am a firm believer in the notion that as an artist doing any form of art, you have to absolutely love the content you create and put out. You have to produce content that when you personally read, watch or listen to, it invokes something magical in you; something that makes you feel that you have fully delivered. That you have not sold yourself short or held anything back. That the content you have created is the exact type of content you want to see in this world. That does not mean that you cannot create content at the request of others, but rather even though you are creating content to make someone else happy, it is still something that you are ultimately proud of and can hold your head high and claim it.

Until quite recently, I was still selling myself short. When I learnt how to honestly communicate through my words, I realized that it’s ok to be open and allow people to see what you really have to offer. It was not anymore about what people would say or how they would react to my words, but it was more of; this is what I have to offer. It is sincere and real and I really hope you like it, but if you do not, that’s fine too. It’s not about pleasing or competing anymore but about being the best I can be. 

This is not to say that everything I had been doing prior to my ‘blooming’ was a waste of time; not at all. I think it was a crucial and pivotal part of the journey that allowed me to get to where I am now. It was in that period that I discovered that my world was actually broader than I thought it initially was. It dawned on me that I enjoyed doing the occasional fashion and beauty posts. However, I also wanted to talk about important issues; I wanted to talk about history, culture, politics, religion and a myriad of other interesting topics. I noticed that not only had I learnt to be open and tell the stories that I wanted to at the onset of my blogging chapter, but my scope of life had completely expanded. I was not afraid to explore or grow out of my comfort zone.

About two days ago, I received a message on Facebook from Muslimah bloggers asking me to write a brief description about my blog. Surprisingly, it turned out to be much more difficult than I had anticipated because I found myself trying to label my blog. I definitely know that I am not a fashion blogger but I still love to talk about fashion when I feel inspired to do so. I also know that I am not a beauty guru but I love the occasional beauty posts. Am I a lifestyle blogger? Maybe, I don’t know. 

And that is the main reason why I still have not written that brief description for Muslimah bloggers, because I simply don’t know what kind of blog this is. All I know is that I love to blog. I love to write. I love to create and I love sharing my creations with anyone who is interested. All I Know is that this blog is a place for me to explore and make mistakes, have a voice and create. It’s a place for me to let my creativity run wild. And that is really all I could ask for from this blog. That feeling that lets me know that the content I have put forth, is that which I am proud of and that which I know not only inspires me, but inspires you too. Because what do we live for if not inspiration?

Looking back at terrific 2014!!

Assalam Aleykum Warahmatullahy

Hey guys!

Can you believe its already 2015?WHAT!?The year has just flown by like one of those goodbye tissues in sad cliche movie scenes that we just can't stop watching.Nevertheless,2014 has been such an amazing year for me and i am extremely grateful for all the experiences i managed to stumble upon.I therefore decided to share some of these reflections with my awesome readers!I do apologize for the lack of posts though, i have been super busy with uni,swamped with tonnes of course work.Plus,this semester was filled with a number of trips so i was constantly on the road which i am not in the slightest bit complaining about!
It was actually TONNES of fun! *insert mischievous laughter*

So now you are in the know,lets recap!

What were the three best things that happened in 2014? Well,

• I got to travel to Uganda, which made it my first time out of the country.YESSSS!!!!

•  I went for a hike and survived!!!Not only that but it was so much fun that i am actually thinking about doing it again.However,the blisters,pain and exhaustion that come with it lead me to second guess my decision.
• I finally accepted that it is ok not to have all the answers.I was the kind of person who constantly calculated every move and worried about every outcome.I was not happy with where i was and Alhamdulillah 2014 was the year when i said, i am going to be bold and live my life to the fullest!No more sitting by the sidelines and watching life pass me by.Alhamdulillah now i can say i am so much happier because i put my trust in Allah (SW) and i know that wherever i am is exactly where i am suppose to be, and if i don't like where i am,i have the strength to change my situation.

Machakos scenery during the hike.

Up we go!

 What were the three worst things that happened in 2014?

• I have to say i wasn't as involved in Islamic events such as halaqas (Islamic circles) and darsas (Islamic lectures) and i also didn't gain as much knowledge as i would have loved to.I was too preoccupied with school and everything else i ended up neglecting my Islamic studies.Gaining knowledge helps a great deal in strengthening one's eeman and so when you take your Islamic studies for granted,in the end you are sabotaging your eeman.Which no one wants.
• My Camera was stolen.Yo i needed that camera.Anyways it is the will of Allah SW and i am content with it.
• My phone was stolen.No i am not careless or clumsy these things happen ok!Moving on...

What did you learn about yourself in 2014? That...

•  I want so many things and have so many dreams!My mind is constantly preoccupied with random things and if i don't take time out to just sort things out and put everything into perspective,i will have a nervous breakdown.Hence taking time out is key.
• I also learnt that i am capable of so much more and i should stop making excuses because only losers do that.And while its normal to be afraid,don't let the fear of failure or what people think stop you from being who you are and doing what you love.
• I really need to start being a morning person.Awwh man :(

My favorite 2014 experience.

• Feeding Giraffes at Haller Park!!(Which is a game park btw). It was quite a new and need i say slimy experience.I mean those guys have super long tongues but i loved it anyways!Especially because it was a family outing which does not happen very often.Although the hike to Machakos and trip to Uganda were also super amazing.

 

 

My biggest accomplishment of 2014.

• I would definitely say surviving my research methods course.Boy was that course a struggle and a half!At the beginning of the semester,my friends had warned me about taking that course with that particular  lecturer.Ofcourse being me i just shrugged and brushed it off.Little did i know i was signing up for my most challenging course yet.Looking back now i am really glad i took it up.If i had dropped the course it would only have been because of fear and that is definitely not what i am about.Furthermore, i am quite happy with how i performed so i feel that i did preety well!

Most amazing place i visited in 2014.

•  Machakos was preety amazing,but the scenery in Haller park was also quite breathtaking.Then again it is a game park so...yeah.It is also located in my home area so i don't really think that counts.And for some reason i only visited the park this year?

Best food you tasted in 2014.

•  Has to be 'Gonja' i hope i got that right, which is roasted bananas.A common delicacy in Uganda.Also 'Rolex' which is basically Mexican omelet rolled in chapati!So it's kind of like Shawarma only not as fancy seeing that its just plain omelet and chapati.

Favorite book of 2014.

• Unfortunately,not much reading happened during 2014.I I was reading the book 'How To Be Hap Hap Happy Like Me by Merrill Markoe and although it did not turn out to be what i expected from a self help book kind of view, i still enjoyed it.I think its a great read full of humor and such rich literature so i was quite content and glad that i actually read it.

Favorite movie of 2014

• I did not watch as many movies last year.2014 was definitely a series year.But,i did fall in love with the movie Stuck in love.I never get tired of watching it.

Best song of 2014.

• Mesut Kurtis - Eidun Saeed feat. Maher Zain.I loveeeeeeeeeeee this song!It just makes me want to have Eid every single day.Love it

• Sauti Sol- Sura Yako.I know it says favorite 'song' but come on, no one likes just one song!Everybody knows that!

• Davido-Aye...need i say more?

•  Moelogo- Thinking out Loud_6words (cover). I can't even.I just.can't.

Best event of 2014 you attended.

• Has to be the Mshkaki festival!I mean i got off from the plane and felt super emaciated!So i told my brother i was hungry and the next thing i know we're at the Mshkaki festival which i knew nothing about.Hence my excitement.Can you imagine being hungry and then finding yourself minutes later at a festival with all the local delicacies you can gobble down!?The people,the music,THE FOOD and it was at night which made it even more magical.It was the first time an event like this had been held so i was really grateful i was able to attend it.By the way Mshkaki is a swahili word which refers to roasted meat on a stick and then the meat is dipped in various sauces depending on one's liking.It's quite the delicacy here in Mombasa. 

THE END :)

I hope you guys enjoyed reading my post!I pray that this year will be even more awesome for all of us.May Allah (sw) allow us to be better,improve ourselves in every possible way,may we strive to please Him (sw) and may He (sw) forgive us for our shortcomings.Allahumma Ameen.
That being said,what was your favorite part of 2014?Comment,tweet,Facebook or even Instagram me because i love hearing from you guys!Bye!