Ellen Arnison on Blogging for Happiness

I’m delighted to be featuring Ellen Arnison on my blog today ahead of the launch of her book Blogging for Happiness later this week. The book is a guide to improving positive mental health (and wealth) from your blog and shows how blogging can be a real force for good in people’s lives. It looks at how a blog can actually improve your mental health, lift your mood, meet people, clear the air and even earn you some money.

I’m hugely supportive of the ideas behind Ellen’s book as I’ve met some of the nicest people I know through blogging and really do believe that blogging can lead to improved emotional well-being. I’ve seen bloggers write about difficult experiences and watched readers rally round to offer support. I’ve also found it therapeutic to write about those times when life has not been easy and found others have been able to relate, which can reduce the feeling that we are alone in all of this.

As well as this, the opportunities I have experienced as a result of blogging have provided a much-needed confidence boost and given me the endorsement that I have something worth saying. And standing in a medical centre in Cameroon listening to a doctor talk about treating malnutrition in children completely changed my life. None of this would have happened if I had not started a blog.

I put a few questions to Ellen about Blogging for Happiness to find out what had motivated her to write it, how difficult it had been and whether there were times when blogging isn’t such a positive experience, as well as asking what tips she could offer other bloggers keen to see themselves in print.

How did you come up with the idea for the book? Is it something you’ve been thinking about for a while or did inspiration strike out of the blue?

The realisation that my blog had really helped me out of depression came gradually as I started to feel better. I blogged about it a few times, because it was such a positive thing to write about. I’ve been trying to get to more serious writing – as opposed to journalism and copywriting – for some time. I came to the understanding that I am unable to get anything done without a deadline, so I needed to set up deadlines in order to get a book written. Then I had a “bingo” moment when I realised what I wanted to write a book about – my experience with blogging and the wider issues of blogging for improved mental health.

So what can we expect from the book? Can you provide us with a few quotes?

It’s a book that starts with my story and how blogging has benefited me. It expands to take in other people’s experience and the views of some experts. I hope it will inspire people to give blogging a go.

“I knew I was in trouble when I was handed my newborn baby and, while I pretended to be interested in him, all I wanted was for someone to take him away. Then I couldn’t shift the idea that there was something seriously wrong with him and no one wanted to tell me. Before then, mental illness was something that happened to other people.”

“So, blogging helps people locate and tune-up their voice. And for me that was unexpected... For the first time in decades I felt I was being properly creative. For many of us creativity is something we left at the school gates.”

“So the message is to write your smiles down, even if it takes a huge effort to haul your virtual cheeks up your digital face.”

How difficult did you find it to write? Were some parts easier than others?

I found the bits about me really satisfying to write, once I stopped procrastinating. The how-to sections were less easy because there are so many other people better at it than me. Then I realised that it doesn’t really matter if your blog isn’t the best looking or has the latest gizmos on it, what was required was a rough and ready guide to getting going.

From behind the safety and relative anonymity of a computer screen it can be easy for individuals to leave unpleasant comments on blogs and even start fake blogs attacking others, which can be upsetting and damaging. Do you think blogging can always be linked to improved mental health?

I think – as in all aspects of life – there are some individuals who will exploit other people’s weakness for their own ends. And, yes, the internet can make unpleasantness easier for those who are bent on it. However, equally, the internet can make sharing and kindness easier too. There are obvious and well recorded safeguards a blogger can put in place, such as not revealing too much personal information.

I suppose there are instances where someone who is fragile and vulnerable could be attacked, and that would be damaging. But, perhaps I’m lucky, I have been the victim of hardly any negativity online. I do think that if you play nice, generally people will play nice in return. So I’d say that on balance it’s better to blog than not to blog.

Many bloggers would love to see themselves in print. What tips would you give them?

Good question.

Publishers are in business so think about proposing a book that people will buy. It needs to sell.
I’m told – although I’ve only been doing this for about five minutes so therefore am hardly an authority – that smaller publishers are more inclined to consider new writers with ‘different’ ideas.
Think it through and prepare a brief. What are your chapters going to be about? Who will you speak to for material or is it all in your head?

Oh, and be prepared that even once you’ve finished the book, there’s still quite a lot of work to be done.

And, finally, turn the internet off if you really want to get something written!

Blogging for Happiness also covers the basics on how to start a blog, what to write about, how to get followers as well as technical and design tips. It is published on 1 December 2011 by Nell James Publishers in paperback and kindle formats. ISBN 9780956702432.

Part of the royalties from the sale of her book will be donated to The National Autistic Society, the leading UK charity for people with autism (including Asperger syndrome) and their families.

Ellen Arnison is a freelance writer and blogger. Since she began her blog it has gone from being a small-time hobby to a real passion. She credits it with helping her through some really bad times. It has also helped her earn money, gain work, make friends and figure out what she really thinks. Ellen blogs at In a Bun Dance.

Comments

[Talli Roland]

What a great idea for a book! Blogging is such an important component of my life! I've met some amazing people who have really helped in my career and my life in general.

[Ellen Arnison]

Hi Rosie, Thanks so much for this post. x

[Iota]

Blogging has certainly helped me through some really difficult times, given me confidence, opened doors, prompted me to develop new skills, introduced me to friends... It's great that someone has written a book about this aspect of blogging.

[Bod for tea]

What an inspiring story from Ellen. I so agree with her point about harnessing creativity. Looking forward to reading this book when it's published. Thanks for posting this Rosie.

[Susan Mann]

Ellen is so sweet and lovely. I cannot wait to read her book. x

[divasupermum antoinette]

sounds so interesting, it should appeal to many,i hope it does well