How and Why I Created Lorna Doone: The Making of Lorna Doone Living Blog

Getting this blog (and really, myself) together has been what seems like a perpetual process. That's life though. No self-hate here. For years I was working behind the scenes on trying to develop and keep separate 'media' - one 'channel' for recipes, one for online tutorials and more. At some point it dawned on me that that's crazy!

Admittedly, I got the final push and inspired to post everything all under 'one roof' finally after watching 'The Big Shot' with Bethany Frankel. (Guilty!) It really is a good show. and not as shallow as you might predict. Don't know it til' you try it, I promise! It's available on HBO Max.

The premise of the show is that Bethany is looking for an employee / apprentice essentially who can handle and understand the many branches of her brand. Though there are many, Bethany places everything under the 'Skinny Girl' brand 'umbrella.' This is what makes it all doable. To know Bethany is to be able to understand and manage all of what is 'Skinny Girl.' The structure is very organized and makes sense. Everything coming from her is, by the very nature of who it comes from, already coherent and connected. It eliminates extra work, confusion, channel maintenance and run-around.

After watching the show, it clicked. I quickly started 'dumping' everything I've ever created into the one bucket that is a blog I titled 'Lorna Doone Living.' As someone who has worked in 'marketing' and has shared up to high heaven successfully for others, I really should've known to do this all along.

I actually DID know this! ..yet, for years my confidence and footing really just was not there or ready yet. In the past, I believed in the things I was creating but I didn't believe in myself enough to put everything under one roof under which I lived as well.

I thought it would be disjointed - boring - and not make sense.

FEAR (and lack of self-confidence) SUCKS

Looking back, the worry was actually coming from how I saw not multi-topic writing, but how I saw myself or rather, how I feared people would see me.

You have to actually stand strong against 'not good enough' fears and believe in yourself ENOUGH to create things whose common thread is you. I have learned this. I've also learned that to do it while actually staying true to your authentic self is a graceful balancing act.. but it can be done in a fun, real way. It just takes time.

I may still not be the Most confident person in the world when it comes to sharing my own content. ..but I am at the point where I finally feel ok bringing everything I create to underneath one roof. This was a process. The name of that umbrella I chose was 'Lorna Doone Living.'

As I'm writing this in pops the ol' subconcious 'nobody cares.' I no longer listen to that little voice. The way that I kick this is to remind myself that 'not everyone is psychic' and they may actually want to hear what you have to say. (I spent a lot of my life quiet assuming everyone else to just be psychic. ..It isn't a great approach to life or job interviews.;)

Aliases and Pen Names: How and why they help and why they can make a good sharing 'umbrella.'

To make up for the increasingly small holes in my ever developing sense of self-confidence, I went with the ol' alias / pen name 'trick.' It can infuse a little bit of extra needed confidence. Beyonce had Sasha Fierce. I have 'Lorna Doone.' Ridiculous, yeah, sorta. Let's be honest. Aliases and pen names are sometimes a corny trick used by start-up motivational speakers but they're also an innocent, fun and organized way of doing things when used sincerely. An alias or pen name can become something like a 'brand umbrella.'

Shrinking confidence? Get Living .. Or at least that's my approach

I kind of get a sense that the past year has silently killed a lot of our confidence in ourselves and faith in our own projects. Why bother continuing? Why bother living? I shudder to say I bet many reading this are familiar with this and are no recent stranger to those thoughts.

That's one reason I named my blog 'Lorna Doone LIVING' - BECAUSE the more time goes on and especially after the craziness dealt last year to everyone, it becomes more and more apparent to me that our focus needs to be in **LIVING**, as in 'NOT spiritually dying.' To me, that goes hand in hand with talking and sharing. ..which makes perfect sense for a blog.

One of the great things about these times we live in is the fact that we have access to these types of outlets.. and often, for free!

...So this was a little glimpse into why and how I created "Lorna Doone Living." (Just in case you didn't psychically know that, but yet wanted to know;)

I can only hope that it will inspire confidence in others and help them to do the same, that is.. put more of themselves out there.

I do not need or want to have a multi-million dollar brand like Bethany, I just want to put content out there in a way that is coherent and consistent. ..and I can honestly say I really appreciate her inspiration. <3

I appreciate ALL inspiration. ..so if you also feel compelled, please keep sharing.

- "Lorna"