#Girlcrush - Britt Powers
Tell us about yourself and your blog!
My name is Britt and I’m 24 years old. I graduated a few years ago with a degree in anthropological archaeology. Straight out of university with few employment opportunities and fresh off a breakup, I decided to write a book. Writing has always been my go-to form of therapy. With such positive feedback, I created an Instagram account that eventually turned into a website and blog. That’s what I’ve been doing ever since. After growing a beautiful literary community online, I published my second book, Dirty Laundry. My blog is as honest and disorganized as I am. I write about an array of hard to talk about topics with no filter and a sense of humor for those of us that need a good laugh when life is getting a little too chaotic.
What inspired you to start your own blog?
When I first started a blog, I was in high school and needed a creative outlet. It wasn’t until I wrote my first book in 2017 that I decided to start a public blog. I realized how many people could relate to how I was feeling and I desperately wanted to create a safe space for people like me to be able to come together and feel a little less alone.
How would you describe your blogging style?
I’d really just describe it as honest. I like to be humorous about subjects that people tend to find taboo or embarrassing. I try not to hold myself back because I like being authentic and transparent with my readers. That’s something that is really important to me.
Can you tell us about your ideal reader?
My ideal reader is anyone that’s needing to hear some hard truths, have a good laugh or someone that just needs to know that my life is a mess too and we’re in this together. I think social media has created such high expectations of us so I want to convey to my reader that life isn’t as glamorous as everyone is making it out to be. I write a lot about being a 20-something that has absolutely nothing figured out and the pressures that come along with trying to create a life on your own. I really hope that anyone that reads what I post takes something from it, even if they just feel a little less alone, that’s really all that matters to me.
How do you structure your days?
I’m probably not as disciplined as I should be with my schedule but I will typically make a list of what I need to get done after I have my morning tea. Then I will pick and choose what is most important and/or what I am in the mood to accomplish. I have days where writing doesn’t happen because I don’t have it in me. I’m not a very structured person when it comes to blogging. Life tends to get in the way and I’m still figuring out how to find a good balance.
Is blogging your profession or hobby?
Blogging has been a hobby of mine since I was 16. It’s only been over the last 2-3 years that I’ve been pursuing it more seriously.
What has been your most successful blog post?
My most successful blog post is called “Peen There, Done That.” It’s about receiving unsolicited nude photos from guys. It’s highly relatable which is why I think it’s my most popular post.
Describe your writing process from start to finish.
Step 1: Go through something upsetting or uplifting.
Step 2: Grab my laptop and write.
I really don’t have any magic method. I have to feel something in an extreme, sadness, happiness, never anything in between, in order for me to get in the mood to write.
Where and how do you work best?
I need a space to myself with lots of light and very little noise. My attention span is my worst enemy when it comes to productivity so it’s important for me to be in a space that doesn’t provide me with too many distractions. A desk isn’t comfortable enough but my bed is too cozy so I tend to set up my work on the couch, away from the TV of course.
What were the first few steps you took to get your blog up and running?
First, I sat with the idea for a while. I have a tendency to get really excited about something and then get over it very quickly. I had to make sure it’s something I really wanted. After that, I decided to invest in a domain and website and went all in. Creating your own space online is such an exciting feeling, it really helped me stay motivated. Then I promoted it on my growing Instagram account and went from there.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your blog and attracting an audience?
Connecting with other bloggers and writers has been extremely helpful. Social media is of course so necessary for gaining a wider audience but none of that would be possible if it weren’t for fellow writers lifting each other up and collaborating.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Staying confident in my abilities as a writer and content creator has been difficult. It can be quite discouraging working so closely with social media because you’re constantly bombarded with people trying to accomplish the exact same thing as you. You start comparing yourself and that annoying self-doubt sinks in. Am I pretty enough? Am I funny enough? Can people relate to me? Why would anyone care what I have to say? It’s been a challenge for sure but a challenge I intend to win.
How did you overcome these challenges?
I allow myself to take a break. If I push myself to do things that I’m not feeling particularly passionate about in that moment, then it leads to poor quality content. So I allow myself to take a step back for however long I need to before pushing ahead.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I try to remember that pushing myself to write when I’m not in the mood isn’t always the best option. There’s plenty to get done that doesn’t require that sort of focus so for days when I’m just not mentally in it, I do what I can and don’t get down on myself when I can’t accomplish what I wanted to. There’s always tomorrow.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I think what makes me unique is my willingness to talk about touchy topics. I don’t fit into a category of beauty, fashion, home, etc. I really just share my unfiltered thoughts. I don’t have products to talk about or clothes to critique, I talk about people. I talk about love and dating and women’s health and growing up. I think that’s what distinguishes me from others.
What do you wish you knew when you started your blog?
I wish I knew how competitive it is. I started it as my own form of therapy with no intention of trying to grow it into anything more than my own outlet. But I quickly connected with so many people that were genuinely interested in what I had to say. It gets tiring when you feel like your hobby and passion has become work. It’s a hard transition to make. I didn’t realize that you have to be so consistent with putting out content. I wish I had known from the beginning so I could’ve been better prepared.
What blogging tools and resources could you not work without?
I couldn’t do any of this without Pinterest and Instagram. Those are the two best platforms that I have always relied on, not only for advice but also to help promote my website, book and blog.
Who are your biggest influences? Who do you admire most? Who or what inspired you to do what you’re doing now?
Love is what started this for me. Feeling it, losing it, finding it. Platonic or romantic. Love is the driving force behind what I’m doing. I see these amazing females, mostly online, creating their own lives and that inspires me to put myself out there and go for what I want. I really look up to my past self. A year ago I was very different than I am today and a year from now I hope to make even more of a positive impact. Competing with myself keeps me grounded and motivated.
What advice would you give to other bloggers?
Keep writing. Focus on what you can provide others with instead of worrying about being recognized. Quality content is most important and don’t get discouraged when you haven’t quite found your niche yet, it takes time to carve out your own little corner on the internet.
What surprising lessons have you learned along the way?
I was never the type of person that could follow through with a plan, but since starting my blog and writing two books, I’ve really taught myself how to accomplish what I want without letting myself get discouraged to the point of the giving up. That’s been unbelievably helpful to my work ethic as a whole and my self-esteem.
Where would you like your blog to be 1 year from now?
I want to become much more consistent with posting and hopefully get more organized with what I write, how I write and who I write it for. I’m really focused on creating a whole new life for myself in a new city so I would love to be able to incorporate my blog into this next chapter of my life!
Where can we find you?
Instagram: @musings.of.a.she.wolf and @brinniepowers
Twitter: @brinnie_powers
Pinterest: @shewolfmusings
Website: www.britpowers.com
Email: brittany_powers@hotmail.ca