It's A Blogger's Life with Pen from The Single Swan

Welcome to the It's A Blogger's Life interview series.
As you may have seen, I posted a list of some of my favourite blogs at the start of the month, and what it is I love about them. Check it out here, you will definitely find some amazing new blogs to follow if you missed it first time around. I asked some of the amazing bloggers if they would be willing to take part in this series and introduce themselves to you and share a little of their blogging wisdom.
I was so happy at the responses I got to my request - it really does go to show the strength of the blogging community and how bloggers help each other out.
Thank you to everyone who responded, and thanks to each and every one of you on that list for consistently publishing beautiful and inspiring posts that keep me coming back for more.
Anyway, enough from me, over to the interview.

Today we have Pen from The Single Swan.

1. Tell us a little about yourself
I am a newly single mum in my mid-thirties with a son who is under one and a cat who is just over three. I live in London and I work full time.  

2. Why did you start blogging?
My blog evolved out of my attempts to manage my upset, bitterness, disappointment and at times my desperation as I went through a break-up with my now ex-partner. 

I found that locking myself in my bedroom (whilst he was downstairs) and writing down my feelings, just in a word document, was a good way of getting things off my chest.  It helped me to construct my thoughts about how and why I felt he was being unfair in a calm, logical, rational and justified way.  After about a month, I found that I had about 20 or so word documents on my computer just recording what he had said, what he had done, what his family had done and how I felt about it. It was really cathartic. 

These word documents morphed into my blog because I felt that I needed something to document my journey as a single mother, something to refer back to at difficult times to see how far I have come and re-calibrate myself when I am going through difficult times.  My blog posts help me to remind myself of my vision and what I am seeking to achieve for our son and for myself long term. 

 Many of the word documents from the very beginning haven't been published and probably never will be. A lot of them are incoherent and emotional rants. You wouldn’t want to read them and I don’t really want to publish them.  

I also started the blog because I didn't know anyone in 'real' life who was in the thick of it in exactly the same way as me. I wanted to meet these people and share these experiences. I am very lucky to have met these people and indeed many more online. You help to give me a sense of perspective. That is really important, so thank you. 

 3. What is your blog about?
It is about my journey, from the beginning or thereabouts, as a single mother. To date, I have mainly written about my relationship breakdown and have used it to collect my thoughts. Going forward I would imagine it will contain a lot more about the co-parenting challenges that I am facing and family mediation which we are just about to embark upon.  

I might even attempt to inject a bit of humour into my situation, but don't hold your breath! 

4. What are the long term goals for your blog?
Therapy, community, discussion.  

I don't know, in the back of my mind I have half an eye on monetisation and turning it into something that I can turn into a career. I have a stable job, which I am good at and a goodish salary and pension. I don’t think that in my current situation I will be able to give up that reliable monthly income. I therefore think I would be very unlikely to use my blog as a main source of income. It is working for me at the moment though. I enjoy it and that is enough. Who knows what the future holds. 

 5. Any tips for bloggers?
Write for you and about things that you feel strongly and passionate about. My favourite blogs are those that are honest and clearly written from the heart. The words just flow and you almost feel that the writer has an imperative to write and feels a great sense of relief when they finish a blog post.  You can sense this in a blog post. These are my favourites. 

6. Describe yourself in 3 words
Anonymous, relieved (that I am no longer in an unhappy relationship) proud (of myself for having the courage to end it.   

7. What are your top 3 blogging essentials?
My mac book. A bit of time. A glimmer of an idea. Wine is good but not essential.  

8. What would be your dream blogging assignment and why?
Goodness me. I have never done a blogging assignment. I am quite enjoying this interview. Does that count as an assignment? 

9. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I would live exactly where I am. I enjoy and indeed need to have my family and some friends nearby. That always has been important to me but is more so than ever at the moment. That is not to say that I wouldn't like to live and experience different cities and cultures. I have lived abroad before and loved it. I am a city girl. I can't really be doing with animals and fields and such like. It is the bustle of big cites, the diversity of culture and the aesthetics of the art and architecture of the city that I like. 

10. Where can we find you?
My blog, on Twitter, or via email.

Show Pen some love - visit her blog, follow theron social media and of course, leave her some comments below :)

Thank you so much Pen for taking part!

Stay tuned for more It's A Blogger's Life - next up is Kate from Pouting in Heels tomorrow.

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