:love_letter: An open letter to my fellow ARA bloggers

How are you doing?

Are you currently in the season where it feels impossible to even make a blog and write something meaningful even if you follow BTS and still enjoying their content?

Is life after you and you don't have time to create something?

Have you been blogging for a while now that its growing out of your interest? Or maybe you're new in content creation and still learning.. but at the back of your mind there's uncertainty in this platform where your works could even get attention.

Probably if you are long time blogger, you observe and see that there's no point to continue because the engagement everywhere drops and its becoming boring.. your works don't receive the same amount of anymore like before..

You the peak of contents when they're blooming and everyone follows each other, hype and active, to the point of being competitive over a feature or challenge, gaining ideas after ideas and creativity to more creativity, making friends from engaging in comments..

I bet you could not help but blame fault the change in how the community is being managed too at a point, am I right? It's been a circus whoever is taking a lead. But is it really THE cause? Is the answer limited to seeing flaws or because many people left in other valid reasons.

You're maybe tired of seeing repetitive contents, annoyed by the fact that your works are prey of copycats, content stealers..

We only have in mind is that - the moment we share something in the internet, it'll be on public and open for such avenues to expect..

Let me guess, you have drafts piling up but you are feeling stuck. It could be because you have ideas but you procrastinate or completely block.

Or maybe you are like me, who don't mind your blogs getting featured anymore but there's a hope in you that at least, somehow, your mutuals or remaining active friends care to read them and leave a because these are much more precious to you than a front page recognition these days, agree? But you don't get it often now unlike before and you asked, why?

Or do you feel like what's trending now and likable to everyone isn't your forte, that you are left behind, you couldn't follow..

I look around. I listen to people who tells their page are becoming dull and losing its spark. Do you also see it on your own? Have you been feeling demotivated because of not getting featured like how your works tend to be back then or maybe never?

Let me tell you..

Yesterday Dubsmash was hit, now TikTok. Last year, Twitter has no stories, now even Amino has that feature, we're probably thinking about what it benefits us eh, app sustainability. Amino isn't just for ARA anyways, but our community is the most active when it comes to blogs as observed.

2017 when BTS started to be globally popular, that caused many fandom platforms gained active s, tantamount to ARA being one, because we have common interest why we're using this app. For bloggers, to write content and share love to BTS by using our skills in writing, arts, editing, singing, crafts etc etc - I won't ask question why you start to blog anymore, its given.

But why am I writing this open letter now?

Is it because it's 2020 and everything has changed?

Oh yeah.

Maybe, because like you, I'm also trying.

And here I am, to give an advise as someone who's been in ARA for a while now and still here..

If you are getting tired or feeling unmotivated to create content, if you are not enjoying it anymore - it's time to take a break. Consider that you don't owe anyone here anything so feel free to let loose. I'm a firm believer that blogging should be fun so do what's best, fun and healthy for you. Trying other things offline as leisure or hobby to de-stress after work and studies are way helpful and nice.

You are not alone.

In many ways, it has never been easier to become a blogger here in ARA, with Bangtan contents we keep receiving, the Amino app features changes and programs/tools we used to exhibit our skills right at our fingertips. Don't get me wrong, it takes a lot of hardwork but its more possible than it has ever been.

But why does it feel different here than before?

(A.k.a ARA golden days)

It's because we are overwhelmed of everything.

We are - of many things are overwhelmed, starting from how Amino added features on this app (to improve it or be IN), up to the blogging content trends we see, follow, adapt to, from the circle of friends we share, influence up to creation of squads, groups, clubs, activities, gaining of titles and many more. Did I also mention the issues we encounter add-on to the -experience & give impact of losing interest of staying? Broken friendship online and other more that is sad to recall.

My fellow bloggers, I feel the same.

For those who are still willing to continue to write,

try not to be too dishearten of the changes.

I see others who are discouraged, in fact I would go so far as to say that there is more weariness among majority of my blogging friends than I have ever seen before and I understand it.

Maybe you've been blogging since then without seeing any improvement, or fruit of recognition or perhaps its just really life is busy, and we couldn't put time and effort here anymore. I've been there myself.

It was necessary for me to stop at a time to focus at work, family and personal health. It would not work for me to blog consistently during those hard days and its the right choice to take a break.

Are you feeling uncertain?

Trends change, everything has ups and downs, in this pandemic especially - it's hard to catch time and do what we used to, that includes seeing our friends active again.

As bloggers, our definition of satisfaction change as we age in this app.

It's not a decease to have a writer's block and its also normal for a person to feel sad for things getting different from the way it used to be, especially in this age of social media. Our feelings are valid. You are valid.

that ARA doesn't revolve only to us bloggers - don't ever measure or underestimate yourself and capabilities just because people complain about you getting spotlight, or just because there are those who don't appreciate your hard work - let's say because your blog couldn't make it to featuring yet/not anymore, maybe there's a perfect time or something to correct. Don't waste energy from toxicity, don't let unnecessary hate, negativities, drama and stuff discourage or affect you.

I know it's hard sometimes, we're humans behind our mobile phones. Take a break because its okay, its alright. If you come back, that's nice! Don't ever think your fire as a blogger has lost already. Stop doubting that because you have to start over - it's the end for you. No it's not.

Why don't you try to clubs that possibly could give you inspiration to write or maybe start reading others' works which interest you so you can give a 'genuine' and you may develop friendship from commenting. How about recreate moments you used to do back then or meet new people to engage with?

It's the internet after all, there's more to life than recognition we gain here, believe that you are doing well, try and change your mindset to positivity and take your time, don't be pressured or forced by others. Be at your own pace, try not to feel envy at some bloggers around but rather be influenced by their hard work, learn to accept constructive criticism with grace, explore what more you can do.

What better way is to help others, those who are newbies, who probably may felt inferior, share what you can offer in of content creating..

Being a blogger in ARA

Blogging in Amino isn't profitable as blogging professionally out of this app. I was once earning as a blogger myself for a job. Here, we create blogs about Bangtan because we simply love it.

Blog not for spotlight because it will show. Create and share because you enjoy it by heart. I'm sure there are those who still care to read them, while you develop the habit of learning something from what you do, these contents are pieces of works you made because somehow, the joy you feel in sharing them to your fellow ARMYs, no matter the you received, is fulfilling, right?

Whatever is making blogging (whichever type of content you are doing) hard for you right now may not even be an issue for you in a few months.. Take a breather. I actually see some older s do come back after a year. Until this app is not yet retiring. Let's embrace the change and try not to live from the past.

I have one thing to say,

Don't give up and keep trying

You will never know, there are people who gets inspired from your posts.

... and lastly, always have BTS and their beautiful contents/message in heart, make their words and presence your number one source of inspiration on top of all, you won't lost track whether you go out of this app to be a fan in some other ways or be still here in ARA and stay.

sincerely,

Kimi

Thank you, if you actually took time to read this a whole.

I appreciate :purple_heart: