Q&A With Amber From ‘The Winter Of My Discontent’

Today I interviewed Amber about her blog, & I wanted to find out a little bit about herself and how she got into the blogging and what her plans are.

amber

Today I interviewed Amber about her blog, & I wanted to find out a little bit about herself and how she got into the blogging and what her plans are.

Her Social Media Links Are:

My name is Amber and I run The Winter Of My Discontent, a blog about ADHD and mental illness.

Can you tell our readers about yourself and your blog?

My name is Amber and I run The Winter Of My Discontent, a blog about ADHD and mental illness. In 2020, at 38 years old, I found out that I have ADHD-I, C-PTSD, double depression, panic and anxiety disorder, and OCD. I write about all of those disorders, as well as mental wellness and occasionally I write about mental health blogging.

Describe how did you first get into blogging?

After my diagnosis, I started researching my disorders. The more I learned, the angrier I got. I had been let down by the medical community and misunderstood by the people that I loved for all of my life and then entire time, it was because I had a disability. The more I learned, the more I wanted to educate people on what these disorders really were, advocate for people with the same issues as me, and create a community for people to feel accepted and understood.

Can you tell me some of your strengths that really helped you in blogging?

I have been writing for all of my life, so that is my biggest strength. Also, perseverance. I was on a mission and I had determination on my side. When things got tough or readership seemed low, I remembered my “why.” I want to help people and that keeps me going every day, no matter how hard things get.

How would you describe your blogging style?

My style is definitely conversational. Though my blog covers some very heavy and sensitive topics, I try to do with a splash of humour here and there.

What do you think is the best service a blogger can provide to his readers?

Honestly, the best thing you can do for your readers is to answer a question or solve a problem. Also, your readers want to feel seen and they want to identify with you in some way.

How do you manage time to run your blog efficiently?

I don’t always. LOL Seriously, though. I try to use the inspirational days to my benefit. I usually batch create my content in one day and schedule it out throughout the month.

*Same here Amber Same Here*

How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?

I’m always looking to improve and grow. I hope to obtain ADHD coaching certification this year so that I can help people in every way possible. I’m trying to get on a good schedule on the blog, which is something I’ve struggled with in the past. I’ve been posting every Saturday morning and that has been working well for me. I’ll be studying marketing this year and trying to find an approach that works, but also makes me feel good about what I’m doing.

What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that?

My greatest failure in blogging was when I first started The Winter Of My Discontent. I launched the blog in May 2020 and I had NO idea what I was doing. I hadn’t done any research on blogging or how to make it work and I burnt out after only a month. It would be 6 more months before I would regroup and decide to try again. This time, I was armed with a lot more knowledge about blogging and all of the things that come along with that.

Tell me about your proudest blogging achievement?

In 2021 I was nominated for Blogger Of The Year at The Mental Health Blog Awards. I made it onto the shortlist after the first round of voting. I was nominated again this year, but didn’t have the same luck. Regardless, I’m honored to have been nominated and can’t wait for next year!

Who has impacted you most in blogging and how?

Probably the people who were speaking out before me; Rene Brooks, Jessica McCabe, lots of people who use their social media platforms to lend a voice to those who may not otherwise have one. Their strength inspired me to take a stand and start writing in a way that would help people.

What is your greatest achievement outside of blogging?

Last year, I wrote my first fiction novel. It’s a paranormal romance about a woman who moves to a new town to find family and love, but she also finds vampires and witches. I went on to write a second book in May. I’ve written two novels in six months.

What do you do in your spare time?

Having ADHD, I tend to collect hobbies. I like any kind of journaling; free-thought, multimedia art journaling, etc. I love to crochet, but haven’t done it in a while. I’m an avid reader, as well as writer. I’m a personal empowerment coach for people with ADHD and mental illness and I try to advocate in every way that I can.

Where would you like to be in the blogging world five years from now?

I hope that in 5 years, I’m still writing and advocating for change. I would like to be known as an authority in my niche and a trusted source of information.

What was the most challenging moment in your blogging journey so far?

Honestly, just staying consistent with posting. People don’t understand that pumping out quality content week after week is hard. Not only do we have lives and families, but we deal with things like creative block that can really be out of our control. I think most readers are really understanding about things like that, as long as you’re open and honest with them about what is going on.

Can you name some of your favourite bloggers and explain why they are your favourites?

Rene Brooks, who I mentioned before. She runs Black Girl, Lost Keys and, honestly, she paved the way for the people who came after her. Her insights are invaluable and she covers topics that are important and not talked about a lot.

Victoria St. Michael is an amazing writing. Her posts tend to be pretty hard hitting and I know for a fact that she does in-depth research on every piece. She’s the consummate professional (and a great friend of mine).

Kate at Dating Bitch. We got started around the same time and I really admire what she’s built there.

Anything else you would like the readers to know?

If you’re thinking about blogging, you should go for it. I hear a lot of people say that they don’t know if they should start because they don’t have anything new to add to the conversation. But there is only one you. You have a unique perspective and unique experiences, so that automatically makes it a fresh look on an old subject matter. It is hard work, but it’s totally worth it in the end.

Thank You So Much Amber! Make Sure You Check Her Out!

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