So You're Thinking of Starting a Dolly Blog?

Doll Blogs are a wonderful way to share your love of dolls with the world and make new friends. It doesn't matter what type of dolls you collect or admire. The dolly people I know enjoy all types of dolls nomatter what dolls they collect themselves.

If you are planning to launch a blog, you will need to decide how you're going to write it. Find a theme that feels like it's you.

A: Do you want to write Toy Story-style adventures, where the doll behaves like a normal toy when humans are around, but comes to life when the humans leave the room? For example, try to imagine a doll discovers their "manufacturer's tag" or realizes they were mass-produced, leading to an identity crisis about what makes them unique.

B: Do you enjoy doing product reviews of dolls, crafting tutorials, designing sewing patterns, and hobby blogging? Visit Emily at The Toy Box Philosopher to gain an insight to doing reviews and Martha at Antique Lilac to see her tutorials & patterns. These are both experienced bloggers and you can learn a lot from them.

C: Would you prefer to write a script where the dolls are actors in a continuous storyline? These are often referred to as doll photoblogging, doll diaries, or doll soap operas. They are episodic web novels where each blog post represents a chapter. The blog uses staged photos to act out scenes, accompanied by prose or script-style dialogue written underneath.

D: Or maybe you like to try doing all three to see what suits you best. It's your writing space make it your own and have fun!

To be honest, when I began my first blog I had no idea where to begin. However, I found reading other blogs provided me with the inspiration I needed. My first blog was about teddy bears, collecting them, making them, teaching classes and promoting other teddy bear artists through online Teddy Bear Shows.

Then when I began collecting BJD's it was all about them, forming characters for each one and developing a fantasy world in which they lived. Just like my family below.

Now, almost two decades later, blogging has literally become My Doll Haven. An eclectic composit of everything doll related where I can share new & sometimes old dolls, write the occasional review, try to improve my photography, provide sewing & knitting patterns, discuss different dolly topics with my readers, and generally have an enjoyable time.

There are a few guidelines you may like to keep in mind if you intend to form long friendships with other likeminded bloggers.

Be courteous and respectful. Yes, this maybe your blog, but people from around the globe are reading it and it's wise not to cross boundries.

Be responsive. If someone comments on your blog and asks you to visit theirs, check it out. Often you will end up adding another blog to your reading list and making a new friend.

Post regularly. Find a time slot you're comfortable with, whether it be every couple of days, once a week or once a month. Remember you still need to to balance blogging with family life.

Don't worry if you don't get hundreds of followers or comments. Quality is more important than quantity. Over time, I've gathered a little group of readers who mean the world to me. I enjoy their company, their critiques, their laughter and everything else we share amongst ourselves in this space I call My Doll Haven.

Should you decide to write a dolly blog of your own, please leave a link in the comment box so we can pop by sometime.