Bloggers Wednesday: Elle

What’s your name?
Elle! Like the one on Heroes. Only more awesome 😉

Where do you live (country is fine)?
United Kingdom.

Where do you blog?
I blog over at The Seventh Circle of Elle. If you’re asking where I actually blog, then the answer is anywhere! Though it’s usually on my laptop, perched at a desk, in my knickers (with a strong coffee to hand, of course). I’m one of those overly-organised freaks who carry a notebook and pens everywhere, so when I get bloggy inspiration, I jot it down, and update later. (I’m also ‘capesandcorsets’ on Twitter.)
What made you start blogging?
As much as I’d like to give you the self-righteous spiel on how I was asleep in my bedroom, when an Angel of the Lord appeared in a burst of bright light and told me that if I started a blog, the world would be a better place, I’ll try and refrain. Instead, I’ll be perfectly truthful – I wanted a place to vent. I wanted somewhere to write about my personal goals, my interests, just general things in my life. I’d tried paper-based diaries but had never managed to keep them past May. And seeing people comment and share their own thoughts made starting a blog even more fun. The community aspect of blogging was the icing on the very yummy blogcake!

How long have you been blogging? Has it always been in the same place?
I’ve been blogging for a few years. And no, Seventh Circle is relatively new, but that’s where I’m staying! Sometimes I blog a few times a week, sometimes once a fortnight. It depends on how busy I am and when inspiration strikes! But I’ll definitely be keeping it up.

WordPress, Blogger or other?
Blogger all the way. That said, I’ve tried WordPress, and as fab as it is, it’s just not for me. Whenever I tried WP, I kept returning to Blogger. Blogger is perfect for a personal blog – quick, easy and with more options for templates.

Do you have a day job or is blogging your main thing?
If only it was! I have a day job, and I’m also editor of female fiction website Trashionista. I’m currently re-writing my novel for my literary agent (here’s hoping it’s popular!) and I’ve just started working with a friend who’s just started up her own PR company. Oh, and sometimes, I save the world before breakfast.

Do you have specific blogs that inspire you?
Lots! I find a lot of personal blogs inspiring but there are far too many to list!

Some I like are Forever Amber (foreveramber.co.uk),

Cup Cate (www.cupcate.com), Paula (insertmyblognamehere.blogspot.com) and of course, I follow a lot of book blogs.

If you could ask me one question (and I answer it) What would it be?
Ha, you shouldn’t have asked that! 😉 Hmmm…*wrings hands in glee* Seriously though, how many people do you follow, and who inspires YOU?

Piece of advice for bloggers out there?
I’m aware that others have said this previously, but…be yourself. It’s so easy to see when someone is trying too hard to be cool or funny or venturing away from their usual ‘blog personality.’ Other than that, be careful what you put on your blog. I try not to put anything really personal on mine. It’s not that I’m paranoid, it just feels uncomfortable having too much info available. I know of people who put their whole lives online and it’s unnerving. Personally? I think it works better with a little bit of mystery!

In answer to Elle’s question:

Seriously though, how many people do you follow, and who inspires YOU?

Probably too many lol.

When it comes to writing Ellefie @ Pipe Dreams and Professions and Rickie Writes @ All Road Lead to Cake.

My penpals inspire me too. There’s Bobberdilly who draws a piece of art on every envelope he sends and Becca who sends me funny or pretty cards each time.

I believe that people are brought into my life for a reason. There’s Lauren, who has this humungous heart for everyone, she works with Nate who equally wants to make the world a better place and does so through ItStartsWithUs. Then there is Em and Tim at Today’s Letters – I blog about them on a regular basis because they are just so awesome lol. Em writes a letter to Tim every day – it’s often only four sentences and a picture but it’s showing her love to him every day. Tim then writes on a Friday back to her. Each post ends with a question to get us involved. I recently heard Em and Tim’s testimonies and how they became Christians and ended up together – it’s so sweet in places but in other places it’s heartbreaking. Either way they are awesome and they inspire me hugely.

Is that a long enough answer? hehe.