A story that deserves to be shared ah million times just because!
The blog you see today was always meant to be. What started as an idea has transpired into something I adore.
Let’s Get Into It
It started in 2018
In 2018, I was starting to develop my journalism career, working as an apprentice, meeting college professors, talking to future employees, and really hoping to make a name for myself.
I attended the National Association of Black Journalists conference held in my city and attended a panel that discussed the importance of blogging.
That panel stuck with me.
The conference was in August, and up until I left for college, I spent the rest of my summer making a blog.
College hues
When I got to college, having a blog wasn’t really talked about.
You needed a portfolio.
I wanted the best of both worlds, so I uploaded articles and occasionally wrote blog posts.
The blog you see today is not the blog of yesterday!
Random names
We’ve (who is we), the blog has actually gone through a few names throughout the years.
It took a lot of trial and error, plus learning about domains and hosting plans, to develop an authentic name.
While using my own name was quite cliché, it felt just right.
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Dissing the blog for Instagram
So, I sat there and made a website with no experience. Just templates, playing around on Google, reading and watching tutorials, all for me to disappear for years.
I became a content creator, something that I never wanted.
It was a fun passion project that grew very quickly, and also became very overwhelming because I felt too performative at times.
Worrying about likes, trying to beat the algorithm.
My content was and still is pretty raw, and I always showed up as Chandra. However, I began to feel that as a creator, I was losing my voice and passion for what truly brings me joy.
To find those elements again, I had to step away from consistently making content because it’s a forever-moving process that often felt like a lottery.
Winners and losers, but we continue to show our lives in most instances freely and receive nothing in return.
Everything can’t be content…
Alright, now we’re so back
I decided to switch my attention back to what aligned with my life at the moment, and it’s the blog.
Which should’ve always been anyway, because with my blog, I can do anything I desire and can express myself to a specific niche audience without feeling like I am trying to appease everyone.
You truly cannot create for everyone. Be selective and let those who get it, find and connect with you, organically, not because I asked online or because we met for two seconds.
No.
So, anyway. The blog is here to stay, with God’s grace, of course, but it deserves love.
I neglected my blog for years because I also lost my voice. My journalism background was there, calling the shots, but I am not just a journalist. I enjoy fiction, writing stories, and being opinionated.
Over time, I’ve written so many stories about others, but when am I going to write about me?
Today is that day.
The point is
What started as a simple way to highlight my articles and have a space to express has become one of my favorite avenues in 2026.
My blog allows me to be Chandra without restraints. Still a writer with journalistic integrity, but I love the flexibility I have.
To that JRN kid in 2018, I am glad you stuck with it. I am glad you never gave up because, baby, you have something special on your hands.
Always try the daring thing and never lose your faith. In the beginning, it may not work out perfectly, but if you continue to build on it and grow with it, God will guide you through the steps to stick with it.
Let’s Talk About It
Would you ever start a blog?