Behind the Scenes of My Blog: The Quirky Truths

Hey, y’all! 🎉 Ever wonder how the people who live in my head come together to produce this blog? Well, strap in because Linda at MindfulMigraine who was kind enough to ask me if I wanted to do this has tagged me in this challenge. So here goes more than you wanted to know about the bustling town of people that reside in my head and how they put this blog together.

How Did You Come Up With Your Blog Name?

Imagine this: a late-night brainstorming party fueled by a lively playlist and the ambiance only a cozy room filled with plants can provide with me bouncing ideas off my ever-patient partner, Rodney. Well that is not at all what happened. I actually got the name from a conversation I was having with a family member. I was telling her that I wanted to open a retreat center that catered specifically to the needs of black women. I couldn’t tell you who came up with the name Chocolate Serenity but there it was. I immediately knew it was the right name for the atmosphere I wanted to create in a physical space. Since I don’t yet have the funding to create the physical space, when I started this blog I opted to create that kind of space virtually. How am I doing?

I love the name because it is catchy, meaningful, and it cleverly encapsulates everything I am aiming to provide for the women who read my blog. (No offense to the men who read but this is definitely aimed at a target population. I love the name, its a name that you’d remember like the chorus of your favorite song.

If Your Blog Was a Person, Who Would It Be?

If my blog sprang to life and walked around, I imagine it would definitely channel the essence of someone as iconic and influential as Maya Angelou. Picture someone with Angelou’s wisdom, grace, and wit, mingled with the engaging charisma of Oprah, and the sass of Whoopi Goldberg. Now, that’s someone who’d keep you hooked on every word, turning everyday observations into profound insights, all while making you feel right at home. Man, I kinda wish I could meet the personified Chocolate Serenity. She would be dope!

What Helps You Create New Content When You Need Some Inspiration?

When the muse seems to be on vacation, here’s how I coax her back:

1. Beach Visits: There’s nothing like the rhythmic sound of the waves and the serene beach vibes to clear my mind and spark creativity. If you’ve been reading this blog you have to know that I love the beach. A good sunrise or sunset at the beach brings my muse skipping out.
2. People-Watching: A day out, observing life unfold while I sip on a chai latte, can unravel the most intricate stories, especially when Rodney chimes in with his unique take. Fun fact: we make up fun stories about people when we people watch. We imagine what they’re talking about and come up with impromptu scripts. Don’t look at the screen like that, we can’t be the only ones who do this.
3. Crime Dramas and Thrillers: My love for the suspense and complexity of crime dramas fuels my imagination. I love watching the underlying struggles of the characters from my coach lens and thinking about what would I help them with. And then sometimes I write about that. The most recent characters I’ve been thinking about are Greer and Tag Winbury from The Perfect Couple.
4. Heart-to-Hearts with Bea and Coach: So if you’ve been reading this blog you know that chats with my therapist inspire me. What you don’t know is that I have equally thought provoking chats with my trainer Coach Moe. The talks with these two aren’t just great for navigating life’s ups and downs; our talks often inspire profound blog posts that resonate deeply with my readers.

Is There Anyone You Would Like to Collaborate With?

Oh, if dreams had wings! Collaborating with Susan Taylor, the legendary former editor-in-chief of Essence, would be a dream come true. Imagine blending her groundbreaking insights with the vibrant energy of this blog—now that would be something special!

Do You Have a Specific Style of Blogging?

Absolutely! My style is conversational—like having a chat with a good friend over a glass of wine or a latte. I aim to create a warm, inviting space where every reader feels seen and heard, like being curled up in a cozy living room where the conversation just flows. I want this to be a judgement free zone so I share my warts and try to keep the tone light so that hopefully it will resonate with my audience. But I really hate advice that tells you to be better without giving some tips for how to do it. So I always include some practical tips.

Is There Anything More You Wish You Had or Would Like to Learn as a Blogger?

While I adore the creative side of blogging and coaching, the promotional aspect? Not so much. If I could, I’d definitely use a Virtual Assistant (VA) to handle the marketing and social media. That way, I could focus more on what I love most—writing and connecting with my community. I do have someone working on my websites right now but that is another area that I am not super knowledgeable about but need to be.

Wrap-Up

So there you have it—the inside scoop on how the people in my head come together to create this blog. Whether it’s the calming waves at the beach, an intriguing new crime series, or a heart-to-heart with Bea or Coach, I am inspired by the life I live and I aim for authenticity always. What fuels your creativity? Got any quirky sources of inspiration? Share in the comments below, and let’s keep weaving stories together!

So it is my turn to tag some folks, so I am tagging three of my favorite bloggers who haven’t already done this (as far as I know). Sincerely Jan, Sharon’s Writer’s Tidbits, Bunmiola Bakes, and KEGarland consider yourselves tagged to answer the questions above and tell us a bit more about your blog.

All best. I really enjoyed this, I was having a terrible day and this cheered me up.