Editor Spotlight: The Beauty of Imperfection by Danielle Mohler

The world of artful blogging is simply amazing. From wildly popular authentic living spaces to digital studios that offer artists a place to showcase their work, there are many different types of creative blogs on the internet. More importantly, in my opinion, there’s a strong sense of community, which helps to nurture and strengthen artists from all walks of life. Today we’re shinning the spotlight on a very special person, Danielle Mohler, the editor of Artful Blogging.

Grab your notes, your camera, and get ready for a little inspiration — please join me in giving Danielle a warm Somerset Place welcome.

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~Photograph by Kim Klassen

Like many people, my day-to-day life follows a routine that rarely changes. On weekdays, I wake up and stumble to the kitchen to turn on the coffee pot before spending a few moments with my kitty, Holly Golightly, who sure likes to talk in the morning; that is, until her food bowl is replenished. Over the next hour, I get dressed, make lunch, and head off to work. Even at the office, I have a routine: I warm up whatever is left of my coffee and make breakfast while my computer turns on. I am not a morning person, but I sure do love those first few moments at work sipping coffee and catching up with my favorite bloggers. It sets the tone for my day and surrounds me with creative inspiration. In my line of work, this inspiration is crucial.

~Photograph by Anetta Bosakova and Stephanie Dahlsrud

I have been an editor at Stampington & Company for about two years now, having the opportunity to manage a few of our titles. Each publication is a thrill to work on, but the newest one I manage also warms my heart. My first issue of Artful Blogging hit newsstands at the beginning of this month. As I put together the issue, I was amazed at the bloggers, the stories they shared, and their outstanding photography. Many of them told stories about their blogging journey, their longing for perfection, and their misconstrued concepts about photography.

~Photograph by Jesi Haack

One thing I love about blogging is its vulnerability. My favorite blogs are the ones showcasing the flops, mistakes, and errors along with the successes. They show me the importance of laughing off blunders, instead of getting bent out of shape. After following blogs for a while, I feel as if I know the bloggers. I look forward to new posts and sympathize with them during hard times. It’s a magical experience where you travel with them through their highs and lows all from your own computer. Sometimes this means saying goodbye, when a blogger decides it’s time to take a step back and re-evaluate priorities. It can feel like losing a friend.

~Photograph by Krisha Hinkle

The desire to be flawless spills over into every aspect of life, including blogging. Often, bloggers strive for the best stories and photographs in each blog post to attract more and more followers. This issue of Artful Blogging features inspiring bloggers who have risen above this idea of perfection. I think Krisha Hinkle sums it up just right (p. 80): “These days, I measure the success of my blog by how little time I spend perfecting it.”

~Photograph by Beth McWilliams

So many things in life can’t be controlled no matter how hard we try. Perfection is merely an idea that can never actually be attained because, at the end of the day, we are all human. When I truly consider it, I believe life would be quite boring if everyone was perfect. The quirky details and hairy back stories make for interesting people. Even though I majored in English in college, I still misspell a word every now and then, and that’s OK. Instead of aiming for perfection, I have learned to enjoy imperfections. Nowadays, my goal is to take each day at face value. I can’t wait to see where this new mindset takes me.

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~Photograph by Courtney Kennedy

Who hasn’t dreamed of starting their very own blog and reaching across time and space to touch the lives of complete strangers? If you’ve considered it, maybe it’s time to start! Thank you to Danielle Mohler for sharing a bit of your insight into the world of authentic and artful blogging.

Use Code BLOG1114 to get $5 off Artful Blogging

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking photos and captivating stories of some of the world’s most creative bloggers in this issue of Artful Blogging — and because we love our blog readers, you can get $5 off the winter issue.