Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Udoh.
Lauren, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started blogging as a writer around six years ago while I was still living in New York. I was interested in going back to school around that time and wanted to major in English, with a focus on Creative Writing. In New York, I had some of the most pen worthy experiences, that if I ever decided to write a book, I knew it would be a best seller. Fast forward to today and living currently in Houston for a year now, it’s been a journey trying to find common ground again. One of the first things I did when I moved back was talked to a few friends of mine who were bloggers. They were familiar with my writing blog and had also encouraged me to blog full time. Funny thing was, right after, one of my friends who was a food and travel blogger was starting a group for fellow blogs and invited me to join. At this point, I was more travel than a blog, but if I had an opportunity to share my experiences abroad to fellow travelers, then why not? I’ve traveled to three countries solo so far and have made friends with locals and tourists in each one. I know the fears of getting up to leave everything you know for everything that you may seek to know. This is why I started @Tokynamazon on Instagram. I have fancied the term lifestyle blogger because traveling is apart of my lifestyle as well as food, fashion, and writing. I know that blogging is something I want to do for the long haul and I am just happy to be a part of it.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing worth it is very easy. Like starting anything new, you must prepare for obstacles along the way. One of the first discouraging feedback I encountered was from another blogger who shared a tweet about how new bloggers are doing it for popularity and not for passion, as if to say I wasn’t passionate about what I was doing. That definitely struck a nerve in me and made me question why would anyone care what someone else is doing? But like any new kid on the block, there will always be someone who has something to say in order to make themselves feel better. It just made me want to push harder and ignore the haters. Which brings me to some good advice, don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do.
Tokynamazon – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
@Tokynamazon and Diariesofthenight.wordpress.com are basically my brand/life in a nutshell. I use my blog to help inspire others who have a passion for whatever it is they are into. Honestly, I feel like a glorified yelp reviewer half the time who loves to travel and just do stuff. However, I do also share experiences, poems, stories, and many things that are personal to me. I guess what sets me apart is that I don’t want to come across as super polished and refined as some of the other blogs that I see and actually follow. I try to keep it as real as I can and essentially just be me.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
A proud moment would have to go to finding my niche. I knew I had a voice but I wasn’t sure if anyone wanted to hear it. I feel like I have a community of friends online that are growing and are actually rooting for me. It can be tough hopping into a new industry and learning as you go but sometimes, you just have to stick to it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.diariesofthenight.wordpress.com
- Email: diariesofthenight@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/tokynamazon
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
