A look at four Mormon women whose blogs have a following that transcends LDS circles:
CJANE
Courtney Kendrick has done magazine writing for publications such as Seagullah but says blogging is a good fit because she likes single-draft writing.
"I'm not a very good self-editor, so it was hard for me to do a second draft," she said.
Somewhere along the way, people took notice of her quippy humor and became regular visitors. After her sister's accident, her site gained even more of a following, enough to earn her several Blogger Choice Award nominations.
Kendrick has since started two other blogs, one about things to do in Provo, Utah ("CJane's Guide to Provo") — where she was raised and currently resides — and another called "Dear CJane … " where she identifies where she gets the items pictured on "CJane Enjoy it." She created "Dear CJane" to handle the many e-mails she gets inquiring about clothes, accessories or furniture.
"I really wanted to keep ('CJane Enjoy It') about writing," she said. "And the only way I could do that was to send the responses elsewhere."
Kendrick said she spends about five hours a day updating her Web sites and doesn't get around to reading other people's blogs.
"It's a time sucker," she said. "Once I get started I can't stop."
She said it's hard to be authentic when she sees the trends other people are writing about. What's more, it's hard to not feel inadequate when reading a well-written essay on someone else's site.
"A lot of times, quite honestly, I'll read blogs and I'll feel bad," she said. "I get blog jealous."
Although it's a big part of her life, blogging isn't everything. Even though she shares a lot on her blog, she doesn't write about everything going on in her and her family's life.
"We keep our sacred moments sacred," she said.
TAZA
Naomi Davis, like Kendrick, didn't intend for her personal blog "The Rockstar Diaries" to garner the attention it has. Started in 2007 with her husband, Josh, to keep their families in the loop on their newlywed lives in New York City, "The Rockstar Diaries" quickly gained a following and was featured in the magazine "Time Out New York."
Davis, 23, says she is an avid journal-keeper, and the blog was a natural progression of keeping her history. The nickname "Taza" comes from Josh, who served an LDS mission in Italy. Davis loves teacups, so Josh began calling her "Taza," which he thought was Italian for "teacup." They later learned it means "cup," and it's been an inside joke ever since.
Davis describes herself as a private person and was a little weirded out when early on a stranger commented on a post she thought only friends and family were reading.
"It happened right away, and it was a little awkward," she said. "I felt very nervous."
Since then, though, she's encouraged comments by holding several giveaways where readers leave a message in the comments' section at the end of a post.
Davis takes lots of photographs and considers her blog as much Josh's as it is hers. She writes often about their relationship and their focus on family.
"I do absolutely love, from the bottom of my heart, being married," she said. "I try to keep it real and not flowery or over the top."
If comments are any indication, people love Davis' style and adoration for her husband. It's not often that people are critical, but at times even the positivity can wear on her.
"Sometimes when they're over the top I feel just as inadequate," she said.
Although she is always weighing the pros and cons of having a public blog, at the end of the day, maintaining "The Rockstar Diaries" has been a wonderful experience.
"I think that the blogging world is such an inspiring place," she said.
NIENIE
Stephanie Nielson's blog was popular long before her plane crash. A mother of four, she highlighted the beauty of motherhood by regularly posting photos of her and her family. After her accident, the blog is much the same, but with a bigger focus on gratitude and faith.
"I love to blog because I get to use my creative ideas in my writing and the way I style my blog. I love photography and I love to make things," she wrote in an e-mail. "I enjoy the positive response I get back from mothers and women in general. They can relate or offer support, prayers and love. It is so nice. Especially since my accident. I have made so many new, lovely friends."
Her husband, Christian, is featured on her site often, but he's also integral behind the scenes.
"Christian reads my blogs before I post. He helps me with spelling and punctuation. I play off his mood," she said. "However he feels after or during (reading the post) I get an idea of how I sound when I type. It is nice. He also is very supportive and wants me to be happy doing this."
Nielson tries to limit her time online so she can be there for her children.
"I spend about one hour a day blogging," she said. "Usually after the children are in bed. Then I try and stay away from the computer until nap time and again at night. This is a job in a way, and I care so deeply for those who read it and also am motivated by the missionary tool it is, so I want it to come across as a tribute to motherhood and being a wife and woman."
DESIGN MOM
Gabriel Blair said she finds the blogging world fascinating and loves being a part of it. She earns as much off the ads on her Web site as she did when she was taking on design clients.
"I take this very seriously," she said. "I'm a career mother … and I'm legitimately a designer. It's a fairly unique perspective."
Blair said that because it's such a new field, it's been interesting to figure out where to set boundaries. When it comes to sponsors, Blair keeps paid advertising out of the content of her posts. She may reference certain stores or companies but doesn't make money off those references.
"If you see anything that's a blog post, it has not been paid for," she said.
Lots of readers e-mail her wondering how they can make their own blogs more visible. She said the biggest thing is writing regularly.
"Part of why I have readers is because I post three times a day," she said.
Blair, Kendrick and Nielson all know each other from Provo, Utah, where they grew up.
"Before any of us were blogging, we were just friends," Blair said.
— Molly Farmer