Several weeks ago I thought to myself, “Cherith is killing it these days!” And that’s when I knew Cherith Fluker should be the See Jane Write Collective Member of the Month for February.

Cherith has been consistent on her blog and on Instagram. And she’s been landing brand collaborations even though her blog is less than a year old. Cherith has been dipping her toe into the freelance writing world, too, and she does all of this while juggling life as a wife and a mom and a demanding career in education. I can’t wait to see what’s next for her.

Tell us more about your blog. What can readers find there and what inspired you to start it? 

WhatCherithinks is a self-care and lifestyle blog.  I encourage busy women to create a lifestyle of self-care so that they can live better!  I started my blog in August of 2020 as a coping mechanism as I dealt with loss and grief.  Writing turned out to be a form of self-care for me.  My blog has been an integral part of my grief journey.  

Each week, readers can expect to find topics related to self-care.  I weave in articles about family, food, beauty, fashion, and travel, but each post finds its way back to the blog’s core purpose.  

You landed a brand collaboration with Entenmann’s during the holidays. How did that come about?

I was thrilled to collaborate with Entenmann’s during the holidays!  I found out about the opportunity through an influencer marketing agency.  I was a bit hesitant to apply because my blog was so new.  But, I applied and found out a couple of weeks later that I had been selected. It was so much fun. Since the Entenmann’s collaboration, I’ve secured another sponsored post opportunity that I’ll be publishing very soon!  

What advice would you give to other new bloggers? 

The best advice that I can give to new bloggers is to take it slow and don’t be afraid to ask for help. When I started in August, I wanted to do all the things, but I quickly realized that would lead to burnout.  I have connected with some wonderful bloggers through communities like See Jane Write and have gained so much knowledge.  

I would also advise new bloggers to be consistent and to find a niche.  I love writing and I want to write about everything.  But once I narrowed my focus, I really noticed growth. 

My last bit of advice is to write for your audience, not for yourself.  Think about who will read your blog and what value you can add to that person’s life through your writing.  Make your blog about them, not you.  

You’re a contributing writer for Birmingham Mom Collective. Tell us more about this platform and how you got involved. 

I found out about the Birmingham Mom Collective through Facebook.  I saw an open call for contributors and decided to dig a little deeper to see if it would be right for me.  After a bit of research, I decided to apply.  I had an interview and found out a few weeks later that I had been accepted.  So far, I have had three articles published on the Birmingham Mom Collective blog.  I love sharing about motherhood with other moms in the area!  It has been such a great opportunity.  I just agreed to another term on the team and I’m really looking forward to writing more this year.  

What’s next? What are some of your writing and blogging goals for 2021? 

Thanks to a goal-setting workshop that I attended through the See Jane Write Collective, I have lots of goals.  I’m really excited about my goals, too.  I will continue blogging weekly, but I am also reaching beyond the blog to encourage, support, and educate women about self-care. I plan to collaborate with some other writers and I hope to write for some other publications this year as well.  

In addition to writing, I also host a podcast, which I will continue this year.  My podcast (The WhatCherithinks Podcast) can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and other platforms. It covers topics related to education.  

Why did you decide to join the See Jane Write Collective and what do you like most about being a member?  

I have been following See Jane Write for quite some time, even before I launched my blog.  I enjoyed seeing the camaraderie and friendship amongst the group members.  I loved seeing women share their wins and challenges and support each other through it all.  I knew that if I wanted to get serious about writing, I needed what this group had to offer.  I needed the connection, the resources, and most of all the support and encouragement. That is exactly what I have found in the See Jane Write Collective.  

Who should be the next See Jane Write Member of the Month? Send your nominations to javacia@seejanewritebham.com and don’t be afraid to nominate yourself! Not a member? Apply to join here.