Darren Rowse of LivingRoom who has several blogs including Pro-blogger, has some cautionary and realistic advice for people who want to blog for a living.

When I first started blogging I was working two jobs part time. I had no idea that blogging would become an income stream for me - it was purely a hobby.

Six or so months later when I started to earn an income from it I was tempted to quit my jobs and go full time but I decided to be careful - and I’m glad I did.

There came a time when I let go of one of those part time jobs - when it became realistic that I would be able to earn enough from my blogging to make up for the loss of that income - but I did keep hold of one of the jobs. Later on I was able to relinquish the second part time job and go full time with my blogging.

In actual fact I have recently taken on another part time job for six months while we get ourselves settled with a new mortgage - partly becuase the role is an exciting opportunity, but also partly to ensure a steady back up income for 6 months in our time of transition.

I’ve been blogging for 2.5 years now and only recently could afford to ‘go Pro’ (and still don’t). I work 6-10 hours 7 days per week (sometimes more) and am updating 18+ blogs daily. It is hard work. I love it and wouldn’t do anything else - but consider the cost before you launch in.

Yes you CAN make a lot of money from Blogging - read the stories that are going around on blogs of people making decent money from blogging - but also read about the hard work and time that it’s taken them and remember that for every success story you read there are plenty of others around who have tried and failed to make more than a few dollars from their blogs.

Darren recently took the ads off his personal blog. I know during the Olympics he and a professional friend worked unbelievably long days.