As I’ve shared in my previous posts, one of the early challenges I encountered was writing blog posts.
Pretty important, right.
Blog posts are the lifeblood of any blog.
Without compelling content, there’s no value to offer your readers, nothing to monetize, and no foundation for successful marketing strategies.
When I was younger, I loved to write.
I would write pretty much anything. From song lyrics to screenplays. Poems to short stories.
It was so easy to just write.
After college, where I spent four years immersing myself in English and Literary Studies, I decided to pursue a different career.
When I finally decided to rekindle my writing passion, it was so much more difficult.
The creative spark had dimmed.
I had a severe case of writer’s block.
My first attempt at blogging hit a roadblock primarily because of this struggle with writing and content creation.
The second time around, I was determined to conquer this challenge.
I realized that not only did I have to overcome the barriers that led to writer’s block.
But I also had to discover a process that worked best for me.
I experimented with various approaches until a winning process emerged.
In this blog post, I’ll share my blogging process in hopes that you will find it useful as a foundation for your own or a great starting point to create a process tailored to your unique style.
Create an Outline
My blog posts typically begin as either free-flowing thoughts or structured outlines.
I get a topic in mind either from my topic list or whatever I feel inspired to speak about at the moment.
I write the topic out as my tentative title.
Then, I jot down ideas or points that I want to make about the topic.
If it’s an advice-based post, I brainstorm various solutions to the problem.
This serves as a solid starting point for organizing my thoughts.
Free Write: Let Your Ideas Flow
One of the breakthroughs in overcoming my writer’s block was embracing free writing.
I realized I needed to let my thoughts flow freely onto the page.
I sit down and write what comes to me.
Tools like OneNote, accessible on my computer and phone, became essential for organizing everything.
Having everything from my content calendar to random musings at my fingertips proved invaluable.
Additionally, using talk-to-text while multitasking, like during cooking or a walk, offers a hands-free option to capture inspiration as it strikes.
Write when the inspiration strikes.
Although I had worked hard to develop enough content topics to last me a year, every time I sat down, selected a topic, and tried to write, I was left with…nothing.
I discovered that forcing myself into a rigid structure stifled my creativity.
I just wasn’t there in my writing process.
Instead, I found it more productive to write when inspiration struck.
The feeling of words effortlessly flowing through me instead of trying to force them out was motivating.
It also affirmed that I was on the right path; this was something I could accomplish, something I was called to do because it felt natural and fulfilling.
Edit Edit Edit
Usually, after the above steps, you are left with a post comprised of various lists, paragraphs, or even a stream of conscious ramblings.
I start by formatting the post.
I find it’s easier to edit if it looks more like a blog post and less like a five-paragraph essay for school.
So, I go in and bold the headers for clarity.
I like to space out the sentences for readability.
Then, I usually read through it after a day or so has passed so that I have “fresh eyes.”
I want to read it as if I am the audience visiting the blog.
My goal for my posts is to have a conversational tone.
I want to ensure the post is easy to navigate, read, and skim through.
I like to bold my main topics.
Italicize my external comments.
It should sound very natural.
During this phase, I might identify areas to enhance or trim, perhaps even discovering a topic deserving of its own blog post.
I also strategically direct readers to related posts to enhance their experience.
Through formatting, I aim to create a post that is not only informative but also enjoyable and easy to navigate, resulting in an engaging reading experience.
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As I share these insights, I hope they serve as inspiration and guidance as you attempt to overcome obstacles and find your own unique writing process.
In this blog post, I’ve shared the evolution of my blogging process—a journey of trial and error that eventually led to a winning formula.
Through this journey, I realized that overcoming writer’s block required more than just breaking down mental barriers.
It involved discovering a personalized process that reignited my creative spark.
My journey to finding my groove in the blogging world reveals that creativity is a rollercoaster ride, full of twists and turns.
It’s a journey requiring resilience and the ability to go with the flow.
I hope that my advice helps you in your own creative journey, enabling you to transform challenges into opportunities and weave your unique stories into blog posts that resonate with your audience.
Even if your goal is to just spend 30 minutes working on the blog and all that you’ve accomplished is reading another article about starting a blog.
That’s a win! Because it’s information you didn’t have before.
That’s one step closer to your blog.
Focusing on celebrating your wins will motivate you to persevere.
And over time, you’ll find that you’ve built a habit.
Over time, you’ll find you’re more motivated than when you started.
You’ll find that your passion for this goal has grown because you persevered and you didn’t stop.
Instead, you focused on trying to improve yourself so that you could successfully make gains toward your goal.
All of that is a win!
By focusing on your wins, it will help you to minimize the negatives.
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One of my worst habits is focusing on the negative and discounting the positive.
So, I end up easily discouraged and susceptible to fear, doubt, and negative self-talk.
You’re not good enough.
You’re never going to accomplish this goal.
All of those thoughts are lies.
The only way that you fail is by quitting.
Or not even trying.
So keep trying!
That will get you one step closer to successfully accomplishing your goal.
Whether your goal is to start a YouTube channel. A blog. Open an e-commerce business.
Whatever your goal is, just keep trying!
Every step you take is a win and a step closer to your goal.
Recognize and applaud these wins to keep yourself motivated and develop a habit of progress.
Embrace the journey, celebrate your wins, and stay motivated by focusing on the bigger picture – your ultimate dream.
By implementing these strategies and embracing the mindset shift needed to see setbacks as opportunities, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goals.