Ok, so you want to be a blogger but just can’t seem to put pen to paper.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent months fervently pinning blogging tips on Pinterest and reading countless articles on the subject. Yet, that first blog post remains elusive.
It’s so tempting to linger in the “planning phase.”
It feels safe, devoid of the risk of failure because, well, you haven’t even started yet.
But as long as you cling to this phase, your blogging dream will remain just that – a dream.
So here I am to tell you what I did to move from perpetual planner to writing my first blog post (coincidentally, this post).
This post is dedicated to those who can’t summon the courage to take that initial step – writing their first blog post.
In many ways, this is another form of writer’s block: the inability to write due to self-imposed mental barriers.
Much of the guidance I offer here is rooted in techniques I’ve used to combat writer’s block.
Let Go of the Quest for Perfection: Release the Pressure
The first thing I had to tackle was “perfection.”
I grappled with the notion that everything had to be flawless – the perfect setting, the ideal environment, the right moment.
This fixation on perfection paralyzed me.
It is great to have high expectations, but when those expectations become unreasonable or start to cripple you, it’s time to try it a different way.
Embrace imperfection.
Release yourself from those expectations. Just do it. Put words on paper.
Write without fear of it not being perfect; instead, focus on delivering content that genuinely benefits your audience.
At the end of the day, that should be your goal: to provide content that benefits, aids, and guides your audience.
Abandon the excuses.
Don’t give in to the lies and unrealistic expectations.
I have been writing for years, spent my entire college career doing it. And yet, I had convinced myself I wasn’t a good writer.
You haven’t found your “voice.”
You cannot transfer the skills you’ve used to write papers or emails into what’s needed to construct a successful blog post.
How ridiculous does that sound?
At that point, my mind was surrounded with negative self-talk birthed from my greatest fear: jumping into this blogging thing and having it not work out.
I desire perfection to reduce my chances of failure.
If you’re trapped in this same self-doubt, it’s time to rewire those negative thoughts with positivity.
“You haven’t found your ‘voice’?” You will discover it through your writing.
You cannot transfer the skills you’ve used to write papers or emails into what’s needed to construct a successful blog post. Those writing skills that produce successful papers and articulate emails can undoubtedly translate into successful blog posts.
While some doubt may linger, remember that inaction yields nothing.
Doing nothing leaves you with nothing. No failure but no chance of success either.
You need to do something, and the first step is knowing you can.
Set Time Aside: Prioritize Your Writing
Set aside the time.
There will never be a perfect time to write.
This is why it is even more important for you to make the most of the time afforded to you.
There were too many times when I had free time to write, and I chose to catch up on my shows, sleep, or browse Pinterest for more “blog research” instead of just writing.
I found myself stuck in a cycle of choosing anything else to do other than writing during my free time and then feeling regret and discouragement as I told myself it was never going to happen.
This was true as long as I kept neglecting to make time for my writing–prioritizing everything else above my writing.
So here I am. I’ve carved out time to write.
Now, you need to do the same.
To break free from this cycle, you need to allocate specific time for writing.
Whether it’s early morning, late night, or during lunch breaks – make a conscious effort to prioritize your writing over other distractions.
Get Comfortable
My next suggestion would be to find someplace comfortable.
I have read somewhere about writing while lying down.
I tried it when I was trying to get back into journaling, and it definitely worked.
During these relaxed states, creativity often flows freely, untethered by the pressures of perfection and daily stressors.
Put on music. I usually put on one of the Spotify Focus playlists or Christian instrumentals.
Get into a comfortable position and just write.
That’s what I’m doing right now, and this is the furthest I have gotten in a post!
Figure out how you write– what has worked for you in the past
I chose pen and paper because it is how I most naturally write.
Yeah, there’s some hand cramping, but I can push through as long as the words continue to flow.
Everyone has had to write at some point in their life.
Whatever you wrote, you went through a process to write it.
As I began my first attempts at writing a post, I remembered the things that used to help me when I had to write all through high school and college.
I remembered how I would need to get a scrap piece of paper, turn it slightly, and spill my thoughts across the page to have someplace to start.
It was no different when writing the blog post. I needed to get my loud, jumbled thoughts down on the paper.
Once I did that, I had something I could use to construct a blog post.
So, what’s your process?
Whether it’s outlining, voice-to-text, or a “brain dump” approach, choose what works best for you.
Experiment to discover your most effective writing method.
Get Words On The Page
Now, the most crucial advice: Just. Write.
Just do it.
It might sound deceptively simple, but it’s profoundly important.
You’ve set aside time, created a comfortable space, and silenced your inner critic.
Now you need to just write.
Let your thoughts flow freely onto the page.
Write until you can’t write anymore. You can clean it up later with my next and final suggestion.
For now, just write.
Pick a topic, jot down points, and write without restraint.
The momentum you build is invaluable.
Continue writing so that you can break down that wall and experience the feeling…the accomplishment of writing and completing a post.
Get yourself out of your mind.
You have all these ideas and just need to get them down onto paper.
You need to prove to yourself that you can get them onto paper.
Edit, Edit, and Revise
My final suggestion is to Edit, Edit, and Revise.
Editing and revising are integral aspects of writing.
Once your ideas are on paper, you can mold them into the masterpieces you envision.
Trim, add, and refine to make your content concise and beneficial to your audience.
This is the time to tweak your content until it is something you are satisfied with.
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Most of what I’ve shared aims to help you break free from self-imposed constraints to take the most practical steps necessary to create a blog post. Write.
I hope you’ll overcome these obstacles and move on to the next steps: planning your blog’s content, marketing it, and monetizing it.
After following these tips, you should have your first blog post, bringing you closer to your content goals.
I followed many other tips to accomplish my goals, which I hope you’ll find helpful.
I hope to go over all this and more with you if you are willing to embark on this journey together.