Mar
11
For some people, writing is as natural as talking. For others, it takes a little getting used to. If you are new to blogging and you’re not accustomed to writing for an audience, you might feel that your posts are awkward, clunky, and not really what you meant to say. This can result in a kind of writer’s block where you repeatedly start and then delete sentences because they don’t seem right.
Still other first time bloggers are afflicted with a kind of stage fright. Their thoughts, emotions, and opinions are going to be readily available to the entire world at the click of a button. And that can be intimidating. What if I come across as some kind of know-it-all? What if people don’t “get” me and just think I’m a jerk? What if my sixth grade English teacher reads my blog and finds out that I’m still a bad speller? There are a million reasons not to venture forth in your new independent publishing career.
Relax. It’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay if some people think you’re a jerk, and it’s fine if some people don’t “get” you. There will be others who do. And you’ll be happy once you get in and realize that the water’s warm.
You just need to find your voice. Write to your blog as you would talk with a friend. This is a good way to ensure that your personality comes through in the prose. You can always go back over your work and clean it up a bit, but it’s good to get it down initially in an off-the-cuff manner because that’s when the good stuff comes out.
The more you blog, the more you will discover about yourself. You might be surprised to find that you are linking and commenting about a certain subject that you wouldn’t ordinarily seek out. You might discover, like many people, that blogging is a path to new interests and a way to unlock thoughts otherwise lost in some corner of your brain. Blogging can take on a very intimate “journal” feel or a more “newsy” direction. Either way, the idea is that by putting your thoughts into words on a daily basis, you begin to see over time the kinds of things you gravitate toward. And those things often turn out to be different from what you expected them to be.
Finding your voice also makes for a good blog. Everyone is different, and blogs reflect their authors’ personalities and opinions. That’s why people read them, and that’s why they can be so addictive. Sometimes you just have to tune in to a favorite blog to see what that person has said about the latest news story or to read his or her take on a movie you’re thinking of seeing. Finding your voice is one of the perks of blogging that can really help you become a better writer. Don’t think about it too much; just blog every day, and your voice will develop.
What did you do when you first started out blogging, and how did you feel when you went to create your first blog post? Worried, happy, uncertain? Tell me your views by leaving us a comment.
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I really like your comment:
"Everyone is different, and blogs reflect their authors’ personalities and opinions. "
Prior to really giving myself permission to let my own personality shine thru in my writings, I always tried to be far more formal. And then I was told that my humor and unique way of tying points across various/sundry life experiences is what makes my writing stand out. Why ruin a good thing, thought I…and thus my style was born.
Best wishes,
Barbara
ps - thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog!
Barbara Ling (aka Owlbert)’s last blog post..Getting slapped upside the headed courtesy of your pitifully dull blog writing voice