3 Mindsets Bloggers Should Have and Not Have To Be Successful
I’ve been thinking lately about what can help – or hurt – writers who wish to write a blog. When considering my own writing goals, I feel mixed. I have a strong desire to write about things of importance, yet also trepidation that I won’t say what’s on my heart in a way that resonates with readers. If I let myself dwell on the fear of failure, I’ve found I can effectively talk myself out of writing anything.
And that’s the real ogre standing in the way, right? Fear of failure.
Each of us writers has a calling that is different from any other writer. If we don’t write our message, no one else ever can. Yet, most writers (artists) wrestle with a fear of failure. I’ve come to believe fear may even simply be a companion that accompanies us on the journey whether we like it or not. Still, though, other writers have conquered and we can get past writing fear too, one little step at a time.
Hence, my tips for getting around the fear blockade!
3 Mindsets Bloggers Should Have and Not Have To Be Successful
DON’T…
1. Don’t think you have to be the world’s greatest writer. A good subject, some reasonable preparedness and research if needed, and a good spell checker is enough to get started.
2. Don’t give up. If you start something, commit and keep going. Don’t post an article or two and then stop. You ‘ll look like a flake for all the world to see.
3. Don’t be discouraged by the initial technicalities of the setup process. Websites, WordPress, SEO plugins, etc.. The entry into this arena is challenging at first but there is a lot of quality and generous help out there to get past this.
DO:
1. Write from your heart. Express things that are important to you that will inform, help, or entertain an audience appropriate for you. If something is important enough to you to write about, there are people out there who agree and will be interested in what you have to say. (If you’re starting from scratch as I am, finding that particular audience takes effort and patience, and is the subject of more articles). Be consistent in offering value and be generous with your thoughts and giveaways -- your audience will grow in time and with effort.
2. Choose a subject you can write with passion about. This may go without saying, but if you’re deeply interested by your topic, it will show (and the flipside is if you’re not, that will show too and no one else will be interested either).
3. Read. Read. And read some more. The more you read, the more you’ll want to write and the better a writer you will become from doing both. Going back to the beginning of this blog, if you have ever been inspired by the way an author has chosen to tell a story or shown a character’s heart and courage, simply reading more and more brings tremendous benefit with no downside! It’s one of life’s major gifts. Reading is our best teacher and the beauty of it is learning comes as a byproduct!.
In closing, ponder what you’re passionate about. Commit to the journey, perhaps with a friend who feels as you do. Then, fill up your tank on the words of others and emulate the process in your own writing. When you do, it will be the start of your own beautiful story.
About the Author
Michelle Netten is a lifelong fan of books and storytelling and reads and writes stories every chance she gets. She earns a living as a hi-tech writer (content-on-demand) and her true heart is always in books, literature and stories. Her children's books and blog can be found at her Cheer-ebooks website: http://www.cheer-ebooks.com
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5 comments:
Michele, thanks for your guest post. These are helpful tips and reminders for us bloggers. I like the third DO. You absolutely have to read to 'write' and to have an interesting and helpful blog.
Thank-you, Michele. Writing from your heart and what you are passionate about resonated with me. You won't stick with something if you don't have those 2 things going for you.
Reading is such a fun part too so it's a double bonus that it helps so much ;-).
Thank you Kathleen! I'm glad we share the same thoughts. No matter what kind of writing we do, keeping each other encouraged (and motivated) is a welcome part of the journey.
Thanks Kathleen. I especially agree with the need to read. Where my favourite reading genre is Christian Novels, I find if I'm writing for Chicken Soup for example, it helps me to read a number of their stories to get my mind into their genre.
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