Writing a blog is a wonderful way to express yourself online. It gives the ability to share thoughts about current events, how-tos, movie reviews or opinions on any topic under the Sun. If the freedom to be and do anything you want online is a bit intimidating, you can get some inspiration and great advice by checking out quotes from famous American writers. They may not have been thinking about blogging when they made their comments, but their thoughts are heartfelt and handy.
1. “If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” John Maxwell.
Blogging is not supposed to be comfortable, either for the blogger or the reader. This type of writing works best when you picture the reader in the same room and that you are close enough to have a conversation. Can that level of intimacy be uncomfortable? You bet it can. People can only handle so much closeness before they start to back away.
The good thing about a blog is that it is your piece of cyberspace. This is your territory where you get to decide what you are going to share. Take some chances and explore some ideas. It will never feel comfortable stretching yourself in your blog writing, but you will learn how to manage the feeling of discomfort when you share something that is sensitive with your readers. It’s a normal part of the growth process.
2. “I am continually fascinated at the difficulty intelligent people have in distinguishing what is controversial from what is merely offensive.” Nora Ephronv.
What kind of reputation do you want to establish for yourself in the blogosphere? Some bloggers seem to thrive on being deliberately offensive with every post they write. Their goal would seem to be spreading negative energy wherever they go. This would seem like a good way to get lots of traffic to your blog, but do you really want to spread around bad feelings like a hot potato?
If your goal is to build a community of people who will come back to your blog to participate in thoughtful discussions, this is not the right approach to take. Anyone can shout obscenities and get attention in that manner. There is certainly nothing wrong with feeling very strongly about a particular topic or issue and making that known. As a blogger, you should choose your words carefully.
Do keep in mind that once you post something, it will be in the cyberspace forever. If you decided that you didn’t want to be a controversial blogger later on, your reputation would precede you. Be true to yourself when making decisions about who you want to be online and how you want your readers you perceive you.
3. “Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.” E.L. Doctorow.
There is no “one” way to become a writer or a blogger. Someone can tell you about keywords, bullet points and subheadings, but those are style features. You would probably be better off to think about writing and blogging as a muscle. If you want to get better (stronger) at it, you need to exercise it. The more blog posts you write, the more comfortable you will feel about blogging.
4. “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” Napoleon Hill.
If you want to start a blog, do it now. Don’t wait until you feel more ready or you have more time to plan your posts, or think you will be able to get more followers. The right time is now. Start with what you have at your disposal. Your early posts may be simple, but you will learn and grow from your early efforts to become a more polished blogger. The only way to improve your skills is to actually put something out there for readers to see. The act of writing a post and pressing “Publish” will put you ahead of most people who wish they could be bloggers, dream about blogging and talk about it. You have taken the next step and actually done something about it.
5. “The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.” Anais Nin.
What can you say in your blog posts that no one else can? You have your own voice and a platform, so make it count. Choose words and phrases carefully that reflect the way you view the particular issue, topic, hobby, or even how you spent your day.
There is no one else exactly like you, and no one else can write, “your” blog. Each one carries the stamp of its author, which should not make the process intimidating. It’s an opportunity to speak up and share what’s on your mind, now that you have been inspired by these famous American writers.
Check out more informative articles!
- The Best 2013 Blogging Tips To Build A Profitable Website
- How to Find the Influencers in Your Social Followers
- How to Deal with Procrastination Faced by Telecommuters
- The Joys and Challenges of Working from Home
- 10 Best Practices for Better Social Media Writing
Did you enjoy this article? We would love to hear your thoughts, so don’t be shy and comment below! Please don’t forget to subscribe to our RSS-feed or follow Inspirationfeed on Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, and Facebook! If you enjoyed the following article we humbly ask you to comment, and help us spread the word!