Things I Learned While Learning to Write Personal Blog Posts
As a beginner blogger, here are some insights I learned for those just starting out blogging or writing.
I had previously written a post on Tips on How to Think of Topics to Write About on Your Blog, as I was learning about the topics and subtopics.
Here, I am going to share some personal insight that I have learned about myself while learning how to blog.
It’s been a little over a month from when I formally decided to attempt writing on my personal blog. You realize and learn more about yourself.
These are the few things I am learning and I have realized while trying get into a habit of blogging:
I actually really enjoy writing.
I never thought I was a writer. In no way am I one, but I really like the feeling of sitting down, spilling my heart out, organizing my thoughts, and engaging in deep work.
Author Cal Newport teaches in his book, Deep Work, “the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It’s a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time.”
Having always been a thinker, I tend to overthink situations, attempt to foresee problems, and constantly contemplate the meaning of life.
Though my brother had always guided me to journal and write, I never got around to it. Then one day, I finally decided to face myself and tackle my problems both physically and emotionally through self introspection and writing.
It was then that I realized that I actually really enjoyed writing. I don’t even know if I’m good at it, but I feel a lot, constantly chase experiences, and just have a lot to say. Staring at a blank slate with the freedom to express myself and potentially share that with the world is scary and exciting.
The feeling of flow or “Greenlight,” can get quite addictive.
For those of you unfamiliar with the term Greenlight, actor and writer Matthew McConaughey describes in his book,
I found a reliable theme, an approach to living that gave me more satisfaction, at the time, and still: If you know how, and when, to deal with life’s challenges — how to get relative with the inevitable — you can enjoy a state of success I call “catching greenlights.”
It’s challenging, it’s frustrating at times, and it requires a lot of attention, but it’s fun. It can also provide you an outlet, a sort of escape and break from the obligations of life.
Helps You Figure out what you obsess about.
If you are anything like me, you may suffer from a scattered brain.
With so many different interests and distractions, I jump from one thing to another constantly.
Staring at a blank page is dreadful sometimes. You realize that you have no idea where to begin. You question how you are going to pump out a short post that contains any value and people actually want to read.
But, first and foremost, I realized that you have to learn how to organize your thoughts, learn to listen to your heart, and dedicate a few undistracted hours to help you write about what you may feel truly passionate about.
Find Your Voice. This is Your Space and It’s Exciting.
Though I am putting myself out there by publishing this on the internet, my blog serves as my personal space.
I’m not writing to please others, though it does motivate you when you see that people actually do want to read your content. I am writing to document my experiences and provide insight, value, and connect with other writers and readers.
I’m not simply writing for money, though I do hope one day it does generate me just a little extra so that I can focus on things I love more. I’ve been in multiple situations where I realized that being financially strapped and stressed constantly doesn’t give you the ability to enjoy the present because you are scrambling to survive.
It’s me, myself, and I and my creative outlet.
It can help you find you and your voice. I feel free to write about whatever I want, whichever way I want. More often than not, I get excited to have my days off so that I can hone into deep work and focus on writing.
Writing is liberating and there is so much creative freedom.
I’m not a person with too many radical opinions. But I feel a lot and I think a lot.
I have countlessly questioned the meaning of life, love, family, and relationships. I sporadically but constantly obsess about personal finance, productivity apps, hacks, systems, efficiency, and just how to make my life easier.
Creating a blog and writing posts give you the freedom to express yourself and your thoughts, and the blank canvas to write about whatever interests you. And if you are able to write posts that also create value for your readers, then jackpot!
Conclusion
I am no where near being or feeling confident of my writing. If anything, I want to hide under a rock most of the time. Or I guess I already do.
But I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings with others to hopefully empower you to give a shot at writing. Whether it is for a blog or just simply to journal. The space it gives you and what you learn about the process of documenting and about yourself is invaluable.
