When I started blogging 5 years ago, I really just wanted a space to share the designs I was creating as I was figuring out how to use Adobe Illustrator. Over the years, it became a place to share family memories, uplifting thoughts, and things that I was working on. But more than anything, I’ve always hoped that this space would be used to put more good into the world. I have a list of potential blog posts a mile long, but despite all my dreaming, wishing, and planning, I’ve never been good at blogging consistently.
And I know I’m not the only one. Blogging regularly is hard! I not only want to share my biggest hang-ups, but how I’m overcoming them for good.
Despite an overwhelming desire to put more good into the world, I’ve struggled (sometimes even dreaded) with blogging for years because:
- I’m worried no one will care
- It’s really hard to find the time
- I’m not confident in my writing skills
- I don’t know what to post about
- I lose motivation
Can you relate? If so, let’s talk about how we can overcome these struggles for good.
We’re worried no one will care
One of the reasons I want to blog is because I love reading other blogs and want to create things other people will enjoy. But it’s really hard to invest the time and energy when you don’t think anyone will care. When you’re constantly surrounded by other blogs and people who make it look so effortless, It’s really easy to fall into a comparison trap and tell yourself that someone else could do it so much better than you. When you’re feeling inadequate, remember this:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -Marianne Williamson”
We don’t have time
When we start blogs, we have no idea just how long everything will take. Start out slow. There’s no rule that says that you have to publish a new post every day or even every week. Just choose a frequency that you can stick with. I have no room to talk, but consistently really does matter.
One thing I have been a lot better about is planning ahead. Instead of waiting until the day of to brainstorm, plan, and execute a blog post, use a calendar to schedule when posts will be published, and then give yourself plenty of time to do it right. Not only will you feel less stressed, the quality of your content will increase dramatically. I knew that I was going to be writing this post so I had plenty of time to think about what my biggest struggles have been, rather than trying to remember them on the spot.
We aren’t confident in our writing skills
I can’t tell you how many times I haven’t published a blog post because I didn’t feel like the writing was strong enough. Now instead of letting a post sit it my drafts folder forever, I switch up the format to something I’m more comfortable with. When my words don’t feel strong enough, I try to use graphics or other designs (something I feel much more confident about) to supplement.
But the thing that’s helped the most is just starting. I’ve found that the more I write, the easier the words come. And I hardly ever start by writing the first paragraph. I just kind of start in the middle, where I feel more confident, and then fill in the beginning once words are flowing a little bit better.
You can also try switching up the format of your posts. If essays and lengthy explanations are intimidating, try making lists or tutorials. If writing out instructions isn’t your thing, focus on telling more stories.
We don’t know what to post about
This has easily been my biggest excuse. “I’m not married and I don’t have kids so I can’t write posts about my family.” “I live at home so I can’t really post about how I decorate.” “My life is boring and I have nothing to share.” This is another time where it’s all too easy to play the comparison game. It’s so easy for me to look at other blogs and think, “well I can’t do that.”
So here are a few questions to help the ideas start flowing:
- What questions do people regularly ask you?
- Who looks up to you?
- Who is your biggest fan?
- What do you do differently than other people?
- What do you get ridiculously excited about?
- What do you use every day?
- What do you feel strongly about?
What aren’t other bloggers already talking about? Those are always the most interesting posts for me to read—the ones that haven’t been done a million times already.
We lose motivation
I’ve created endless lists of posts. I’ve filled out editorial calendars. I’ve had big plans and grand intentions. I have genuine reasons for wanting to blog. I get really excited and publish a few posts, and then I lose steam. I get so behind that I give up for a little bit until I decided to start the whole process over again.
How do end the cycle? How do we stay motivated and continue when the initial excitement wears thin? You have to care about what you’re blogging about. You have to plan content that genuinely excites you. You have to stop looking at what everyone else is doing and figuring out how to replicate it. Easier said than done, right?
I’m clearly no expert when it comes to blogging consistently, but I’ve going to give it my best! What about you? Do you have any other blogging struggles that I missed?