Wow, it’s already been three months since I posted my very first blog post. Time flies. It’s actually pretty crazy when I think about it. In that time I’ve written 11 other blog posts and have grown as a writer not only on my website or platforms like medium, but in general.
This was my first time taking the plunge into blogging. Sure, it was scary. I had the typical fears that most people probably have.
- What will people think?
- Will anyone even care?
- What if no one likes my writing?
- How can I start without a niche?
- What if I don’t find my niche?
- How long can I keep going?
- What if I have nothing valuable to say?
- What if nothing ever comes from my writing?
- Will this be a waste of time?
And after 90 days, I can safely say that it has definitely been worth it (even if I still have a ways to go before I’m up there with the best of the best. And who knows if my blog will even get that far).
But that’s not really the point. I love writing online. It’s been therapeutic. And not only the act of writing itself, but just knowing that I could potentially provide value to someone simply by sharing my knowledge.
With that said, here are 12 lessons I’ve learned from the past 90 days:
Lesson 1: Be ready to play the long game
I’m in this for the long haul. I love writing and (surprisingly) enjoy sharing that writing with others online. Not just for the sake of sharing (although that is important to me), but because someone out there might actually benefit from it. Who would’ve thought? I may not get a ton of views or likes or claps or whatever, but I know that as long as I put in the work, I’ll see some results. Even if those results may not be clear or look like what I imagined them to be. Statistics show that the average blog takes anywhere from 16 to 18 months to see any sort of traction. Whether my blog blows up tomorrow, this year, the next, the year after that, or even longer, I’m going to continue to put in the work. Let’s do this.
Lesson 2: It’s not so scary
As the saying goes, the first step is always the hardest. That is definitely true with blogging. The first time I hit publish on my very first blog post, I thought my heart was going to stop. My stomach churned for a few minutes and my palms started to sweat. It wasn’t easy. But in the end, I’m glad I did. Because the feeling only lasted several minutes. The world didn’t explode. Life kept going, and the earth kept spinning. After that, I realized this blogging thing wasn’t so scary. You’ll also find that you have more to say than you think.
Lesson 3: No one will care (at first) and that’s a good thing!
Yea, I’d be lying if I said a small part of me didn’t want someone out there on the vast internet to care about my writing. But the truth is, if this is your first time, no one will care if you hit that publish button. No one will get up and applaud you. No one will give you an award. No one will even say “Way to go!” That’s just facts.
(Unless, of course, you have someone eagerly standing behind you as you hit publish. Although come to think of it, that’d be kind of creepy, lol.)
Regardless, the fact that most people won’t care when you first publish your blog is actually a good thing. It can help give you a sense of freedom to explore topics within yourself and others you might’ve been too scared to write about or share otherwise. Having little to no audience is actually quite freeing. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Lesson 4: It gets easier
Yes. Yes. And another yes. It gets easier. Trust me when I say this. IT. GETS. EASIER. It so gets easier. It might not be right away, but it definitely does.
Eventually, you’ll get to a point where it will feel awkward not to post to your blog. The butterflies will go away. Maybe not completely, but they definitely become easier to deal with and manage. Over time, you’ll find that your writing, editing, and confidence as a writer will improve. Indeed, your blog will improve. It’s just a law of nature.
Lesson 5: Have a schedule (and stick to it!)
I can’t stress enough the importance of having a writing schedule. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy.
(Unlike some writers who swear writing every day and posting MULTIPLE times a day is the only way to succeed).
No. Just no.
You don’t have to stress yourself out like that, because if you’re just starting out, all that will do is intimidate you to where you want to run away from blogging and never look back. Instead, just find something that works for you. Whatever it is. A few minutes a day. One or two times a week. Maybe you have a spare 30 minutes. Cool, set that time aside for writing. I even know successful writers and authors who only write for one hour per week. Yea, that’s it. And if they can do it. So can you. But if you ARE the type of person who likes to jump into the deep-end of the pool, however, go for it. Don’t let me or anyone stop you. Do what works best for you and your unique situation.
Lesson 6: You don’t NEED a schedule (unless you want one)
To follow up with the previous lesson, I can’t stress enough the importance of not needing a schedule. It really just depends on what success looks like to you. If you just write as a hobby, and want to share that hobby with the world. Cool. A schedule is not something you absolutely need. It’s just there to provide a helping hand on your journey, is all.
Lesson 7: You define what success looks like
I publish one blog post a week and that is enough for me. Usually Sundays. It helps me accomplish what I set out to accomplish for my blog. It’s a blog where I try to provide valuable advice, tips, personal stories, and techniques to writers, artists, and other creatives who are looking to spark (or re-spark) their creativity or improve their writing. To some, that might seem like a waste. Others might see that as too much work. To me all of that is ok. I define what success looks like to me. Why not do the same for yourself?
Lesson 8: You don’t have to be a “professional”
I think most people by now know that you don’t have to be a so-called professional in order to create top-notch content or other creative work. I see “professionalism” as something that comes over time. Hone your skills. Practice your craft and the title of “professional” will be yours. Whatever that means. If you’re just getting started like I did 90 days ago, don’t worry so much about it. Just create stuff and go from there.
Lesson 9: Provide value and people will follow
Put your writing out there and you might get a few eyeballs on it. Or maybe not. Put your writing out there and make sure it’s useful and provides value to people, and you’re golden, regardless. Keep doing that and people will follow you. I can’t put exact numbers on it, but with enough time, who knows how big your following will get.
Lesson 10: Engagement is important
It’s important to read as much as you write. So be sure to engage with others and their content. You can’t just create content in a vacuum. I mean you can, but sending your writing off into the void and then heading back into your writing cave isn’t really the point of blogging, in my honest opinion. Part of providing value to people is engaging with them. Engage with your readers. Engage with other writers. Sometimes, your readers are also writers, and the writers you read may also be your readers. Follow them and their work if they genuinely provide you with value. Writing is a big community, one that I’m proud to be a part of since it’s a very supportive one. Having a sense of community and supporting each other can only help us all.
Lesson 11: You don’t HAVE to write in a niche (unless you want to)
It’s important to have a direction, but not mandatory. You don’t have to have a niche when getting started. In fact, when I got started 90 days ago, I just jumped into the incredibly broad realm of writing and creativity. And posted stuff about those topics. I know that eventually I’ll be pulled toward something more specific within either field, and that takes time.
How do I know?
As long as I continue to learn and grow as a person (and have a pulse), I think I might just pull it off, lol. For now, just know that you can start anywhere you choose. Get experience “in the field” and write about topics that you naturally gravitate towards.
Lesson 12: Have fun!
Writing is both personal and universal, and there’s a simple saying that I heard from Taimur Abdaal, “If you’re not having fun, what’s the point?”
This can apply to most things in life, but as far as writing and blogging go, it’s the most important step in my humble opinion. We’re all here for a limited amount of time on this lovely planet of ours, so why not enjoy the process? Sure, it can get tough, but as long as we find some kind of fulfillment and enjoyment, the rest will take care of itself. Things will fall into place. And even if they don’t, at least you enjoyed the ride. I know I am.
This is only the beginning, so let’s have some fun! Cheers!
Jeff Aybar is a writer, writing/creativity coach, Sci-Fi/Fantasy nerd, INFJ, veteran, and all-around creative. You can get a free copy of his guide for writers and other creatives on starting the creative journey by signing up to his newsletter HERE.