Conquering Fear of Blogging
Three different friends over the last two days have told me about their fear of creating, a fear of blogging. They each had their own demons to wrestle: perfectionism, failure, self-consciousness. These are difficult to overcome, and I’m not going to pretend that you just have to follow a few steps and you’ll overcome your fear, but I can tell you a few things I know about it all, and see if it’s helpful. Here are a few ideas to help you look past some of your fears.
Keep a Scratch Blog
Whether you’re just starting out, or even just sometimes not sure if something you’re thinking about is right for your blog, consider writing it to some place else. Consider using a Tumblr blog as a “scratch” blog, a place to write stuff that’s not fully formed, or that you’re concerned might be taken wrong. You might not even brand the site, maybe not even make it publicly visible.
Say it Out Loud
One way that you can get a little more confident in your writing is by reading it out loud to yourself. Go over what you’ve typed and read it as if talking to a friend. Does it make sense? Are there parts you want to change? Try a few times.
Read and Read and Read
Not just blogs, but read lots of things. Read magazines. Read books. Read things that make you think, and then understand more than what you read. Understand how they CONVEYED what you read.
Lots of times, we talk about how we’re unsure how to do something, but we don’t do the two parts of the puzzle: figure it out, and then practice.
Start by Commenting Elsewhere
There’s nothing wrong with developing your voice for blogging by commenting on other people’s blogs for a while. Go into blogs that you find interesting, and expand on what someone said in the comments, or disagree, or add your own spin.
But Start Eventually
There’s a lot of ways you can procrastinate and throat clear. One is to use Twitter instead of your blog. Another is to comment and think, and support others instead of doing your own thing. Another still is to read blogs and consume podcasts and tell people what they’re doing right and wrong, but not add something new to the pot. You might worry that you’re going to say something wrong, or offend, or whatever.
Set a real date. Set some time in the next few weeks (or a month at most?) to post something loud and proud and made by you to your blog, and then do it. See what happens. First off, with millions and millions of blogs out there competing for eyeballs, it’ll be a lot less climactic than you think.
And Then, Do More
Once you get rolling, get into the habit, and just start producing, it doesn’t stop. If I were writing full time for a living, I could keep going for quite some time before I hit a wall, but that wasn’t always the case. I used to get blocks all the time. What changed? I practiced more, and more, and more, and more. I wrote ALL the time. I got into the habit of writing no matter what.
Made all the difference in the world.
Your Thoughts?
What do you think? How have you approached your worries or hurdles to blogging or making media? I’d love your thoughts if you’re someone feeling blocked or a bit afraid. You can even comment anonymously, if that helps.
Photo credit Tom@HK
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Comments
If you try and try and try and fail getting out the gate, then seriously think about hiring a writing coach. Like Joanna.
I did. The gates opened and whoooh. What a rush.
I can’t imagine ever being back there again. Pounding my fears against that closed gate.
(Confident Writing - aptly named)
Joanna, I actually sometimes do that and thought it was wrong to just write with one person in mind.
And then again I write stuff that I don’t care if someone reads or not.
My blog is a real mix about my biz and my life.
I get tanggled up with other things to do and don’t blog as much as I would like to. Maybe a fix time a week would help?
Thanks for that wonderful blog post, Chris!
it also helps to remember that what you write exists online forever but really only has a short shelf life in the “attention span of the web”. you can afford to make many turns as you find you blog voice. ive just added a blog on art and social media and find myself feeling much more exposed than when im in my comfort zone writing about music. i know that the more i write, the more comfortable ill become. till then…”just keep swimming, just keep swimming”
I think if you have some of these fears, the best thing you can do is go through something like The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Going through the process she describes which involve a bit of writing every day plus some self-discovery about the barriers we put in our way, helped me get rid of the negative “im not good enough” inner critic and move on to beginning to believe I was good enough. People actually reading what I’ve written on the ‘net and responding positively has taken care of the rest!
I friend just asked me how to get started in videoblogging. I emailed him a similar list yesterday. Thanks for taking the time to post this.
Very helpful - THANKS! I JUST started my Blog this week - DianasNeighborhood.wordpress.com - Very Exciting!!!
Having a scratch pad is excellent - I’m always thinking of ideas while driving or sitting in my car waiting for a client or kids to finish with practice - so, I use a tape recorder.
Very good points, Chris.
I’m at the stage where I’ve started one and am beginning to get into writing more consistently but like you said, I need to get into the habit of practicing my writing to get better.
I haven’t got to the point of where I want to publicize it yet, as it’s fairly new and not much content, but I’m getting there…and getting over that fear. :)
Thanks for the tips.
I think “Read and Read and Read” is especially important and often overlooked. Many successful authors (i.e. Stephen King) attest to the value of reading widely. In the appendix to “On Writing” he lists a huge number of novels that he read during a period of several years. What he didn’t list is newspaper articles, magazines, websites, etc. that probably also read during the same period of time.
In short, don’t just read blogs to become a good writer (or blogger).
While blogging requires writing, I believe blogging as a practice possesses challenges that are not necessarily unique to writing as a pursuit.
Any time a writer publishes, they’re putting their craft, and sometimes their thought process, out there for critique, whether the writing is a novel, a traditional magazine article, an online article or a blog.
The first three methods of publication usually pass through an editor who provides the writer with some level of validation, after all, if the writing was crap, the editor wouldn’t pass it through.
But a blog is unedited naked ambition. When a writer becomes a blogger it’s like a newspaper reporter starting her own paper and becoming editor, publisher and paperboy. There’s nobody and nothing to hide behind when you take the plunge into blogging.
So blogging winds up being a bit like running your own business. As we’ve all heard so many times, blogging is about building your personal brand.
Not every writer has enough of a business head to manage a brand, even when the brand is themselves. Consequently, being a good writer, even a great writer, doesn’t necessarily mean one has what it takes to be a solid blogger.
Which lead me to this final point.
A good blogger can get by with writing that would never pass muster at a traditional publication, but still provide an interesting, insightful point of view on any number of topics while they work out their personal writing style.
I think my personal biggest fear is of being viewed as redundant. The areas that I am passionate about are largely covered by others that have gained much more traction / notoriety in the topics that I have experience with/in. I don’t want to be perceived as simply being a “me too” kind of blogger. Of course you want to develop a niche, and even within a well established niche there is room for many perspectives but how do you get past the thinking that what you have to add to the conversation / dialogue isn’t valuable, when it very well may be?
I’ve read so many posts lately that basically encourage using an online personality that is bigger than your own - and I’ve read bloggers who admit that their readers like who they pretend to be in their blog better than who they are in real life. It makes me wonder if I’ve made the mistake of just writing the truth, because the people who read my blog seem to be happy when things are going great… but when things aren’t going well, they hate it. I’ve actually gotten emails from people who have been disappointed in me when I had an argument with my mother (which, ended almost immediately - but lost me a few readers that day).
My advice to anyone writing a personal blog would be to find a way to keep it somewhat anonymous. I have written myself into a sort of trap… with my family, my attorneys, the other side in my pending litigation - and various people who barely know me in real life reading my blog like it’s the daily news. And I frequently get told what to write. It definitely takes both the fun and the freedom out of blogging when your subject matter is limited to naval gazing - and then sometimes you’re criticized for that.
I would love to read some advice on what to do in this situation - because I’ve blogged long enough that I really don’t want to change my URL.
I feel the same way about blogging as I do about podcasting.
Just get it out there!
It may not be beautiful, but you’ve got to start. A good way to dip your toes in the water is to start an anonymous blog talking about something easy like a hobby. I think folks put too much pressure on themselves to be perfect. The fact is you will never be perfect so why not just be yourself?
Chris,
Great encouragement post.
I think at some stage, somewhere along the road, you have to question what you are doing and come up with aces. That is, you got to steam ahead, even if it feels like you are not getting anywhere.
Persistence. Determination. Longsuffering :). All of these things.
I’m not a great writer, but I’m not bad. I’ve been blogging for a few years, and could have given up blogging completely because I’ve rarely gotten any readership at all. But even though the community I’m a part of is small, I know they value what I bring. This is an important point.
Take joy in seeking the _small_. Most bloggers won’t get to have the fame and fortune that is so easy to aspire to. I’m always going to desire said fame .. but it is vital for me to take joy and contentment from the community I am a part of. Sure, it might only be a couple of hundred people, or less. But if you add value to that community then do not throw away this value in the seeking of further glory.
Relationships take time to grow. Communities take time. A small community can bind as strong as a large one. One person can bind as strong as ten. Sounds lame .. but it’s true. You could even say, more globally .. that you build your own community in singles, one person at a time.
Blah. Apologies for the long and arduous comment.
[…] morning caffeination and catch-up I noticed that Canadian music superstar David Usher had made a comment on Chris Brogan’s blog post this morning which inspired me to tell you a a little about David […]
This is a great piece. One thing that often scares me into not writing is not having anything to say. I’ve found that keeping a journal helps immensely with this (like a private scratch blog). I have a moleskine that I carry with me, as well as a document on my desktop, where I keep ALL of the blogging ideas that come to me. Then, when my creek runs dry, I tap into my reserves.
I am still fairly new to blogging and think that the most valuable thing is to become a voracious reader. Read everything and anything to help fill your head with ideas of all shapes, sizes and forms. It will help to create your own ideas when it comes time to sit and write.
usually the person that writes the blog you love
(and want to be as good as)
has been writing for eons
i think if everyone starts with the fact that they will suck
then we’d all start sooner :)
speaking as someone who is starting their own blog.
I definitely think that you’re right, especially about the practice. The only way you’re going to get good at something is to do it, so even if some of your early stuff isn’t that great, oh well, keep at it, you’ll get better.
Reading definitely helps. You may not even realize it, but with everything you read you’re exposing yourself to different voices and writing styles that can enhance your own.
My blog is fairly new, so I’m certainly trying to better my writing style.
[…] was with great pleasure to stumble upon Chris Brogan’s recent post entitled “Conquering Fear of Blogging.” In it he discusses keeping a “scratch blog” and other important pieces of […]
Hey Chris,
Your post couldn’t have come at a better time. I believe I will finally have an internet connection to my living quarters.
My biggest fear is offending someone. Which even as I write it sounds ridiculous. I don’t actually have a focus yet, but chances are some if it will be about working in Afghanistan and right now the situation here is a touchy subject in Canada.
I’m also a little concerned about what my employers would think of it. I’m trying to find a line between what I want to keep privite and public. I guess I won’t be able to make that distinction until I start writing.
Now if I could just figure out that WordPress thingy….
yup, if you want to be a blogger, write! Write about something you know and like. Just re-directing people to other blogs and their content is wishy washy.
Everyday I visit a new blog or two, usually from comments on sites I go to regularly, and at least half the time those blogs are trying to be the ‘little brother or sister’ of some bigger and more famous blog.
Write your own content and they will come.
Thank you Chris for that wonderful and insightful post.
I see many useful and practical things that one can start doing right away.
Just this week out of nowhere I decided to try my hand at having a blog and it’s pretty scary because once it’s out there, it’s not your private little world anymore. Right now it feels like I’m just keeping a journal though. From reading other blogs I get that you could use it for just about anything, i.e. social commentary, entrepreneurial enterprises, or self-aggrandisement. We shall see.
I think the real fear we all have is what other people think about us. Thinking that if say what we really mean the world will label us something were not. That is what is the real result of political correctness. Is giving up free speech, which gives us fear of writing for others… Just a thought.
[…] just read a great article that has helped me with my writing for blogs. Chris Brogan has written a list of practical ways to get around writer’s block. While it is tailored […]
I think this is a great post especially for those newbie who find it hard writing about something on their mind.Some people(including me)always come up with numerous of creative ideas,but end up not fully expressing them in writing.This post definitely is a practical guide for those bloggers.
Hi, just a couple of tips that I find helps. First off I keep a notepad file open on my task bar called ‘blog post ideas’. I will name the file and date it for that week ending. Store it in a folder called ‘blog posts’. Every week start a fresh file.
As I go through the day whether I am reading a blog, working on our business, downloading emails, reading my daily dose of tech news, looking at my google alerts, or just plain taking a break and reading, I will keep jotting down an idea as it comes into my head that is relevant to the theme of my blog.
I will jot down the idea in a quick short form, separate the subjects with a line of *******, then its ready for the next one! Include any urls or other quick notes to remind yourself where the idea came from.
Below is literally an example of how I do it …..
*******************
PC World rates R61 feb 7 2008
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,135064-c,fullfeaturednotebooks/article.html
*******************
T61p Energy Star 4.0 destop replacement, see PC world review
*******************
Thinkpad accessories, thinkpad after market memory
write about the slingbox!
*******************
Next, if your post idea has been inspired by a magazine article, (lots of specialist mags on every niche), mark it with a stick page tag or fold the page down and keep it in a pile
Then on a Monday morning, I open my notepad file, open a word document and just start writing! After a couple of hours I can have enough good posts for the next 7 to 10 days if I am posting every 2 days.
the more you do this the easier it will become! Whatever your subject, subscribe to Google alerts, subscribe to RSS feeds on your subject and get down to your local magazine stand.
You’ll soon have more stuff to blog about than you can cope with!
Hope this helps,
Cheers, Ian
As always a great post Chris!
I don’t have those three demons to wrestle with when it comes to the WRITTEN word, but when I try to do a video blog or a podcast - forget about it!
I’ve dabbled in video podcasts (or vlogs or video blogs) and definitely realize I have the proverbial face for radio (self-consciousness). So to me this means I should do podcasts, but then the perfectionism kicks in. Of course both these are tied into the failure aspect.
Then it dawned on me - so what? Who beside me is going to know? So tonight I’m dusting off the tracks I recorded this weekend and I’m going to launch the podcast and SEO tips video blog I’ve been trying to perfect for weeks,
Thanks Chris - you are as always and inspiration!
Another quick comment here because I am reading a lot of people almost talk about a ‘fear’ of blogging! Blogging and posting posting is nothing more than having a ‘conversation’, so when you write a post, just imagine that you are sitting in front of your best friend and having that conversation.
Then just write!
Cheers Ian
[…] What Were Your First Steps and many of his insightful and informative posts motivated me to finally conquer my fear of blogging. I’m so excited about getting started knowing that my digital real estate is going to grow […]
But blogging is scary! O.o lol
I actually just started a blog myself, and your advice is quite helpful. I’m definitely going to keep it in mind as I go!
Thanks a million!
Namaste,
Lina
automaticlifechanges.com
[…] Chris Brogan said in his post “Conquering Fear of Blogging”, with millions and millions of blogs out there competing for eyeballs, it is a lot less climactic […]
I think this is where passion helps a ton. I started my blog because I couldn’t find sites/blogs that interested me related to Rally. So I grabbed a buddy (things tend to be easier with friends) and we came up with the name and some rules.
One of the most important rules we came up with was POST DAILY. Chris, just like you said: And Then Do More. The daily writing requirement had a few benefits 1) I learned a ton about the niche quick, 2) Made people want to subscribe to our RSS 3) Got me in the habit of writing/posting daily. The habit became so strong I would feel sick if we messed up (happened twice).
Chris is right: GET OUT THERE AND WRITE/VLOG. You’ll only get better if you try at it.
The other thing I’d add is to reduce your focus. Don’t think about the whole world reading your material, it’s too scary.
Think about just one person you want to blog for. Focus on them and things you want to share with them, tell them, amuse them with, how you want to inspire them, what you want to learn from them.
This is also great for loosening up your style and making a connection with - yes, not just one person but many.
Joanna