Publishing your first blog can be daunting. Here are some tips to help you overcome the fear of getting your debut blog article published.
BY CHARLOTTE FARROW
One of the biggest obstacles for a budding writer is fear. Fear that our work isn’t good enough, fear of trolls, fear of judgement, maybe even fear of success. We put so much pressure on ourselves to get things right and create the perfect article, but let’s be realistic – our first article is probably not going to be our best work.
Here’s how to overcome that fear and get your work out there.
ONE: Understand your writing fears
First, you need to understand what drives your fear – is it fear of judgement? Fear of success? Fear of failure?
My fear has always been the fear that my work is never good enough – it doesn’t help that I’m a perfectionist!
Once you understand what drives your fear, you can arm yourself with tips and tricks to help overcome it.
TWO: Stop putting off your writing
You could spend a lifetime researching different blogs, reading articles or books to help you write the perfect first blog post.
Allison Barclay, who has an established blog, spent three years, she says, ‘reading blog post after blog post and book after book’ in an attempt to learn everything she could to help her write a successful blog (www.paintedsummers.com). Instead, just get on and write.
Write about what you’re passionate about, try new things and experiment with your writing – it’s the best way to find out what your audience responds to.
THREE: Understand your WHY that is fuelling your writing
As Allison Barclay said, ‘Your WHY is the driving force behind everything you do.’ Why do you want to write? Why do you want to start a blog? Why this article? Why now?
As Allison says, ‘Your why prevents you from giving up when things get tough.’
FOUR: Remember – you’re not alone
Every writer started from nothing, from the most famous writer you can think of to everyday Joe Bloggs who has their own blog. Everyone goes through the same or similar fears. Get in touch with other new writers so you can support each other.
Get in touch with an experienced writer and ask them for their experiences and how they overcame their fear of getting out there.
Building a community can help you feel less alone, and you can share tips and tricks with each other – helping you learn and grow.
FIVE: Get motivated to learn
We all make mistakes. You’ve probably made plenty in the past, and you’ll make more in the future. But instead of feeling down about making a mistake, use it as a learning exercise. Ask yourself a couple of key questions: ‘What went wrong?’ and ‘What I can do to make sure this doesn’t happen again?’ Without mistakes, you’ll never grow and improve.
Leo Babauta, creator of the blog Zen Habits – a top 25 blog with a million readers – gives a great summary: ‘Writing is transformative. It changes you, and it changes the reader. You get feedback from the reader and learn from them. You get accountability, and you have to reflect on what you’re learning. You become greater from the attempt to overcome the fear.’
It can be scary publishing your first blog and getting your writing out there, but if you can understand your fears, embrace them and learn from them, you’ll become a better writer over time.
Your fears only hold merit if you let them, so tackle them head on and just hit publish.
About the Author:
Charlotte Farrow has been blogging for State and AMI Insurance for 18 months, with a focus on educational content. She enjoys writing trusty tips and tricks that make life a little easier. In her spare time, you might catch Charlotte enjoying a book at her local beach, or out photographing the beauty of the Hibiscus Coast in New Zealand.
