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It’s coming up on my first full year of having a blog – something I never thought I would do! I’ve re-upped my domain name for another three years, so I guess I’m in this thing. I thought it would be fun to reflect on the three most important things I’ve learned from blogging this year, seeing as how I knew literally nothing when I first got started.
I am focusing on what I can put out into the world rather than what I can take from it
This has to do with constantly monitoring my blog stats to the point of annoying myself. I have been focused too much on the end result, rather than the process. It can be very demotivating if that becomes the only reason you are writing. The truth is, I legitimately enjoy the process, so I’ve decided to focus on that. I’m going to put my posts out there into the world, and no longer obsess about who reads them.
I am done looking for feedback for validation purposes
I just want to focus on creating. You cannot start a blog by writing for others, or else how do you ensure it’s your voice people are reading? I’m beginning to think it’s best to start off, for better or worse, writing about what you want to write about. Then down the road if anything in particular resonates with people, write more of that. I don’t see how you can know what people will want to read until you do a little trial and error though.
I’ve Stopped Listening to Blog Related Podcasts
All the noise of everyone’s voice in my head with their blogging advice is starting to be too much. It’s time to listen to my own inner voice and do what is authentic to myself. About a month or so ago I was regularly listening to about 4 different podcasts about blogging. I was starting to feel like I was doing more listening to people talk about blogging than actually blogging. Plus, the more you listen to other people’s suggestions, the less you can hear your own voice. It makes it harder to write and be creative when you begin asking yourself how they would say it rather than how you would. I’ve since deleted all podcasts but Coffee Break French and Coffee Break Italian.
There you have it – one full year of newbie blogger wisdom. We’ll see where three more years of this domain name takes me!
