Woo-hoo! You've dived into the blogging world. You've got your site looking snazzy, a shiny header in place, and you've followed my blogging guide to the letter. But now, you're standing at the precipice, hesitant to take the plunge. You're armed with tips for writer's block, you've taken a refreshing walk, soaked in a bath, and even caught up with the news. Yet, hitting that publish button seems as daunting as singing solo at a karaoke bar.
You're not battling writer's block, nor do you need another plugin to jazz up your site. Deep down, you know what's holding you back. It's not about not wanting to write; it's the fear that maybe, just maybe, you can't.
You've perused the big blogs, where the art of crafting pretty sentences and orderly paragraphs is extolled. You've bravely visited sites that help with grammar. Despite all the advice, the thought of typing out a post and pressing “publish” sends shivers down your spine.
Let's face it, writing can be intimidating. From copywriters to journalists, the writing world is a bustling hub, and let's be honest, some writers can be as harsh as a British winter. They make it seem like a misplaced apostrophe is a crime against humanity.
Take a deep breath. Have you heard of E.L. James? Yes, the author of those controversial books that either get rave reviews or raised eyebrows. She's now sitting pretty in a lovely London house (mansion), with a net worth of $10 million, thanks to her bold writing. Starting as a blog, her story grew into the books that now sit on millions of shelves and even inspired a movie or two. Talk about turning blogging into gold!
You might think a single grammatical error will unleash chaos in the world. Imagine your post, all typed up and ready, but the fear of a spellcheck mishap haunts you. Eben Pagan, another multimillionaire, doesn't let a few missing apostrophes hinder his email campaigns.
Here's the thing: writing is important, but it's the story, the message, that truly resonates.
I'm sharing this because both E.L. James and Eben Pagan didn't let writing critiques dictate their paths. They didn't let fear muzzle their voices. Sure, I can't confirm if E.L. James loses sleep over critiques (though I'd like to think she sleeps soundly, perhaps dreaming of her own characters).
Remember, writers aren't the sole creative force in this world. Where would “50 Shades of Grey” be if they were?
So, what to do when you think you can't write?
- Write More: Practice is your best ally.
- Seek Help: There's no shame in it. Proofreaders are just a call away.
- Read Extensively: From acclaimed to the not-so-great. Learn what works.
- Go Old School: Remember lines? Write down great writing, over and over.
- Embrace Technology: Tools like Grammarly can iron out kinks in your prose.
- Thicken Your Skin: Learn to distinguish constructive feedback from mere bitterness.
- Outline Your Posts: It's like having a roadmap for your thoughts.
- Enroll in a Writing Class: Meet fellow writers, learn together.
- Ask Questions: Not sure about a comma? Just ask.
- Just Do It: Improvement comes with action.
Had I let fear guide me, my blog wouldn't exist. My husband's business would be a memory, and my dreams would be just that – dreams. I'm not the world's best writer, nor do I aim to be. But I show up, and each post teaches me something new.
Don't let the fear of writing or criticism hold you back. Make this the year you publish your words. Remember, every great journey begins with a single step. Take that step and start your blogging adventure.
Sarah x
Hi Sarah,
What a FANTASTIC article. I have met so many business owners that have such great ideas and abilities but won’t write because of fear.
I love this point: “I’m here to tell you its not and that it’s time to stop worrying about your writing.”
The only way to master something is to do it over and over again. There are lots of helpful books and blogs on writing that can help one get better at their craft.
I do feel our blogs should be as good as they can possibly be, but that doesn’t mean perfect. Your examples are just AWESOME!!!!
People today are more interested in ideas. So, just start somewhere and get your ideas out there and let the chips fall where they may.
Your best advice in this article to me was get thick skin. It’s something I’ve had to develop over the years and I’m still working at it. No one wants to receive negative criticism. Yet, that is the online world we live in.
People write mean things all of the time. Sometimes it’s because of jealousy, envy or a persons own deep hidden insecurities that have nothing to do with us.
Just move on and realize that there are a lot of people out there who need your message. Your writing will get better over time the more you read and the more you do it.
What an amazing message Sarah! Thank you so much for standing out and writing this necessary article!
~ Don Purdum
I’m just horrified to think how many kittens I must’ve indirectly killed already..
In my opinion, people who can’t write should decide if they really want to write! Maybe they are better suited for something else.
Ok, so a person decides they want to write. What then? Make a blog with some URL like, http://icantwriteandidontcare.blogspot.com/ and post something each day. Keep it anonymous and write what they like.
Great examples Sarah,
so many people knocked the writing in the 50 Shades series but if the story is good you quickly get past that and that I think is the key have a great story and share it the best way you can.
Confidence and the lack of it is the main blockage in my writing, is it the right tone, the right length will people understand my message and ultimately will they come back for more.
Following your challenge and listening and sharing with you and others in the group is brilliant for the self esteem and I would recommend it to anyone who worries about their writing abilities.
I was worried about blogging ‘the right way’ .. until I joined your challenge group Sarah. Now I’m learning that way, but I’ve also started to feel more relaxed about just ‘getting a post out’ and not worrying if it isn’t perfect.
I’m still a bit picky, but I know even my grammar/spell checker misses things, because I’ve noticed them afterwards.
Will someone shoot me for it? Hopefully not!
Will they stop reading? Hopefully not!
It’s just great to be committing content to the blog regularly and know it’s there to stay and will be helpful to someone, somewhere. Hopefully! 😉
Thank you for your support. 🙂
Another great post, Sarah. Whilst I’m not a big fan of The 50 Shades series, I think Erica Leonard is a genius in marketing and spin. Somehow, she managed to gets her books being talked about at the school gates around the country. I would hear the same conversation everywhere “Have you read ‘it’ ?”
I haven’t quite mastered the outline, yet, as I’m still writing on the fly (I’ll get there), but the interesting thing is that I now have at least three or four topics I want to write about as well as a series of videos I’d like to shoot.
Writing regularly has been a great discipline for me, so thank you 🙂