When was the last time you looked back?
The other day, I wrote "The Brand Challenge - Looking Back In My Blogging History" for The Stigliano Chronicles at AgentGenius about taking a look at some of my early attempts at blog posts and using them to figure out where I had come from and hopefully learn a bit more about where I was going.
The idea of The Brand Challenge came from Ken Brand, one of my favorite writers and someone who is constantly asking questions and pushing me to be better. He's a contributor at AgentGenius, but also a frequent commentor. In a previous post, he had challenged me to look back at those early days and write a post about it. So I did.
We learn by doing.
Blogging is not an art, a science, and most certainly not a hobby (although I do enjoy it). As I wrote more and more, I became more passionate about every word and every paragraph. I learned what was effective for me. We don't all think, read, or write the same, so not everything works for everyone.
With continued blogging though, I have "found my voice" and know what works for me. But along the way, I also learned what works in order to get me where I want to be. This morning, Jeremy Blanton wrote "Enjoy One on One Blog Training from ActiveRain" were he wrote:
One of the biggest fears that new members face is writing that first initial blog post. Many are afraid that what they write will not be good enough or that they will mess things up by writing a bad post. Beginners end up scaring themselves from ever actually writing that first initial post and end up never realizing the benefits of ActiveRain. Trust me when I say, I can relate. I was so nervous when I started here and my first few posts were terrible.
I think Jeremy is a great blogger, so there I was staring at the same feelings I experienced when I started. Knowing you're not alone is always a good feeling that helps relax you and settle into that "voice" that you need to find as a blogger. The more you let go, the more you will begin to build on that voice.
After you've been blogging for awhile, I challenge you to go back. Look at where you started, look at where you are, and see where you can go. Blogging is not formulaic or stodgy, it is a fluid craft that you can literally do your own way. Sure there are some basics you should know and will help push your blog to great heights, but the content is the key...and only you can create that.
photo courtesy of IDS.photos
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