Finding Your Blogging Voice... Is it Really That Hard ?

Karen Anne congratulations on your challenge!  You did great and I enjoyed following you along that journey.  I hope you keep it going.  

I've thought about your post and can honestly say that I don't have a fear of posting on a blog.  Maybe that is because I've never had a fear of speaking.  It never bothered me to stand in front of an audience and speak about something that I know about or have an opinion on.  Now, if I have to speak/post about something I don't know anything about then I won't speak on it.  Maybe that comes from childhood - if you don't have something useful to say then don't say anything at all.  LOL  

This is what has been difficult for me - keeping my mind open at all times to learn more about my industry my community and the people in it, so that I might have more to post for people to read.  

Fortunately/Unfortunately there are many great writers here at AR. I have many unfinished posts because that little voice of fear crops up telling me that someone has probably already written that and better than I could. I also worry that having read so many good posts that I might be remembering someone else's point instead of creating my own. 

A blogging workshop sounds like a great idea, can you point me in the right direction to find one? 

You know that's not one of my fears Karen Anne, and you were the person who taught me about posting to 5 groups and getting more exposure on my posts.  You are the Queen of explanations, thanks.

I'm finally getting into the blogging and you are sooooooooooooooo right, just be yourself.  If you have knowledge or skills that might help some other realtor, put it in writing.  People love to hear your stories.  Thanks for the blog

Stellar writing Karen Anne. I, as a veteran blogger, have had some fears in only recent days. I ran into an experience where something I wrote was mistook in a very big way and it took me back for awhile. My biggest fear in writing is being misunderstood and that never goes away. As a newbie blogger I was nervous that my content would "fit in" but I have discovered that I don't need to do that. It's about being myself.... my struggles are of a different nature. :)

Karen

In trying to sign up new members here on AR I consistently hear they have a "fear factor" about blogging and I too tell them to just be yourself.  My personal problem is how to I convey my 'Hicky East Texas accent?"

Karen Anne, this makes for a great discussion!  I see bloggers going through this kind of angst when they feel they have to write about 100% real estate, 100% of the time.  That kind of one-dimensional persona can make an agent look as if they have no life, no hobbies, no outside interests, no knowledge of current events or perception of anything other than their job.

To me, having a blogging voice and writing in one's own voice is about being real.  That means showing more than one side of yourself at least once in awhile.

Great post Karen!

I wish I were better with grammar. I know it is bad. I like to write like I talk... with my subject of conversation trailing off to the end, hence the ,,,, of which I do too much of. But isn't that my trade mark?

Coming to you from Texas,,,

Ah fear, the great paralyzer!  Like most things, starting can be the hardest part for many.  Why?  Fear!  What if people don't like me?  What if no one reads it?  What if someone reads it?  What if, what if, what if?  I hear this all the time from the co-workers I am trying to encourage to start.

For me, that "voice" already rattled around in my head so much that it was really just a matter of "letting it out" as you said.  I spent some time "finding my niche" in real estate, but I guess I didn't look for my voice with blogging.  It just kind of comes out as is.  I think it boils down to people's relationship with fear of failure.  Some truly fear failure and some just look at mis-steps as an opportunity to learn.

So for me, the question becomes, how to help people move past their fear and just go ahead and jump in?  The comments here are great and I'm hoping to glean some gems to share with co-workers.

Hi Karen Anne, Congratulations on your 30th post in 30 days!  I did mine on Friday and thought I might take the weekend off (as you cautioned against), but I didn't.  : )

I started my first blog in 2003 when you had to define the meaning to people.  I was very inconsistent with it.  I could never come up with ideas (okay, I really didn't try).  If I found something very interesting, I might sit down and write about it.  My wife kept bugging me to do it (she's the geek around here and understood the importance).  Then along came the 30 day challenge, and she didn't give me a choice.  She said I had to do it.

I now think in blog posts.  I see something interesting, and I take a picture of it for my next post.  It is amazing what consistency does to make you comfortable.  Remember when you first became a Realtor--you thought "what have I gotten myself into?"  But then you became comfortable with the whole thing.  Doing it made you comfortable with it. 

And then along came the internet--oh well! 

Karen  I saw this through Michele's re-blog - excellent!  Congratulations on the 30 day challenge!  I can't believe I was not subscribed before this!  I thought for sure I hit that button before, apparently not!  I am fixing that now!

Karen- I still consider myself a bit of a newbie (blogging since January), but I have to say, with time, it gets easier and easier.  I just don't sweat it as much as I used to (it took me weeks to build up the nerve to comment on a post, let alone post).  I find that it bleeds a little bit into my real world as well- I'm much more inclined to share an opinion, where as in the past I might have kept some to myself.  

I've noticed over this 30-day challenge that you've been commenting like crazy.  And I like what you have to say!  I should have done this long ago... for sure, but I'm subscribing!  Thanks for all your wonderful insights.  

Karen Anne ~ Everyone must handle in their own way, I guess.  When I started writing posts 3 years ago, I had no idea what to write about (other than something related to home staging).  After a while it got easier and came more naturally, and I worried less about what to write about and just tried to have fun blogging (while still hoping the content was interesting enough for others to read).  People on A/R were so supportive and encouraging, and that helped a lot.  Congrats to you for completing the 30 posts in 30 days challenge!!  That took a lot of time and dedicated effort, and I salute you!

I had sooooomuch fear when I started! I didn't know to post to "groups" so I didn't receive any comments on the first couple. Taking the Blogging 101 class on AR helped to teach me the basics. The 30 day challenge helped me get my voice. That is doesn't always have to be about business, personal posts are what build the relationships.

Well - I'm just reporting in that I have only two more blogs to complete my 30 in 30....I'm trying to inject more humor now..I think the 30 in 30 has helped with that.

I'm back. And I just wanted to say how well your "voice" has trained everyone to be fully engaging with their comments.  Look at the great ones here.  No one line great post dudette responses.

And now Ms. Karen Anne I'm off to bed and this will be my last comment of the night (morning) as it's 1:17 a.m. here.  Yikes.

Karen - what you speak of is precisely the reason I started my own 30 day blogging challenge.  I'm the type of person who doesn't want to do something unless I can do it well ... BUT the only way to get good at blogging is to DO IT and who likes to practice in public?? I dipped my toe in the AR waters for a long time before taking the plunge!  You are so right my perfectionist tendencies absolutley made me afraid of blogging in a big way - fortunately after blogging for 30+ days straight I'm over it.  

I guess we all go through stages.  It's probably a good idea for someone new to AR to spend a month acclimating to the site by reading other people's work.  After a while, you're naturally going to feel like commenting.  Writing your own post can take a little longer.  As Kristen said earlier, "What if no one reads it?  What if someone reads it?"  That fear was replaced with "what if my words come back to haunt me?" My words are there forever.  Do I have some explaining to do if my opinion changes over time? These days, I worry less. Your fear melts away when you start writing. But to be honest, I still don't want to be that guy who posted about feeling like virtual darts were being thrown all over his face. For the time being, I'll try to keep away from anything truly controversial.