Today is the first day of my Christmas break. Over the break, not only do I want to relax, but I also want to make something.
Here’s what I’m thinking.
I’m interested in creating something that will help others realize how much they have to say that is valuable for others to hear. I’m convinced that there are a lot of people sitting back saying to themselves, “I just don’t know what I would say” or “I don’t have anything to add that others need to hear” or “What would I say?”
I’m sure I’ll be stumbling my way through this, but I hope to create something that will allow people who want to start up blogging in 2016 to do so with a plan, a support for creating content.
So, I’m wondering a few things.
- Is that something that you might be interested in? If so, let me know in the comments at the bottom of this post or via Twitter (@aaron_hogan).
- What are the road blocks you come up against when blogging? The more I can identify those (and, rest assured, I’m starting with a healthy number of those from my personal experience), the more gaps I can attempt to fill for people.
Whether you’ve been blogging for years or you’re just getting started, I would greatly appreciate any feedback you have for me. Thanks for your time!
This blog is post #19 in my 91 day winter blog challenge. I’m posting a blog each day. Check out other posts at #91winterblogs, or subscribe in the top right corner of this blog to receive these blogs as emails. Thanks for reading!
Hi Aaron-
Stumbled across this post via twitter… I just started a blog this past month and it is grueling to think of what to write about!! Most of where I get “stuck” is trying to figure out what I can write about that hasn’t already been done or said before. I want to come up with topics that are genuinely helpful and innovative, but… therein lies the frustration 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Sarah! I’m right there with you.
I struggle finalizing posts. I get the rough ideas out, but can’t clean it up enough to hit submit. I have 13 posts in draft form, currently.
Me, too! For me, it was a real struggle to get past this. The blog challenge I’m doing now is helping to push me out of that.
Maybe ask a friend to edit? Thirteen is a lot of sharing you are witholding! Merry Christmas!
Thank you for your effort to blog and stretch yourself and your readers.
I too would like to blog, but not sure where it would fit on my full plate. (No judgment ) I salute and appreciate those that do.
Time is absolutely a real barrier for most if not all who would attempt to share their learning via a blog. It’s one of the big reasons I’m interested in this little project I’m considering–if confidence and competence come from knowing you have an idea worth sharing, maybe that timeline shrinks for bloggers. It’s not a solution for everyone, but it might help some.
Most of the time I feel like people aren’t interested in anything I have to say. I’m a pretty boring person with an uneventful life.
I’ve been thinking about this post ever since you wrote it. My personal blogging issues are:
1- Many of the bloggable moments happen at a time when blogging is not convenient. When I try to pick it up later it doesn’t feel the same. Some things I can’t even take a minute to jot down because we are in the moment (this also happens with documenting in pictures what happens at our library!)
2- No one reads it, and I don’t need to write in a public space if not for sharing. I keep handwritten journals for myself.
3- Fear of bias, censorship, and other issues. To speak my mind on certain career issues that concern me I need to do so freely. As respectful and professional as I communicate in writing, I cannot control the interpretations of readers that are my superiors, coworkers, etc.
So I have drafted my first blog and hope to push the publish button tonight. It was hard to think of that first blog so I went with something important to me. However it is a bit overwhelming to thrust it out to the world (in principle at least). I think I can do this regularly as momentum helps. Do you have a quota or schedule for when you post? Twice a week? Every T & F? Trying to see what helps.