How Do I Start Writing a Blog?

If you're reading this, you're probably stuck. You want to start your blog, but you don't know how. Or you've tried to blog before but never kept it going.

In fact, every time you even think about writing a blog, you probably start feeling overwhelmed, intimidated, and unsure of yourself. You might even feel like...gulp...a failure.

But I'm here to tell you that you are not a failure. You can succeed at writing online—you just need a system.

Let's face it. Writing is hard. And it's not just you who feels that way; it's hard for everyone, myself included. Why? See if some of these reasons sound familiar:

So what typically happens when you decide to start blogging? You feel an initial rush of adrenaline. You start a blog and start writing. And you get three, four, or maybe five posts in before you start running out of ideas, the novelty of writing wears off, and your blog fizzles out as quickly as it started.

At this point, you've probably concluded that writing a blog is just too hard, and that you don't have what it takes. But what if, instead, you could feel like this when you write:

This is not just a pie-in-the-sky wishlist. This is a reality that you can experience. You just need a road map to follow. You need a writing system.

Seriously. That is the piece you've been missing, the thing no one is willing to talk about.

So let's talk about it.

If you really want to succeed as a blogger, you need a system. But not just any system. You need one that complements you and actually makes writing easier, rewarding, and, dare I say it, fun!

That's why I decided to create my own course, Make Blogging Simple. I want to share my system with you. The one I discovered in the trenches. The one I wish I'd had when I started writing professionally.

With this system, when I sit down to write, I'm never at a loss about what to write about. I write efficiently and effectively, and I enjoy it. And, while I still have to deal with imposter syndrome, it no longer defines me or stops me from pursuing my writing goals.

Can a writing system really do all that? Absolutely. I'm living proof.

For five years, my main source of income was writing. I've written hundreds of blog posts, newsletters, ad reads...I've even ghostwritten a book. Along the way, I figured out how to write, when to write, what to write about, and how to keep going for the long-term.

My system is based on my experiences and my own results. It's the exact system I use as a freelance writer.

Here are the key parts of the system:

1. Figure out your "why."

Before you ever start to write, you need to understand why you're writing. Is it strictly just for fun? Is it to share experiences with like-minded people? Is it to get a lot of views and sell ads?

Why is this so important? Two reasons. First, you'll never know what success looks like if you don't know why you're writing in the first place. Getting a ton of readers or making money might be the default definitions of success, but there are other, equally valid reasons to write.

Second, no one feels like writing all the time. But sometimes, you still have to buckle down and do it. Keeping your "why" front and center helps out a ton here.

2. Brainstorm ideas in advance.

Coming up with ideas to write about as you're sitting down to write isn't a great plan. Sitting down to write and opening up a folder or document with pages and pages of ready-to-go ideas? That's a much better plan.

So take the time to brainstorm as many ideas as you can before you commit to writing a weekly blog post. Store them in a document, a notebook, your Evernote account—wherever you can access them easily. Then, when it's time to write, you won't be left staring at a blank page.

3. Create an outline.

Take five minutes as you start writing to mock up a mini-road map to follow. (And if it changes while you write, it's totally fine.)

This isn't a high school English class, so it doesn't have to be a thing of beauty. Formatting: Who cares? Spelling: optional. Just organize your thoughts. Trust me: It'll make writing that post so much easier.

4. Write first, edit later.

They call them “first drafts” for a reason. Give yourself permission to be messy when you write. Just get it on the page, and don’t worry about mistakes. Once you’ve gotten the first draft done, you can go back and clean it up later.

But if you try to edit as you go, making each sentence perfect before you move to the next one, you’ll never get anywhere.

Writing is hard, but it's not impossible. If you've tried writing a blog and failed, or if you've always wanted to but never knew how, you are not the problem. You just need a solid system that will give you the tools to succeed.

When you sign up for Make Blogging Simple, you'll learn how to start blogging and keep blogging for the long-term—and have fun while you're at it!

You can find out more about that system by checking out my self-paced, online course here.