Summary

The article provides encouragement and practical advice for aspiring bloggers, emphasizing the initial lack of readership, the growth in confidence through writing, the importance of authenticity, and the benefits of a sustainable writing schedule.

Abstract

The author, a self-described beginner with nine published articles, offers a grounded perspective on starting a blog. They acknowledge the common fear of judgment that prevents many from even beginning and reassure readers that, in the early stages, their work will likely go unnoticed. This provides a safe space for new bloggers to develop their voice and confidence without the pressure of an audience. The article emphasizes the importance of writing about topics one is passionate about rather than following trends, which can be limiting. Authenticity is key to attracting a dedicated readership. Lastly, the author advises against setting overly ambitious writing goals, suggesting a more manageable approach to cultivate a new writing habit and avoid burnout.

Opinions

The fear of judgment is overblown, as most aspiring bloggers will not have an immediate audience, providing a chance to refine their craft without scrutiny.
Writing without the pressure of viewership allows for greater self-expression and the development of a unique, authentic voice.
Copying other writers or chasing trends can limit a blogger's potential audience and creative freedom; writing about personal interests is more likely to resonate with readers.
Setting realistic writing goals is crucial for maintaining motivation and preventing the new endeavor from becoming a chore.
Consistency in writing, even at a modest pace, is more sustainable and beneficial in the long run than an aggressive publishing schedule.

3 Things to Know Before You Start a Blog

Advice from a relatable beginner.

If you read this article you are probably on a reading marathon of “Should I start a blog” type of posts. I feel you.

I read a lot of articles from popular writers here on Medium. They share tips on how to start a blog, what to write about, how often etc. I found their content useful, do not get me wrong. But it can be slightly unrelatable when it comes from such successful people.

“Do not worry, at first I was a horrible writer too”, they say. I find it hard to actually believe this when it comes from an expert.

I have 9 published articles, so I am a complete newbie. Still, I put in the work and I can provide my humble advice before it is too late and I get too experienced.

#1. Nobody will read your work.

Most people give up before they write anything. They do not even try to open a blank page. “What will the others say?”

You are thinking about that relative, about that judgy friend, right? Well, rest reassured! They will not read your work. (Me keeping writing articles is proof for this.)

In fact, no one will read your work in the beginning. It’s kind of funny actually. The process goes like this:

You worry everyone will see your blog and see that you suck at blogging.
You get over the fear.
You put in time, creativity, and energy in the first article.
You hit publish.
You feel offended that your masterpiece has 0 views.

Therefore, if this fear is holding you back, tell yourself you are wrong. Then write something and enjoy the silence.

#2. You become more confident.

The good part of having no views? There is nothing to lose. You can write whatever you like. Maybe in your first article when you worried how everyone would see it, you chose a neutral and unopinionated writing style.

Since no one cares anyway, why don’t you write in a way that is true to yourself? The thing is, the more you practice expressing yourself, the more confident you become. As a bonus, you attract viewers. Remember that people are drawn to well-defined personalities, authenticity, and unique stories. It’s a double win for you!

#3. Do not copy other writers.

Write about what you like. Do not underestimate yourself and the topics you enjoy writing about. I can guarantee there is at least one other person who is going to relate to what you have to say.

As a new writer, it feels tempting to write about what is in trend. There is a big downside of this: it limits your potential. When you write about popular topic X, your audience is people interested in topic X. Next time you write an article you are restricted to topics similar to X, otherwise, your audience won’t engage with your work. Take advantage of your position as a beginner. Now you have the freedom to create your own audience.

If you want to do this in the long run, play it honest.

(Bonus.) Do not overdo it.

“Write 5 times per week!”

“Write 10 articles per month!”

I see this everywhere.

Isn’t it common for most people to be excited about starting something new and then gradually lose their hype? I know I go through these stages. And I knew this would end up being an abandoned Medium account if I wrote too much in the beginning.

I set myself a one article per week rule.

The point was not to write too much but to get used to this new hobby. As expected, other things came up a couple of weeks later. Without realizing it, the week passed and I had no article. However, because I had a doable task, I did it. What if I was 5 articles short? I would probably give up.

My advice is to set up a schedule, but do not be too ambitious in the beginning. Choose something, see if it is realistic, change it if it is not, then stick to it.

Hopefully, these ideas encourage at least one person to start writing online. I would be very happy. Who knows, maybe one day I will get famous on this platform and my advice will not be that relatable anymore.

Until then I am safe.