Thinking about starting a blog?

Blogging is loads of fun, but it can be loads of stress if you try to do too much at one time. Since this is a site for newbies, let me give you two of things to think about:

Time. This is a big consideration, especially when you're learning the ropes. A lot of new bloggers get fired up and start posting several times a week. After a while, the shine wears off, fatigue sets in, and they burn out for a while. Plus Blogger can be confusing at first, so it's easy to become frustrated.

My advice: Post once a week on a particular day.

Wednesdays or Thursdays work well for most of my friends because it gives them the weekend to think and make notes. They start a post on Monday and have it ready to go by their post date. Posting once a week will help you stay disciplined but won't overwhelm you.

Content. This is the other big consideration. Since you're a new blogger, it's a good idea to make your content broad. That way you'll have plenty of ideas to pull from, and blogging will stay exciting and fun.

I suggested this to a friend: "My Favorite Fall Things" (or winter, spring, summer). Think about all the fun things that happen in the fall:

  • Back to School
  • Gardening 
  • Sports
  • Cooking/Recipes
  • Hiking
  • Book Club
  • Photography
  • Festivals
  • Family Reunions
As you do your favorite things, make mental notes about what you enjoy and think about an angle (humor, life lesson, absurdity, warm fuzzies, rant, etc). Take pictures on your smart phone (or carry a pocket camera) and take photos of your adventures. Then journal your experience. It doesn't have to be long. In fact, shorter posts with pictures are more interesting and will keep your readers coming back.

Once you get in the habit of posting, ideas will flow and your blog will start taking shape. Study other bloggers and notice what works well and, more importantly, what doesn't. Then start tweaking and adding to your blog and see what develops.

Remember: Your blog is your voice so let it be a reflection of YOU.