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My 10 Self-Imposed Rules for Better Blogging
By Erica | July 11, 2010
Last week, I had a blogging breakdown. I was exhausted of writing. I was feeling uninspired, directionless & just plain over it. I couldn’t really pinpoint why I started this blog in the first place (even though, in my heart I’m deeply in love with it–& writing!). I experienced something I had read about on every “How to Blog” blog in existence, but never thought I’d personally experience: Blogger Burn Out. The idea of sitting down at a computer & writing a blog post–and even reading other blogs–seemed absolutely daunting. Pointless, even.
Still, I like this blog. I’d even go as far as to say I love it (& I’m not one to dish out the L-word too easily). It wasn’t like I wanted to quit writing, but it just felt like the little spark of excitement I experienced at the beginning was dying down.
This led me to think–like, really think–about my blogging, and actually, my writing in general. Accidently, this thinking led me to the computer, which led me to creating this list of self-imposed blogging “rules.” I don’t know if rules is the right word–it sounds much too strict–but I do want to follow them & rules sounds the most scary. :)
- Keep hydrated. Between running, working in a non air-conditioned office & drinking a little too much over the past few weekends, I’ve become permanently parched. I’m going to try my very best to start drinking more water (I used to be wonderful at this!) and to avoid fast food. A healthy body = a healthy (& more creative/productive) brain!
- Check blog stats once a day. WordPress makes incessantly checking blog stats way.too.easy. I’m going to limit my stat-checking to once daily. Will power, man.
- Use TweetDeck, but limit my use. I love Twitter, but until last week I never wanted to try any of the other programs that can sync with it. But about four days ago I gave in & downloaded the (in?)famous TweetDeck. I’m obsessed! It makes tweeting so.freaking.simple. I love the design–totally reminds me of my pre-pubescent AOL Instant Messenger days. So, even though I’m pretty sure I’m quickly becoming addicted, I’m really going to try my hardest to keep the tweeting to a healthy minimum. But TweetDeck! Seriously! Wow.
- Create a “Frequent Commenter” Google Reader Folder. I check all the blogs I read in my Google Reader, but I subscribe to so many that sometimes finding a particular blog is complicated. I want to make sure I frequent & keep up with the blogs of people who I know visit & comment here. Enter my idea for a specific folder just for those blogs. I feel like a genius!
- Keep My Blog To-Do List at a 3-Item Maximum. I use Mac’s “Stickies” program to record like, anything & everything I need to do, think, be, feel, buy. Sometimes, my “To-Do” list–specifically for my blog–becomes littered with 100′s of ideas & things I must do. Most of these things never get done (’cause really, who can do 100+ things a day? Not this girl!). Then, I go to sleep feeling guilty and angry with myself. So, the new plan is to keep a notebook handy for making “maybe-I’ll-do-this-in-some-distant-future” notes, but keep my daily To-Do’s at no more than three items.
- Nightly Free-Writing Ritual. I used to write every single night before bed. I had a Xanga (OK, I still do!). I absolutely could not fall (or stay) asleep if I didn’t spill every emotional, mundane, trivial or powerful little thought that was spinning in my head into this online journal. I wrote some of my most thoughtful, poignant and totally real stuff during those years. I think writing every day just trained me to look for things throughout the day that I could turn into a powerful story. And that I did.
- Make some changes around the blog. There just seems to be so many things I want to write about here, but I obviously can’t cover everything, all the time. I really wanted to write a Tuesday Newsday feature every week, but it seemed a little out of place here. Also, reading those news stories were much more fun than summarizing them (ugh!). I think if there’s a news topic I want to write about, I’d like to actually delve into it & do some research, not just regurgitate what another journalist has already written.
- Actually use ProBlogger’s 31 Days to a Better Blog E-Book. I’ve had it downloaded for over a month now, but haven’t actually completed one exercise. I think I’m at the point in my, um, blogging career, where I could really benefit from following through.
- Write regularly for other outlets. First and foremost, I call myself a “writer,” not a blogger. Yes, I blog. But when I blog, I’m writing–so “writer” trumps all for me. I want to spend time writing for other sites, magazines–even guest posting at other blogs. I’m working on a query to venuszine & I just finished up my first ever post for College Fashion about eco-friendly style. Already, l feel increased confidence as a writer. Writing for a different outlet (esp. one that’s not my own!), forced me to think differently, use a slightly modified style and basically, stretch my writing muscles. Plus, initially I wanted to write about style & fashion here, but I just don’t see it really fitting in with most of my posts (that seem to be creativity/psychology-related). Writing for other outlets about the other things I’m passionate about allows me to focus more specifically on one topic here and really strengthen my knowledge in that area.
- And finally, keep writing. My mantra: If you build it, they will come. (Seriously. It’s on my vision board.)
Your Turn
Do you have any self-imposed blogging rules? What do you do to get yourself motivated to write–especially when it’s the thing you feel the least like doing? How do you organize things for your blog? I want to know what works for you!
xoxo erica lee
Topics: Inspiration | 8 Comments »
July 11th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I had a blog breakdown this week, too, and the one thing I decided at the end of it was to write whatever I wanted, and not care what anyone else thinks.
I think that if my readers can tell I enjoy something, they’ll enjoy reading about it, too, rather than watching me suffer! :)
July 12th, 2010 at 11:03 am
I usually have time spans when I blog everyday and then I don’t blog for weeks. My blog is 100% personal, thus, it has no real direction. I do try to keep it organized… but it has no organization whatsoever.
I write about things that happen to me, things that catch my eye and I post the sporadic outfit picture XDD. If blogging starts to feel like a burden, I leave it, then I come back.
I do not monetize from my blog or anything, so I really don’t feel the “pressure” that other professional bloggers might feel of posting constantly with their best writing and whatnot.
July 13th, 2010 at 10:26 am
I went through this 6 months ago and I stopped blogging completely. I just needed a break and once I got it, I was able to come back to blogging with more clarity and investment. I think all your tips are great and I’d even add to “stay true to yourself” as an imposed rule. If there’s something that I don’t really feel great about writing I don’t. Because I want it to always be the best reflection of my thoughts. Oh and limiting time on Twitter is a great one for follow-through.
Great post Erica!
July 15th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Great article, Erica!
I don’t have any blogging rules imposed but my boyfriend has been known to hide my laptop if I’ve come home after an extremely long day to ensure that I don’t stay up until the wee hours of the morning (which is what I always do!) typing! I’m also trying to be disciplined and leave my laptop downstairs in our (separate from the apartment) office, for the very same reason. I’m not very good at it, though!
July 20th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Reading this post was like looking into a mirror! Quite literally all of these tips (except for tweetdeck, which I should get) apply to me.
The three that hit home the most were the continuous checking of stats rule, the 3 item max on the to-do list, and finally doing 31DBBB! I attempted it once, but I had no way of dealing with burn out so my blog was on hiatus for a while.
Lately, I’ve been trying not to make blogging an obligation. I don’t want to say, “Okay, I need to post something on Tuesday, Thursday, etc.” If I do this, it because a daunting task, and my mind comes to a blank when trying to create things on the spot. I just try to let the ideas flow. Maybe write a paragraph or two for each idea on my to-do list just so I have a head start when I need it.
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:33 am
@EVERYONE – Sorry it took me so long to respond to these comments. Perhaps “respond to comments in a timely manner” should be blogging rule #10?
@Amy – Sorry about the breakdown. I feel ya, though. And I totally agree that it’s mostly just important to write about what you’re passionate about, otherwise your readers will see right through you.
@Julie – Personal blogs (and blogs that don’t monetize) are definitely a totally different ball game. I haven’t monetized this blog yet, but I am not opposed to it. However, if I did I’m sure I would, like you mentioned, feel even more pressure than I do already. Oy. I think most of my problem is the fact that I’M A WRITER–so I want only my best out there for potential employers to see. :)
@Fajr – “Stay true to yourself” — so perfect. It’s so easy to be someone else online, but it feels so much better to just be you!
@Corrine – Your BF sounds MUCH like mine. I think blogging/my Macbook has basically become a third-wheel in our relationship. Hehe.
@Brittany – Definitely get TweetDeck! But be warned about its addictive properties. Also, I think “forcing” yourself to blog is an AWFUL idea, like you mentioned. If your blog is just for fun, it should actually be FUN to write, right?
P.S. Maybe we could hold each other accountable for doing 31DBB at the start of August, if you’d like? Let me know!
July 23rd, 2010 at 4:02 pm
I am by no means a serious blogger…and even I get overwhelmed when I start thinking about all the “shoulds” and not measuring up or keeping up. consistently. I just have to take a step back and ask myself what is it that I want out of my blog/blogging experience.
I really like your suggestion to keep the to do list to a max of 3/ notebook hidden with someday ideas but-not-this-very-second. The rule is applicable to life too. I am a notorious list maker so more things I can cross off a list, the better I feel about myself….and the less to do on the list the less overwhelming it is – so I am more likely to do it all! It is so simple and smart – thanks!
July 24th, 2010 at 2:14 am
I just got TweetDeck and I’m super pumped to play with it tomorrow.
And yes, yes, I love the idea of working on 31DBBB starting August. It would be good to have a cohort through it all! The poor link has been sitting in my inbox for well over a month. Get in touch :)