Are you thinking of writing a blog but don’t know where to start?

Great at talking about something but then not great at putting it into words? Great news! In this blog I’m going to give you some tips to get you writing, so you can start getting words on paper and get your blog started.

1. Choose your subject: This can be a timely topic such as a recent event or special day, or just a subject that you’re passionate about. Remember, everyone has an opinion, as long as you’re not hurting anyone your opinion is just as valid as anyone else’s
2. Choose an opinion: Whether you love or hate something, are for or against it, just be honest. Insincerity will shine through, so don’t choose the popular opinion if you don’t actually believe it. A proper opinion will also help to add passion to what you’re saying.
3. Structure everything: Just like a conversation or debate on any topic, you always start with an opening line, then flesh it out with your opinions and reasons for feeling that way (with some witty anecdotes thrown in) then round it off with a closing line (although just writing bye at the end won’t work like it does in a conversation.)
4. Be yourself: This one is so important, and also ties in with point 2. Being yourself is such an important part of life, so why wouldn’t it also be a part of any potential blog. I love reading blogs written by people who show their personality, it makes for a much more interesting read.
5. Choose a host site: If you want to make it a regular thing then hosting it online is a great way to keep you invested and keep you writing. I’ve written around 175 and mine is hosted on a nice, simple WordPress site (here for reference.) It’s really easy to set up, and it makes your words come to life. Plus, putting nice pictures with things will encourage people to click on your links, and read them too.
6. Get writing: Practice makes perfect and putting words on paper with more regularity will start giving you more confidence. Start writing and soon the words will flow, just imagine you’re talking about it with a friend to give it that nice, easy flow. Sometimes, I find the hardest thing to do is start, so once I do that then the words start to come more easily. Plus, you can always go back and amend any part of it.
7. And that tails nicely on to the next point; Proofread it. Make sure you read it to check for anything that is a major error. I mean, no-one wants to be reading the wrong their, there or they’re now, do they? I often get my wife to read mine (thanks for reading this, Jess) as it’s a fresh pair of eyes, and someone to give you an honest review of what they think as a potential reader.
8. Get feedback: Once people have read your stuff, get them to drop you a message and let you know what they thought. Did they like it? Did it help them? Was it too sweary? There are so many things that people can feed back on, so accept the constructive criticism and use it to fuel your writing moving forward.

On top of all of that, just enjoy it. That’s the point of blog writing. I write blogs about my children or about copywriting. Or I choose a subject that I have a strong opinion about (which is usually tied back into my children or copywriting.)

And if you still can’t bring yourself to write a blog then let me know and I can offer you some more words of advice.