Reflections on three years of daily blogging
The farther you want to be able to see, the higher you have to climb. (Cabot, Vermont, September 2021)
Well, how about that? A blogaversary!
Three years in, here are a few things I've learned:
It's still possible, in 2022, to build relationships online without social media.
Having an audience helps you to uphold your commitment to publishing.
The more you create, the more ideas you have.
The more you write, the easier it gets.
Writing helps you think better, and thinking helps you write better.
You will figure out what you want to create by creating.
And a bit of advice, if anyone wants it:
Find a medium to create in that stretches you a little but is not overwhelmingly difficult.
If you want to make sure that you stick to what you start, decide in advance what your publishing schedule will be. Then grant yourself a bit of "runway" (for instance, a few posts in the queue to be published) so that you can stick to that schedule even when obstacles arise. If you never miss a deadline, it will get harder and harder to miss a deadline — and then you'll never miss a deadline.
You might not know ahead of time who your audience is or what you want to share. But if you feel moved to create, do it anyway. You may be surprised as to who will gravitate toward your work and what you want to say to them. I know I was! I thought I was going to be writing to the parents of my students. There are a few of them out there and I appreciate them, but most of the people who pay attention to what I do are the entrepreneurs and artists. Who knew? I didn't.
It's okay if you repeat yourself. People want Dolly Parton to sound and look like Dolly Parton, and they want you to sound and look like you. (Yes, I just compared you to Dolly Parton — you're welcome.) Themes and patterns will emerge in your work — embrace them.
It's also okay if you're not very original. People want to read, watch, and listen to things that have familiar elements and themes. For instance, they want songs that sound a bit like other songs they've already heard. All we have to do is fit in somewhere — it's more important, in a way, than standing out.
It's also okay (deep breath) if you're not exceptional. There's room for everyone. Just about all of us find friends and romantic partners even though only a tiny fraction of us are exceptionally talented, attractive, funny, or intelligent. We don't need to be the best to be worthy of sharing our work. I'm out here writing blog posts every day even though Seth Godin is writing blog posts every day (and he even does the weekends). Just try and stop me! You can do it, too.
If you had told me three years ago that I was finally going to get off my butt and start writing and publishing consistently, I am not sure I would have believed it. "Why now?" Why did it work, when my previous attempts had all failed?
I think, at first, it was because I was willing to give in to the experiment. I was willing to try and fail, which ironically gave me the wherewithal to persist.
And then you came along. And ultimately, that is what made the biggest difference. Thank you. I cherish every email, every comment, and every "like." I appreciate you more than you may know.
Thanks for a great three years, friends. I hope you'll join me for another. And please let me know how I can support you in your own creative projects.
