Dearest Human Who Wishes They Blogged More

I’m writing to you because I was once you.

I wanted to blog more.

But it had been so long since I wrote that the idea of sitting down to write a blog felt overwhelming.

I usually feel that way about the unknown. If I’m not sure what all will be involved and how long it will take, my motivation automatically deflates.

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing there is also a gap between your desire (to write) and your action (to actually sit down and write).

What helped me was to have a deadline. A fellow therapist suggested we do a blog exchange (where I would write a post for their blog and they would write one for mine). We set a deadline of when we needed to have our blogs to each other. This helped me immensely.

"Encouragement to Blog" Illustration by Jackie Schuld

It took me TWO WEEKS to write that first blog. And this is where I have wonderful news for you - it gets so much easier and faster the more you do it. I can now write a blog in 30 minutes. It just takes time to get your writing muscles developed and your brain ready to fire. Your consistent writing will make a huge difference.

It also helped me to set goals for myself. I gave myself a challenge to write 100 essays in 100 days. I’m not suggesting you take on such a lengthy challenge. Maybe it’s that you write one blog every week for the next month. I suggest providing yourself an end date (such as “for a month” or “for two weeks”) so your brain can know this is not in perpetuity and it can focus on helping you meet your deadline.

Another practice that helped me was identifying the time of day that was best for me to write and protecting that time. My writing brain is most alive in the morning, so I protect the first couple of hours of my day (I’m writing this essay at 7:30am).

I also keep a running list of ideas for my essays. When I sit down to write and don’t have any fresh ideas, I look over my list and select one.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, get clear on WHY you want to write more.

I spoke with a fellow private practice owner who wanted to blog more so that she could increase her website’s SEO. When I inquired more, it became clear this was her only reason to write.

It’s no wonder her motivation was low. If this is you, there’s a couple of creative ways around it. First, there are thousands of ways to market your business. If you’re a solopreneur or someone with limited funds/time/energy (isn’t this most of us?), you have to choose the marketing strategies that work best FOR you. Choose the ones that are effective AND light you up. Maybe that’s making Tik-Toks, maybe that’s doing podcast interviews, maybe… you get the point. Find ways that you enjoy. So maybe that isn’t blogging and that’s ok.

If you feel strongly that blogging is absolutely the way you need to go, even though you don’t enjoy it, then it might be worth saving some money to invest in a writer who can do the blogging for you.

However, I’m guessing if you’re still reading this, you are someone who REALLY does want to write. So write out your list of reasons why you want to write. Add writers who inspire you as well. Place this fire in a place that you will see it regularly and be inspired.

We all have something unique to contribute to the world, and if you feel called to write, then please write.

With Verbose Love,

Jackie