Which in turn got me thinking about the advice or suggestions I’d offer to anyone just starting out on their blogging journey.

As Ulla Hennig mentioned here just the other day, it sometimes seem as if you need to learn all the rules about how to blog, to absorb all the advice, and follow all the ’shoulds’ both spoken and assumed.   That can leave you tongue-tied and wondering just which way to turn.

Blogging is also an audacious act.  It’s simple, (often) free and easy to get started.  There are no barriers to entry.  Yet if you stop and think about it (best not to, in fact) the very notion seems presumptious.  Audacious.  Sharing your thoughts, perspectives and ideas with the millions of people who are using the internet.

Then sitting around waiting for just one reader to turn up.

Yes, it’s a conundrum indeed and although I don’t like the idea of ‘rules’ I do think we can help each other find the way, and that seasoned bloggers have lots (and lots) of valuable experience, lessons learned and practical advice that it would be good to share with those who are just starting out.

Pointers for New Bloggers

As a starter for ten, here are mine:

1. Link Out

Get into the habit of linking out to other bloggers whose work you enjoy.  Most bloggers are curious (with just a touch of ego!) and will follow the link back to your site.  Do this organically and naturally and it’s more likely to work (slowly).  Link to bloggers who are a bit bigger or better established than you - but not so big they’ll never have the chance to visit all of those who link to them.

I learned this lesson from Mike Sansone in this post on how to avoid a dead (arm) blog.  It was a real ‘aha’ moment for me.

2. Visit Other Blogs

Don’t spend all your time at your own place getting it just right - go out and about visiting.  That’s the way to pick up ideas, learn, get inspired, and connect up with people you want to talk to (through linking and commenting, see above and below).

3. Comment

It’s the best way I know to get to know other bloggers and build relationships.  Plus if you leave a thoughtful comment, or even a kind one, other people may follow your words back to your blog.

4. Get Free Advice

Soak it all up.  There’s lots of it, and it’s all free.  Problogger is the best place to hang out for new tips (and a great archive)

5. Experiment

There’s no ‘right’ way to blog, so experiment till you find what works for you.  (Not just for new bloggers!)

6. Keep Going

I think we’ve all hit dips of wondering why we’re doing this and if it’s ever going to work.  The trick is to keep going even when it seems like it’s not working.

7. Don’t Worry

If you realise you want to change direction after a while… don’t worry.  You learn from writing.  You learn from blogging.  It’s  natural to shift, change and grow as a result of that.  Plus you’re much more likely to stick with it if you go where it feels natural, easy and fun.

8. Trust Your Instinct

Yes, soak up all the advice… but not to the extent you feel rule-bound.  Trust your own instincts.

9. Keep It Short

Internet readers have a short attention span.  Unless you can write spectacularly well you’ll save yourself time and bother if you keep your posts on the short side.  If you’ve got one big fantabulous idea that needs to be shared with the world try breaking it down into a series of short posts.  That way more people are likely to read it.

10. Just Start

If you’ve already got going - well done!  If you’re thinking about it… don’t worry about learning all the advice first.  It could paralyse you and get in the way of you doing what you want to do.  You’ll learn as you go.  Yes, you’ll make mistakes, but that’s the best way to learn, and to find what works for you.

If I had to pick just one, I’d pick the first.  Link out.

There’s nothing worse than writing wonderful stuff and not having any visitors.  Link out intelligently and they will come.

Now It’s Your Turn

What advice would you give to new bloggers?

Do you have a tip or suggestion that someone gave you that saved your blogging bacon?

What helped you most in the early days?

Share your comments here, on Twitter or blog about them at your own site and I’ll compile them into a post here.

Joanna Young, The Confident  Writing Coach

Because our words count

Photo Credit: untitled by K. Sawyer on flickr

Related posts:

1. A helping hand for new bloggers
2. Blog Writing Tips from 100 Successful Bloggers
3. Blogging advice from a master: the Converstations archive

It got me thinking about the number of times we tell ourselves - consciously or otherwise - that we need permission before we can change things, before we start something new…or before we do something audacious.

So as a warm up to this month’s theme, let me ask you to think about this:

1. Are you waiting for permission to start?

2. If  so… whose permission do you think you might be waiting for? (The answer to this might tell you a lot.)

3. If I said you had all the permission, all the authority you could ever need to write what you want to write now…

What difference would that make?

Yours with audacity

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Photo: Permit by Joanna Young on flickr

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Making a reality of your audacious writing goals.

Relishing the wild, vibrant colours of bold, confident writing.

Finding the courage, the confidence and the audacity to write about the things that matter: that change things for the world, for other people, for you.

The theme is inspired, of course, by the season and the sense of possibility we all feel at the start of a new year.

Not to mention the sense of optimism that’s already building in anticipation of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States later this month.

I hope you enjoy the theme.  There’ll be plenty of opportunities for you to join in and add your perspectives on what it means to write with audacity.  Stay tuned for more!

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Photo Credit: Craving Colour by Georgie Sharp on Flickr

No related posts.

We’ve been blessed with extraordinarily good weather which has made it easy to stay offline, and spend as much time as possible outside.  (Except for occassional bursts of tweeting, where you might just have spotted me.)

But tomorrow it’s back to work, and back to blogging (which happily doesn’t count as work).  I’ll be introducing the new theme at Confident Writing for January, and do keep your eyes on the Middle Zone for the start of something very special.

Hope you all had a wonderful New Year and I look forward to seeing you for comments, conversation and confident writing in 09.

No related posts.

fireworks by photojenni on flickr

Happy New Year!

Bliadhna mhath ùr!

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Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you’re there. It doesn’t matter what you do … so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that’s like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching, he said. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime. —Ray Bradbury

I don’t want to add to this other than to encourage you to think about the simplicity of the language, and way the syllables are used.

It seemed like a good way to round up this theme, and say farewell to the old year.

No greetings for the new one until it’s here… it’s a Scottish thing.

Thank to Emily Carmichael aka Captain Stardust for the quote.

Enjoy your night!

Related posts:

1. A Simple Guide to Compiling a Free E-Book
2. Quotes on Simplicity and Writing
3. Simplicity is the Theme for December

I asked readers to look through their archive and select their best post of 2008.  The additional challenge was to complete the sentence ‘this post is simply the best because…’ in 30 words or less.

I hoped the twist of that challenge would throw up some insights into what ‘the best’ means to different bloggers, helping us to refine and develop our understanding of what it means to blog.

The answers didn’t disappoint (as you’ll see below).  The 30 word answers will also help you pick and choose the posts you want to go and visit from the submissions to the project.

There were 38 full entries, listed below.  A few others applied some creative licence to the project.  Grace shared a link to this post in the comment box, selected because ‘it brings to light an aspect of child abuse not previously known, at least to a large audience. ‘

Jennifer suggested that her best post was the last post written (an innovative way of encouraging readers to keep checking back!)  Matches Malone also left a comment to that effect.

A big thanks to everyone who took part, spent time rummaging through the archives, tussled over which best to choose, and finally went for posts which have made me smile, take notes, stretch, wonder, cry, nod with recognition, add blogs to my feed reader, and think of new things I want to read, and write, in 2009.

I’m guessing you’ll have similar reactions when you jump in and start browsing this list, simply the best posts of 2008.

Simply The Best Posts of 2008

Here’s the list of post in full (in order of date received)

1. How You Tube Has Changed US Politics Forever

This post is simply the best because it illustrates how new technologies have allowed us to embrace online social communities that will forever change our political landscape and our view of ourselves and our world.

from Roxanne at Online Business Woman

2. Wearing Flip Flops to Interviews

Chosen because controversy inspired the best conversations.

from Sarah at  Head 2 Head

3. Dressing Up Your Casual-Wear Writing

I’ll pick this post, on because, like Henry Higgins, I think that sometimes HOW you say something is almost (almost!) more important than what you say–because it’s all about knowing how to talk to your audience.

From –Deb at Punctuality Rules

4. Interview with Patti Digh, ‘Life Is A Verb’

This post is simply the best because finally talking with Patti on the phone after correspondence for years was a delight (why did I wait so long?). I also learned a lot making the recording.

From Steve Sherlock at Steve’s 2 Cents

5. On The Fringe

This post is simply the best because it’s raw.  It was a breakthrough in how I felt, and I used words to process this shift.  I didn’t hold anything back, and I put myself completely out there.

From Dawn Goldberg at Write Well Me

6. Labor Sweatshops: Can Nike Be Trusted?

This post is simply the best because I feel that it examined some card hold facts about Nike’s labor practices which are often overlooked in traditional media reports.

From Andrew at Good Honest Dollar

7. Old and New: Story From Berlin

The post is simply the best because it creates a sense of place although every native English speaker certainly will notice that English is not my first language.

From Ulla at Ulla Hennig’s blog

8. The Battle

This post is simply the best because, this is different with a deceiving look in the beginning and a hilarious twist at the end. It holds a soft corner in my heart, for it‘s beautifully expressed too

From Meghna: Delve Into the Mind of  a Budding Blogger

9. An Independence Day Reflection: Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe

Simply the best” writing I did this year, in my estimation, because it is a personal reflection upon what growing up in a quintessential small American town was like.

From JHS at Colloquium

10. What I Learned From a Generous Heart

This post is, in my humble opinion, the best simply because of the reactions it received. Not the number of comments, but mainly because of what was said. So far, it’s been a standout in that regard.

From Robert Hruzek at the Middle Zone

11. Give Free Rice to Hunger

This post is simply the best because it teaches us that we should learn to appreciate every little things in our daily life, by simply sharing and show our sincerity to the unfortunate…

From Wilson at Will You Mind

12. Waiting For Goodbye

This post is simply the best because it struck a chord, generated lots of lively and wide ranging conversation, and connected me to bloggers I’m grateful to have met.

From Brad Shorr at Word Sell

13. Truth or Madness Monday

This post is simply the best because the community shaped it with active discussion and insightful comments. It was fun to write but the participation was even better.

From Karen Swim at Words for Hire

14. Finding Your Writer’s Voice

This post is simply the best because I believe that your writing voice is the basic foundation to being a success as a writer, and I think this post presents a unique and helpful perspective.

From George at Tumblemoose

15. Checklists for Starting Your First Business

This post is simply the best because… it answers the questions that first time business owners would ask, if they only knew who to ask!

From Becky McCray at Small Biz Survival

16. Yes! I’m Going to the USA

This post is simply the best because I could finally tell everybody how happy and excited I was to be awarded the scholarship to visit the United States for 4 months!

From Pelf at Pelfism is Contagious

17. Remembering My Parents

It’s simply the best because it still brings tears to my eyes—tears of sorrow that they are no longer with me and tears of  joy for the memories and the love we shared.

From Lillie Ammann, A Writer’s Word, an Editor’s Eye

18. Never Failed to Fail

This post is simply the best because it combines the three underlying themes of my blog… bad sailing, humor and an expression of my passion for the sport.

From Tillerman at Proper Course

19. Terry Starbucker: About This Blog

This post is simply the best because it crystallized my thinking as to why I was blogging in the first place - to reach out and cultivate positive and mutually rewarding relationships through my philosophy of “Half-Fullism”.

From Terry Starbucker, Ramblings From a Glass Half Full

20. The Fabled Land of Now

It’s simply the best because of its emotional honesty, and the way that the liminal time between seasons underscored the discovery of a forgotten time in my mother’s life.

From Joanna Powell Colbert at Gaian Tarot Artist’s Journal

21. 8 Ways to Encourage a Friend

This post is simply the best because it reminds busy people about the people behind the words and walls and bright shiny objects.

From Jon Swanson, Levite Chronicles

22. Storytelling Marketing Search Engine Strategies Coverage

This post is simply the best because . . . it connects two of my favorite topics: storytelling and marketing, covers an industry event, links to real-life lessons, promotes others, includes insight-full comments and ignites inspiration.

From Baraba Rozgonyi, Wired PR Works

23. Accept Everything

This post is simply the best because:  In my thirties, I’ve grown up and learned stress is overrated. I want to be a person who lives the mantra “Accept Everything.”

From Damien Riley, Postcards From the Funny Farm

24. My Mother’s Gift

This post is simply the best because I was able to be candid about my family, its an unusal and interesting story, and I was able to touch just the right emotional notes.

From Judy Haley, at Coffee Jitters

25. Our New Apartment: The Real Estate Agent

This post (okay, the series) is simply the best because it drew far away readers right into my city and then into my home and finally into a dialogue with me via comments which in turn stimulated more blog posts.

From Jimmie at HomeSchoolBlogger.Com

26. How To Become a Fire Breathing Writing Dragon

This one is simply the best because it reminds me of why our words count.

My contribution from the Confident Writing archives

27. 1996 McDonald’s Hamburger

This is simply the best because it went completely and absolutely wild on the internet. People found it amusing, newsworthy and some didn’t agree with it.

From Karen Hanrahan, at The Best of Mother Earth

28. Violence in Spreadsheet Execution

This post is simply the best because it is filled with humor and records one of many awesome conversations I have enjoyed this year.

From Luke Gedeon

29. Scary Bathrooms

It is simply the best because it helps you to think like a child again. This post allows you to step into a two year old’s mind and see how he views modern technology in bathrooms.

From Tabetha Gedeon at Denim and Silk

30. Learning and the Much Maligned Mistake

This post is simply the best because it embraces learning, an important aspect of my blog, and is about the hallmark of the learner.  In particular, 2008 was a learning year for me; I learnt to be a blogger.

Ken Adams, Blogger in Middle-Earth

31. I’m Feeling Very Behind

This post is simply the best because I like the way I used the passage of conversation. I feel it added interest and drew the reader into my conversation with the teacher. It gave a clear image of what happened and invoked, I hope, an empathy from my target reader.

From Shannon at Mountaineer Country

32. Reflection of an Online Interview

This post is simply the best because I felt I had taken an emotional moment and reflected on what worked, what I could do next time , as well as extending my critical thinking.

From Shaun Wood, Shaun’s Learning Odyssey

33. Missing Mary, Mother of God: Last Seen Shoved Down the Couch Covered in Popcorn Kernels

I think this is my best post, because it draws on my most well-developed strengths as a writer

From Shannon at After The Fire Came a Gentle Whisper

34. Scholar Says Black America Needs a New Narrative

This post is simply the best because it was intellectually challenging, thought-provoking, and reinforced by the election outcome. I stepped out of my comfort zone as a white woman writing about the black American narrative.

Kathy Hansen, A Storied Career

35. Recipe for Engaging Post

This post is simply the best because I was able to convey wholesome set of thoughts with the fitting metaphor and it was greatly appreciated by people who read it .

From Rarst at Rarst.net

36. Are You Asking These 11 Stimulating Questions to Capture Your Company’s ‘Honest to Goodness’ Video Story?

This post is simply the best because after 25 years of filming conversations, it collects the most interesting and engaging questions I’ve asked people on-camera. It’s designed to create new possibilities for telling new stories.

From Director Tom, Bringing Brands to Life

37. Motivation to Write: Is There a Magic Formula?

This post is simply the best because…

• It explores an issue that’s critical to every writer’s success;
• It examines various methods for tapping several common motivational sources;
• It explains how to generate motivation when it eludes us.

From Jeanne Dininni at Writer’s Notes

38. An Unexpected Independence Day Celebration

I believe it is one of my best-crafted short stories. It is based not upon one particular person, but, rather, several people who are dear to me, including a special couple in whose honor I wrote the piece as a way of demonstrating my affection for them upon the occasion of their wedding.

From Jenn at Mixed Metaphor.net

Related posts:

1. Simply The Best: Group Writing Project
2. Simply The Best: Reminder
3. Simply Experimenting: The Results of My Writing Experiment Group Writing Project

I’ll be back here on Monday or Tuesday of next week with simply the best posts of 2008.

Meantime, here’s a wintry view from the beautiful west coast of Scotland.

Nollaig Chridheil!

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My answer, for that list, was this post: How Purpose Beats the Inner Critic

It seemed like the best introduction I could give new readers to the material and approach I offer here.

Bu it’s not quite what I’d choose to answer my own question.  What was, simply, the best?  What would my answer be, not to new readers, but to you?

My instinct takes me to this: How To Become A Fire Breathing Writing Dragon

It’s far from perfect.

It’s a bit meandering.

It follows on from another post, and a piece of guest writing, a friendship, a book, and a series of conversations.  (I know: it’s possible that’s what makes it good)

But I’m really fond of this post.

I love it because the image, the metaphor of the fire-breathing writing dragons came to me out of nowhere.  It was my muse’s idea.  And yet I carry it with me now and when I lose the way, when I forget what I’m doing or why, well I think about the dragon, and press on.

I know that’s it’s changed the way at least one of you thinks about writing.  And just one is enough.

So for me, this one is simply the best because it reminds me of why our words count.

If you missed it first time round, here’s an extract:

“Oh, but I’m not a writer” I hear people say. What does that matter? Neither am I. It’s what you write, what you say, what you do with your power that counts. I know a lot of professional writers who know how to turn a trick - but not how to breathe fire.

I guess this is what inspiration means for me. It’s the invitation, the challenge, the spark that gives me fire-breathing powers. That makes me feel like I’m breathing in, deep, and breathing out, hard. Telling a truth, sharing something essential, using my power. And the writing that comes from that place, well it does have the power to change things, even if it’s just changing me. (And sometimes changing ourselves is more than enough.)

We don’t need to wait for permission to do this. Hope that someone will come along who has faith, who believes in us, who’ll spot our hidden potential.

We just need to know our own power. The ability to breathe out fire.

And then decide to use it.

This is my contribution to the simply the best group writing project.  If you want to take part there’s still time - deadline is 24th.  [UPDATE: I'll extend this until the 28th in case any of you are still blogging over Christmas.  I'll post the results on the 30th.]

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Related posts:

1. The Look of a Fire-Breathing Writing Dragon

January: A new design for the new year - thanks Cat!

February: Leaps and bounds was the theme, inspired by the leap year, leading to one of my favourite group writing projects - My Love Affair With Writing

March: Survived the first round of the March Writing Blog Madness, leading into a glorious triumph over the mighty Copyblogger in April

April: Celebrated my blog birthday and met one of my best blogging buddies

May: Made it to Chicago and SobCon - my first trip to the U.S., and first time meeting some wonderful friends

June: Ran a series on asking questions and declared I was proud to be a blogging dork

July: Got ready to make the move from Typepad to Wordpress (a move I’ve not regretted once)

August: Bit of a crazy month - moved blog, moved house, and got a wonderful welcome back

September: Named as one of the top 10 blogs for writers in 2008-09

October: Got back into my Twitter groove with 21 Irresistibly Irresponsible Ways to Tweet with Greater Confidence

November: Mixed things up with a little bit of experimentation…

December: Gearing up to post simply the best posts written by all of you: simply the best readers a blogger could wish for.  Thank you.

Some other highlights…

E-Books: Published 2 e-books, Powerful Writing in 30 Words or Less, and Asking Questions for a Change

Group Writing Projects: Ran a few group writing projects - each one was a bit different, and I learned something from each one:

My Love Affair With Writing, 4 x 4 Sources of Writing Inspiration, What Does Powerful Writing Mean to You? In 30 Words or Less, Your Ideal Writing Weekend, The Results of My Writing Experiment, Simply the Best (your best blog post)

What I Learned From: I’ve written a reflective piece each month for the Middle Zone Group Writing Project: What I Learned From. I had fun working some of them into the writing theme, and also enjoyed writing some more personal pieces.  Thanks Robert for giving me (and so many others) the chance to take off a bit more of the mask with these monthly projects.

My favourite WILFs: What I Learned from Writing in a Sweet Shop, What I Learned from My Cat About the Writing Life

Not the Best But the Most

Still to decide on my best… here’s some of the most instead.

Most Useful Post: How To Plan A Month’s Worth of Posts in 30 Minutes Flat

Most Use of Bullet Points: A 60 Second Guide to Engaging Your Readers

Most Commented: The Secret: 20 Ways to Attract More Comments on Your Blog

Most Unusual Writing Analogy: The Haggis Maker’s Guide to Writing Well

Most Personal Piece About My Writing: To My Muse: 10 Reasons Why I Love You

I don’t know about you but I’m feeling quite puffed out after running through all that!

I’m thinking, hoping, planning to slow things down a bit in 2009… We’ll see.

Looking back, I can say hand on heart that it’s been a tremendous year, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.  Thank you for all the support and encouragement you’ve given me all the way through.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

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