PEP TALK: "I want a WordPress Blog, but I can't write!"

A pep talk to help you create and write a successful WordPress blog.

“Start a Blog and Make Money!”

All you have to do is post and include a bunch of inserted advertisements, and the money will roll in, right? Well, if only it were that easy.

Instead, you have to “post” quality, well-written content that caters to what your website visitors are interested in or, better yet, need. (And when it comes to ads, especially those inserted by ad networks, you have to be careful not to go overboard.)

Once folks start delving into blogging, next comes…

“I can’t write.”
“Do I have to learn how to write?”
“The fact is I have no idea what to write about.”
“What if I am just not that good of a writer?“

Have any of the above statements crossed your mind? If so, don’t worry; you are not alone. Blog owners know they want to have a blog or should be blogging, but are too intimidated to put themselves “out there.”

I know exactly how you feel. It can be scary because you must put a little bit of yourself on the page to engage your audience and be a good writer.

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.
Louis L’Amour

Writing is an Evolutionary Process

When I started this online journey decades ago, I wasn’t a “writer” either. However, I quickly realized that I needed to hone my skills and work towards becoming one. Consequently, I found that I enjoyed the process.

I still labor over everything I write. But, to be honest, writing doesn’t come quickly to anyone.

It is a ton of work to do it right, to make my words reflect who I am, and to get my message out in the way that I want.

It didn’t take long to discover that creating the good stuff takes time and effort. And boy, what I’ve learned along the way (and am still learning). For example, I struggle with dangling participles and writing in the passive (vs. active) voice. That’s why I use and recommend Grammarly.

As a result, I keep working on it. There is probably nothing I’ve written that I can’t go back and review, tweak, and improve.

Writing is a skill that takes time and dedication to develop. First, you have to find your voice and your style. Without your voice or style, these are just words. What will set you apart is ensuring your posts are in your own words. (Avoid AI slop.)

For example, once I begin working with a client and we have a video conversation, they always comment that when they read articles on my site, they “hear my voice.” That’s because I do my best to write as I talk and be sure to add my personality.

Ask yourself this…

Can you not write, or don’t you want to take the time to learn and do it properly? In my experience, it tends to be the latter.

I get that. Some people don’t want to write and are not passionate about doing what is necessary. They are not interested in learning to become better writers.

In that case, they have two choices: not having a blog or hiring someone to write their website content, both of which can be expensive. Not having a blog will make it difficult to build your E-E-A-T with Google, making rankings nearly impossible. And professional writers who are truly good at what they do do not come cheap.

So maybe working on your writing is a good idea. You may find that diving in and starting to write is often contagious. Once you become more familiar with the process and the time it takes, you’ll find you look forward to writing. For many, it is cathartic.

Learn and Learn Some More

I learn something new regularly, both from my quest to be a better writer and from those who point out my mistakes, some more kindly than others.

I don’t stop for fear of being corrected or because I am not a trained, formally educated author. On the contrary, each correction improves my writing and my websites.

I have things to say and experiences to share, and darn it, I will keep plugging away at this keyboard as long as folks like you stop by and want to read what I have to share.

“I can’t write.”

Yes, you can. You write emails, business letters, and business proposals. You wrote papers in school. Just commit to working at it. Then, keep writing, correcting, editing, and learning. That’s what we all do.

A writer is someone for whom writing is more complicated than it is for other people.
Thomas Mann

You know your customers best, so you are the best person to write about the topics they want to know—because that is your expertise.

“I don’t know how to write.”

We all have varying degrees of writing skills based on our education. But education alone doesn’t create excellent writing. Your experiences, emotions, and personality make your writing unique.

Since when do we stop making an effort to learn? Especially when it comes to something so crucial to your success. If you are serious about success, you make an effort.

There are tons of sites and books to help you in your quest to become a better writer. Since you were born, you have had to learn everything you can. Why stop now?

“I have no idea what to write about.”

Oh, yes, you do. You know your hobby, product, or service better than anyone else.

What are you passionate about? What excites you? You have all those great experiences you can share.

To start, create a draft and write down your thoughts. A draft is your foundation upon which to build.

The simple cure for writer’s block…Write. People with writer’s block don’t have a problem typing. They have a problem living with bad writing, imperfect writing, and writing that might expose something that they fear. The best way to address this isn’t to wait to be perfect. Because if you wait, you’ll never get there. The best way to deal with it is to write and realize that your bad writing isn’t fatal. Like all skills, we improve with practice and with feedback.

SETH GODIN

Stuff You Can Write About

You can then expound on those thoughts and add (and edit) before clicking that publish button for the world to see. And don’t worry if you make mistakes. The beauty of WordPress is that you can quickly login, make corrections, and save.

Write about the questions you get asked the most.
What issues do those who stop by your site email you about? Write about those inquiries.
What experience can you share about your profession (or hobby) that can help others with theirs? Write about it.
Experiences you’ve had with customers that can help new customers.
Market trends that apply to what you do and how you can use them to your advantage.
Help visitors with how-tos, checklists, and white papers.
Topics in the News that apply to what you do — or how you can help.
Tips you can share about what you’ve learned along the way.

All the while, be sure to show your unique personality. What separates you from all the other blogs in your space? YOU!

Taking Note

Here are some tips for creating a draft post with your ideas when you cannot or don’t have the time to write at that very moment.

I have a Notepad document on my desktop that I can open and type in ideas as they come to me for future reference.
I email my idea to my main desktop if I’m on my tablet.
I have an app on my phone that lets me take notes on ideas I want to write when they strike me.
Then there is always the old-fashioned notebook to keep all your ideas and possibilities.

Believe me, if you don’t write down ideas when you have them — they are as good as gone. That’s not to say that you won’t have writer’s block. It happens to everyone. When that happens, here are three easy steps for gathering post ideas.

So, are you more open to diving into writing? You can do this—you must do this. You can become a better writer.

You are intelligent and driven, and you can write your blog. So, set up your WordPress blog, mark time in your calendar, and start writing.

The more you write, the more you’ll discover your unique voice and tell helpful, inspirational, and engaging stories in that voice—the voice of your business. AI cannot accomplish that.

I write to discover what I know.
Flannery O’Connor

Share what you know, and keep on learning!

At your service,