The Confessions of a New Latina Blogger- Part Two
The Confessions of a New Latina BloggerAs promised, I am going to give you Part Two – Confessions of a New Blogger. I will give you a list of the four secrets I use to get my writing done. I will also give you a very short and powerful story about why I blog. [I blog for many reasons – – this story is just one of the many reasons].
Excellent writing isn’t just another one of those things that I do. It is a matter of survival and growth.
If you are thinking about becoming a writer, a journalist, or a blogger, you’ll want your craft to survive the messy noise inside the world-wide-web and you’ll want your writing to grow [flourish]. I will also tell you how to come to the blank page not with a mouse and keyboard, but also with a knife . . . and the courage to use it.
Here is the breakdown of today’s post:
- Why start a blog?
- What is a blog?
- My 4 secret tips for writing.
[especially if you struggle to create content or interesting stories]
Why start a blog?
It’s November 2015 and my blog is just a little baby 3-month old blog. It is still November when, I was honored to be invited to Verizon’s Wireless Small Business Summit [Houston, TX]. This was my very first compensated blogging opportunity and I was smiling from ear to ear!
While sitting in this beautiful ballroom filled with corporate executives, audience members, and several talented, nationally recognized bloggers, I felt my meager blog was still too new to be included in this awesome opportunity.
Even with my smile [did I mention ear to ear smile?], I felt like I was not supposed to be there. It was at that moment I had to grab up my ass and turn myself around. This is the part of this blog post where I tell you how to come to the blank page not with a mouse and keyboard, but also with a knife . . . and the courage to use it.
I strongly told myself, “Hey, keep your head in the game! Stop this stupid thinking. You are here because you have arrived. You have arrived to hold your printed voice to a blank page . . . because your words, are the words that your Grandmother Juanita and Great-Grandmother Christina would have been so proud of. So proud of their Mija who went to college, who overcame crappy obstacles, who is stubborn and doesn’t give up.
For them. . . there was no blog, no voice, nowhere to go to express frustrations or celebrate victories. For them, there was a kitchen, cooking, sewing, cleaning, washing clothes, hanging them out on the clothes-line, raising children, backbreaking work, and sitting on the back porch with a cold beer at night… thinking about how their lives could really be. So, get your head in the game because you’re supposed to be here in this beautiful ballroom. Take it all in and share your experience on behalf of other Latinas who don’t have what you have. Use your blog, your writing, your strong voice to inspire and lift others because they did not get to use their voice….this tardiness you have to NOT use your voice is no longer acceptable.” This was my personal ass-kicking chat I had with myself and I have not looked back.
This is the short story that I mentioned earlier as to why I blog. There are many more reasons why I blog, but this story pinches and pulls on my heart strings the most.
Now, if that did not motivate you to want to do something bigger….then, you can just stop here and read no more – – Good-bye. However, if reading this lit a little fire under your ass, then we are going wonderful places together! [virtually speaking…]
What is a blog?
This was the power-point from Verizon’s Wireless Small Business Summit [Houston, TX]. This was my personal confirmation…my self-awareness moment that I should be blogging and writing stories.
What is a blog?
A regularly updated website or web page, typically run by an individual or group, that is written in an informal or conversational style. (Origin: web-log; like an online journal or diary) – – – – Types of Blogs? Short, long, image, or video blogs, micro-blogs (Twitter/Tumblr) “A blog is merely a tool that lets you do anything from changing the world to share your shopping list. People will use it however they wish.” …and so can you.
My simple definition of a blog: a public notebook or journal regularly updated ~
My 4 secrets tips for writing
[especially if you struggle to create content or interesting stories]
There is no one-size-fits all plan for everybody. I can simply share a little bit of my secret tips for writing. If I was to share everything I know, it would be a book. Hey, you know that is not a bad idea! …O.K., let’s focus and get to these 4 secret tips:
Tip #1
Think process, not product
“…traditionally , the artist/writer has been trained to regard her creative process as something that should be kept to herself…” quote from Austin Kleon, Author of Show Your Work! We live in a time where showing your PROCESS and SHARING your work actually attracts people who share your interest.
I have chosen to show as little or as much of my PROCESS whenever I want. PROCESS is MESSY. I get emails from my readers who say they are glad I put my sloppy work out there in the digital land! They have seen my writing improve and it is thought-provoking to share and see how it is all just PROCESS.
You just have to get started. Just start writing. Write every day. Also, great writers read a lot. I am not saying that I am a great writer, however, I have a small following now of about 7,000 [combined social media platforms] and I read a lot. Your blog readers/followers get to know you because of the stories you share; they’ll come back to listen to your voice.
Tip #2
Solitude creates that unique voice that speaks strongly
My best writing, and, in fact, the best of anything I’ve done, was created in solitude. When I go running or simply lay down in the grass to gaze up at the clouds, I have found this solitude very productive. Just a few of the benefits I’ve found from solitude:
- time for thought
- in being alone, we get to know ourselves
- we face our demons, and deal with them
- space to create
- time to reflect on what we’ve done, and learn from it
- isolation from the influences of other helps us to find our own voice
#3
Good writing playlist (use headphones)
It easy to get distracted, especially if you office from home. Writing requires constant attention; so whether you are working from home, or a coffee shop, get a good writing playlist together. I simply use Pandora.com and get my two favorites playing: Nightmares on Wax and Thievery Corporation.
Tip #4
Keep a Thesaurus / Dictionary browser open
Keep a thesaurus/dictionary tab open. Because there are only so many ways you can say “fabulous -fantastic – marvelous” without sounded like a parrot repeating yourself. Plus + during times of intense focus and craziness of work, you may need to get whacked by the creative stick. Working with a Thesaurus/Dictionary has been one of the many tools I use to get creative!
Let’s wrap this post up! Here is one of my favorite books I’ve read this month [for the 2nd time!] Pick up a copy. It is short, powerful, and full of unbelievably simple ways to Show Your Work
“…traditionally , the artist/writer has been trained to regard her creative process as something that should be kept to herself…” quote from Austin Kleon, The author of Show Your Work!
follow him on Twitter @austinkleon
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