How to Write and Publish Your Blog Posts Faster

by Cori-Leigh | Blogging | 5 comments

Many bloggers ask me how they can learn to write blog posts at a faster pace!  If you’re a new blogger it will take time and practice. Do this enough you’ll be posting content consistently to your blog like a pro!

Writing your blog content shouldn’t be a stressful and anxiety-producing activity. If it is – you’ll continue to struggle with improving your writing speed. A large number of beginner bloggers think they have to frantically rush the post-creation process.

I used to take too long to write and publish my blog posts. They never seemed good enough. Fear crept in and held me back from publishing what I wrote. As a result, I made creating blog content a difficult and unenjoyable challenge. Finally I worked on releasing my writing and blogging fears.

With practice and attention to releasing my writer doubts and fears, I eventually improved! It took time to turn what had become stressful into fun again by making a few changes. There are a number of ways that you can learn how to write your blog posts much quicker!

Show up to write daily.

Keep showing up to write and watch your blog post creation speed improve! The path to succeeding in writing your blog post quicker requires you to show up and write! If you don’t you’ll struggle to write and publish anything at all. The more you write daily the faster your writing routine develops.

Once you do this enough it will feel strange to not write every day. Doing this helps you to form habits to ultimately increase your blog post creation process.

Every pro blogger I know became an influential blogger by showing up daily to write. Each one is committed to writing and publishing content to their blogs.

Let go of the perfect post mindset.

Perfectionism will rob you of time and cause frustration. Blogging fears cause the focus to be on perfectionism. When we change our blogging mindset we release the fears that limit our blogging success. This includes areas we get stuck in creating our blog posts quicker and more consistently.

Your post won’t be perfect because nothing is perfect. The reality is our blog posts don’t need to be perfect. In fact the best posts you’ll ever write will be on the other side of fear and perfection. This is where writing freedom is found. When you are aware of this then you’ll speed up your writing flow.

Create a list of blog post ideas.

Not knowing what to write about will absorb your time and slow you down. Daily activities we do provide countless blog post ideas! Creating a list of blog post ideas that helps you always know what to write about for your next post.

In the backend of my WordPress blog here I have a list of blog post ideas. These are ideas I jot down into my phone, tablet or notebook. I add collected ideas to my post list. You’ll never run out of what to write for your next post! When life gets busy you can be blog post prepared!

Reduce unnecessary distractions.

Eliminating or reducing distractions will help to keep you writing at a steady pace. While it may be impossible to remove all distractions there are some that you can change. The internet is a busy and often distracting place for many writers and bloggers.

Pay attention to how much time you spend on social media platforms and other online activities  I achieved incredible results when I began being more intentional about where and how I spend my time online. This is also true for everything we do daily.

It’s important to be aware of your writing distractions. Know what they are so you can focus on what to do about them. Doing this also helps you save time so you can accomplish more!  When you minimize distractions you’ll increase the speed of your writing flow. Reducing distractions also works free the mind and allows you to focus your thoughts on writing quicker.

Practice free writing.

When writing our blog posts we often get in our own way. Get out of your own way to allow your thoughts freely flow! Many bloggers and writers restrict their writing flow. I enjoy free writing it allows me to write without restriction.

Doing this removes the pressure of your own expectations. Allowing you to unlock your mind for your thoughts to flow freely. Doing this allows you to ease into a writing flow. Allowing for your words to pour out of you. This helps to get your writing process moving.

Write what you know.

It takes time and practice to freely unleash your unique writing voice. Another way that you can write and publish your posts quickly is to write about what you know. You won’t be an expert on every topic.

There is no need to try to be someone you are not. If you aren’t sure of what you’re writing about this will dramatically slow you down. You’ll spend more time researching topics you’re not experience in writing about.

Instead, be you bringing your unique and genuine self into your writing. Writing about what you already know based on life experience and knowledge in your niche area helps! You will write higher-quality posts too!

Create a quick blog post outline.

Blog post outlines or templates help you to save time and create your blog posts quicker. Write down the main points that you want to cover in your blog post. Creating an outline is nice, as it allows you to spend more time writing and less time thinking about what you want to write about.

Even a blog post you wrote previously can function as a great blog post outline. You can use your post outline as a template for future posts. Filling in the areas is easier and before I know it I have the beginning foundations to a great post!

I start with the following;

• Have a basic general idea as to what I will write about in my post.
• Basic title to tweak later.
• Subheadings to fill in with content. These headings can be worked with more later.
• Short conclusion – doesn’t necessarily have to be written yet but I at least have the subheading.
• Encourage my readers to join the conversation by asking a few questions consistent with the post topic.

Resist the urge to edit too early.

While writing resist the urge to critique and edit. Editing your written work is a separate process. Let go of perfectionism in the blog post writing process. Resist the urge to edit while in the flow of writing your post. Doing this prevents your mind from the distraction of focusing on mistakes. Allowing for free writing and an easy quick flow of thought.

While I’m writing I never interrupt the writing process to edit. This creates a mental distraction as you’ll look at what you wrote with a critical eye. Doing this blocks writing flow.

Keep writing until you have more than the amount of content you need. Take out what you don’t need. If you are a beginner focus on writing shorter posts starting out. This will make the process easier.

Writing and publishing your blog posts at a quicker pace;

Is the result of time spent being aware of where you get stuck. Often it is just a few changes consistently implemented that produce results more rapidly.

You can also try writing shorter posts which can help starting out. With practice and consistency you’ll soon be writing and publishing your blog posts faster!

Let us know in the comments what helps you to write your posts quicker?

How to Create a Blog Your Readers Will Love

by Cori-Leigh | Blogging | 2 comments

Create a blog with your readers and site visitors in mind. Doing this is essential to your blogging success. Your readers appreciate and notice when you take the time to show you care. Your blog needs to be a place they love to visit often.

I’ve seen many blogs that show just the opposite. A large number of blogs lack qualities that attract readers to return. These bloggers are left to wonder why their blogs are not getting much traffic or loyal readers.

We can’t expect to create blogs that are an instant success. They take time to grow.
For your readers to enjoy coming to your blog there are a few things you need to do.

Create a blog that your readers will love and want to return to often.
Make it about them not you.

Create a blog that’s easy to navigate.

Readers visiting love a website that is easy to navigate.
Make it easy for your reader to find everything you offer.

I visit many websites that are cluttered with unnecessary features.
It isn’t necessary to have too much content on the homepage.

If their first impression offers too much at a glance they’ll leave.
They won’t go on a content hunt for what they want.

Most of your readers will not make it to the bottom of the homepage.
Keeping your homepage to a shorter scroll helps them go right to your content.

Keep the design simple and effective.

Many blogs these days are over designed.
This is problematic for not only your reader but you too.

Your blog readers and followers should see your content stand out!
I visit many blogs that are heavy in design but not content.

Or it’s filled with a ton of posts and other content but there is no organization.
Leaving the visitor to get lost in all the content.

A simple and attractive blog design is inviting.
It’s filled with content rich flow and encourages the reader to come back.

In contrast, a blog that is over designed is a cluttered blog.
This is not a pleasant user experience.

Focus on produces more content and less design.
Creating a place that your readers can enjoy.

You will have a better time managing a simple but effective blog.
Doing this allows you time to focus on creating more rich content!

Be a consistent blogger.

Readers love it when they can rely on your consistent habits of posting and connecting.
They trust you more when you produce content often. Consistent bloggers show up often.

Develop a consistent blog posting routine that you can keep up with regularly.
Stick to a posting habit you can manage rather than posting 1 week but not the next.
Or posting every other day for a few weeks and then not post for a month.

Write from a place of love for your reader.

When you care about someone you show them you care.
You show not just tell. Love is demonstrative.

If you don’t show your reader you care they won’t stay.
Rather they’ll find a blogger who demonstrates they matter.

Make it about your reader.

When you blog for yourself that is how you write.
If you are blogging for your readers it is about them not you.

Readers love posts laced with stories from you.
It helps them see you understand the problem their having.

Make it personal and effective.
Show them you genuinely care for them.

Create quality content.

Give attention to the quality of your posts.
Readers will search for something they need.

A problem they need to solve and are seeking solutions.
The quality of your content will keep them coming back for more.

If you write with your reader in mind they will notice that.
Some of these visitors to your blog will become loyal readers.

Solve a problem.

Do you want to make your website irresistible to your reader? Solve a problem and provide solutions for your readers. They won’t be able to resist coming back.

• Produce valuable content that helps in significant ways.
• Give to your reader generously more than you get.
• Expect nothing in return and just keep providing help.

Connect your blog to social media

Your readers will love to connect with you often.
It’s important for them to meet the person behind the message.
You can do this by responding to their post comments.

It’s beneficial to connect your blog to a few social media networks.
I love Facebook and Twitter as a means of engaging often with my readers.

Conclusion

Ensure a pleasant experience when readers visit your blog and they’ll keep coming back. Your blog will be a place that you and your readers connect often. Give of yourself generously to your readers. Do this and you’ll establish a trust with them.

Let’s hear from you – What is one thing you do to help your readers enjoy coming back to your blog?

How to Launch Your Blog Quicker By Creating a Simple Design

by Cori-Leigh | Blogging | 15 comments

The idea of starting a new blog is exciting! This initial enthusiasm quickly turns to frustration when we realize the many details involved. Designing and customizing a blog is often a challenge for many beginner bloggers.

In this post I share how you can quickly start, create, and launch a blog that looks pleasing to your readers. One that is easier for you to manage when completed. Using a simple start design that works. You can easily build on it over time. It doesn’t have to be perfect! 

I remember starting my first blog. As a writer all I wanted to do was write. I didn’t know the first thing about how to begin designing my blog. Visitors would see my site disaster then quickly run for the hills! All I’d seemed to accomplish was a ton of mounting frustration, overdoses of discouragement, a site that looked awful, and nothing was working right! 

In this post I provide tips starting a blog with a simple clean design.

1. Why begin with a simple and clean design?

Creating a simple design is the best way to start. In the beginning less is more. Nothing fancy. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing yet. 

Of course we all want great looking blogs. It’s easy to look at the big picture. When we do this we fail to understand the importance of the small steps that lead us where we need to be.

We have to simplify our mindset. If we don’t do this then we can’t enjoy the process of starting a blog. Instead of enjoying the process of starting a blog we can become overwhelmed and stressed.

First impressions count. Have you ever heard the saying, ” You never get a second chance to make a first impression?”When someone visits your blog for the first time they will formulate what they think at first glance.

This is another great reason for a creating a simple start design. By making your blog pleasing for everyone you will be sure your visitors will appreciate it. You’ll have succeeded at making a great first impression!

7. Blog Page

8. Blog Posts

If you want to design a header it is best to keep this simple also.

How Keeping a Journal Can Help You as a Writer

by Anne Peterson | Blogging | 1 comment

This is a guest post contribution by Anne Peterson. Today Anne helps us understand how keeping a journal keeping a journal helps writers. Anne is a poet, speaker, and published author of 16 books, including a children’s books, poetry books, two memoirs. Her most recent book is her second memoir entitled, Always There: Finding God’s Comfort Through Loss.

It started innocently. Someone shared how they enjoyed writing in a journal and suggested I might also enjoy it. How hard could writing in a journal be? You make an entry every day and write what you feel like writing.

Little did I realize it at the time, but writing in a journal was extremely helpful. And I have a bunch of journals to prove it.

When the words won’t come

Whether you want to call it writer’s block or you have another name for it, sometimes words do not flow. Journal writing is an effective way to get my creative juices flowing. As simplistic as it sounds, it really did help.

As a returning student, one day in an English class, I sat there trying to put something on the paper before me. But instead of the words pouring out of me, I had nothing. Zilch. Zero. And so I just started writing what I was feeling…

I don’t know what to write. I don’t know what to write.

Over and over I repeated that sentence. I didn’t feel foolish, at least no one else knew of my struggle. And then, all of a sudden the door of my mind opened and words started tripping over each other, trying to get out. And  journaling helped me more than one occasion.

A great storage place

Writing in a journal gave me a place I could just let my mind unwind. And when I did some free writing, I found myself going at it in full force. I didn’t have any direction as yet, but that was okay. I concentrated on just getting the words out on paper. I could store them there until I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.

I’m a poet and I find it interesting that some of my best poems started in a journal. I felt free to sit and reflect with no pressure. Just like when we were kids and we would lay on the ground outside looking up at the cloud shapes and trying to imagine what they were. No pressure, just reflection.

An emotional outlet

Sometimes we’ve got ideas, but we struggle to get in touch with them right away. This is where I’ve found it’s helpful to just write them out.

Are you angry? Then go at it. And use all the exclamation points you desire. Are you sad? Then go ahead and get those melancholy words out, you may even find you feel better afterwards.

Sometimes as writers we need to grease the machinery to get it moving with ease. At those times, I do free writing. Whatever pops in my mind ends up on my paper. And I usually feel energized once that happens and I sometimes have trouble stopping. And that’s a good problem to have.

Whether we are blocked in our writing, we want a convenient place to store ideas,  or we need to vent, journaling is a great idea. Then we’ll be free to do the thing we’re meant to do—write.

We gently coax words out, directing them where they should go as we pepper punctuation here and there. And then our story starts to take shape. There may be times we have to exclude some words, and they may not be happy about it. But if we’re gentle, we can convince them we may be able to use them at a later time.

Writing is a privilege

Writing is not a hobby for me. I see it as a calling. Something I was made to do. In fact, I was only in 5th grade when I discovered my love of writing. Miss Farnsworth had just told us that there would be a contest. We were to write a creative essay or poem. It could be about anything we chose.

The idea came to me after a few moments. I’d write about my Shadow. How my shadow followed me everywhere. At the end of my paper, I revealed my shadow was really my 3 year old brother, Steve.

Turning in my paper, I smiled inwardly. I sure wanted to win, but even if I didn’t. I had so much fun writing my piece.

The next day she announced the winners.Three were chosen. Barbara Edgecomb wrote a poem about Babies, I think Kenneth Dobson wrote a winning piece as well. My heart started racing as I waited to hear the third and final winner.

Did she really call my name? I was overjoyed. The prize was that we all got to go downtown Chicago to read our pieces on WBEZ, the educational radio channel. It truly was a thrill, but more importantly, it was then I realized my love for writing. I take writing seriously. I believe everyone has a voice. One that needs to be heard.

And I’m doing my very best to fulfill that calling. But writing is not just something I like doing. I have to write. For me, it’s like breathing.

Your turn. Let us know in the comments;

Do you keep a journal?
How has journal writing helped you become a better writer?