Thanks to Joel Fortner, one of my top commenters, for reminding me that it’s been a year since I started blogging. In fact, it all started with Cologne – pleasure or pain?

I had been wondering for a long time if I could be a writer. So after a lunch with an acquaintance, I decided to write about something that was bothering me. The truth? It was rough, but it got me excited about writing. I could potentially help others grow. Amazingly, I’ve learned a lot in a year’s time. Such as:

• Writing’s tough – I think I knew that writing was going to be difficult, but I didn’t realize just how hard it could be. What makes it so challenging is my desire to change someone’s life with words. I think if I was just writing for me, it would be considerably easier.

• I’m not perfect – I believe that most people attempting to write a blog spend way too much time trying to make their first post perfect. You just need to get it out there. When you post for the first time, it’s only going to the people you send it to. You’re not going to have a thousand readers, so get it out there for people to critique. Trust me, as your writing gets better, they will begin to send it out to their circles.

• Get committed – You have to make a decision on how often you are going to post, and then stick to that schedule. Readers want to know what they can expect from you in content and consistency.

• Be practical – When people tell me personally about my blog, they always say that they feel like they are in a conversation with me. The information is down to earth and applicable, not theory.

• Tell it like it is – Life is stories, and I enjoy sharing them. I believe that narratives paint a better picture of what you are trying to explain. It is another element that I have received a lot of feedback on as being a great part of my blogging.

• There is another (said in a Yoda voice) – Michael Hyatt is an absolute genius! If you follow only one person as a blogger, make sure it’s Mike. Not only does he have an incredible wealth of knowledge that he shares daily, but he also has a ton of experience on how to be a blogger. I would say that I’ve stolen so much from him, but it’s not true—he freely gives it away.

• Get some peeps – My biggest joy of writing is how people have responded. The commenters on my blog are outrageous!! Not only do you guys leave great comments, but you also leave information that helps other people. I am excited every day that I get to see the wisdom of my followers in comments to something that I’ve said.

Among all of this, the biggest thing I’ve learned is: I’m just getting started! After a year of writing, I love it more each day.

Question: What have you found to be a passion that you never knew existed?

Related articles

• Cologne – pleasure or pain? (ChrisLoCurto.com)