If you are a new blogger, you have probably found out that the learning curve can be a bit steep at times.
There are so many choices available to us, and to be honest, blogging has grown a lot over the past few years.
Out of all the lessons that a new blogger will learn, one of the most important is also one of the most unexpected: that of finding your voice.
When I first started blogging, I was amazed at how similar it is to homeschooling.
That may sound a little odd, but let me explain.
When I first pulled my son to homeschool him, I was equally excited and terrified. It was a grand new adventure, but it was also a step into the unknown.
In a lot of ways, I really had no idea what I was doing, and I didn’t know who to ask!
Our first year was one of transition and finding our way.
We stumbled a bit, we had our victories, and most importantly, we started to find what worked.
We found our voice, in a way.
Blogging is actually a lot like that.
As a new blogger, you will step into a new adventure – one that includes sharing things from your experience and point of view.
At first, you will probably be both excited and a bit intimidated, stepping forward in faith.
As you grow, you’ll stumble a bit, you’ll have amazing victories, and you will find what works for you.
You’ll find your voice.
And the great thing is, there is an amazing community of bloggers to come alongside you and help!
Finding Your Voice as a New Blogger
The fun part about blogging is that you get to share your ideas, your experiences, and your point of view with the world.
The scary part comes when you realize you’re not sure what the world wants to hear!
Should you come across as an authority? Or maybe as the Pinterest-perfect homeschool mom (if she really exists)?
Should you find out what the really “big” bloggers do and mimic their topics and strategy?
Well, yes and no.
Picking Your Blog Topics
Yes, you should write about things that you can talk about with some authority.
However, that doesn’t mean that you have to only write about things that you could write a textbook on.
It also doesn’t mean you should only write as the “ultimate authority.”
Be real in your writing! This is what your readers – the ones who will truly benefit from what you have to say – will be drawn to.
As a new blogger, you might feel like there are already a lot of voices out there. While that’s true, you have a valuable voice, too.
You have people that you can reach, encourage, and inform like no one else can.
Don’t be afraid to do that!
Writing the “Perfect” Blog
Which brings me to my next point: you don’t have to be Pinterest-perfect to put your voice out there.
Granted, you should make your blog visually appealing, but no one’s life is perfect. I find this is especially true for homeschool parents!
As a blogger who homeschools, you have a whole set of challenges and joys that is unique to you. Be willing to share them, no matter how “perfect” they are!
Trust me, there are others who can gain a lot from hearing your true voice come through.
Learning the Ropes as a New Blogger
But how do you figure out how to do it “right?” Should you copy what the really successful bloggers do?
This is where you’ll find your balance. There definitely is one!
I would definitely encourage you to learn from successful bloggers. They have been there, and they do what they do successfully, so they’re definitely worth learning from!
However, that doesn’t mean that you should copy their site, their voice, or their exact way of doing things.
If you look objectively at some of the more successful sites, you’ll find that they all have their own voice, their own emphasis. This is a good thing!
As you grow as a blogger, you’ll also find your voice. Allow yourself to go through this process – it really is worth it!
