I have to admit, I’m detracting from my normal flow of written content to share with you a little about my blogging experience. I’ve enjoyed writing REAL Ministry tremendously! It has helped my ministry in great ways. I have clarified my thoughts and hopefully shared with you something of value, that has helped you grow in your ministry.
However, trying to write 4 posts a week can be tough. I’ve been consistent with my writing for 6 months now. I’m starting to discover my voice. I’m starting to understand what makes a good blog post versus a bad one. I’m recognizing the importance of headlines and writing good content.
There are days I think I can’t write any more. There are days when I think I don’t have any original ideas. There are days when I think what I am writing is not that good (which may be true on some days). But, I keep at it. The only way I know to get better at blogging and writing is to keep doing it. So I do.
In this video, Jon Acuff suggests that creating content is the #1 reason blogs die. It can be difficult to keep up. I have an entire Word document dedicated to blog ideas. Even though I have two pages of ideas, I look at those ideas and think, “Wow. That’s not that good of an idea.” Then I sit down and try to write on it. The creativity begins to flow. All of a sudden, an idea has turned into a 500 word post.
If creating content is the #1 reason blogs die, then the #1 reason a blog lives is by mining the fruits of our experience. That’s all REAL Ministry is. It is a reflection on my own leadership experience in my ministry, the good and the ugly of it all. John C. Maxwell says that “Evaluated experience is the best teacher.” REAL Ministry is me evaluating my experience and mining the nuggets of wisdom.
Question: If you are a blogger, how do you continue to come up with new content? What are your struggles in the content creation process?
I hope this video can inspire you to keep on keeping on. It helped me.
And thanks for journeying with me on this blog! I really appreciate your readership.
Hey, John. Way to dial into the gist of the blogging process. As you may know, I don’t really write much anymore about ecclesial or ministry subjects (though I used to publish a lot of the stuff). I have given my creative attention and my blog, A Big MonstEr Blog, over, almost completely, to short fiction — plus the occasional reflection (or rant) on a news article or feature story from a magazine or website that I think just might fruitfully catch the interest, enlighten, and spark the attention of others, like it did for me.
J. Acuff has some good ideas here. I decided months ago, once I killed my previous blog (that had become an uncentered pile of driftwood and a chore, that I would write at least three times a week, mostly fictional; be prepared to tuck some posts away as ‘unpublished” so they can gain maturity thru further reflection and polishing (or get tossed away eventually); keep true to what I think my Blog should draw people toward — ‘stories and reflections on popular culture and other tragi-comedies.’
Good luck. Keep the creative process flowing. You are welcome to follow or join my blog, as I do your via Facebook. Just drop by my url — http://www.monsterworst.blogspot.com — to leave your e-mail address or to click follow.
Now, tell me, please, what are the hidden secrets to being a good leader?
Hey Butch, I think it takes a lot of maturity to stop a blog when the time is right. We pour a lot of energy into something like this and it can be hard to give it up.
Congrats on the new focus for you and your blog. I hope it is going well for you.
As for the hidden secrets of leading, I guess you’ll have to go to the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry (NCCYM) in Orlando to find out! http://www.nccym.info
Man, it’s no secret that this is my biggest downfall in blogging. I love to blog, to write, to tell stories, to share. But, like Jon said in that video, I often have the “all or nothing” mentality, and it truly paralyzes me.
It’s funny, because lately I keep hearing over and over again about the importance of consistency to build up readership, like God is answering my prayers of “why is no one reading?” with “because you’re not writing, fool!”
But I like Jon’s suggestion of starting off with one post a week and growing from there. That seems doable. Takes the pressure off.
As far as coming up with new content, it usually is as simple as being present to the moment. When I am paying attention, when I’m observing, when I’m fully experiencing life, then the ideas tend to flow. I keep a notebook in my bag at all times to write down all the ideas that pop up. Sometimes I’ll write about the ideas that very day. Or sometimes I flip through my notebook and find a random idea to write about that I wrote down ages ago.
I love hearing about other people’s creative processes…thank you for this post!
Hey Shirlene, It’s a challenge for all of us. Being a reader of your blog, I know how great you write! So please keep writing! You have a gift that is worthy of sharing. Perfect is the enemy of good. Strive for good.