Before diving in, I must clarify: this advice stems from my personal experiences. Offering guidance can be complicated, as it involves distilling my life lessons into something relevant for you, who may have different circumstances. If this resonates with you, wonderful! If it seems like the ramblings of an arrogant person, well done for recognizing that—feel free to disregard it. Writing is a deeply personal endeavor, and my aim is to share my thoughts on achieving success—it may not apply to everyone.

So, you’re considering starting a blog. I admire your courage and can only commend the effort you’ll invest in this rewarding yet time-consuming pursuit. While some may argue that blogging lacks value, I assure you that it will reveal who truly cares about you, as measured by how many of your musings they are willing to read.

I won’t sugarcoat it—beginning a blog and articulating what matters to you can be challenging. After four years and approximately 200,000 published words, I can affirm that it is rarely easy.

However, it is incredibly fulfilling, especially for those in academia. I genuinely wish more scholars would take the plunge into blogging.

Does that sound contradictory? Not really. Blogging achieves the goals of academia and science, but in a more accessible manner—it teaches you to write clearly and effectively. Unlike formal academic papers, which often reach only a select few and prioritize pretentiousness over clarity, blogs are meant for a broader audience. This means abandoning complex jargon in favor of straightforward explanations.

In essence, blogs represent the pinnacle of communication. They encourage you to explain concepts rather than just filling pages with text.

Maintaining a blog over time not only enhances your academic reputation but also helps you reach new audiences for your research or other endeavors. More importantly, it equips you with the ability to convey your work effectively to anyone, anywhere.

And that, my friends, is a valuable skill worth the effort.

Now that you understand the why behind blogging, let’s move on to some practical advice.

1. Establish a Goal

The first step is to set a clear goal and adhere to it. When I launched my blog, I aimed for one post per month. After mastering that, I increased to two a month and ultimately settled on a weekly schedule. It took time, but soon it became manageable, and I rarely miss a week, even with a busy agenda.

Consistency leads to improvement. This is the fundamental rule of blogging because it’s crucial. The journey to becoming a skilled writer begins with being a novice writer, followed by persistence until you become proficient.

2. Share Your Story

One key point to remember is that blogs should reflect your interests. It’s not merely a task or a hobby. If you write about topics that bore you, you’ll struggle to continue when life inevitably gets hectic.

Choose subjects that excite you. When you write about something you’re passionate about, it becomes enjoyable to create and read. In contrast, writing about disinteresting subjects will turn blogging into a tedious chore, negatively impacting your writing quality.

3. Don't Worry About Your Audience

Here’s an interesting fact: it took me over six months of blogging to achieve more than 100 reads on a single post. It took nearly a year to reach 1,000 views. My least-read piece, which I dedicated days to, has only garnered 11 views.

The reality? Cultivating an audience takes time, and so does developing the skills that make your work appealing.

Don’t expect instant fame. In fact, your initial writing may not be strong enough to attract attention right away. You’ll know your writing has improved when you notice an increase in readership—one of the beauties of the internet is that good content often finds its audience, no matter how niche the topic.

4. Find a Trusted Reader

I can attest that publishing your first blog post can be daunting. You’re sharing your thoughts, feelings, and ideas with the world, open to criticism from anonymous trolls.

Writing is difficult, and blogging can be even more challenging. To succeed, it’s essential to have someone you trust who can provide constructive feedback. This way, when someone online disparages your work, you can feel reassured knowing a good writer has validated it.

Ideally, this person should be a) a talented writer, b) friendly, and c) direct. Ask them to review your work if you’re uncertain about its quality, and appreciate their input, as finding someone who offers solid editorial advice is rare.

5. The Practical Aspects

A brief how-to guide will never cover every detail. I could elaborate for hours on the helpful nuances I’ve discovered, but we all have lives to lead, and let’s face it: making mistakes is part of the learning process.

That said, here are a few practical tips to assist you:

• High-quality images enhance a blog's appeal. Utilize platforms like Pexels, Unsplash, Flickr, or Pixabay for free images (with credit), or invest a little for premium stock photos.
• Start on Medium. I choose this platform not just for its aesthetic appeal but also for its ease of use and effective integration with social media for added visibility.
• Avoid excessive editing. Your initial writing won't be perfect. Over-editing won’t change that but will consume your time and dampen your spirits. Focus on grammar, perform a quick fact-check, and remember that improvement comes from practice, not perfection.
• Tackle smaller topics first. Begin with manageable subjects before progressing to more significant issues. It’s easier to start small, and less overwhelming if your initial posts don’t attract much attention.

Ultimately, the aim is to enjoy the process, learn something new, and perhaps hone your skills. If you achieve these goals, you can take pride in your blogging journey.

Blogging is challenging, but like any skill, the more you practice, the better you become. Over time, you may find that your writing improves not only in blogging but across all areas of your life. The key difference is that blogging is entirely voluntary, requiring your motivation to keep going.

It’s tough to persist if you’re not enjoying what you do. No one is obligated to start a personal blog. However, if you heed my advice, it may become easier to embark on this journey and maintain your momentum.

If you’re in the process of starting a blog (or have already begun), feel free to leave a comment below. I’ll do my best to respond to everyone and share your thoughts on social media.

Remember, blogging can be challenging, time-intensive, but incredibly rewarding.

You’ve got this.

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You can also catch me on the Sensationalist Science podcast for your weekly dose of scientific fun and media insights.

Note: Your family and friends often aren’t the best critics. They tend to praise your work simply because they care about you, which can cloud their judgment. As Amy Santiago might say, their love can make them blind to flaws.