Is the following how you react
when you hear: “You must build a platform to increase the likelihood you will ...”
What’s a platform? How can I, a
person resistant to social media, break in and raise my public image? Do I want
to stand out? Why can’t I write good novels that publishers propel into the
market place without all the fanfare? My name in small print is fine. Who has
time to plug into social networks and write blogs, anyway? What do I have to
say to people? (Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
I
think that’s fear speaking of the new and unfamiliar. It was for me. Step
through my journey with me and maybe your anxiety will dissipate.
Preliminary
work:
1.
I determined to do it.
For me, keeping in contact with God gives me courage and
perseverance. God is bigger than unfamiliar words, codes, and confusing how-tos.
He’s stronger than obstacles. When He calls me to do something new, He always
does his part when I do mine.
2.
I attended social media
workshops.
Author Stacy Hawkins Adams explained platforms in our
writers’ group. Later, I attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian
Writers’ Conference
and scheduled social media workshops. From author Gina Holmes’s class, I learned writers must start building their
platforms well before they’re published. In Edie Melson’s workshop, she stepped us through creating a blog. Creating
a blog still seemed scary but not foreign.
3.
I read books and subscribed to
social media blogs.
Platform
by Michael Hyatt
and Selling Your Book Like Wildfire by Rob Eagar
chiseled off more of my
fear. Through subscribing to blogs, such as Copyblogger, Jeff Goins, Writer, and Author Media, blogging tips and processes became familiar. Familiar
calmed me.
4.
I perused others’ blogs.
I noted their similarities and differences, what I liked and what
I didn’t.
5.
I determined what type of blog
fit me. Hyatt’s
Platform listed three basic types of
blogs: “web journals,” single-theme sites, and those focusing on a theme with
occasional deviations. The latter two appealed to me.
6.
I mind-mapped what I could share and
sustain over time.
After petitioning God and brainstorming, I realized I needed to choose from my
passions: creativity, the Bible, and writing. My mind map showed I had many
life experiences using my creativity to engage people. I could help others do
the same in their workplace, home, and volunteer activities. Creative in Everything was born.
Taking
the plunge:
7.
I chose a service.As a novice, I’ve started with
a web-hosted site. I chose WordPress because most of my research materials
mentioned it.
8.
I muddled through the setup.Creative in Everything is a work in progress. Thepreciousgem I’ve learned is:
Quit freaking out over the many obstacles.
Stop, pray, and persevere.God will work ways around hindrances. Now, I view
roadblocks as challenges. I’mcurious to see what God’s going to do.
9.
I wrote the best post Icould, took
a deep breath, and hit publish. My marketing strategy in a book proposal promised I’d
have a blog by 10/1/2012. That deadline prevented me from endlessly pursuing
perfection.
10. I emailed a paragraph introducingmy blog to family, friends, Facebook,
and Twitter.I
includedCreative in Everything’s benefits
to readers and my every-Thursday schedule, which I’vehonored. I’ve enjoyed reconnecting
with people.
Successes
11. I receive encouraging testimonies. Everytime someone comments or
emails me how a post has helped them, I praise God for guiding me on my
blogging journey.
What
tips could you add to help others overcome blogging fears?
Twitter:https://twitter.com/zoemmccarthy
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