I’m a New Professional Blogger: Here’s What I’m Learning

TOTAL NOOB

Being new to professional blogging, well, professional writing in general, is daunting.

However, I like to think that I’m not doing too bad of a job. I’m having to retrain my brain. I was never good at outlines in school. But using one worked for me this time and I was able to deliver on the assignment. One thing I have to remember is that not everyone’s brain works the same steps every time.

Some can outline in advance. Some write the rough draft and then decide to outline. And some are like me and the first step is my last step!

My teachers always said I overexplained…and then laughed at my essays. They would assign a three-page essay and I’d turn in five pages. I always wanted to ensure my point got across…but I never failed an English assignment.

Related: How My Third-Grade Teacher Made Me the Bad Ass Self-Employed Writer I Am Today

Time Management? What’s That?!

As a new professional blogger and a homeschooling mom, a big part of my issue is time management. I am learning how to navigate homeschooling, parenting, wife-ing, and now working from home. My tinies don’t quite understand that mommy can’t get down and play “dinosaur roar” or with their Hot Wheels when they demand it right now. Thankfully, I have a few minutes every day that I can sit down and at least mentally plan what I need to get done. (I have Disney+ to thank for that!)

I have learned that I can get at least a few minutes done during school. This doesn’t always work, so I have to allow myself to be flexible… which isn’t always easy to do. Sometimes I get to write during nap time, sometimes after dinner. Often, I find myself writing at 11 PM after I have hidden from my spouse and his video games. Finding time for myself and my laptop is extremely important. At least to me. I want to be able to provide for my kids the way I used to. Which means I have to succeed.

Learning New Programs and Accepting Criticism as a New Professional Blogger

In addition to retraining my brain, I am learning new programs that I have only ever heard of. At first, I was scared, but I am a quick learner. I enjoy playing with these programs to see how I can improve. The criticism? that’s a whole other monster. I tend to be emotional, and I can feel attacked. So, learning to work through that fear to leap into a new adventure isn’t exactly my idea of a good time.

Submitting my first blog was nerve-racking. I powered through. The response gave me hope! Hope that I can do this and that I won’t fail. That only pushes me harder. You do need a tough skin to let your friends see your work and learn to be better at it so that you learn to build it up. It would be so easy to just give up, but that’s not me. I am too stubborn for that.

An Opportunity to Keep Learning as a New Professional Blogger

As a new professional blogger, every day and every proposal and every blog is an opportunity to keep learning. I can’t wait to see where I am in a month from now, three months from now, six months from now, and a year from now.

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Danielle is a freelance writer specializing in parenting, homeschooling, domestic abuse, and relationships. You can contact her here: https://bit.ly/blogsbydani