You should start a blog.
No, really. I know, it seems like everyone has a medium nowadays: podcasts, Instagram platforms, LinkedIn influencers. Does the world really need my voice added in?
I've kept this blog up for about 2 years now, but I had a lot of reasons not to get started:
I didn't want to add to the torrential downpour of content
I couldn't image anyone would care
I wouldn't have time for it
All valid. I tried blogging and journaling a few times in high school and college but couldn't find traction. I felt I had nothing new to say, and that it would become yet another item to mark off the checklist.
But I'm glad I started, and kept with it, because:
I've learned new things. Blogging regularly means you need to have something to talk about, meaning you'd better be growing and learning. It's a great way to keep yourself accountable. Writing's also a great way to process what you're thinking and feeling.
I've made new connections. No, this blog isn't read by many people. But it has connected me with others in the UX Writing industry, and started some important conversations. It even connects me with people I know in the real world.
I tricked myself into being confident. You know the "fake it 'til you make it" cliché? By making myself write about UX writing, I started realizing how much I've learned in the past few years. I started seeing myself as a serious writer. People become "true" professionals because they start believing that's who they are. It doesn't mean they've learned everything, but just that they trust their journey.
If you want a blog that will be read by hundreds of thousands of people, ask someone else for advice. But if you're interested in blogging as a tool for growth, I can't recommend it enough.
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