3 Reasons I’m Still Blogging After 1 Year of No Success
Nearly 82% of all new bloggers stop blogging after one year…
Okay, I made that up. I couldn’t actually find a cold, hard fact to reflect this (if you do, please share). But a lot of writers end up quitting! Apparently, a lot of people don’t make it past three months — after one year, nearly everyone quits.
Why am I still around, still bangin’ away at my keyboard?
1.) I don’t expect to be successful.
“Success” is somewhat of a conundrum for those who write. Over the last year, I’ve consistently gotten more and more tired of hearing about the topic.
I’m sick of it.
“Honestly, what the fuck is success?”
- For some, it’s getting 100 people to read their poem.
- For some, it’s getting paid a lump sum of cash money.
- For some, it’s getting published in the “big publications.”
I’ve done my best to ignore these milestones. I don’t think quantitative or “event-specific” accolades are great motivators.
I try to appreciate the writing process and focus on the intrinsic rewards of blogging. The fact I’m able to express my ideas through this online forum and potentially reach anyone in the world gets my juices flowing.
For me, if I can foster some sort of positive energy or abstract benefit through my writing, then I am happy. The only way to do that is to keep going.
2.) I truly love the craft.
I love to write, dammit.
In a weird way, I feel like I’m meant to be doing this — like I’m supposed to sit at my desk in silence for hours and just think and write and survey my ideas. You’d be surprised at how many people find that utterly insane.
In hindsight, I stumbled upon this blogging thing so naturally.
Freshman year in college, I remember reading books and drawing out concepts in my commonplace journal. I was always coming up with ideas on what I could “start.” I wanted to create a powerhouse brand. I wanted to be at the helm of a multi-million dollar business. I wanted to make a difference and inspire others through my vision.
Oh, I was so naive.
But eventually, it clicked.
By reading and drawing so much, I learned I liked words and I liked creating things with my hands. I learned that you could create what’s called a “personal brand” and you could do it online. Finally, I learned I could help and inspire others without the need of a million dollar business.
So, with time, I guess you could say I became less naive.
3.) Blogging is a constant uphill battle.
I suppose some people might shy away from this statement; I embrace it 100%.
I’m the kinda guy who loves to progress and learn (fuckin’ nerd, right?) I take personal growth serious — I feel alive when I grasp a new skill or add another element of know-how to my life. Something about it just makes me feel good and happy. I don’t quite know what it is.
Blogging reinforces the growth aspect of my personality.
If you’re not constantly reading, taking in new perspectives, or changing your mental frequency, you are going to fail at blogging. It’s just a fact — you’re either going to quit, fail, or run dry on ideas.
You’ve got to challenge yourself and push your creativity, always.
Where will this writing thing take me? Shit, I guess there’s no way to really know. One thing is true, I don’t know about you, I’ll write till there’s nothing else to show.
- AZ
Thanks for reading 😁 To my friends on Medium, I created a digital-handbook “The Guide to Attractive Medium Posts.” I made it just for you — and it’s free, so have a look! Or don’t. Who cares.
