Grow Your Blog Topic: Write What You Love


Today, I want to talk to you about a topic that in blogging communities I see come up way too often.

What are those questions?

"I just created a blog, or want to start one, but how do I know what to write about?"
"How will I know that others will want to read what I write?"
"How do I pick the best topics to write about?"

I am going to be honest, I used to think this was a ridiculous question, why would anyone want to start a blog with no idea what they like to write about?
But since rarely a week goes by that someone in one of the communities I follow doesn't hold back from asking the question.  I decided this is probably a good topic to bring up today.

When I give advice on this subject, I will always give the exact same response.

Write about what you are passionate about.
Write about things you love or enjoy.
Write about topics that you know about.

If you are asking someone else what you're blog should be about, and someone actually gives you an answer.  Chances are, you are already off to a bad start and likely on a path that you probably won't keep up.

Why write about what your passionate about?

Because, people will feel it in your writing.  You can't hide passion, and if you're writing on what you're passionate about others will feel that passion.  You're chances of grabbing their interest just went up significantly.

Why write about things you love or enjoy?

Because things you love and things you enjoy will come natural to you, the topics won't seem forced.  Not only that, but you're more than likely rarely going to run out of content to write about.  People are smart, they can read between the lines.  They know when someone is feeding them a line, or sharing something they enjoy.  If you enjoy what you're writing, you're already more than likely going to find others who will enjoy what you write about too.

Why write on topics that you know about?

Because you're knowledge and life experiences on these subjects will shine through in your writing.  You'll be able to write posts based on experience.  This doesn't mean you can't research to make them better, because you definitely can.  But when you're not starting from scratch the words will flow better, you'll know how to write them with feeling and write them in ways that may appeal to readers better.

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In short, there is no crazy science on blog topics. You should never start a blog, or pick topics just because others tell you it's the "hot" subject. Quite often bloggers start a blog writing on one thing, and then switch it up a year or so later. That is okay, people evolve, blogs evolve.

If you are just starting out, you may be the only one reading your blog for a while.  I know I may have just crushed some potential bloggers there, but it's true.  Just because you have a blog, doesn't mean they will come.
In the beginning you or your family or close friends may be your only readers and it could be that way for months.  But that is okay, just keep on writing content that you love.  Keep participating in blogging communities, link ups and eventually others will find your content and read it.  If they see you're passion, and enjoy the subjects you write on, you'll have much better chances of getting them to come back.

If you are a blogger, do you write what you know, what you're passionate about?  Do you have additional information you'd give to newer bloggers on this subject?

23 comments :

  1. All great tips for new bloggers! Don't try to write about topics that you either aren't passionate about or don't have much knowledge of. If you aren't passionate about something, it'll be very obvious to your readers.

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    1. I agree with that, its just far more interesting to read what others enjoy and are passionate about!

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  2. Great tips! I agree, it usually comes through on someone's blog if they're writing about things they don't know about or don't really care about. Those are the types of blogs that I don't necessarily have any interest in reading. As an aside, I love that Neil Gaiman quote :)

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    1. Thanks, I love that quote too!
      I agree, I don't follow bloggers who don't seem to relate or care as much as to what they are writing, it's just not interesting enough to want to read!

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  3. Totally agree! These are great tips for new bloggers. It is so much easier to write about what you know and love.

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  4. i think you really should ONLY be writing about things you are passionate about or have knowledge about. of course, outside of random, day in the life type posts. good tips!

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    1. I agree!
      Random day in the life posts are fun. But Yes, having a passion on the majority of your blogging topics really should be the way for a blogger to go!

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  5. I catch myself wanting to jump on bandwagons of what everyone else is talking about, but then it doesn't feel legit to me & I hate that..

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    1. I used to do that, and then I realized I was not enjoying it. Eventually I decided to attempt to be as different as possible even if I was talking about the same types of subjects lots of other blogger friends were:)

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  6. When I first started my blog, it was all over the place and some posts definitely felt forced. I even cited in one of my posts how they teach you in school for papers hahah instead of just using links lol. Now, I definitely write what I want to when I want to and have the most readers ever, so there is for sure something to that. It's always a good reminder though for the times where we all feel we "need" to post when we haven't in a while. I'm taking more of a "commenter" role in the blog world this week and that's okay with me :)

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    1. LOL, LOL oh ya my early blogging days. I had no idea people blogged about running, I had only ever seen book review blogs before. After a while I realized, oh wait I am like the bazillionth running blogger, LOL
      That is awesome about your readership! I have to say mine is the same way now. As long as I keep doing what I enjoy, it seems others enjoy it too.
      But ya, if I don't have time to post, I don't. I am all about quality (or attempted quality, LOL) than quantity these days!

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  7. I think this is great advice, Kristy! I especially like what you said about blogs evolving over time and it's okay to switch topics. I've found that with my own blog. When I first started it I was a little into running but not like I am today. So little by little my blog has become more about running. And I think that's okay :) Like you said, write about what you know and love!

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    1. Thanks Sun!
      I've actually done that, my blog is vastly different now then when I first started. It wasn't because I changed it to change it, but I evolved and realized it was so much easier to just be me, than like what I thought people wanted, LOL
      Plus writing about what we know and love, makes it stay fun for us!

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  8. These are all great things to keep in mind when writing a blog. I think when I first started I thought I had to do something specific (like post everyday) and for me that didn't work, I really think you need to have an idea, start and then tweak it as it goes and you learn what does and doesn't work for you. I also think as you grow as a person, your life situation changes, etc, your blog should be able to evolve with you. For example, I just posted for the first time in over a week because my work and home life have been super busy, and this is the first time I am trying to catch up on blog posts from my friends like you in about 2 weeks, its not ideal, but that is life...you have to at times, just go with the flow. For me, when I feel pressure to do something like post when I don't have time, it gives me anxiety and my blog is supposed to be my happy place, so I try and keep it that way! Anyways, have a great week Kristy!!

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    1. I hear you! When I get busy, blogging is the one thing I let go. If I go a day or even a week between a post, I don't sweat it. I need to keep it fun, and like you said a Happy Place! Otherwise, it would turn into a stressful job like thing, and I can see myself dropping it if that happened. I don't want that to happen because I have met so many awesome blogger friends on here, and it's so much fun!

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  9. I wondered whether I would have enough to write about or whether anyone would read what I wrote. I never thought I would be creating new recipes each week that's for sure. I just kind of fell into it and it worked.

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    1. Sometimes I even think our blogs teach us things.
      And you make awesome recipes by the way, several of which I have tried. Though they never look as pretty as yours:)
      I think keeping it real, keeping it what we enjoy and like to do is the key to maintaining a blog and finding readers who will also enjoy what we write.

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  11. One of the reasons I started to blog was because I wanted to note down the things I was experiencing, it grew from there.
    If I didn't enjoy blogging I wouldn't continue with it. Sure I get busy, but I make the time because it's important to me.
    Also writing from the heart I think is also important.

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  12. I had the same questions when I decided I wanted to start a blog! I was super stumped and even my boyfriend kept asking me why I wanted to start a blog. I kept sharing ideas with him about what I could share. Our workouts and adventures. Recipes I'd hope to try and projects I wanted to start. Books and movies. I knew I wanted to start a blog to share my own experiences with people and to inspire them to explore the things and world around them. Although I'm still getting into the groove of my topics and writing style, I feel so happy that I just began. I feel so genuine just writing about what interests me. I would definitely say if in your heart you have the drive and good reason to want a blog to just start. Sometimes it helps just getting things done and overtime you'll find your groove! I have also accepted not many people will visit or read but I hope that as time goes by people can relate to my story more and be excited for my posts!

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  13. I love your story, I truly believe that if we write what we love and are genuine to who we are in what we talk and blog about then it will be a fun happy hobby! I do think we evolve, I am much different now than I was years ago when I started, like you said, we just have to find our groove. But in time we find it, and people will come. I've found even those posts I wrote years ago, that at the time very few people saw when I originally wrote them, when I look back at their overall stats they get a huge amount of page views now. So we never know, sometimes with blogging, it takes a while to take off, but it will in time!

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