Two years ago when I made my first blog entry, my dear friend, mentor and book proposal coach Lucy Hedrick said, “This is really good, Jane. In about two years, you’re going to have quite an accumulation of material. Could even be your next book.” I love Lucy. What she said was entirely correct. But in the moment of elation that I’d finally begun a process I’d been hemming and hawing about for almost as long, the last thing I wanted to hear was that it would take two years to get the traction I was looking for.
Of course, she was right.
When I first started speaking professionally, the pros ALL said, you really don’t have your speech down until you’ve given it 50 times. Who wants to hear that? When you’re all enthusiastic about getting on the platform, having the applause and getting paid?
Again, they were right.
So the message is, enjoy the joy of getting started and being a newbie. Enjoy whatever the immediate rewards of the process bring. And know that the deepening of your talent and message are what reap the larger benefits.
I’m now celebrating my 300th blog post and my second anniversary of writing blogs 3x per week. I think I’ve got the hang of it now. I’m becoming comfortable with my voice. I see that my readership is increasing. None of that happens out of the gate no matter how much I want it to be so.
My advice to those of you considering starting a blog? Do it! I have learned more about myself, what I care about, who my market is and what’s important to me than I had in the 10 years prior. It’s an investment in time and resources, but the rewards are incalculable. I’ve gotten to know you better, and the impetus for republishing Soul Proprietor was entirely a result of being in touch with you through my blog.
Thanks for telling me the truth, Lucy, painful as it was at the time.
Good advice, Jane. So happy you are finding your voice!
I remember being told that it takes about 18 writing submissions to even get a reply! I was so grateful to get a reply after 3. Not a publishing offer, but a lovely letter of encouragement from an Editor at Martha Stewart Living!
Anything worth doing takes time.
BTW whenever I see the title 300, I always have nice thoughts about Gerard Butler (he did the movie, 300) 🙂
I remember being told that it takes about 18 writing submissions to even get a reply! I was so grateful to get a reply after 3. Not a publishing offer, but a lovely letter of encouragement from an Editor at Martha Stewart Living!
+1
@paintball
A letter of encouragement can go a very long way. We all have those built in gremlins saying, “Not good enough!”, so when a word of positive reinforcement comes along, it’s like manna from heaven. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Congratulations, Jane! It’s always so satisfying to see the fruits of our labor.
I’ve been blogging since October 2006 and am currently 16 posts away from 1,000. Not only have I reaped all the benefits you mention above, but I’ve been consistently at or near #1 on Google for “public speaking coach” for almost three years now (I got really strict and wrote six times a week for about a year).
It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. Now I’m in the process of figuring out how to repurpose all this content. If I had sat down to write a book three or four years ago, I don’t know that I would have had anything to say. The discipline of blogging has now pretty much created my book for me.
Keep up the good work. Your blog is one of the few I always make time for.
@Lisa
Wow! 1000! That’s something. You know what it takes to get that kind of consistency. I look forward to reading your book.
BTW, you won the cover contest. I need your address to send you the winning photo choice with book attached.
Jane
Hi Jane,
I thought I sent you my address already. Sorry about that.
P.O. Box 3376
Santa Barbara, CA 93130
Thanks! (Good one about photo w/book attached. 🙂 )