Can i contribute like Steve Pavlina?

[sel206]

Hi!

I have always been interested in personal development. Although at the time i didnt know the word for it!

I have been procrastinating over this idea i have for a website/blog. I only came to the realization (just 5 mins ago actually!!) that i have affected people a LOT during my life, but not by writing, but just by my words and ways (talking etc).

I realised this when i was reading steves article with the link below:

How to Build a High-Traffic Web Site (or Blog)

I was at the point where it talks about having high quality content and why do you need a high traffic website.

Steve says he was writing since 1999 (but started this blog in 2004). He said he noted that people used to be affected from his writing before he had this blog and that gives spark to my question...

I dont really know how good a writer i am, as i have never written before. However i also know (without any Ego in it) that i have influenced many people just like how steve has, and have been told that i am inspiring many times over. Examples of influencing are changing a whole way of thinking of a person, to changing their world view, moving up many levels (quantum leaps) and inspiring others to do something with their life.

I cant believe i just realised all this now, but what is your opinion? I mean how can i go about this to start blogging? I have never written before and i'm not sure if learning from my mistakes on a blog where i feel i am responsible for others should have any mistakes.

I will still be going ahead with this blog/website, but i just want to know what others think. Is it just me who thinks that? Or does everyone feel they have changed other peoples lives in a similar way?

[Power]

First thing, stop worrying of the excuses you just gave. Start to write and get your message out, people who needs your message will somehow stumble upon it on their own accord.

Being a good writer is a skill, and a skill that you can pursue and develop. Your excuse of not being a good writer put you off hold already and halted you on your tracks. You cannot become a good writer if you don't write

Advice is an advice and not a mandatory law to abide by. People are freely to choose whether to accept or heed your advice. It is their responsibility what to do with your advice. Of course, the real moral dilema for you is if you are giving advice that you don't follow by or agree/believe in. Are you giving a sincere advice or are there other strings attached?

Your only responsibility to others is to give them a sincere advice from your heart.

[sel206]

Yeah that is true. I was reading another article of steve's last night after posting this thread about "Ideas" in the business catagory. I realised i am exactly in the same position. I have so many great ideas (who doesnt) but i have yet to take action on them.

That is why today is the day i take action step by step. I think writing wouldnt be as hard as i think it is once i start flowing. Its just my friends are all into academic writing and half of them do not think i can even be a "writer" when i spoke to them about a blog i wanted to start.

I now realise i was letting them get to me since obviously i have to start somewhere. I will get right to it.

The only question keeps wondering in my head is, how does one know if he is a good writer or not and how effectively is he communicating his ideas via writing?

hmmm maybe i will know that once i try which i am just about to after posting this.

oh and yes, of course i feel responsible of what i will write and reccomend and that i have to practice what i preach. That is what slows me down (shouldnt really call it that!) so i make sure i dont say or reccomend anything to anyone that i personally will not do myself.

[Tayrak]

As long as you are genuine, I say go for it. I have read some scary @#$ on the web, didn't slow those folks down one bit and people gobble it up. So, imho, folks with an ounce of sense need to get heard too!

As for your writing talent, or lack there of, who cares? Mostly the web is personality anyway. Most websites slaughter the english language, their style is enough to make you want to poke something sharp into each eye just to make it stop, and it's pure jibberish to boot -and they do very well, so who am I to judge?

Writing gets better with practice, if you have something to say and feel the need to express it - have at it.

Tayrak

[Power]

Originally Posted by sel206

The only question keeps wondering in my head is, how does one know if he is a good writer or not and how effectively is he communicating his ideas via writing?

Are you good at playing a certain instrument?... guitar, piano, drums, violin, etc..
Are you good at a certain sport?... basketball, swimming, football, etc...
If you happen to be good at something and I ask you if you are good at it, you would say yes. On the other hand, you wouldn't be questioning yourself if you are good at it or not because you know you are good at it. So usually, if you have to ask if you are good or not, usually the answer is no.
There are certain days when you stand infront of a mirror and you know if you looked good or not; whether you are having a nice or a bad hair day. You see, when you write something, you will also know if it is good or not good.

Ok, let's say that you never have assessed your skills in a certain area and you want to find out; in this case writing. Write an article one page long. After, read it and assess yourself; is it good or is it not? If you are not sure, most likely it is not good. Now let's say that you do find the article to be good. Now, we need to confirm if it is good or if it is just your ego complimenting you. Show your article to 10 friends or as many friends as you like, but be sure that they also have interest in the topic. You see, you can show a nicely written article to someone who doesn't like the topic and they will find the article boring. You can even ask the reader if they are interested in such topics before you show them the article. Also, never tell them that you wrote the article. Tell them that a friend of yours passed you the article and you are just curious about their opinion about the article. This would avoid them from being just nice and giving a softer comment because they are afraid to hurt your feelings.
After they read it, then you can ask all your questions in regards to what they think of the article or how well the article was written. This should give you a rough estimate of your capacity in writing.

Here is an advice:
There will always going to be some people who will never like your writing, whether you are the world's best in writing. Also, no matter how crap you write, there will always be some people who will find your writing very good... that's just the way it is.
So don't pay attention to people who don't like your writing. They will tell you how crap your style is, but don't forget to take on and address the constructive criticism. There is a difference when one tells you that your writing is boring and needs improvements here and there compared to someone who says that your writing is all rubbish and can't justify their reasons.

[bholistic]

Sel206,

First...you are NOT, by far, the only one who feels uncertain about your writing ability, or how to go about writing or even if what you have to say is good. I ran into that same road block. I stalled at that road block, looked around, examined it and then finally decided to put the pedal to the metal and break through it.

You're never going to know the true answers to your questions until you "just do it" like the sneaker commercial says

You're not writing a master thesis - and it is not being graded.

Write just like you wrote your question in this forum or how you would write an e-mail to a friend.

Perhaps the first thing you can start writing about is how you helped/inspired those people that you mentioned in your post. Where were they at in their life and how did they improve it? What suggestions did you offer them?

We all have something valuable to share with others. I look forward to reading your blog

Sincerely,
Beth

[Dannyboy1]

Worrying about how people are going to react to your writing may not be the best way to start. Also, writing for other people may not be the best reason to write. The best reason I find to write, is because I enjoy writing. Now, you can enjoy helping people, but unless you enjoy writing for the sake of writing, you may fizzle out after a while. We know you enjoy helping people, but do you enjoy writing? Or, do you enjoy talking? If you want to help people through writing, I believe you must really enjoy writing.

[wakeshine]

Write and write and write until you can find your voice. It takes time to figure out if you will be a teacher, or a motivator, or just somebody showing the path he or she is taking.

If you set deadlines for yourself and write every day, and get your articles out there and get feedback you will begin to find your voice. This is not something you can plan for today. You've gotta start that journey and pretty soon you will see cities on the horizon. Then you can start heading for the ones that interest you.

[Champ]

I just started my own personal develpment blog a few days ago. I used to be a pretty good writer in high school 20 years ago but I'm still really nervous about it. I'm going to give it my best shot any and I'm sure I'll learn along the way.

Godd luck!