*approaches podium, trips over own feet, knocks over microphone*
Hi! So you want to start writing. That's all sorts of awesome, dude. And if I could give any kind of advice, it would be the following.
Write every day. Doesn't matter what it is, or if anyone will see it. Freewrite. Write about how you can't think of anything to write about. Just write. That's what writers do.
Let it FLOW. Don't overthink what you're writing. Some people are going to relate to stories about your cats, and some people are going to relate to stories about your mental illness. I speak from experience. You won't know what people will connect to unless you put it all out there. That's why I despise "drafts" or "outlines" or anything I learned in writing classes in high school. Throw all that junk away and write what you know. If you're having a rotten day, dammit, TELL the story. SHOW through your words how you feel and what you think.
You're always going to have readers who disagree, or call you a hack, or a bitch, or whatever. It comes with the territory. But what you're also going to get, IF YOU'RE HONEST, is a reading audience that goes along with you on your travels and adventures, even if they all exist in your own mind.
Don't censor yourself, for the love of Jebuddah. If you want to cuss, CUSS. If your mama is going to read your blog and swearing would cause drama? Make up words, like "Jebuddah" and "effing." People will know what you mean. Don't ever doubt that you have something to say, and that the way YOU want and need to say it is the right way.
Your blog might resemble others. Lots of people talk about their kids because that's a huge part of their lives. Don't worry that you'll be pigeonholed. Your voice is your own and your writing is going to be your own, as long as you stay true to yourself.
Feel free to ramble/make an ass out of yourself/open a proverbial vein emotionally. You're not the only one who has felt that way. You'll find an audience shrieking to the rooftops "OMG I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE!!!!" and that's an amazing feeling. I make an ass out of myself DAILY. Hourly, sometimes. I share everything that doesn't negatively affect others in my life. If family is off limits, stay true to that. There's no shame in keeping things private, especially if loved ones are involved. But if anything goes? That's AWESOME. Let it. You make your own rules and regulations, no one else does. No one wants a mirror of another blog, or article, or book. That's boring. DON'T BE BORING!
But you WON'T be boring. Because writing is life. Writing is soul. Writing is your heart, poured out beautifully and hideously and in your own way.
Just write. It's what writers do.
Trust me, if you're honest with yourself? You have nothing to worry about.
