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Are The Blogging Rules Robbing Your Authenticity?

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Don't give up your passion, your voice, for the sake of following the blogging rules. We need your authenticity.

People crave to see others like themselves. They long to find a sense of “normal” among those they also consider “elite”. But when it comes to blogging and making yourself known and heard, the blogging rules can start robbing your voice and passion.

When I first began blogging, I didn’t know any blogging rules. I just wanted to write what was on my heart, and I did. I remember reading some of those early posts and being shocked that I wrote them. But as time went on, people grew successful in gaining an audience and they began to share their tricks.

Over time, blogging evolved from sharing your passion and stories to putting many voices in a box merely to reach the masses. We needed to write in a certain way, in a certain format, in order to attract many people.

But should that really be our goal? Because when we strip ourselves, our voice, our passion away in order to reach the masses, we lose our authenticity.

Do we really want to write another “7 Steps to a Better Life” post? The majority may want to hear that, but is that what we really want to write? Can we truly have a “better life” in seven steps? Further, is that really the life we want to encourage people to live? Not only do we sell our voice, we sell our principals.

As a Christian, I am called to lose my life for the sake of Christ. As a writer with a Christian audience, am I conveying this same message to the few who will grab hold of it? Because let’s be real…not many people want to be told they need to lose their life by making major sacrifices of themselves for others. This is not a popular message.

Remember the old days of blogging that were more about story telling then offering advice? I can’t tell you how many readers have talked about missing those days and those blogs.

Many people don’t need another “how to” post. They need to hear from people who are living lives according to His Word, not the way some self-help book has it laid out. 

And the beautiful thing about living out God’s Word, is we can all do it and it will still look different—that’s the power of the authenticity of God! He made us each unique, with different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, with one Gospel that unifies us all.

Friend, use the voice God gave you—don’t allow the blogging rules to cut out the most passionate, authentic parts of yourself just to reach the masses. I am not saying this is true of all bloggers who made it big — hello, Ann Voskamp. But Ann doesn’t follow the blogging rules, far as I can tell. Her posts are long and often require a bit of deciphering. They require careful thought. Whereas the blogging rules say, keep it short, to the point, and plain as day.

Throw out the blogging rules…allow your voice and passion to be free to be YOU.

Curious — do you miss the days of blogging when there was more story-telling and less “how to” posts?

Comments

  1. I so appreciate your thoughts here today, Christin. I have to watch myself because writing “how to”-ish posts is kind of my nature. I think my spiritual gifts are teaching and encouraging/exhorting (whatever you call that). So I try to be careful to share my stories, to share my failings, so that people can identify. Thanks for giving me food for thought. 🙂

    • Hi Betsy,
      Just my opinion, but, I think that if writing “how-to” posts is what comes naturally to you then you shouldn’t try to veer from that. Not saying you shouldn’t try to expand to include more of your own story, but the point is to keep your voice. If your voice is instructional then trying to write inspirationally might not be using your gifts to their fullest. Just be your best you! 🙂

      • I appreciate your thoughts, Beth. I’m a “teacher” by nature, but I do love inspiration too. Being my best me is good advice! Thanks so much.

    • Your voice may very well be in that “how to” place and that’s NOT bad! The problem comes when we try to put ourselves into a voice we don’t fit into. And I think you can do both well, if you’re gifted there — story telling and how to. Again, there is no one size, fits all. 🙂

  2. Yes! I miss the beginning days of blogging!! I still try to blog just for me and record our family memories as often as I can… they don’t get read nearly as much but they will truly make the best gift to my girls one day! So much more than a top ten or how to!

  3. I think I became a blogger right around the time “those days” were fading. But, I never did follow the rules. I always write from my heart. I’m not good at writing random “10 ways to do this” posts so I’m not even going to try. I realize I’ll have much lower page views but I’m OK with that. I’d rather write to 25 women who needed to hear what I had to say than 1,000 women who pinned it but never did read it.

    You and I have talked about this, and I’m so thankful to have blogging friends (like you) who are still truly writing from their hearts.
    I’m not saying there is anything wrong with writing “10 step” posts, if that’s your gift. Just like you’re saying here, you need to use your voice, and if that’s your writing style then give it all you got and people will be blessed. I believe when we stay true to how we’re made (our own gifts, talents, and style) that’s when God can use us.

    • Right, exactly Beth! There isn’t anything wrong with “10 Step” posts if your voice is found best there. But many of us aren’t there, and we try to put ourselves there, thus robbing ourselves, and our readers, of our true voice and passion. Yes!!

  4. I have often wondered where I fit in this blogging world. It may have been why I went “silent” for a while – struggling to decipher if my voice even fit the mold because I don’t post recipes or the top 10 anything. Only to come to understand my voice is mine. If I change it to fit a blogging mold then whose voice is it? Not mine, for sure. So, my blog is me…like it or not…

  6. To me, it comes back to the fact that you can’t make everyone happy all of the time. Some people love stories, some love how-tos. I am a teacher by nature and by trade, so it’s hard for me to tell a story without turning it into a lesson. I preach to myself as I preach to others! My blog is a constant balancing act between “what I think people want” vs. what’s simply in my heart to share. I just keep coming back to why I write: to inspire others. It’s a work in progress and I work hard at keeping it authentic. I help other bloggers find their authentic voice, too, and it’s not black and white. We all just have to keep moving forward and following God’s lead!

    • Yes!! And the key really is to be true to your own voice. The how to’s aren’t necessarily bad, if that’s your bent. Some people nail it! While other people sacrifice their passion to people please. I really think it also depends on your own goals. It’s never a blanket for all. I knew when I wrote this it wouldn’t speak to everyone, but it would speak to those who needed to hear it. 🙂 Keep doing what you’re doing because that’s what you’re called to do! 🙂

  7. I’m actually in the process of going back to my roots with my blog. I’ve stripped my site clean and long to just write His words. Loved this post today.

    • I did that as well—stripped my site clean, removed the sidebar and any clutter just so the focus is clear that my goal is writing! 🙂

  9. Christin, beautifully written and much needed in the blogging world today…in my humble opinion. 🙂 what you have written is so by true and not everyone is called to have a large online presence. Some of us are just supposed to write and let The Lord do with the words what he will and wants. I have to remind myself of this often. Thank you for sharing this!

  10. Thank you for this grace-filled post, Christin. I’ve felt the pull of trying to blog in a box in the past, but recently I went back to blogging outside the box. Telling the story of my life of recovery from codependency, dependency and anxiety (all compounded by recovery from a family whom emotionally abused me) that I have to tell. Also, I’ve captured the understanding that there isn’t a set amount of days a week, or even what days of the week, I “should” blog. I am sincerely done with the should’s of my writing – and instead, I’m using the writing He’s given me to share the story He allows me to tell – allowing Him to use it to encourage others to bring others closer to His heart (not mine). I’ve devoted my writing and my blog to Him, and may His will be done with it. I’ve also come to realize considering the nature (topic) of my blog – recovery from these struggles and abuse – I won’t have a lot of people commenting, sharing my content or even emailing me. To do so, would expose their struggles – and this is for them to do in their own time. I cannot walk another’s life, nor recovery from any form of abuse (and the struggles that are born from it). Therefore, I simply write. I share. I give it all to God…and therefore, I expect His hands to do the work in their hearts. I’m done seeking to conform to worldly standards to gain an audience. He’ll bring those who need to read the words I share so He can do His work in their lives. It’s not mine to keep tabs on numbers – it’s just for me to be obedient in writing (as He’s called me to) and sharing the story – testimony – He allows me to share (as He’s called us all to do, as Christians). Again, thank you for this grace-filled post.

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