Amplifying Your Presence
Introduction
People have diverse opinions about things happening around them. Sharing your thoughts through your writing is not just a form of self expression. Writing is a way to connect with other people that think like you do. It can also help you convert some nonbelievers so to speak.
Whether you’re brand new to writing or you’ve been in this game for years, you have that itch to tell your story. Educate the masses. Where are you going to share your thoughts and experiences that’s the number one question. There are several avenues you can build your soapbox on and yell until people listen to you.
Start a Blog or Website
A blog or website may be your thing. It’s pretty effective once you start to get traffic. Acquiring readers is a bit of a struggle at first. Just because you built your site that does not mean people will be busting down the doors every time you press publish.
You have to make some noise. If you have a Facebook or X/Twitter let your followers know when you’ve posted something. Now if that’s the only time you post something people may scroll on by, but if they are used to you posting they may just take a peek at your blog post.
I like to post a line or two from my piece to spark interest. Even if no one but your high school best friend reads it, she may share it with her followers.
Now if you’re not ready for your real-life friends to know that you write. Make virtual friends on the internet. I have friends that I made in the early 2000s that follow me on every account on every platform.
Write consistently. That doesn’t necessarily mean posting every day but at least three to five days a week. This will help you gradually build your online presence and attract a tribe of loyal readers.
Submit Your Work to Publications
Posting on your blog is empowering but don’t overlook the power of submitting publications. Even though I have my own blog, I still submit articles to publications on Medium. It helps me get much needed feedback and the backlinks to my blog helps my site rank higher on Google and other search engines.
I’ve been seriously thinking about submitting to Writer’s Digest but I haven’t built up the nerve yet. As soon as I do, I’ll share the results with you good people. With anything it’s best to start small and work your way up.
Remember that you have to play by their rules so be sure to adhere to the guidelines of any publications you submit to. It would help if it’s already a publication that you read on a regular basis. That way you will have an idea of what other readers resonate with.
Participate in Writing Contests or Challenges
Another reason why I still enjoy writing on Medium is because of the writing challenges that many of the groups and publications run.
You may get a word for the day to write a flash fiction story from. I like the ones that give you the prompts a week or month in advance. I’m a planner so sometimes I need a heads up. The daily ones are okay when you want to switch things up.
Sometimes I even create my own challenge with a monthly theme.
Participating in these challenges helps hone your skills. You greatly benefit from being a part of a community where most of the writers have the same or similar goals but may be at a different level in their writing career than you.
Speak Up and Share Your Knowledge
Spilling your guts on screen is great but sometimes the best way to share your insights, expertise, and experiences with a wider audience is through public speaking.
My most memorable experience with this is doing poetry reading. I mostly went to this club that had open-mike nights for singers and poets but one time my manager at my good government job arranged a party for me in honor of having my first and only book (so far) published.
I was used to standing in front of that group instructing them on work processes but reading my poems in front of them hit different. Reading my word in front of peers made me want to continue to work on my craft and share it with people. Plus if you know other people will be listening it helps you to be sure that you write the best material that you can.
Conclusion
If you share your unique perspectives, you can build confidence as well as your writing career. Whether you start your own blog, submit to publications or build your readership on a website like Medium where there is already a built in audience, put your work out there. There are people reading to hear what you say.
Are you trying to break into the field of writing but fear has you in a choke hold?
Then “How to Write Fearlessly” may be the guide for you. When you download this resource you get
- Inspirational quotes based on your fears
- Writing prompts to help you face your fears
- Quotes that help you see your goals ahead
- Prompts that make you get closer to your purpose
Click this link to get your free copy and join my email list.