Let’s talk about something many writers don’t really talk about:

The terror of writing online.

From the outside, a blogger’s life can seem unreasonably romantic and effortless. At the start of my freelance writing career, I sat in a gorgeous Airbnb, typing words onto my computer screen, overlooking scenic vistas of the Black Forest while my husband brought me a thematically appropriate slice of black forest gateau. 

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But as most writers know, it takes a lot of guts to publish your thoughts on the internet. There’s the fear that others will laugh at you, that your co-workers might find out sensitive information about you, or that your writing is simply not good enough for other people to see. It’s a big ask!

But here’s the thing: These fears rarely represent reality. I can confidently say that blogging changed my life, even if the start was terrifying. And I strongly believe the world would be a better place if everyone who wanted to write actually wrote.

So, if insecurities or fears are holding you back, here are five tips to catapult you into the world of online writing:

1. Use a pen name. 

Maybe you didn’t know, but Zulie Rane is a pen name! I came up with it on the back of a napkin when I decided to become a fiction writer at age ten. I have even created more pen names to explore new topics and write my novel. 

Thanks to these personas, I can be my full authentic self online. I don’t have to hold anything back, not even my income. And if I want to scorch my online life one day, I can wipe the slate clean and keep on living with my real name. If you’re uncertain about writing under your legal name, I encourage you to start with a pen name. It’s the ultimate safeguard for blogging, and you can always change it down the road.

2. Write your heart out. 

If you’re hesitant to share your thoughts online, it might simply be a sign that you haven’t found the right message yet. So, do a little bit of soul-searching.

 What are the things that matter most to you? Do you have a unique story to share? How can you add value to other people’s lives? 

When writing something you genuinely care about, stats and approval become secondary. And you know what I found? Stories from the heart are easier to write and tend to perform much, much better than money-seeking content.

3. Show it to a group of confidants. 

The start of your blog doesn’t need to be one big leap into the abyss. Instead, you can take baby steps to get your writing in front of eyeballs. Show your posts to your cats, your mom, close friends, or a Slack group until you’ve built up the confidence to release them into the blogging sphere. You’ll probably find that sharing your work with real people is more fun than hiding it in the depths of your hard drive.

4. Remember you’re invisible.

Nobody will see those first few posts. There are some exceptions, of course. But the usual progression of writing online goes like this: You write your first post, hit publish, and get zero views. 

This pattern can continue for weeks or even months. On the one hand, that sucks a little. But on the other, it’s good to remember you almost certainly won’t face haters, trollers, or other pesky internet creatures. A lack of attention is the ideal foundation to strengthen your writing muscle.

5. Nothing is set in stone. 

Shooting articles into the void of the internet feels like a creepy commitment. But remember: you can always add to the conversation, delete your posts, and switch up your topics. You can treat writing online as an experiment. So, just post one article at a time and see what happens. There’s no pressure to keep going if you change your mind at some point.

Getting started with blogging is only the beginning. Chances are, you’ll experience thousands of unexpected challenges along your journey. And contrary to popular belief, writing online not a get-rich-quick scheme or a guarantor of happiness. But it might just be the best decision of your life. Because getting your message out there, telling your story, and connecting with readers is endlessly rewarding.

The world wants to hear from you. You got this.