Writing for Yourself and Others

The subject of writing seems like a funny choice for a blog on health. Never the less, I think it’s appropriate as the 100th article on WLS Support Blog. I believe that new content is the key in making a blog vibrant and alive. It brings readers back, generates discussion and attracts new readers. To add content, some one must write.

Did you know that some one could be you?

There are two major characteristics that define writers. The 1st and most important is that they “write”. The second is that they get “published“. Let me help you with both of these. They’re way easier to accomplish than you think.

A lot of people think that to be a writer that have to have some special talent or that they writers are a unique breed unto themselves. It’s seems that great writers seem to have super abilities that most of us don’t. The truth is that most great writers “write” all the time and through repetition, get better – so the first hint is to start writing.

Write about what you know. I run at least 5 Blogs of my own and write on numerous other sites. Just a few of them include WLS Support, People Centred Work Cultures in Business,  to Website Design. The point is, everyone of us has experiences that others can learn and benefit from. You’re the person that can best express them through your written words and thoughts so they can be shared with others.

WLS Support is a great place to start. Each of us here is on a different point on the journey. Those that are yet to reach your point would well benefit from hearing your experiences and insight on what worked best for you and what didn’t. You may have knowledge on other health issues that are crucial to not just WLS patients, but everyone.  For example you may have the latest information on diabetic treatments or sleep apnea or etc, etc. Why not share? If you can write 3 paragraphs, you have enough for an article.

Here are two of the most common things that might cause you to think “not me – I can’t do that!” They are “spelling” and “grammar”. I should know about these two because they are my own biggest personal challenges when it comes to writing. I know it and I do my best. Spell check and grammar check are my two best friends. Even so, mistakes still happen. Often I find them after I’ve published an article in which case I fix them and re-save the piece back on to my websites. Thank God, for easy web publishing tools. In the end, if there’s one or two still not found and corrected, I consider errors to be like the flaws that are purposely woven into a middle eastern carpet. It proves I’m human and not perfect. No matter what, I don’t let it stop me from writing.

The point is not to let these challenges prevent you from contributing written content. Each time you write and publish, you’ll get better.

Unless you’re like me and you’re both your own writer and editor, you have one more great tool and friend – your editor. Most people find it’s impossible to to proof read their own work. The advantages of being a contributor on a blog is that your editor will probably proof read you submission and correct any glaring problems.

The second most important aspect of being a writer is being published. You can write all you want, but until some one else gets to read it, your material is just a journal or diary. It becomes “content” when you get published. There are many great websites that writers can publish to. For example, if it’s anything to do with Health or Weight Loss Surgery, then right here on WLS Support is a great choice. Use our “Get Published” link to submit your work.

WLS Support offers you advantages that many blogs can’t. Our site is an approved Google News feed source. All published articles get picked up and delivered worldwide via Google News. Many other websites and official news media channels use Google News for content to re-publish. Once on Google News, you never know who will pick up your work:

Other great choices for publishing are Google Blogging where you can set up your own blog or one of my very favourites is EZine@Articles. Last, but certainly not least is to search out other blogs that have content similar to what you’ve written and submit your article to be publish on them too. The more, the better.

They say that every great journey starts with the 1st step. In writing it begins with just one word. Today that word was “The” for me. What word will start you? Jump in! You have nothing to lose and so much to gain!

Author
Ron Merk