Finding the Inspiration to Write

I’m 23 days into the trip and today is the first day that I couldn’t wait to turn on my computer and write. I feel as if I could sit here all night (and I just might). It is our first day in Bali, we did nothing but find a beach, eat lunch at a warung and drive home. Sounds simple, but it was the most thrilling day we have had to date and I feel as if our trip is getting kicked off in the right direction. If you have been reading and enjoying our blog up until this point, I pray it will only continue to get better with your feedback and our finding the inspiration to write.

Writing has a big learning curve

Blogging, specifically has a big learning curve. Determining your voice and making it stand out from the millions of other blogs out there. What do your readers want to read about, what do you enjoy writing about? Fighting through writers block, and finding inspiration in the day-to-day. How to recap your trip in an effective way to help your readers and not only focus on your own personal diary of traveling. How to proofread and check grammar (just hire Josh!) to ensure your post is well written.

Writing is an Art

One of Josh’s biggest pet peeves is stream of consciousness posts or emails. Anything written that reads as “we did this, and then we did this and then we did this” is rarely interesting. Throwing words together is easy, adding feeling and engagement to your words is a bit more difficult. Making your readers laugh, or feel the emotion that you were feeling is an art. Adding colorful words without sounding cheesy and encouraging your readers to interact with your blog takes even more skill.

Writing takes practice

I started my wedding blog, www.bubblybride.com, 4 years ago. Ever since our decision to commit to Traveling 9 to 5, I have slowed down on Bubbly and put most of my energy here. With my practice of blogging, daily posts come easily to me. I am able to sit at a blank screen on the computer and start typing. Josh has just started attempting to write on a consistent basis and it takes him more time. The practice shouldn’t just come with the blog – it should also be on your own outside of your blog. He has begun a practice called “Morning Pages” where you write 3 pages (750 words) every day. It can be about anything, doesn’t even have to be sentences. There is a great site called 750words, that encourages you to write 750 words every day and will track your progress and even analyze and report statistics on your writing including mood, time period, etc.

Writing takes perseverance

Not every blog and book can be a huge hit. You have to write for you and you also have to know your demographic. If your blog doesn’t take off in the first few months, give it time, and don’t get discouraged. Most blogs take years to gather loyal readers and a community around them. Keep writing (that is what we are still doing). Write because you enjoy writing, and you know you have good information to put out on the web, not because you want to have “a popular blog.”

Write to be inspired and be inspired by writing

Not every day will be full of rainbows and new experiences. Learn to be inspired by the simple things, and find new in the everyday. I always suggest having a list of other writers that you admire. If you need inspiration, spend and hour reading. Not to copy their ideas, but to help clear your mind and hopefully send your thinking in a different direction.

I hope you enjoy our writing, and we will continue to practice, change and improve our blog for ourselves and our readers. Leave us comments or email us with what you like to read about and what specific posts have made an impact on you!