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Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

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Re: Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

#91

Post by archagon »

tannerc wrote: post #64

The way to become an expert in anything is to research the thing, do the thing, and reflect on the thing. Blogging is a good way to conduct the first and last part of that process. If you'll allow me a personal anecdote on the matter: 10 years ago I knew absolutely nothing about "creativity." I worked in an environment where the word was tossed around a lot, but any time I asked what it meant I got conflicting, confu…

Quick question: I really enjoy blogging, but this...

> and connected with people also interested in the subject

...is something I never learned to do. How did this come about for you? Personally, whenever I'm learning something new, I always think "why would anybody want to discuss my completely amateur take on this topic?" and just end up doing things on my own.

Re: Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

#92

Post by moomin »

Write what you learn. That's a good thing to do. Just get into the habit and it gets easier. After a while you start to spot opinions and techniques that just don't have good reference pages. Write one. Review libraries that you use. If you were thinking of commenting on another article, consider turning the response into your own article. (When doing so, try to write as if the OP is twice as smart as you and your best friend. Helps to avoid utterly unnecessary flame wars.)

Reread everything.

Re: Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

#93

Post by Huhty »

My team and I operate a SaaS that helps bloggers that have similar issues.

The key is to just start writing. There is no "wrong" blog format. You can write 50 word blog poetry, or you can write 5000 word essays. It does not matter. It just needs to be GOOD content.

In the beginning (unless you are already famous), you will likely not have much audience, so just knowing that makes it a lot easier to not worry about all the little things like grammar, execution, etc. Who cares if there isn't too many people judging at the time. And that's a perfect atmosphere to "git gud!"

As you blog over a few months, you will start becoming better at many things, writing (grammar and spelling), networking, communicating, etc.

The most important part is to just START. Once you are going, most of it will come naturally. When you are ready to build an audience, the REAL HARD work/hustle begins.

Re: Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

#94

Post by unabst »

Writing will make you smarter, and writing in public will have you feeling more responsible for your words and the actions that led to them.

You don't have to be an expert unless you're claiming to be. Just start writing.

You'll quickly find out if you have a knack for it. Just as the sound of your voice or your appearance can resonate with an audience, so can the rhythm and the sentiment of your words.

Of course, most people are not good writers. Writing is extremely hard.

But what most of us have in common is they just can't stop writing. Once you get into it, it's addictive.

> learn more, faster and to improve my communications skills.

And probably for the above reasons.

Words allow us to see our thoughts objectively. And for others to do the same.

So really, it doesn't matter if you're an expert, or even who you are. It doesn't even matter if you're that good at it. What matters is if you are a writer. And there is only one way to find out.

Re: Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

#95

Post by sixhobbits »

michaelthiessen wrote: post #79
sixhobbits wrote: post #21

Definitely. I was in exactly the same position, and just started blogging about stuff as I built it. 'Experts' often don't explain the simple stuff as they assume everyone knows it already. Often, reading about someone's experience as they were first learning a technology is far more useful than trying to learn from an 'expert'. An you'll be suprised about being 'attractive for recruiters.' I wrote a tiny post about…

How does a single post lead to a book deal?

PacktPub, and a number of other 'tail end' publishers have editors who scour the web looking for posts related to books they want to publish. They wanted "Flask by Example" so asked me if I'd be interested in writing it after finding my blog post on Flask.

Re: Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

#96

Post by jventura »

replicatorblog wrote: post #57

I went from writing a blog to writing for Wired magazine in the space of three years with no real expertise in my field. The trick was finding an emerging technology with no real "experts," and making myself one. In my case it was 3-D printing. I started writing in 2008 when the technology was really just for industrial designers and mechanical engineers. I was a user, but had no real knowledge about the industry. So…

Genuine question, you say that "all of a sudden I had some expertise (which) was in demand". Have you been able to monetise on your expertise?

Re: Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

#97

Post by jventura »

jonbarker wrote: post #66

The best teachers are often not the top experts and vice versa. I am making money teaching go lessons as an average amateur. Why does this work? Because there are very few teachers whose specialty is to get novices and beginners to average amateur level fast. Sign up here: patreon.com/jonbarker . What do I get out of this? Reusable downloadable/paid content and more exposure. I also get to think about how to teach an…

Could you expand on how do you get your students that pay for your lessons? I'm asking this as someone who is a CS teacher in a local university but would like to earn something on the side..

Re: Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

#98

Post by animesh »

wjg wrote: post #72
deepakkarki wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bit of tracking and I guess this is it : https://joelgardner.github.io/

Yes, this is it. It's very early-stages/preview-mode as I haven't quite nailed down the exact architecture I want for the client but it has helped a lot as far as job searching goes!

In your tags page, I really dig that the posts listed by tag are on the same page and being able to jump to them. Very minimal. Hope you don't mind me stealing the idea.

Re: Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

#99

Post by throwanem »

dispo001 wrote: post #87

I ran almost popular blogs at times (on now defunct platforms) The pursuit of popularity requires putting a good amount of effort into looking at things from your current and target audience perspective. (It makes a good face palm when the 2 float apart) Non of the effort ever produced the real popularity I was looking for, just a few million page views over their existence. But I kept working at it for some reason..…

I'm not sure why you make that reference in jest. The piece is brilliant.

Re: Ask HN: Starting blogging when you're not an expert?

#100

Post by tannerc »

archagon wrote: post #91
tannerc wrote: post #64

The way to become an expert in anything is to research the thing, do the thing, and reflect on the thing. Blogging is a good way to conduct the first and last part of that process. If you'll allow me a personal anecdote on the matter: 10 years ago I knew absolutely nothing about "creativity." I worked in an environment where the word was tossed around a lot, but any time I asked what it meant I got conflicting, confu…

Quick question: I really enjoy blogging, but this... > and connected with people also interested in the subject ...is something I never learned to do. How did this come about for you? Personally, whenever I'm learning something new, I always think "why would anybody want to discuss my completely amateur take on this topic?" and just end up doing things on my own.

Perhaps consider a different perspective? Instead of approaching conversations with the mentality of "I want to share my take" approach them with the mindset of "What can this person teach me?" Always, in all interactions.

For me, it was helpful to use Seth Godin's advice[1]. I used email to reach out to people I admire, to pull ideas from their mind, and eventually I found others reaching out to me to do the same. Like all good things: connections take time.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/01/how-to-send-...

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