The Accidental Blogger
Why people (me) start writing and how it works (for me)
You often hear the term Science Communication in this blog. It's clear why: I consider "The Big Bang Theory" a significant inspiration for Sci Comm related reflections. Indeed, this blog serves as a nerdy Sci-Comm platform, discussing various aspects of this fascinating topic (which is a science itself and a big passion of mine).
But why did I start writing in the first place?
Today's post veers slightly from the usual. It’s a celebration of my consistency in writing weekly for three consecutive months (Yay!), with some insights on how I am keeping up with my blogging journey. So, if you're considering starting a blog or any other form of writing online (maybe about science?), this might be a helpful read.
Ready? No video this time... but some nerdy art by Steven Rhodes that might reflect what you could be thinking right now and is just coincidentally the most common challenge in any form of communication (and my favourite T-Shirt 😂).
(Credits: Steven Rhodes)
Starting this blog was a natural outcome of my somewhat intense obsession with "The Big Bang Theory." You must understand, this show is my comfort zone. It’s funny, effortlessly enjoyable, and brilliantly clever all at once. It provides a mental cleanse and helps me detach from work and life stresses.
One day, after spending too many evenings pondering the meaning and implications of certain scenes without anyone to discuss them with (yes, this is how I detach), I decided to find a new way to share my thoughts.
I opened a blank document on my laptop and realized that, despite my fear of sharing, I felt surprisingly secure.
"I can write it and just keep it to myself," I thought.
No harm done, I’ll write for myself, just to see if I can.
So, I wrote my first post and, as I often do, asked for my husband's feedback. The post was about one of my favorite scenes in the show, where Sheldon is peppered with paintballs after declaring that geology isn’t a real science (epic).
I was feeling pretty good about it.
But my husband, the academic, simply said:
“If you're serious about this, you should enroll in a writing course.”
Ok, thanks! It's good to know you didn’t enjoy my writing and already consider this a "serious" endeavor! I don’t even know what I’m doing yet!
But fair enough, he was right...
Now, being a lifelong learner is my superpower. If "Perpetual Student" were a job title, I would excel at it (Nerd).
So, I began searching for a course that would suit my needs, ideally from a reputable institution. "If I have to do it, it better be worth it" I thought.
Being a big fan of the University of Cambridge (gosh I wish I had studied there), I had no hesitation when I found the course "Writing and Blogging for Online Audiences" offered by their Institute for Continuing Education (ICE - cool courses by the way).
I enrolled immediately.
Some time passed, the course was approaching, my life was getting busier than usual and my blog was less busy than I wished for. So, for a short moment there I thought: “Am I really sure about this?”
And then the course started.
And then I met Daisy 🌼.
Daisy (Daisy May Johnson), is my Course Tutor and she teaches me a lot of useful things. She suggests books and blogs and websites and articles and helps me navigate the journey to become a blogger. She encourages reflections and assign tasks about finding my own voice and fit writing into my life. She gives tools and references to face practical challenges and ethical dilemmas to structure my venture for the long run. She provides the exact amount of technical knowledge to survive and thrive in the “internet jungle” without becoming an IT expert. But most of all, she provides amazingly profound and encouraging one on one feedback, the kind that really makes you think, and try, and believe in yourself.
Suddenly I felt pretty sure about all of this, and although I have a background in communication (so I should know stuff right?), there are indeed many things I am learning from this experience:
Being a blogger isn't just about writing; it's about making deliberate choices about your content and being accountable for them.
Writing isn’t just about what you say, but how you say it, in a way that only you can.
Your communities, both existing and new, are vital and should be reached and nurtured.
You must work hard and take risks. Opportunities are out there, and it's worth taking them, even when they are very long shots.
Blogs build audiences over time; the more you persist, the more satisfaction you'll gain, which is quite comforting if you ask me.
I've learned many other things, mostly about myself, so I'll let you discover your own path through your chosen pursuits ;-).
Now, back to why I wrote this post.
Writing about something you love exposes you to the world's judgment, making you vulnerable and insecure. But it is also exciting, liberating, and beautiful, regardless of your skill level.
As with most things in life, writing involves a learning curve. And like most learning curves, it's better traversed in good company and with ample support. Experience is a key driver of development, but education is the foundation of learning (yes I like science and schools and teachers!)
So, fellow writers, keep your head down while keeping your nose up (if that's even possible) because continuous development will help you avoid: giving up, falling too hard on your face and getting lost in black holes and being crushed by gravity. More importantly, it will make your life much more interesting, your mind stronger, your aging more graceful, and you dreams and ambitions a little bit closer. :-)
And finally I’ll say it:
Well done me! Happy 3 months anniversary The Big Bang Theories!