You passionately want to be a “real” writer.

A writer whose work is an authentic expression of your true self.

The problem is, you feel disconnected from everything you write. It’s like you’re the ghostwriter on a project nobody commissioned.

And sometimes you wonder if you should just give up.

After all, if you were destined to be a writer, it wouldn’t be this hard, would it?

But in truth, it just means you haven’t found your groove.

More specifically, you haven’t decided what kind of writer you want to be.

The firebrand? The storyteller? The visionary? The guru?

Successful templates abound, but you’re unsure which (if any) is authentically you.

And you’re making a mistake if you believe that question can be answered by careful thought alone.

In fact, if you’re serious about finding your stride as a writer, the answer is a little unexpected.

You must immerse yourself in the writing of others.
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You choose your audience.

You choose your topic.

You choose your theme, your plugins, your widgets.

You choose when to write, what to write, and how to write it.

You decide all of those things because you’re the boss, and you answer to nobody.

But let’s face it; few endeavors are as independent-spirited as blogging.

And that’s why, as the holiday weekend approaches in the US, we’re delighted to showcase a collection of outstanding posts created by bloggers who truly embrace that spirit of independence by sharing their ideas, on their terms, with a waiting world.

Some are beginning bloggers tentatively taking their first steps; others are experienced bloggers who continue to hone their craft.

But regardless of where you’d place yourself on that spectrum – or even if you’re only now thinking of launching a blog – you’ll find plenty here to motivate and inspire you.
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“Am I getting better at this?”

It may be the most important question you can ask yourself as a writer.

If  you’ve never thought to ask it before, go ahead and do it now.

And be honest. Are you a better writer than you were three months ago? A year ago? Three years ago?

If the answer’s “No” (or even “Yes, but not by much”) then you face a serious problem.

Because your skill as a writer is key to your success as a blogger.

Sure, skillful writing won’t guarantee your success, but a lack of skill will sure as hell hinder it.

But if your writing isn’t improving fast enough, there’s some good news…

It doesn’t mean you’re a slow learner.

It just means you’re not engineering enough opportunities to improve.

Let’s find out how, shall we?
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