Share Your Passion: A Writer (and New Blogger) on Finding a Community for Her Work

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There are as many different paths leading to the “Publish” button as there are people creating their own spaces online — from artists and business owners to poets and DIYers. Meet Jillian: a New York City-based writer who struggled to find her audience, and then decided to do something about it. Here she explains how she ended up creating Improvisus, a site where she shares her work.

I used to use writer’s block as an excuse, really. There was too much and too little all at once and trying to make sense of it in written words just wasn’t working for me. Or that’s what I told myself.

In reality, I just wasn’t giving myself enough credit. I wasn’t pushing myself hard enough. I wrote snippets here and there but I didn’t designate a time to write.

I didn’t have anyone, online or in my physical day-to-day life, to share my writing with and get feedback from. That was what it was. I could lie to myself too easily.

Writing isn’t just something that I consider a part of me, it’s a part that I want to be able to share. It’s a part that I want to find people to share it with. I want to be able to connect to others with our art again.

So I started an Instagram for my poetry. Then I started this new WordPress for my poetry. Now I’m here. Trying. Not sure where to start, but at least I’ve started writing honestly with myself.

There is no writer’s block other than the will of the writer. I hope my will continues to grow in the direction it’s headed in now.

Visit Jillian’s growing blog to read her work (mostly poetry, with more to come in future posts).

What inspired you to start your site? Leave a comment here, or share a longer story. We’d love to hear from you.

261 Comments

  1. Your story is really exciting! We hope you write more poetry soon. Our mummy reads poetry to us and we really like it because it is so pretty.

    We are three kid brothers and we started our dreams of being adventure travel writers because we think that adventures and stories are two things that make people happy and we want to make everyone in the world happy. If we make everyone happy then everyone will be kind to one another and the world will be better. Then the superheroes can have a break 😊

    Liked by 7 people

  4. And from here only authors ,legends are born. It works like magic,the feel to know that you have people who thinks in the same way and gets connected to what you say does the miracle. Keep writing..

    Liked by 4 people

  5. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and even I used writer’s block as an excuse. Recently, I finally decided to just start because I had nothing to lose and only to gain. Baby steps showed me how much I loved to write and i’ve even finished a few short film scripts. My blog is mainly about films I watch, sights I see and photos I click. Do check it out and give me any feedback you have to offer.

    https://tomatotalksblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/hand-in-hand-we-stand-all-across-the-land/

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Happiness.
    Over the past years I collected so much knowledge for myself. To grow and have a happy life. I feel like sharing it with people is a great way to share some happiness with the world.

    Sending love 🙂

    Liked by 5 people

  7. Even though I’ve been writing for years I’ve just recently wondered if I’m reaching anyone such is the timeliness of your post. When I look at my “about” page I still believe in what I do and that it will resonate with someone. Even one someone… Thank you WordPress I’m grateful to reside here.

    Liked by 3 people

  8. It’s the worst, isn’t it, trying to do something that relies so much on an audience, without an audience — who wants to do all that work in a vacuum? It is *not* easy to get moving and maintain momentum when nobody cares you’re there at all. I hope you will keep after it, and not “despise the small beginnings”; we have to start somewhere.

    I’m not new to writing or publishing, though my present effort is a novel, and in this, I am brand new. It’s like starting over. I’ve just started a WP blog for PR purposes too, and like Melialpr above, my hope for it is to provide something positive in this online environment of rampaging negativity. The internet doesn’t need another pile of hostility. If I’m able to generate thought or inspiration or hopefulness that the place is still worth the experience, I’ll be happy. ❤

    Congrats on your first steps! Keep at it. I'll follow you. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  9. I love this, it’s so true , i always say i get writers block, i think i’m just stopping myself from being even greater and going through the painful process of trying first

    Liked by 2 people

  10. I have always considered writing as a form of me. It says exactly in what phase I am….happy, excited, thoughtful, venting out…I enjoy the feel of having full control on the words I chose and the emotions I express.:)

    Liked by 4 people

  11. I started my site because I really wanted to share with people how selfcare, self reflection and self awareness has really helped me and just shape who I am. I’ve realized that taking time for yourself is the one way that you can really take care of yourself, and that is ok. There’s more to this, but that was the idea.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I started about a year ago when I saw yet another clearly fake news article being shared like it was real, and I decided I could do better than these sites, or at least be funnier while still remaining fundamentally honest with the satire. I haven’t reached nearly the audience I’d hoped I would, but I’ve had just enough positive feedback and small successes (still not enough to cash out at WordAds) to keep going.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. It’s not only about pushing yrself harder . I do agree that it is a an aspect but …what matters is wether one is satisfied with what he / she writes ….it’s so painful when you can’t express your exact thoughts into words …I also had an Instagram account for poetry but ..then I was so unsatisfied ..I deleted the account ..and now I have published my first post in WordPress …and waiting for the response …..
    The whole thing is about being able to express and the level of satisfaction one holds at his / her creation

    Liked by 2 people

  15. I started writing without even knowing that it kind a part of me. To fit in words i might say it was a medicine to all the day to day problems of mine. It helps me to express well and i really want to reach and connect to people through my short writings and stories or thoughts or whatever i write. I have a blog on wordpress too. Writing comes from within for me and not by force.

    Liked by 3 people

  20. My son convinced me to start a WordPress blog. He helped me get started, and soon I was typing. That was about 7 years ago. Now I have 9 blogs, and one is bigger than the rest. I write on it daily. I believe I got out of my son’s way. Writing has become a daily occurrence. Now my son can write all he wants. I don’t fuss because he is always on his computer.

    Liked by 2 people

  21. At first I was a bit hesitant to start a blog, maybe because I was scared that nobody would care what I had to say or that nobody would even bother taking notice. I’ve just written a post about my experiences as a new blogger. Like I said in the post, even if one person reads what I write, I find that a good thing. The fact that WordPress connects all different types of people from all over the world is amazing. I can relate to this post so much and I wish you well in your future blogging! Remember if YOU enjoy writing then really, that’s all that should matter! 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  22. At first I was a bit hesitant to start a blog, maybe because I was scared that nobody would care what I had to say or that nobody would even bother taking notice. I’ve just written a post about my experiences as a new blogger. Like I said in the post, even if one person reads what I write, I find that a good thing. The fact that WordPress connects all different types of people from all over the world is amazing. I can relate to this post so much and I wish you well in your future blogging! Remember if YOU enjoy writing then really, that’s all that should matter! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  25. “Writing isn’t just something that I consider a part of me, it’s a part that I want to be able to share. It’s a part that I want to find people to share it with.” That says it for me too, Jillian. I started a blog a few years ago to have somewhere to share my poems and short stories. I was searching for an audience because writing is for readers, not just for the writer. I am fortunate that I have a great writing community I meet with monthly, but I wanted to find the people who loved my work even though they didn’t know me 🙂 and to connect with them through the work. My new WordPress blog has a slightly different focus (the nexus between writing and reading and how both grow us as humans) but the desire to connect with readers as well as other writers still motivates it. All the best with your venture.

    Liked by 3 people

  28. We spend so much time wondering how to make it perfect, does it sound stupid, or I don’t have time. Do it anyway! My favorite quote is “Finished, not perfect.”

    Liked by 2 people

  30. My story is just weird I started my blog 2 days ago by just wanting to do somethiing creative. Last year I had a Youtube channel I had a pretty good sum of subschribers but when September came everything changed. Some of the people I know were consistenly bothering me about my videos so I stopped making them I closed the channel. This has to be the worst mistake I have ever made till today. I gave those bullies the satisfaction and I shouldn’t have done that.My passion for writing was my escape so I realized that needed something else through which I could express my feelings and help others overcome problems. I realized my mistake and now I want to provoke people from making it. I was always different and that hurt me but now I have embraced it, become that.

    Liked by 2 people

  32. As an author entrepreneur I needed somewhere other than Amazon where people could stumble across my book. It feels wrong when I go too long now without posting. Usually I write my posts in my head during my morning commute – traffic can be good!

    Liked by 1 person

  36. This describes my experience exactly! I feel inspired by your post – I’ve just started myself after a long battle with my own thoughts. I want to be able to write about anything that I feel strongly about and I’d love to build a community where people can come and speak their thoughts without being judged! Controversy is sometimes the most important way to get to know others!

    Liked by 2 people

  37. I was inspired to start my blog (s) as a way of unleashing tension and promoting the creation of literature amongst youth. Despite not having a large following, my blog is a place of writing comfort from which I can unwind and publish those stories I’m not 100% happy with… 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  38. I was started writing because I felt like I saw possibilities in the world and that I wanted to translate the emotions and thoughts I had to ‘paper’. Also people seem to enjoy when I write, so I figured I must be in some ways good at it and I decided to explore it. I often start and stop for one reason or the other. I hope I stick to it this time. Thank you.

    Liked by 2 people

  39. I was inspired to start my own blog mainly because I just love to write! I need to write. It is my therapy and something I just need to do. Another huge motivation was to share my love for movies and help to bring spotlight on some that are overlooked or underappreciated (I work in film industry and worked for six years at an Iternational Film Festival). But also try to show people how mighty movies can actually be. They have helped me many times throughout my life by inspiring me and I would love to show more people how films are not just entertainment (although that’s great too!) but that they can serve as a great inspiration and empower them. Sharing this is the best thing in the world!

    Liked by 2 people

  42. This is exactly my story,
    Exactly what I am going through.
    I just started my blog ‘to write’.I write because I want to.I just love doing this.

    Liked by 2 people

  43. I like the quote, it’s very true. Sometimes when I can’t figure out how to write a scene in my fantasy novel I just start writing and somehow the characters figure things out. Though my blog has nothing to do with fantasy writing and everything to do with my passion for nutrition, food, and sustainability. I started blogging as part of a school project and never stopped because sharing with families and their children about nutrition/cooking is fun!

    Liked by 1 person

  44. Hi. Since I was a child, I either kept a diary or a journal. It wasn’t until I was in my junior year of high school, did I start to be creative with my writing. Whether it was poetry or short stories I loved it. As I got older, I lost interest in it. Basically, because I became alcoholic and learned that I had a mental illness. Soon after I was released from the hospital, and outpatient program, that is where I found my passion in writing again. I wanted help others with how I learned to cope with my illnesses, therefore began to blog on WordPress.com. beckiesmentalmess@wordpress.com. Writing is such a release, and rewarding. It has become a quest. I am fighting the stigma attached to Mental Health Illnesses. Awareness, and educating others to be is a full-time occupation. An occupation in which I love.
    My advice to you is this. Find what you are passionate about. What your heart is telling you. Follow where it leads you.
    Good luck to you & Take care, Beckie

    Liked by 2 people

  46. A blogger on Twitter peaked my interest. Later I started writing articles on facebook and received lots of comments. That was one year ago. Then I was inspired to write and the words spilled out like a fountain but then the words stopped flowing and I haven’t written for quite a long while. I wanted to create a website as a challenge just to see if I could do it. It took me a long time to work out how a website works and I made heaps of mistakes. I don’t have many visitors or comments left on my articles so I probably do not write well or no one likes the subject matter. I am not a writer per se; just waiting for the words to come back.

    Liked by 3 people

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