How Ann Coleman Found Her Voice Through Blogging

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When Ann Coleman started to blog, she worried about expressing her true feelings, offending others, and what readers might think.

In this post — three years into her writing adventure — she credits blogging for helping her silence the inner critic and find her true writing voice. “My blog has brought me many gifts,” she says, “but that is by far the one I appreciate the most.”

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At first I was terrified of putting my writing on a public forum where everyone and anyone could both read and comment on it. My inner critic went into overdrive, and I poured over my posts before actually publishing them, searching for flaws and carefully deleting anything that I thought could be offensive or misinterpreted.

Luckily, my readers were a small but polite group who mostly offered encouragement and the expected criticism and rejection never materialized.

I gained more confidence with each post, slowly but surely learning to ignore my inner critic and to put my true thoughts and feelings on my blog without quite so much worry and angst. I began to write about whatever subject was near to my heart, and I learned that honesty (as long as it is not also hateful or hurtful) is perfectly okay. It took me a while to recognize it, but I had finally found my writing “voice.” My blog has brought me many gifts, but that is by far the one I appreciate the most.

Even better, I have discovered that finding my writing voice has actually given me more confidence to speak my mind in person. I am no longer nearly so inclined to tell others only what I know they want to hear. When asked for my opinion, it has become almost natural for me to share my true thoughts and feelings, even when I know that others around me will probably disagree with what I have to say. My old fear of rejection is fading fast, and that’s a very good thing.

Read: “A Blogger’s Voice”

How has blogging shaped you and your writing?

79 Comments

  5. I just started blogging and I hope I will find my voice through Blogging like Anne Coleman…. I have the struggle within myself like she had.

    Liked by 6 people

  6. Hi Ann, I found the same thing. I used to try to write ‘well’ but it didn’t sound like me, more like someone trying to compete with all those literary novels she had read. I had a ‘let it rip’ chatty, rambling style for letters to friends, but they never seemed to reply and then I’d feel hurt, and sort of silenced because writing IS how I talk.

    When I started the blog, once again I attempted to be stylish and literary (some of the earlier posts make me cringe), rapidly sliding into the ‘let it rip’ style, though expecting to be ignored, as in the past – but people seemed to like it, make comments and ask questions. So I felt like I was allowed to talk, finally, and make jokes, and cry, and tell rambling stories in no particular order, and put down whatever I had been thinking, and tell the story of my life, including so many bits I had forgotten…

    Liked by 5 people

  10. Optimism is the only way out.. When I started a few months ago, i was also faced by these inner critics and Ann’s post mirrors a lot of what i went through..definitely inspiring Ann…

    Liked by 2 people

  11. i have loved the way you explained it…as in the beginning everyone thinks about fears and negativity that they won’t get accepted by others but seriously its a matter of consistency and moving further by neglecting negativity :)…truly inspirational to read and understand. 😊

    Liked by 3 people

  20. I started blogging because I was fed up. I just graduated from high school, had two jobs which were keeping me and my partner alive… and then the recession hit our town big time and we both got fired on the same day (within 5 minutes of each other!). We were on our last dollar, applying for months and struggling really badly. I was so mad that I had to relay on someone else for a job, for money… so I decided to educate myself and learn more about money and the world at large. I started reading and I discovered so many useful things which I then applied to my own life. I want to share this with others who may have been in my situation. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  21. This so resonates, I have found writing has been like absolution or therapy “those morning pages are a springboard” and I have realised that the voice inside my head, the one that in the past has put me down “sure this isn’t you, you can’t write poetry, who’d be interested” and stopped me in my tracks is now motivating me to do the opposite. All our voices should be heard. Thanks for Sharing !

    Liked by 2 people

  22. This is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing! I just started my blog and am in desperate need of approval 😣. Luckily, I came accross this post when I did.

    Liked by 2 people

  23. I have been blogging for about a year now and i am understanding success does not come over night. Things take time knowing that everything is not going to be perfect and that is okay. Blogging has helped me release so many things that I have been holding on. Thinking that I will be judged or won’t be accepted. In reality when i write so many people relates to me. So i am going to continue to do what I love which is writing and speaking.

    Liked by 3 people

  24. I love this because I am new to blogging and I just nitpick every post (no one reads it yet) I have a lot of self doubt. I am so lost and I just hope that people read my words and actually want to give me constructive criticism and guidance.

    Liked by 2 people

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