When it comes to running a blog, there are two pivotal moments in making it work. The first, of course, is to decide to stop thinking about it and actually just do it. It’s not as if it’s an impossible task — come up with a clever name, snag a free blog account, and start writing. Sure, it’s nerve-wracking to put yourself out there and be subject to criticism, disagreement, and (worst of all) the potential for deafening silence. But it’s pretty thrilling, too.
The second moment is the more difficult one: It’s when you get past the initial thrill of creation and realize that this isn’t a one-and-done type of project. Blogging is something that requires a regular, consistent effort, whether it be daily or a couple of times a week. A blog not updating is a blog in stasis — and a blog that gets ignored. To build up a readership and establish yourself as worth checking out, you have to keep going.
It’s like enacting any sort of diet, exercise regime, habit, or new hobby: You have to create momentum and then keep it going forward. Once you come to rest, it’s a lot more difficult to start back up again (although not impossible!). Blogging is a marathon effort, not a sprint. You’re in it for the long haul, to establish it as part of your regular routine. There’s no finish line; there’s only more writing ahead.
So yeah, if writing wears at you and you approach such projects needing an end goal, then this probably isn’t for you. But if your temperment is one in which both a passion for video games and discussing them blossoms, then writing regularly isn’t a chore. It’s an expression, one that gets easier the more you do it, and one that you even look forward to doing.
We always need new voices out there to mingle with us crusty, kooky blogging veterans, which is what the Newbie Blogger Initiative is all about. We want to show that we’re not an exclusive club full of internet famous celebrities. No, we’re a welcoming group full of weirdos that get enthusiastic about writing because we also read others’ blogs as well. Ping-ponging topics, responding to friends, and getting exposed to new games and perspectives is part of the joy of being a blogger.
This month, I encourage you to take the leap and become an MMO blogger. Maybe you just want to try it on and see if it fits — that’s perfectly OK. Even if you only write a handful of posts, I think you’ll get a lot out of seeing how the process works and getting more connected with dozens of blogging voices out there.
Plus, if you’ve ever been on the fence about blogging, there’s no better time of the year in which to start doing it. The NBI is here to give advice and help promote your blog, giving you a jump-start in establishing that audience that helps to fuel your enthusiasm for continued writing. Take advantage of that!
Important links:
- Discord Server: This has become the main chat room and staging ground for this year’s NBI, so both new and veteran bloggers are invited there to talk, promote links, and share advice.
- Twitter Account: Subscribe to this and make sure you tag any related posts with the #nbi2016 hashtag.
- Official NBI Website: Revived this year is the official website, which is actually more of a news blog featuring NBI participants.
Veteran, newbie, and potential bloggers, heads up! The folks over at the NBI headquarters have announced that this year’s month-long project 
Bio Break 