Writing is a difficult thing; some organizations prefer writers who can grind out dry, textbook writing that looks exactly the same each time. Other organizations prefer their writers to be a little more creative. But when you write your own blog, you can shape your writing however you want. 

Blog like you are. What does this mean? 

Blog about what interests you the most and add personal touches that reflect who you are and your truthful personality. You can copy some of the best writers out there, but unless you maintain your own style that reflects your own personality, it won’t stand out from the crowd. 

A person’s blog is usually not a shtick as I’ve heard some writers and others suggest, but a way for them to express themselves in whatever mode they can. Some prefer visual blogs or photography blogs to get their point across, while others prefer blogs with stories or links to articles and topics that they feel are important. If the blog doesn’t sound like “you”, you’re missing one of the most interesting parts of blogging: a chance to express yourself. 

Your personal blog should reflect you; if your personal blog is centered on a topic, it should be one that interests you and not just what you think your “fans”--likely your friends and family to start with--want to hear. 

A friend of mine recently saw a blog that I contribute to and decided to emulate it. The blog, Cooking Badly, has posts about cooking from other Klat writers and a few posts from me about my cooking misadventures. My friend happens to be a great cook, but new to baking. I was surprised to see her blog posts about her “cooking badly” because her food always turned out so beautifully. Her blog was just for fun, but had I consulted with her on her blog, I would have suggested that she focus more on the process of baking and how she, as a Thai, felt about baking Western food for her husband. 

Likewise, if you have knowledge that no one else has, or have experiences that you think are interesting and want to share, your personal blog is perfect forum to get your point across. No one will edit you on your personal blog and you can write about whatever you want. 

Your blog isn’t just a way to showcase your writing or photography, but to show who you are.