Chapter 1: A Day of Frustrations

Everything feels like it's falling apart!

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

Where do I even start? I have so much on my mind that I’d like to share with anyone willing to lend an ear…

This morning began like any other. I was looking forward to enjoying my maple-infused coffee, but then my greasy fingers slipped, sending Mr. Coffee crashing to the floor! It was reminiscent of the state of our planet—everything feels like chaos, right?

Upon arriving at work, I was met with the usual annoyance. In my city, the parking ticket enforcers seem to take pleasure in ruining my day, and lo and behold, there was a hefty ticket flapping in the wind, barely held down by my windshield wiper. I couldn't help but curse.

Once at the office, everyone around me felt particularly irritating, and my boss’s breath? It resembled homemade tzatziki sauce. Not that I have mints to offer her—do they even still make mints? UGH. The cherry on top of my miserable day was when I took my dog for a walk in an attempt to salvage my mood, and guess what? He stepped on a BEE.

Anyway, I just needed to vent. Clearly, a lot has been going wrong lately, and I was looking for a sounding board to express my frustrations. I’m not overly concerned about how this post makes you feel; I just needed to get these emotions off my chest. Please clap and follow!

Photo by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash

Let’s be honest: when you clicked on this piece, it wasn’t out of genuine curiosity about my day, the annoying co-worker, or my dog’s unfortunate encounter. You don’t know me personally, so those trivial details are likely uninteresting to you. You clicked because you sensed there might be something worthwhile hidden within this narrative.

Even narratives that seem overly focused on the author, like autobiographies or personal anecdotes, ultimately serve a dual purpose—they’re also about you.

What do I mean by this? It’s quite straightforward. An autobiography that appears to revolve solely around one person, with little mention of others, might seem self-absorbed, but it’s not. As long as you find value in what you read, it becomes a tool for learning or insight. Thus, you gain something meaningful. Stories about others can illuminate aspects of your own life, which is often the goal of storytelling, right?

So, what if you’re empathetic and deeply connect with the struggles around you? The harsh reality is that most readers don’t want to hear about your emotions because A) they’re not your therapist and aren’t equipped to handle your emotional burdens, and B) they are likely seeking to broaden their own perspectives. Timing and context are crucial.

However, this isn’t to suggest that writing with passion or empathy is unhelpful. Some of the most impactful pieces are crafted with raw emotion, sometimes focusing on the writer’s experiences, but presented in a relatable manner.

To create meaningful content, your audience needs to resonate with your story. At their core, readers want to forge a connection with you, and this can be achieved through various means. It may be a newfound insight you wish to share, a valuable lesson from your experience, or simply a method to improve something in their lives.

If your blog is merely a stream of complaints about how terrible everything is, don’t be surprised if no one engages with your writing. Everyone faces challenges, many of us are wrestling with intense emotions, and we all feel broken at times. So, what’s new? What insights have you gained from the common struggles of humanity that could help alleviate some pain and provide guidance?

I understand the temptation to use blog posts solely as a platform for venting, but it’s self-centered to focus only on your own experiences and what you hope others will do for you.

Instead, write from a place of genuine care for your audience. This doesn’t mean every post needs to be “nice,” but they should be kind—kindness involves writing with honesty, integrity, and consideration for the reader before yourself.

Cheers!

Chapter 2: Writing with Heart

In this video, titled Journal Writing / How To Write A Good Journal Entry / Summer Learning / English for Kids & Beginners, viewers can learn effective journal-writing techniques that help convey emotions authentically and connect with readers.

The second video, Write the Heart of Your Story: Tips for Writing Emotion with CJ Lyons, offers valuable insights on how to infuse your writing with genuine emotion while ensuring it resonates with your audience.