I’ve now written 1,600 posts for Divorce Discourse. The first one went up on October 31, 2008. I’ve learned a few lessons along the way.

Here are six of them:

1. Stick with it.

No one read my stuff when I started (except my mother and my aunt). In fact, some of my friends got annoyed when I posted links to my articles on Facebook since they were aimed at a business audience. But, over a long period of time, the readership grew. The word spread, one person at a time, until it reached critical mass. This is not the sort of thing that happens overnight. If you’re going to jump in, then expect to keep at it for a long time.

2. Publish consistently.

I started off with sporadic posts. The readership grew only when I got consistent. I think it’s kind of like the newspaper used to be. People knew the paper was out on the lawn each morning, so they made going out to get it part of their routine. The same is true for my core readership. They know when to come look for a post, and they get in the habit of anticipating what’s next. You don’t need to publish every day. However, you do need to create a pattern and let your readers get used to it.

3. Write every day.

You may not publish every day, but you should write each day. Once you get into a rhythm, it gets easier and easier to keep producing good material. I think it’s important to create a ritual around your writing. Set aside a particular place, time, music, etc. and stick with it. Make it a habit, and you’ll soon find your brain working on writing without you having to push it or force it to do so.

4. Read for ideas.

Read lots of other writing. Read fiction, nonfiction, and lots of blog posts. However, avoid reading others in your space. I’m not sure I’d ever write anything if I read much by the other great lawyers writing in the law practice management space. So many of them do such a good job covering much of what I cover that I’d feel redundant and inadequate. I think reading their stuff would discourage me. By ignoring them, I don’t worry about writing about the same topics they write about. I just do my own thing in my own little vacuum. Others will disagree with me on this point, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t still be here if I were reading all that other stuff.

5. Tell your stories.

One reason some people read my articles is that they like my perspective and my stories. I write about my topics based on my experiences, and I tell the stories that prompt me to teach the lessons I’ve learned. The more I tell the stories, and the less I talk about the lessons, the more positive feedback I get. The stories engage us. They help us understand, and they make us feel something. Stick with the stories.

6. Admit your mistakes.

I screw up quite a bit, and I try to tell those stories more often than I tell the ones in which I’m the hero (I like the hero stories more). You learn more when I screw up than when I get it right and, somewhat surprisingly, you like me more when I get it wrong. It’s funny how hard it is for me to admit my mistakes, but every time I do it, you e-mail me with encouragement. Thanks for that.

There are lots of lessons that come from writing each day. It’s a fascinating journey, and I couldn’t be happier to have you join me. I’m certain the lessons will keep coming, and I’ll keep passing them along. In the meantime, please keep commenting and sending your feedback. It’s the fuel that keeps me going.