How to not fail at writing on beBee.
Welcome to beBee.
So you are new to this whole Social Media thing?
Perhaps someone has convinced you that you should join beBee.
So you do.
The first thing you notice is there are a lot of people producing some great content… some of them are so prolific they seem to have a word processer hard wired to their brain (or a lower part of their anatomy). Stories and posts just flow out of them on a seemingly hourly basis.
A number of the writers on beBee are as enthusiastic as your vegan friend who just discovered a new way to not eat meat. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that choice, I just find my vegan friends a tad more excited about their diet than I am).
They make a compelling case for you to be more than a lurker, and start producing your own honey.
“It will be fun!” they said.
“It will build your career!” they said.
“It will change your life!” they said.
“It will cure baldness!” they said. (Actually, they didn’t, but wanted to make sure you were paying attention. If you look at my profile pic, it is obvious this isn’t true.)
So you sit down at your computer, open beBee Producer, and click the ‘Produce Honey” button.
You bang away at the keys, and four cups of coffee later, you have produced your first post.
You hit publish.
Pretty soon, you start getting some feedback.
It is a good feeling.
‘They’ were right. It is fun.
So you decide to do a second post.
So you sit down at your computer again, open beBee Producer, and click the ‘Produce Honey” button.
Then you sit and stare at the screen.
… and stare….
… and stare….
… then you Google “How to overcome writer’s block”.
You stare some more.
You remember your high school days when you were ‘forced’ to write a 500-word summary of a book you didn’t really read.
Those were not your finest hours.
All your hopes of being a vibrant, active contributor to beBee are quickly melting away.
So you back away from your computer… defeated, feeling that your career as a writer just hit the rocks.
I’m here to say… Don’t be discouraged.
We are not all ‘writers’ but we can all write something.
The important thing to learn (for your own sanity) is that writing for social media is a marathon, not a sprint.
Almost everyone can run for a short sprint.
But you don’t just start a marathon without working up to it, and gaining the skills to do so.
It’s not about keeping up with the prolific writers, it’s about setting a pace… your pace… and writing.
Where do you start?
This is where beBee excels.
If you are a living, breathing person, then you have opinions, passions, and things you just generally like.
It may be a love for cars, or music, or the number 9 (seriously).
In the growing population of beBee (now at 11 million), there is bound to be others who share your passions. It’s called affinity.
So instead of hitting the “Produce Honey” button… click in the “Search Hives” button and find a hive that lines up with your interests.
Instead of writing a post, try reading and commenting on some of the posts you read.
Try to say something more than “Nice Post!”…
Tell the author what you appreciated, or disagreed with (beBee is great for this too). Be respectful in your disagreement.
Pretty soon, you will find willing participants in a dialogue on a topic you know, or are passionate about.
Some of your comments may become long enough to be expanded on and become a post on their own.
Share a story. Imagine you are talking to you best friend.
Ask a question.
Talk about a movie you just saw.
Before you know it…
… you are writing!
Isn’t that better than spinning out words in a caffeine induced stupor?
So… welcome to beBee. I look forward to reading your posts.
________________________________________________________________________________
Image: via FastCompany.com
About the Author:
I'm the Chief Information Officer for Appleby College, in Oakville, Ontario Canada, where my team is transforming the delivery of education through innovative application of technology.
I'm convinced that IT leadership needs to dramatically change how IT is delivered rather than being relegated to a costly overhead department.
In addition to transforming IT in my role as CIO, I look for every opportunity to talk about this... writing, speaking and now blogging on BeBee (https://www.bebee.com/@kevin-pashuk) , LinkedIn, ITWorld Canada, or at TurningTechInvisible.com.
I also shoot things... with my camera. Check out my photostream at www.flickr.com/photos/kwpashuk
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Comments
Kevin Pashuk
6 years ago #109
Thanks Joel. Have a cup of coffee on me while you print it out!
Joel Anderson
6 years ago #108
Kevin Pashuk
6 years ago #107
Thanks Lisa for sharing!
Lisa Gallagher
6 years ago #106
Devesh 🐝 Bhatt
7 years ago #105
but someone does capture them in the most surprising ways and makes them their own kind of awesome. Thanks again
Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee
7 years ago #104
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #103
I might amend your statement to say... "Not everyone appreciates constructive feedback". But as with any creative endeavour - art, writing, music, etc. constructive feedback is how we grow toward mastery.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #102
If we write for the love of writing Joyce, then rarely do we 'fail' at it. I like to adopt the mindset of the bunch of engineers I worked with when I was younger. "I don't fail... I do however do things that may need revision."
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #101
One of the all time great songs Gerald. As for the first link... I would agree that engaging people in conversation is WAY better than talking AT people to show them how smart you are. If you are indeed smart, you don't have to broadcast it.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #100
Thanks for sharing this post Claire. If you are ever in our neck of the woods, @Don Kerr and I can recommend a great coffee place.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #99
I agree Susan... the comments section adds so much value to a great post. For the most part, on beBee we've transcended the 'Nice Post' syndrome.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #98
Thanks Jim. Not all of us are as well practiced in writing as a certain fellow I know on the 'quiet side of the lake'. Seriously though, you set a great example of the variety of posts that can gain traction here on beBee.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #97
Aw Shucks Todd... You obviously need to read more if I make your top 10 list. :)
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #96
Thanks Sasa. I wrote for a technical blog for a while... they seemed to really like the 5 things listicle style. I never ever got the same level of engagement I see here on beBee.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #95
Thanks Devesh... Thoughts do indeed spin... It's a matter of capturing a few of them here and there.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #94
Thanks for sharing this Joyce... even the best writers seem to suffer the dreaded blank page...
Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee
7 years ago #93
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #92
Jim Murray
7 years ago #91
Devesh 🐝 Bhatt
7 years ago #90
Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee
7 years ago #89
Javier Cámara-Rica 🐝🇪🇸
7 years ago #88
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #87
Thanks for sharing this Franci... Have a great holiday season!
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #86
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #85
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #84
Lots of coffee is a typical day for me. Thanks for the kind words Karen.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #83
Thanks Ben. Getting the heart involved is a good thing.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #82
Writing what you know does give authenticity jesse. It certainly comes out in the writing. Not hard to tell when someone is bullknitting.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #81
Perhaps you should start adding cat pictures Gerald, I mean anything but to have to sit down and actually write.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #80
Excellent question jesse kaellis. Is the goal to write, or be a writer? I suppose one could write without having something to say, (with those who write for network news being a fine example), but who gets to decide? Having said that, there are some really, really bad blogs, posts, photos, etc. being posted to social media that are truly free from substance or even being interesting. Being the introvert that I am, I'm going to take that and ponder it for a while. There may be a post that comes out of this.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #79
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #78
Thanks for commenting Aaron Skogen. I find good conversation is a great muse for writing, whether in person, or in a medium like beBee, where good conversations can actually occur.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #77
#139 You are starting to sound Canadian with that liberal use of 'eh?' Gerald Hecht
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #76
Nice comment David Navarro L\u00f3pez has introduced you to beBee.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #75
Thank you Michele Williams... better late than never.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #74
Sorry to take so long to reply to your comment . I was busy fixing my coffee machine.
Ali Anani
7 years ago #73
Thank you dear @David Navarro López (I don't know why your name is not highlighting). Dear Kevin Pashuk- a comment from the brainy David is most welcome. I am glad he can spare time to comment and share his mind
Javier Cámara-Rica 🐝🇪🇸
7 years ago #72
David Navarro López
7 years ago #71
Michael D. Davis
7 years ago #70
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #69
You have found the implied corollary to my statement Gerald Hecht. This kind of writing is like mining for jewells. Sometimes you get gems, but mostly you get muck.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #68
Most appreciated Praveen Raj Gullepalli. Sometimes, just letting the words flow out produce some interesting results.
Randy Keho
7 years ago #67
Have you been testing on yourself, again?
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #66
Let's hope it's not a 'good walk wasted' as Churchill used to refer to the game. Enjoy your weekend Paul \
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #65
I thought Gerald Hecht that he was the one who said "I can't thwim, therefore I think."
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #64
I had a coffee cup with that quote attributed to Dave. It has to be true.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #63
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #62
Thanks for expanding on the thoughts in the post CityVP Manjit in your eloquent way.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #61
I'm just getting going at 4 cups Michael Dowling. Thankfully I don't get jitters. As David Letterman said, "Without coffee, I'd have no discernible personality."
CityVP Manjit
7 years ago #60
Dear Michelle, social media is but one form of writing. The idea of journaling has a tradition of its own. Have you ever wondered why journalists are called journalists even when they are writing for social media? Then there are private forms of journaling like the Internet of old that was the personal diary - and here Samuel Pepys gives us a perspective http://www.pepysdiary.com/ If publishing and having aspirations of being a professional writer are how one's stars are lined up, that is a personal choice. For me publishing in an alwayson world is publishing unread books in a world escalating in unread books. Unless the market realizes itself the reality of publishing is stark, but that is dependent on the pursuit of one's dreams. I like reflecting and I exist in the world of emergence, where I like being an accidental tourist. I distinguish between personal media and social media, in my case making that distinction as personal and general. I explore thoughts which just happen to flow through my fingers. In the world of social media, the social is largely a marketing animal, though there is a smaller group who issues focused or agents of change - that in some ways mirrors existing distinctions between the general public and the informed public. Yet public in a open universe is not the be all and end all of contribution - the personal is refining itself.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #59
#98 ... and let's not forget that universal salute to the Failed to Save Syndrome... "DOH!"
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #58
Pre-writing a post offline is good advice Jim Murray. If I'm writing a 'real' post, I'll do it in Word, then cut and paste it in when ready. It also let's me keep a catalogue of the drafts.
Jim Murray
7 years ago #57
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #56
Thanks for the comment Lacey Wofford!
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #55
You are welcome Anees Zaidi.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #54
Why Aura Alex? I did not for a second detect a Thai accent in your comment. :)
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
7 years ago #53
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
7 years ago #52
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
7 years ago #51
Well I'm sitting waiting for that edit button to appear here on beBee comments ( Giggles) . Thank Kevin Pashuk .
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #50
Thanks for your kind words Fatima Williams. The ironic thing is, you've pulled my intent out of the quote, although I am just about to edit it to make it grammatically correct... (It should be 'learn your craft' rather than 'learning your craft'. I'm glad that you found a takeaway. I look forward to reading some buzzes from you in the future.
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
7 years ago #49
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #48
I found that post Nicole Chardenet.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #47
DAD jokes are not to be avoided Ken Boddie. Next to puns, they are the highest form of humour. (Although if you are of the ilk to mis-spell humour by leaving out the 'u', then you are not likely to find our jokes funny. Ken and I feel sorry for your loss.)
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #46
Thanks for inserting the Canadian equivalent Graham Edwards. I was raised with imperial measurements so I still have to convert metric. My kids have no idea how long an inch, or mile is.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #45
Thanks Mamen Delgado. As we get to know each other better on beBee, it becomes easier to 'have a conversation with our friends'.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #44
DAMN YOU Gerald Hecht... After 50 years I had finally got that song out of my brain... Now it's back with a vengeance. I watched that show as a kid.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #43
I agree Nicole Chardenet... There's been a great discussion on another post recently (Gee I wish I could search posts...) about quality over quantity.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #42
I decided that my baldness is part of me... no cures like spray on hair or comb overs... Any cure for baldness is as effective as the 'cure' for stupidity. It just doesn't exist.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #41
I was chuckling as I read your comment Gerald Hecht. It reminds me of that old TV ad.. "Help! I've started typing and I can't shut up!!!" I find beBee is doing that to me as well.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #40
Michelle Jackson... Journaling can be cathartic. Much of my previous blogging was more like a journal I had left open for others to read. The fact that people actually read it and comment on it is still a bit surprising to me.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #39
Thanks Vincent Andrew... I do like 7 as well, mostly because it rhymes with Kevin, but not as much as 15.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #38
Thanks Franci Eugenia Hoffman a lot of credit for his interview series. We see other beBees as people, not prospects.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #37
There is a powerful muse in the comment sections on active posts Lacey... The beBee community are particularly prolific pontificators in the comment section. It's a good place to start for ideas.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #36
Thanks Lada Prkic... I'm particularly enjoying the comment stream on this post as well.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #35
Thanks Don Kerr. I do have many more layers that I may or may not reveal. I have learned that you must keep some parts of your life a mystery... like the fact I can do drywall (oops!... )
Ken Boddie
7 years ago #34
Ken Boddie
7 years ago #33
Graham🐝 Edwards
7 years ago #32
Mamen 🐝 Delgado
7 years ago #31
Lada 🏡 Prkic
7 years ago #30
don kerr
7 years ago #29
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #28
Passion is great Nicholas, but rather than just convince me that your way is right, your passion should help me see how it applies to me. (I'm thinking some of the television evangelists I have seen... they are passionate, but not about to convince me to believe like they do). Passion will energize you, but learning to craft your message so that others will hear what you meant to say. beBee is a great place to get feedback on becoming a better writer. My $0.02 (since you asked). Over to you Jim Murray
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #27
Shhh.. Don't tell anyone Jim Murray... I'm not really an IT guy. I just pretend to be one at work.
Jim Murray
7 years ago #26
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #25
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #24
You are a master of succinctness Phil Friedman. I did like your comment "Nobody says you have to talk all the time." It reminds me of the people I refer to as being "allergic to silence".
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #23
Nice to have you pop by for a conversation Franci Eugenia Hoffman... The discussions on beBee certainly beat the dialogue I have on any of the other social media sites I'm involved with.
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #22
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #21
I can assure you , that I can neither confirm or deny that spying was involved. But as part of my professional life, I have to study how people interact with technology (including Social Media). Combine that with my reading way too much Dave Barry and A.J.Jacobs, and you will see where I get my particular slant on life.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #20
Let me know if the Hawks are playing La Canadiens. Then I would be interested. Even though I live in the Maple Leaf metropolis, I am a Habs fan.. but I don't say it too loudly from fear of being swarmed by Leaf fans when they have all that time on their hands so early in the spring. We have a saying around here.. How do you know it's Spring? The Leafs are out (of the playoffs)!
Randy Keho
7 years ago #19
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #18
I don't mind the red lines of the spell checker. The real frustration is when I'm on the phone and autocorrect kicks in. I'm getting pretty tired of all that shirt.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #17
Actually Wayne Yoshida it was not a Sopranos reference, but a painful memory from childhood... (everyone has that WEIRD aunt).
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #16
Not weird for a social media platform at all Michael Hillebrand can be pretty happy that their original coffee shop conversation turned out so well.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #15
You have to have the spell checker turned off on your computer Gerald Hecht... mine would be going into convulsions with some of the words you've invented (e.g. affinitize) in your comment. You have touched on another element beBee excels at - discovering that there are counter viewpoints to yours. As you suggested, not everyone reads the posts in the same way we intended them to be read... and it makes us better the next time. The bees here are quite forgiving and constructive in their feedback. In the end, we'll all be better at this writing thing.
Wayne Yoshida
7 years ago #14
Nice comment. (ha ha). That sounds like a new topic! How to have great conversations for introverts!
Wayne Yoshida
7 years ago #13
YES! That socks thing - I see that as a reference from The Sopranos -- when Tony talks to his shrink and they are discussing - um - something. He says getting something and it turns out to be socks. For me it's neckties. I have too many very ugly neckties, even after donating a big handful to the Salvation Army.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #12
Mohammed Abdul Jawad
7 years ago #11
Thanks Kevin Pashuk for your response. As for favorite number, it's 7.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #10
It is always good to have the points in one's post validated by someone else's experience Deann. Thanks for commenting and good luck in your posting!
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #9
, you remind me of one more thing beBee excels at... we can meet people who share our passions, and likes, as well as give an international perspective. Thanks for the kind words. You did not mention your favourite number however.
Mohammed Abdul Jawad
7 years ago #8
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #7
Nice comment Wayne Yoshida! (Just kidding...) I agree. While I appreciate the time people take to comment, seeing you have a comment, then clicking through and finding 'Nice post', is much like opening up a birthday present and finding a pair of socks. Any excitement you had just evaporates.
Wayne Yoshida
7 years ago #6
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #5
They just doubled my beBee salary Randy Keho. As for wearing a Maple Leafs sweater in 90 deg heat? You obvious haven't visited this hockey maniacal town of Toronto in the summer. Not considered weird at all. Thanks for the nice words.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #4
I don't know who would ever like #9 Michael Hillebrand... I'm more partial to #15 myself.
Randy Keho
7 years ago #3
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #2
Phillip Hubbell... I believe that when you write and don't post, that is what I deem to be cathartic journaling. I do enjoy the one you do post.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #1