How to Write a Blog
A Personal Guide for Beginners and Thinkers
I get this question often: “How do I write a blog?” Over the years, I’ve shared tips with friends, colleagues, and followers — so I figured it’s time to put it all into one place.
I started blogging back in 2011 on Blogspot, writing about Java, WebLogic, and infrastructure. After a long break, I returned to blogging in 2019 — this time on LinkedIn and Medium, sharing technology insights. Later, my graduate studies in Pastoral Counseling led me to write Christian theological blogs on Substack.
Between 2019 and 2025, I’ve written around 150 blogs. One of them — How to Become a DevOps Engineer: The Hard Way — hit 70,000 views during the DevOps boom.
Recently, I searched for blogs about the Dominican Republic (DR) and was shocked by the flood of affiliate-heavy content. One article even copied text from a Thailand blog and pasted it into a DR travel guide. For 2,000 words, there were over 30 affiliate links — no real substance.
That’s not the kind of blogging I believe in.
I follow a more “Wikipedia-style” philosophy: share real knowledge, experiences, and insight — whether it’s tech or theology — without commercial clutter. Below, I’ll walk you through how I approach blog writing in a way that’s simple, genuine, and hopefully helpful.
🧠 Brain Dump – Capture Ideas from Daily Life
Every one of us gets ideas from our daily life — a unique car license plate, a conversation at Starbucks, a striking billboard, or a provocative news headline. But most of the time, we just keep moving and forget to take notes.
Many scholars encourage daily journaling. When I grew up in 1980s India, almost every educated person kept a diary. My father wrote in his diary every day, recording his thoughts and observations.
I used to jot down ideas in Windows Notepad. These days, I use Google Keep — a simple online notepad with labels, color coding, reminders, and automatic syncing across devices.
Capturing your thoughts as they come is one of the most critical steps in generating ideas for a blog. Those captured thoughts and notes help you to develop a blog.
🌍 Get Inspired from Everyday Sources
1. Social Media
We live in the era of mindless scrolling. Research shows that this habit can lead to serious mental and psychological disorders. Instead of wasting time scrolling aimlessly, follow people who add value—seasoned executives who share original insights, innovative companies, and thought leaders in your field. Read their content, interact with your own thoughts and questions, and you'll find a stream of fresh ideas for your blog.
2. Read Books and Articles
Reading books nurtures the mind and sparks creativity. I love reading and recently subscribed to Blinkist after researching similar platforms. Blinkist summarizes great books and reads them to me, saving time while giving me access to a vast library of quality content.
For Christian theology, I turn to articles and sermons by spiritual giants like Billy Graham, Charles Spurgeon, John Owen, Abraham Kuyper, C.S. Lewis, and John Piper. These men of God have left us a rich legacy of wisdom—much of it available online for free. The Holy Bible never stops giving me ideas.
3. Read Amazon Reviews
Amazon reviews are an underrated goldmine. If you're planning to write a book, search for similar titles and read the reviews—especially the negative ones. The gaps that readers point out are your opportunity. Address those missing elements in your own book or blog posts. It’s a clever way to create valuable content and attract an audience even before your book is finished.
4. Listen to Podcasts
Podcasts are a powerful source of inspiration. They provoke thought and expose you to fresh perspectives. I follow a variety of podcasts on Substack and also enjoy the a16z Podcast for technology. Engaging with hosts by asking questions or commenting can lead to meaningful insights for your writing.
5. Talk to Brilliant Friends
Conversations with smart, trusted friends can be incredibly enriching. I call my close friends weekly to discuss topics like technology, finance, travel, lifestyle, and faith. Every one of these conversations gives me foundational ideas for blog posts.
6. Talk to Co-workers and Fellow Believers
Engaging with colleagues and fellow Christians can also spark blog ideas—but always know your boundaries. If your audience or beliefs don’t align with theirs, it may lead to unproductive debates. Focus on mutual inspiration, not arguments.
7. Read Your Old Blogs
Reviewing your past blog posts can lead to new content and help you identify areas for growth. Use a simple spreadsheet to track which blogs performed best—metrics like views, likes, comments, and what day of the week got the most traffic. This basic business intelligence exercise can guide you in creating even better content moving forward.
🧩 Don’t Strive for Perfection
A couple of years ago, I met a student who was intrigued by my blogs. He often asked how to get started, but he was afraid of making mistakes. Even today, he hasn’t written a single post or taken any steps forward.
Fear is our enemy. And expecting perfection is the enemy of progress.
Your blog doesn’t have to be perfect—just start writing. Commit to consistency: write once a week, share it on every social media platform you use, and message your friends and family to read and comment. These small steps will motivate you to write more. Even more importantly, their feedback will help improve your content over time.
The blog I wrote yesterday looks good to me today, but when I reread it in 2027, I’ll likely see areas I missed or things I could’ve expressed better. That’s not a failure—it’s a sign of growth.
Publish even if it’s not “perfect.” You’ll get better by doing, not overthinking.
Start now.
🌟 Benefits of Blogging
The first and most immediate benefit of blogging goes to you. Your listening, writing, and speaking skills in your chosen language improve dramatically. You’ll also learn about hashtags, SEO strategies, and visual tools like Canva to create images for your posts. Over time, this accumulated knowledge will enhance both your personal life and career.
Let me share three real benefits I’ve experienced through blogging:
1. Professional Breakthrough – CGS & Red Hat (2020)
In 2020, CGS approached me to consult for Red Hat. Although CGS knew me from past consulting engagements, Red Hat had a reputation for conducting strict interview processes—usually involving four to five rounds. During that time, I had written several blogs about Kubernetes and DevOps. Red Hat reviewed my LinkedIn profile and read my blogs. As a result, they conducted just one round of interviews—and I got the offer. My blog writing spoke for me before I ever entered the room.
2. Amazon Book Publishing (2023)
I combined around 20 of my Christian self-motivation blogs and, with the help of my friend Paul Coleman (an English teacher), fine-tuned and published them as a book on Amazon. The book wasn’t a commercial success, but we both learned how to format a Kindle book and publish it. The experience itself was invaluable.
3. Ministry Opportunity – Africa (2025)
In early 2025, a major missionary organization in the U.S. invited me to serve in an African country, teaching both computers and the Bible at a college. While missionary organizations can’t pay an enterprise architect’s salary, this opportunity opened new doors and connections. They had been quietly following my Substack posts for a few months before reaching out. (Of course, my M.A. in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University also played a role.) I had to decline the offer due to financial needs, but the invitation itself was a blessing.
✍ A Simple Framework to Write a Blog
1. Know Your Audience
Get clear on your core topic and who your readers are. If you’re planning to write about travel in South Asia, join Facebook groups, LinkedIn communities, or Discord channels to see what travelers are asking. Consistent research will help you tailor your content to meet real needs.
I’ve traveled extensively across Latin America, so I understand what travelers from the U.S. and Canada often look for—everything from immigration forms to local ATMs, good Wi-Fi hotels, and airport taxi fares. I have no plans to write a travel blog, but this paragraph will give you an idea for a travel blog if you want to write one.
Pro tip: Use the right tone—be respectful, stay humble, and avoid unnecessary criticism. That builds trust.
2. Start with a Simple Outline
In school, I had great teachers who taught me how to write essays in both Tamil and English. Their structure still works: title, introduction, body, and conclusion.
As a beginner, stick to this format. Write in a relatable and conversational tone. Academic writing will evolve later if needed.
3. Include a Call to Action (CTA)
After your conclusion, add a soft CTA:
“If this blog helped you, consider sharing it.”
“If you were blessed by this post, subscribe and forward it to a friend.”
CTAs help grow your reach and community.
🎨 Use Visual Tools
Relevant images help your audience connect emotionally—and support SEO. I use Canva to create cover images, Instagram visuals, and short MP4 videos. Sometimes, I ask ChatGPT to generate custom images based on an idea.
If you prefer not to design, websites like Unsplash, Pexels, or Pixabay offer royalty-free images.
🌐 Explore Blog Platforms
Choose the right platform based on your goals. Popular platforms include LinkedIn, Substack, and Medium. Each has pros and cons:
LinkedIn content disappears if you lose or deactivate your profile.
Substack is great for newsletters, but its interface can confuse readers into thinking your blog is behind a paywall.
Medium is clean and popular, but its monetization features are complex.
Every platform has trade-offs. In the end, you must “choose your poison.”
🤖 Embrace Artificial Intelligence
Use tools like ChatGPT, Grok, and DeepSeek to supercharge your blogging process.
These tools can help you:
Generate fresh blog ideas
Check grammar and tone
Format content for your platform
Validate information to avoid plagiarism
Create visuals
Sharpen your style and presentation
Every interaction with these tools boosts your learning and long-term growth.
🎯 Bonus Tips for Impact
Use catchy titles and headlines to grab attention
Ask engaging questions to spark comments
Repurpose blog content into LinkedIn posts, Instagram captions, or podcast scripts
Stay consistent — even once a month is a win
Blogging is not just about sharing knowledge.
It’s a journey of discovery, growth, and connection. Your blog might inspire someone you’ll never meet, open doors you never imagined, or help you become a better thinker and communicator.
Write boldly. Publish freely. Let the world hear your voice.
🙏 Ignore the Pressure and Be Happy
Once you go public with your writing, you’ll receive all kinds of feedback—some uplifting, some disappointing.
In 2020, while working at BCBS in Chicago, an engineer often praised my LinkedIn blogs. After a few weeks, I asked him, “I’m glad you read my blogs—but why don’t you click like or leave a comment?” He replied honestly, “I only interact with posts from Google or Facebook folks—my connections take me more seriously that way.” In other words, I wasn’t important enough. That’s okay—at least he was honest.
Fast forward to early 2025—I met a fellow believer at a church in Vancouver. He praised my blogs with sincerity. This time, I didn’t ask for validation. I had matured.
I’ve realized something crucial: I’m the first beneficiary of my writing. It makes me happy. It sharpens my thinking. It strengthens my voice.
Yes, blogging about religion or politics can stir resistance. Like many of you, I admire President Donald Trump. I recently lost an IT contract because the company’s CIO was anti-Trump, and the hiring manager didn’t appreciate my Liberty University degree. Even friends warned me to tone down my views online.
But I’m a spiritual man. I often remember a quote from Tamil superstar Rajinikanth:
“ஆண்டவன் கொடுக்கறத எவனும் தடுக்க முடியாது. அவன் தடுக்க நெனச்சதே எவனும் கொடுக்க முடியாது.”
"What God gives, no one can stop. What He decides to withhold, no one can give."
So yes—blogging might bring opposition, depending on your message. But don’t let that stop you.
Write anyway. Speak truthfully. The blessings come from God—not from men.
💥 Final Thoughts
Blogging isn’t just a hobby — it’s a calling. It teaches you to think deeply, speak clearly, and influence others from a place of authenticity. If you’ve been waiting to start, consider this your sign.
Write. Publish. Repeat.
📢 Call to Action
If this blog helped you or encouraged you in any way:
Share it with a friend
Subscribe for future posts
Leave a comment or hit the like button
Your small gesture could spark someone else’s journey. Thank you!
✍️ About the Author
Lawrence Manickam is a servant of the Lord and founder of Calvary International Mission. He is a Canadian Indian with Mexican permanent residency, living an international life and sharing the love of Christ across cultures. In July 2024, he completed his Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling at Liberty University, Virginia.
Feel free to contact him for biblical counseling, prayer support, or simply a listening ear.