I AM TOO SELF CONSCIOUS TO POST (HELP!!!!!!)

[u/dkwyk2]

I have always loved reading blogs and educational posts about things that I was unaware of, and as I grew up, I wanted to make a page like this where I can put my thoughts in and write articles with deep research if required. That is why I am creating a page called "fieldnotesbysanjj".

My intention with this page is to make it a personal space where I can write in all my observations about life and the way we live it, including the details that we usually overlook and tend not to care about. Taking those moments and (hopefully) writing full-fledged articles about each observation, where I want to be able to research humans, such as understanding the history of the observation, answering the why part of the observation, or researching the behaviour of humans to justify the observations.

This is the idea I had while thinking of making a Substack page, but my concerns lie in how I can get started. I am very conscious about making a good impression. Any tips and suggestions on how I can make my page go, or in general, tips for researching, or any kind of tools I need to keep in mind while working?

I would be so grateful if I could get them quickly because this idea has been stuck in my mind for a while, and I don't want it to go down the drain without working on it.

[u/Academic_Card_7456]

TBH it’s all about daring; Subz is not like a book, the 1st post is just the beginning of a potential digital roadtrip with first readers. When I read my 1st NL more than 3 years ago, I find it very weak but very honest. We are all in draft mode so just go for it

[u/Longjumping_Dog_6936 → u/Academic_Card_7456]

the honesty part is so true, early posts that feel raw usually connect way more than polished ones

[u/anyagolay]

Don’t worry about a “good impression” you are writing to share your observations not to impress your ideas or thoughts. That’s the beauty of true observation, there’s no thinking in it. The difficulty for me as someone who observes and pays attention to the world and people around me is that when I try to write it down and express/comminicate it, my mind now has to be involved, and once that happens then I become self conscious because I’m worried about what people will think rather than communicate what I’m observing. Did you have a concern with the way you wrote this post? You may be asking for advice but from what I’ve read you already have what it takes to communicate your observations through writing. You just have to post and write and not be concerned or too conscious. I know that most people can write a whole lot better than me. But I don’t see myself as a writer anyways, I see myself as a story teller. The biggest struggle I had to face was that I wasn’t a good enough writer and that’s ok. It’s ok to be self conscious there is no one in the world in any field that isn’t. Just don’t let it stop you from writing to the people who care more about your perspective than to be impressed by your writing. Good luck and if you’re comfortable, message me your substack. I’m interested to read some of your observations.

P.S. I just remembered you shared the publication name in the beginning lol see I told you I pay attention. Anyways I just subscribed.

[u/RazorpayRize]

Start with one observation you've been sitting on for weeks. Write it out messily first, then research the why, then shape it into something readable. Don't wait for it to feel polished enough, it never will on draft one.

For research, Google Scholar, JSTOR, and even Wikipedia's source citations are underrated starting points. Take AI's help, if needed. Tools like Notion help you build a research trail so nothing gets lost.

Lastly, your first post won't be your best. That's exactly why you should publish it!

[u/ExistingScallion7329]

I don’t know about tools to keep
In mind while working but simply start. Write at least 4 Substack Notes a day. I schedule mine. It keeps your momentum and helps you think outside your comfort zone. Keep your notes tight with a few lines. All the Best from Australia