Beat Depression and Anxiety by Inculcating the Reading Habit

I am a depression fighter whose mission is to spread awareness about anxiety and help people struggling with depression and mental health issues. Therapy is the first solution that comes to the mind when you think over it and the next is the consumption of anti-depressant pills. Well, in my case both options didn’t work. The former one I couldn’t afford over a long period of time while the latter was just a temporary solution that simply used to numb my mind and cut off my thoughts for a few hours. 

Let me share my routine with you so that you can have a better idea of my lifestyle. After spending eight hours in the office, hanging out with friends, and watching something on Netflix were all I had to do. Junk food was something I couldn’t imagine getting out of my life and the same cycle was going on for the last few years. The next year consumed in battling depression and anxiety. Workout, therapy, anti-depressant, forcing my mind to think positive and what not I did to get rid of those dark and gloomy thoughts. 

One day I found a teenager selling short storybooks at the bus stand while I was waiting for the bus after a hectic day in the office. I bought a book from him just because he seemed needy to me. The title of the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” grabbed my attention and made me read the first page of it. After 36-hours I was reading the last page of that book. No depression or negative thoughts visited me during these hours. I enjoyed the taste of focus and concentration after so many years. Truly, it’s hard to explain in words how awesome I felt that weekend. The journey of book reading started off from there and It’s still going on to this day. 

We find many blogs and articles written on the power of reading and the reasons why you should start reading today. Unfortunately, we don’t value the information provided by the blogs and take them for granted. I don’t undermine the perks of video content. They are easy to watch and support multitasking. Believe me, multitasking destroys your brain. Concentration and focus improve memory, wisdom, and analytical thinking that it’s the same that keeps your mind away from negative thoughts and improves overall mental health. In multitasking, the mind’s attention divides and it can’t focus properly which results in memory loss, dementia, and cognitive illness. 

Keeping the mind engaged is very important to prevent depression and reading requires a continuous effort from the reader to understand the content, story, character, background, and events of the book.  It doesn’t only sharpen the memory but also keeps the mind active. An inactive is a magnet of negative thoughts. 

According to Ken Pugh, president of Haskins Laboratories:

“Parts of the brain that have evolved for other functions — such as vision, language, and associative learning — connect in a specific neural circuit for reading, which is very challenging.“

“In 2009, scientists at the University of Sussex in the UK assessed how different activities lowered stress by measuring heart rate and muscle tension. Reading a book or newspaper for just six minutes lowered people’s stress levels by 68 percent—a stronger effect than going for a walk (42 percent), drinking a cup of tea or coffee (54 percent), or listening to music (61 percent). According to the authors, the ability to be fully immersed and distracted is what makes reading the perfect way to relieve stress.” reported by Mental Floss. 

Reading helped me improve my knowledge, vocabulary, writing, and communication skills which gave me several benefits in my professional life. I got promoted for writing outstanding ad copies, generating better sales after analyzing data, and won more customers due to my negotiation skills. If I talk about my personal life, I became more expressive and empathic towards my spouse, family, and friends. 

Nowadays, I am investing my free time in writing blogs, articles, and short books for different journals and magazines so more people can shift towards books and see libraries full of readers. I’d recommend you to read different types of books, read about other cultures, customs, nations, and religions. Nowadays,  I am reading Darussalam’s Islamic books to broaden my mind about Islamic values and understand its ideology. Here is another blog that also shares the same thoughts and I believe everyone should read it.https://blog.darussalamstore.com/reading/

Tarjima Quran (Word for Word)- Coloured Pages with 12 Lines Per Page

Allah Almighty sent many prophets for the guidance of human beings. All of them preached the teachings of God and advised people to live a life based on the rules of Allah Almighty. Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last messenger of Allah upon whom Allah revealed the Holy Quran. Like the end of the prophethood, the revelation of the Holy books also ended. The Quran is sufficient for all humankind till the day of judgment. 

The majority of Muslims are non-Arabs. They learn to recite the Holy Quran from Qurani Qaidah but don’t understand the meaning of the Holy Quran. Without learning the meaning of the Holy Quran one can’t comprehend the message of Allah Almighty. It’s mandatory for every Muslim to follow the path of Islam and invest time and energy in learning the Holy Quran. 

Darussalam has addressed this issue and published a word-by-word Urdu Quran. It’s specifically written for people who speak or understand the Urdu language. They are in millions. In the process of word by word translation, the publishers followed all necessary rules required for translation as a minor change in the meaning of the Holy Quran is a major sin. 

According to Darussalam, the following are the technical requirements they kept in the mind during the translation process. 

  • In the Urdu translation of the Holy Quran, Arabic words should be retained as much as possible because according to research, 75% of the words of the Holy Quran are being used in Urdu.
  • The closer the Urdu translation is to the Arabic text, the more successful it will be in terms of its translation.
  • In translation, it is important to ignore every aspect that detracts from the meaning and significance.
  • Efforts should be made to maintain the intoxicating style and miracles of revelation in Urdu translation.
  • In translation, the accuracy of the meaning should be given priority over the requirements of the language.
  • Simplicity, fluency, and convenience should be taken into consideration in the language of translation to ensure an accurate understanding of the Quran word by word.
  • If a single Arabic word can be translated into more than one Urdu word, then the most suitable word should be selected keeping in view the context of the Arabic text.
  • The rules and regulations should be observed in translation. For this, it is necessary to go beyond ‘Sarf and Nahw’.

This type of Quran is very useful for people who are unfamiliar with the Arabic language. Every Quranic word is in the box and in the sub-box for easy translation.  There are 30-pages for Arabic grammar lessons as well as the history of the translation. This Quran is the best learning source for teachers, students, and beginners. High-quality colored pages are used in the printing of the Holy Quran to increase the interest of the reader. 

A commentary and translation of the Holy Quran should be prepared which is connected with the thoughts of the Salaf-e-Saliheen and their beliefs. Respected Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf’s short footnote and Maulana Muhammad Jonah Garhiwala’s Urdu translation of Ahsan al-Bayan has been in respect to the salah-e-Saliheen.

The history of this translation is also mentioned at the end of the Quran which adds to its credibility. It will be very useful to study the translation of the Quran that has been translated under the supervision of Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf حفظه الله. It has adopted the style of literal translation, which makes it easier to understand the Quran word by word. The nature of this Quran is that this is a modern way of learning the translation of the Holy Quran word for word, with fluent Urdu translation and notes on Quranic grammar. So, it is a special gift for teachers, students, and the general public. 

People who want a copy of the Tarjima Quran can place their order online and receive it at the doorstep. 

Riyad us Saliheen- Compilation of Islamic Belief, Etiquettes & Manners

The concept of Islam isn’t limited to rituals and sermons only rather it’s a religion of practice that provides the complete code of life. Islam aims to establish a society where every living thing including human beings, animals, and even plants has rights. It emphasizes the need for a well-balanced and well-mannered society. Many people believe that it’s impossible to build such a society but the way our Holy Prophet (PBUH) created Riyase Madina proved all of them wrong. 

What type of society Allah Almighty wants us to create? Is there any guidance available for it? The book Riyad us Saliheen provides comprehensive answers to all the aforementioned questions as it discusses Islamic etiquettes, moral values, rights, and responsibilities in the light of the Quran and Hadith.

The book is written by the eminent Islamic scholar and author Imam Nawawi (R.A) who is known for his deep insight into fiqh and sharia. The author discussed several important topics ranging from pillars of Islam to the rights of other human beings and Allah. Other than that, he has covered several worthwhile topics related to manners and etiquette. For instance, the Islamic way of sleeping, eating manners, Islamic dress code, etc. 

For the ease of the readers, the author has divided content into 372 chapters and 19 sections so that one can jump to the required topic only and get the information he/she wants to read. In the footnotes, the reference to the hadiths is mentioned along with the status of the hadith as Sahih and Daeef. The book provides the same value to both beginners and researchers due to the great educational value. 

The list of the major topics which the book contains are:

جلد اول

روزمرہ کی زندگی کے بارے میں –

ادب و اخلاق کا بیان –

کھانے پینے سے متعلق آداب و احکام –

لباس سے متعلق آداب و احکام –

سونے، لیٹںے، بیٹھنے، مجلس، ہم نشین، اور خواب کے آداب واحکام –

جلد دوم

سلام سے متعلق احکام و مسائل –

عیادت مریض سے متعلق احکام و مسائل –

سفر کے آداب کا بیان –

فضیلتوں کا بیان –

اعتکاف سے متعلق احکام و مسائل –

حج کے فضائل و مسائل –

جہاد سے متعلق آداب و احکام –

علم کی فضیلت واہمیت –

اللہ کی حمد و شکر کا بیان –

رسول اللہ ﷺ پر درود پڑھنے کا بیان –

ذکر و اذکار کا بیان –

دعاؤں کے احکام و آداب –

اللہ کے منع کردہ کاموں کا بیان –

متفرق حدیثوں اور دلچسپ اخبار و واقعات کا بیان –

توبہ و استغفار کا بیان –

Riyad us Saliheen is being taught in several schools and madaris and can be used to provide authentic references in research work. If talking about the valuable services of the author for Islam then we learn that he was known as the best imams of the 7th century of hijra. The Syrian Imam Yahya bin Sharf, an-Nawawi (R.A) was born in 631 AH and died in 676 AH. 

He was the pupil of many great scholars such as Ishaaq ibn Ahmad al Maghrabi Al-Maqsadsi, Abdurrahman al-Anbari and Abdul Aziz al-Ansari. He is the best interpreter of the famous hadith book Sahih Muslim. This interpretation is the best commentry on Sahih Muslim. Riyadus-Saliheen, Al-Minhaaj bi Sharh Sahih Muslim, Al-Majmoo Sharh Al-Muhadhdhab, Minhaaj Al-Taalibeen, Tahdhib Al-Asma wal-Lughat, Taqrib Al-Taisir, Fourty Hadiths, Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood, Sharh Sahih Bukhari, Mukhtasar Al-Tirmidhi and Tabqat Ash-Shafiyah are the best works of his life.

Extract: 01

باب الورع وترك الشبهات باب: 68۔ پرہیز گاری اختیار کرنے اور شبہ والی چیزوں کو چھوڑ دینے کا بیان

قال اللہ تعالیٰ: وَتَحۡسَبُونَهُۥ هَیِّنࣰا وَهُوَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِیمࣱ [النور: 15]

اللہ تعالیٰ نے فرمایا: ’’ اور تم اس بات کو ہلکا سمجھتے ہو حالانکہ وہ اللہ کے ہاں بہت بڑی بات ہے۔‘‘

وقال تعالیٰ: إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِٱلۡمِرۡصَادِ [الفجر: 14]

نیز فرمایا: ’’یقینا تیرا رب گھات میں ہے (یعنی تمھارے عملوں کو دیکھ رہا ہے)۔‘‘

فائدۂ آیات: پہلی آیت میں حضرت عائشہ رضی اللہ عنھا پر تہمت لگانے کے ضمن میں نازل ہوئی تھی۔ جس میں مسلمانوں کو ان کی اس کوتاہی پر زجر وتوبیخ کی گئی جو اس تہمت کے بارے میں ان سے ہوئی کہ انھوں نے اسے زیادہ اہم نہیں سمجھا۔ اللہ نے فرمایا: ہمارے پیغمبر کی زوجۂ مطہرہ کی عزت و آبرو پر تہمت کوئی چھوٹی بات نہیں بلکہ جرم و گناہ کے اعتبار سے یہ بہت بڑی بات ہے۔۔۔۔۔

Extract: 02

[675] عن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه يا أبا ذَرٍّ، إنِّي أراكَ ضَعِيفًا، وإنِّي أُحِبُّ لكَ ما أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي، لا تَأَمَّرَنَّ على اثْنَيْنِ، ولا تَوَلَّيَنَّ مالَ يَتِيمٍ. رواه مسلم.

[675] حضرت ابو ذر رضی اللہ عنہ سے روایت ہے، رسول اللہ ﷺ نے فرمایا: ’’اے ابو ذر! میں تجھے کمزور دیکھتا ہوں اور میں تیرے لیے وہی پسند کرتا ہوں جو میں اپنے لیے پسند کرتا ہوں، (اس لیے تیرے لیے میری نصیحت یہ ہے کہ) تو دو آدمیوں پر بھی حاکم نہ بننا اور نہ کسی یتیم کے مال کا نگران بننا۔‘‘ (مسلم)

Riyadus Saliheen is published by Darussalam and can be purchased online from Darussalam Store. 

Riyad us Saliheen- Compilation of Islamic Belief, Etiquettes & Manners

The concept of Islam isn’t limited to rituals and sermons only rather it’s a religion of practice that provides the complete code of life. Islam aims to establish a society where every living thing including human beings, animals, and even plants has rights. It emphasizes the need for a well-balanced and well-mannered society. Many people believe that it’s impossible to build such a society but the way our Holy Prophet (PBUH) created Riyase Madina proved all of them wrong. 

What type of society Allah Almighty wants us to create? Is there any guidance available for it? The book Riyad us Saliheen provides comprehensive answers to all the aforementioned questions as it discusses Islamic etiquettes, moral values, rights, and responsibilities in the light of the Quran and Hadith. 

Riyad Us Saliheen

The book is written by the eminent Islamic scholar and author Imam Nawawi (R.A) who is known for his deep insight into fiqh and sharia. The author discussed several important topics ranging from pillars of Islam to the rights of other human beings and Allah. Other than that, he has covered several worthwhile topics related to manners and etiquette. For instance, the Islamic way of sleeping, eating manners, Islamic dress code, etc. 

For the ease of the readers, the author has divided content into 372 chapters and 19 sections so that one can jump to the required topic only and get the information he/she wants to read. In the footnotes, the reference to the hadiths is mentioned along with the status of the hadith as Sahih and Daeef. The book provides the same value to both beginners and researchers due to the great educational value. 

The list of the major topics which the book contains are:

جلد اول

روزمرہ کی زندگی کے بارے میں –

ادب و اخلاق کا بیان –

کھانے پینے سے متعلق آداب و احکام –

لباس سے متعلق آداب و احکام –

سونے، لیٹںے، بیٹھنے، مجلس، ہم نشین، اور خواب کے آداب واحکام –

جلد دوم

سلام سے متعلق احکام و مسائل –

عیادت مریض سے متعلق احکام و مسائل –

سفر کے آداب کا بیان –

فضیلتوں کا بیان –

اعتکاف سے متعلق احکام و مسائل –

حج کے فضائل و مسائل –

جہاد سے متعلق آداب و احکام –

علم کی فضیلت واہمیت –

اللہ کی حمد و شکر کا بیان –

رسول اللہ ﷺ پر درود پڑھنے کا بیان –

ذکر و اذکار کا بیان –

دعاؤں کے احکام و آداب –

اللہ کے منع کردہ کاموں کا بیان –

متفرق حدیثوں اور دلچسپ اخبار و واقعات کا بیان –

توبہ و استغفار کا بیان –

Riyad us Saliheen is being taught in several schools and madaris and can be used to provide authentic references in research work. If talking about the valuable services of the author for Islam then we learn that he was known as the best imams of the 7th century of hijra. The Syrian Imam Yahya bin Sharf, an-Nawawi (R.A) was born in 631 AH and died in 676 AH. 

He was the pupil of many great scholars such as Ishaaq ibn Ahmad al Maghrabi Al-Maqsadsi, Abdurrahman al-Anbari and Abdul Aziz al-Ansari. He is the best interpreter of the famous hadith book Sahih Muslim. This interpretation is the best commentry on Sahih Muslim. Riyadus-Saliheen, Al-Minhaaj bi Sharh Sahih Muslim, Al-Majmoo Sharh Al-Muhadhdhab, Minhaaj Al-Taalibeen, Tahdhib Al-Asma wal-Lughat, Taqrib Al-Taisir, Fourty Hadiths, Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood, Sharh Sahih Bukhari, Mukhtasar Al-Tirmidhi and Tabqat Ash-Shafiyah are the best works of his life.

Extract: 01

باب الورع وترك الشبهات باب: 68۔ پرہیز گاری اختیار کرنے اور شبہ والی چیزوں کو چھوڑ دینے کا بیان

قال اللہ تعالیٰ: وَتَحۡسَبُونَهُۥ هَیِّنࣰا وَهُوَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِیمࣱ [النور: 15]

اللہ تعالیٰ نے فرمایا: ’’ اور تم اس بات کو ہلکا سمجھتے ہو حالانکہ وہ اللہ کے ہاں بہت بڑی بات ہے۔‘‘

وقال تعالیٰ: إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِٱلۡمِرۡصَادِ [الفجر: 14]

نیز فرمایا: ’’یقینا تیرا رب گھات میں ہے (یعنی تمھارے عملوں کو دیکھ رہا ہے)۔‘‘

فائدۂ آیات: پہلی آیت میں حضرت عائشہ رضی اللہ عنھا پر تہمت لگانے کے ضمن میں نازل ہوئی تھی۔ جس میں مسلمانوں کو ان کی اس کوتاہی پر زجر وتوبیخ کی گئی جو اس تہمت کے بارے میں ان سے ہوئی کہ انھوں نے اسے زیادہ اہم نہیں سمجھا۔ اللہ نے فرمایا: ہمارے پیغمبر کی زوجۂ مطہرہ کی عزت و آبرو پر تہمت کوئی چھوٹی بات نہیں بلکہ جرم و گناہ کے اعتبار سے یہ بہت بڑی بات ہے۔۔۔۔۔

Extract: 02

[675] عن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه يا أبا ذَرٍّ، إنِّي أراكَ ضَعِيفًا، وإنِّي أُحِبُّ لكَ ما أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي، لا تَأَمَّرَنَّ على اثْنَيْنِ، ولا تَوَلَّيَنَّ مالَ يَتِيمٍ. رواه مسلم.

[675] حضرت ابو ذر رضی اللہ عنہ سے روایت ہے، رسول اللہ ﷺ نے فرمایا: ’’اے ابو ذر! میں تجھے کمزور دیکھتا ہوں اور میں تیرے لیے وہی پسند کرتا ہوں جو میں اپنے لیے پسند کرتا ہوں، (اس لیے تیرے لیے میری نصیحت یہ ہے کہ) تو دو آدمیوں پر بھی حاکم نہ بننا اور نہ کسی یتیم کے مال کا نگران بننا۔‘‘ (مسلم)

Riyadus Saliheen is published by Darussalam and can be purchased online from Darussalam Store. 

Darussalam is Now Giving 35 % Off on All Islamic Books!

We at Darussalam believe that Quran and Sunnah are the perfect guide to whether any kind of storm. Today, the world is facing a major catastrophe in the shape of Covid-19. People across the globe are afraid and are continuously panicking. Governments have asked their citizens to stay at home and prevent this disease from spreading. The best thing to do  at this time is to read and make yourself aware of the situation. ( Add Hadith)

Darussalam offers 35% on its entire collection of islamic books for you to read in the safe vicinity of your homes. Utilize this opportunity to seek the knowledge of deen and equip yourself with the necessary hidayah. You can also give these books to your family members, friends and relatives to make them make the most of their time at home.

You can access all our books from our online store at www.darussalamstore.com. Visit the store now to receive 35% off on authentic Islamic books, Hadith books and spiritual books for people belonging to all age groups. Don’t let this opportunity pass away from your hands and remain oblivious to the teachings of Islam about this crisis.

As Muslims, our faith asks us to remain patient even during the calamitous of situations. This disease can become a blessing in disguise for all of us if we stand united and remain kind to each other. Let us make Islam a source of guiding light at this dark time of our lives. Read more to equip yourself with the right way to heal and achieve shifah. 

About Darussalam: Darussalam is a global leader in authentic Islamic publications which was established in 1986 by Mr Abdul Malik Mujahid. Darussalam was created with the vision of providing authentic and quality printed Islamic books. Darussalam assures the credibility of all its publications through its in-house research centre and network of Islamic scholars. 

For further information and to browse the new website please visit www.darussalamstore.com

Darussalam: A Global Leader in Islamic Books

Overview:

Darussalam is a global leader in Islamic publications. It’s not only a publishing house but has its own retail stores all over the world. The vision behind Darussalam is to enlighten Muslims and Non-muslims around the world with the authentic teachings of Islam. Although resources on Islam were already available their credibility and printing standards were below par. Darussalam aimed to bridge this gap with their publishing house.

Darussalam: A Global Leader in Islamic Books

Company Journey:

It was established in 1986 by Mr Abdul Malik Mujahid after identifying the market gap of quality and authentic Islamic publications. The idea for Darussalam was to form a publishing house that would conduct research to ensure that all of its publications were free of errors, authentic and in accordance to the Quran and from the teaching of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Every book written by Darussalam is referenced so the reader can cross-check the authenticity. 

Darussalam began its journey from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a single store and has now spread to over 28 countries. Some of the key destinations include the UAE, Kuwait, UK, USA, France, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, and South Africa.

Darussalam began with the printing of the Quran and its translations. It has printed the Quran in 26 languages.

Darussalam Quran

It eventually diversified into Fiqh, hadith, Seerat, Tafseer,  history of Islam and biographies in both printed and digital formats.  It has its own in-house research centres for ensuring the authenticity of all its publications. As an additional measure, they have a network of Islamic scholars that authenticate all material before publication which differentiates it from other publishers.

Darussalam has published over 1400 multilingual books including Urdu, Arabic, English, Persian, Turkish, Indonesian, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, Albanian, Sindhi, Pashto, Tajik, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Swahili, Nepali, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Tagalog and Somali. The aim is to become a global publisher and to overcome language barriers.

multilingual books

Darussalam has published 56 books on the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), distinguishing it from other publishers. They follow the Italian and Lebanese style printing standards.

Publishing Guidelines:

It strictly follows the below guidelines to uphold the quality of its publications

  • Strict adherence to the original context of the Quran and Sunnah
  • Avoidance of  sectarian material in all its publications 
  • Ensuring ease of reading and quality binding of books
  • Provide deeper insights into the different schools of thought in the Islamic world.
  • Complying with editorial guidelines of Research Center and approval of the editorial board 
  • Adopting the latest technologies and socially popular trends to reach out the maximum number of the population

In its aim to adapt with the latest technology, it ventured into digital/ E-books that were primarily developed for kindle devices. This ensured they remained relevant and approachable for all audiences and target groups.

Offerings:

The company started with the publications of printed books but diversified into E-books and Islamic products. In addition to books, their product offerings include products like digital devices, prayer mats, miswaks, veils, ahrams etc.

Darussalamstore.com cover a wide range of topics

The books offered by Darussalamstore.com cover a wide range of topics

  • Children
  • General
  • Biography
  • Hajj And Umrah
  • Prayer/Supplication
  • Women
  • Islamic Faith
  • Ramadan
  • Education
  • Family
  • Health
  • History
  • Fiqh
  • Science
  • Dawah
  • Quran / Hadith
  • Quran
  • Tafseer
  • Hadith

Distribution:

Darussalam was established with a single retail outlet in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. It now also has a retail presence in Pakistan, United States, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, United Kingdom, South Africa, Maldives, Malaysia, Canada, India, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, France, Bangladesh, Philippines and Australia.  

Initially, the company was operating in KSA from its retail outlet and didn’t have an online presence but now Darussalam has launched its website by the name of Darussalamstore.com, improving market reach.

Darussalamstore.com

Locally it has begun partnerships with bookstores in Saudi Arabia and surrounding regions to improve its availability throughout KSA. 

Darussalamstore.com provides multiple payment options for its consumers based on the locality and ensures timely and secure delivery by utilizing prominent local courier companies.  Darussalamstore.com offers its users Visa, Mastercard and Mada as payment options whereas SMSA is used as the delivery company for all its shipments throughout KSA. A fixed delivery cost of SAR 15 is charged whereas the delivery is free for retail consumers on purchases over SAR 99 throughout KSA.

Subsidiary:

In 2013 Darussalam formed a subsidiary company by the name of Dtech Systems. Dtech is an IT company that provides web development and digital marketing services. For Darussalam it works as a digitalization platform helping it convert its book in digital formats as well handling its digital marketing. Additionally, their point of sale system is also a product of their subsidiary.

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

  • Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
  • Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

  • Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
  • What topics do you think you’ll write about?
  • Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
  • If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.

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