Hi HN — I’ve wanted to start a personal blog for a few years, but I keep hesitating.
I write a lot privately (notes, mini-essays, thinking-through problems). Paul Graham’s idea that essays are a way to learn really resonates with me. But I rarely publish anything beyond occasional LinkedIn posts.
My blockers:
•“Nobody needs this” / “It’s not original”
•“AI can explain most topics better than I can”
•A bit of fear: shipping something that feels naive or low-signal
At the same time, I read a lot of personal blogs + LinkedIn and I do get real value from them — mostly from perspective, lived experience, and clear thinking, not novelty.
For those of you who blog (or used to):
•What made it worth it for you?
•What kinds of posts actually worked (for learning, career, network, opportunities)?
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