This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Calypso
If you’ve ever stared at a blank screen wondering “What should I even post?” - you’re not alone. We assume our content has to be polished, viral, or groundbreaking to be worth sharing. But really? You just have to start - by being real, being consistent, and talking about what you know.
When I first started posting online, I was overthinking everything - trying to figure out what topics people would care about, how to make it sound “worth reading,” and worrying if I’d be annoying by showing up too much. But here’s what I’ve learned:
You’re not going to please everyone. And you don’t need to.
The best content I’ve created has come from just talking about what I know and what I’m going through. Whether it’s something I’m learning, a challenge I’m facing, or a cool event I went to - being real, honest, and a little vulnerable helps people connect with what you’re saying.
When I first started posting, I kept it simple:
I’d talk about an event I went to - what it was, who I met, the conversations I had, and what stood out to me. That was it. Just my experience. My perspective. And that’s what made it interesting - because it was real.
If you’re thinking about getting started, here’s my biggest advice:
Just start.
Talk about what you’re doing right now. A project you’re working on. Something that went well - or didn’t. Share a snippet of code. Share the issue you’re stuck on. Let people in.
Because the more you post, the more natural it becomes.
Consistency is key. (Still working on that one myself!)
But I’ve noticed that when I see someone posting regularly, I’m more likely to engage, follow, and be curious about what they’re up to. It builds familiarity. It builds community.
A few tips that have helped me:
Break up your text. Big walls of text are hard to get through. Add photos, screenshots, or graphics - especially if you’re writing about code. Show your process. Let people see what you’re working on.
Teach what you’re learning. Even a simple tutorial - like how to pass props in React - can help someone else. You don’t have to be an expert to teach. You just have to be a little ahead of someone else.
Stay current. Platforms like Bluesky and Twitter are great for keeping up with new tools, frameworks, and tech trends. When something new drops and you try it, share your experience. People love seeing how others are using new tools in real time.
And if you’re building a product or side project, build in public.
Share your progress. What worked. What didn’t. What tools you used. What problems you’re running into. The tech community is full of people who genuinely want to help. But they can’t help if they don’t know what you’re working on.
Been to a conference recently? Great - write about it!
Who did you meet? What were the best talks? What did you take away from it? What do you hope to gain from going to more events like that?
Found a cool new AI tool? Talk about it!
What does it do? Why is it useful? How did it help you?
All of these are great content ideas. And once you start, more ideas will follow. Seriously, just getting the first one out there is the hardest part.
And if you ever feel stuck?
Use ChatGPT (or whatever tool you like) to help brainstorm. I do it all the time. I’ll put in what I’m interested in, what I want to talk about, and what kind of content I want to create - and it helps me come up with a list of possible topics or outlines to get started.
But here’s my one big tip: don’t let AI write the content for you.
It can help with planning, editing, and structure - but your voice, your experience, your story? That’s the heart of your content. People can tell when something isn’t real, and genuine content will always hit harder than something polished but empty.
So share what you know. Be honest. Be consistent. And don’t overthink it.
You’ve already got everything you need to start.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Calypso