Sudeep D’Souza wrote a useful little post recently at ProBlogger that details some lessons he’s learned that will help bloggers get their start on the right foot. The list of nine tips includes many practical pointers, but I also really appreciate when he says Expect to Ride an Emotional Roller Coaster and Research, Read, Reflect:

Every post is a brand new post. Don’t be surprised that you would have to regularly research on your topic, as there is always something new out there. Read what others have to say and reflect. It involves a lot of hard work, patience, persistence to read content, assimilate and formulate your own content. At times, you should be ready to dig deep within your self.

I know only one or two very successful bloggers who claim they can get into a flow state and crank out posts in 10 to 20 minutes, however in my experience blogging since 2006, it often takes me two to three hours to write good content for a moderately-sized post. This is why I’ve struggled to continue writing at a consistent rate as I’ve gone through employment changes, started up my own freelance business, and moved. Blogging is a big commitment, so be sure to account for that when you make the jump. Click through to learn nine helpful lessons from some of Sudeep’s mistakes!

[source: 9 Tips to Start Blogging Successfully]