The Hacker's Guide to Blogging

So, you want to start a blog? Let’s hack this thing together. No fluff, just straight-up advice from someone who’s been there, done that, and definitely messed up a few times along the way.

If you’re here on brittwhite.io, you know I’m crazy about "The Hacker Mindset in GRC"—curiosity, grit, and a little chaos. Blogging is the same deal. Find what sets your soul on fire and then share it. Here’s how to do it without completely losing your mind.

Find Your Root Access: Passion

What keeps you up at night, digging into the weeds like a hacker chasing a zero-day? That’s your fuel. For me, it’s helping people—every blog I write is about giving you something real. Ask yourself: what’s your thing? When you’ve got that locked down, just start writing.

Passion is your root access. Without it, you’re just a script kiddie fumbling with someone else’s code. Find what makes you want to pull an all-nighter and write about that. If you’re not hyped, your readers will bounce faster than a failed exploit.

The Three Non-Negotiables

GRC loves a good framework, but blogging? Nah. It’s simpler. You just need three things:

• Passion: Your why—your driving force. Without fuel, there's no fire. Burnout hits hard, and you'll need deep reserves of passion to keep that fire burning.
• Consistency: Post regularly. It's like patching your systems—skip it and your audience will vanish. Showing up consistently builds trust.
• Authenticity: Be yourself. People can detect fake content like an IDS spots malicious traffic. Trust matters most, and being genuine always wins.

I keep things simple—no SEO tricks or complex strategies. My blog started by accident when I bought the domain over a year ago, thinking "Hey, this'll look good on a resume." There was no master plan—just genuine passion and honest writing. And you know what? People vibe with that.

No Plan, No Problem—Just Start

Let's get real: I grabbed my domain purely on instinct. No grand strategy, no fancy content calendar—just a "we'll figure it out" attitude. That should be your approach too. Start small, keep improving, and adapt as you go. It's just like hacking: try stuff out, mess up, learn from it, and keep trying again.

Blogging is like pentesting for your soul—you'll find vulnerabilities (aka mistakes), but that's exactly how you improve. Don't wait for perfection; it doesn't exist. Keep taking small baby steps forward, one foot at a time.

Own Your Style, Pick Your Poison

Choose topics broad enough to maintain a steady flow of ideas. I write about the Hacker Mindset in GRC—sharing my unique perspective with others. Write what you would read. I keep my posts short and snappy because long walls of text make my mind wander. If you prefer deep dives? Go for it. Just make it authentically yours.

Kick Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

Do you feel like a fraud? Welcome to the club. Everyone battles imposter syndrome sometimes. Here's the truth: you know more than you realize. Share your knowledge, learn along the way, and don't let self-doubt hack your confidence.

Don't have a custom site? No worries. Start on Medium, LinkedIn, or even YouTube if writing isn't your style. Think of it as your testing ground—experiment, break things, and fix them up. You've got a voice. Use it.

Write for You, Not the Metrics

Here's the secret: write for yourself. Your passion will shine through, and the ideas will keep flowing. Just like in GRC, small actions create big impact. Blogging works the same way—but you won't see the ripples until you make that first splash.

What's stopping you? Grab a domain, choose a platform, and begin. Or take a different path—maybe podcasting is more your style. Just do something. Share your unique perspective, stay committed, and be authentic. The world needs voices like yours to help build a more secure future.

Final Exploit: Be You, Be Weird

There's no "right" way to blog. Make it your own. Don't chase trends—that's a guaranteed path to burnout. Be different. Be yourself. Be weird.

Your blog is your personal lab: experiment, break things, and document the chaos. Just keep those backdoors secured.

Stop overthinking. Start creating. The world is waiting.

Bonus: How Did I Start My Blog?

1. Purchase Domain: I purchased my domain from CloudFlare and use their free tier to manage and secure my site. A .io domain cost me $40/year, but you can snag a .com for $10/year. (CloudFlare also has the option to host a static HTML site for free if you're into coding your own.)
2. Select a CMS: CMS → Content Management System. While there are many you can choose from, I am using Ghost CMS. There's two options: self-host for free, or Ghost Pro with various paid tiers. I started with the self-hosted Ghost CMS for free, but as my blog grew I upgraded in January 2025 to Ghost Pro for $300/year.
3. Just Start: Publish your content and share it. It might take months or longer for you to get any traction, but stay consistent and keep sharing your passion. Do this for you and you'll see personal growth you never knew possible! There's no right or wrong way to start a blog, you just have to get out there and do it!
4. Portfolio: If you visit cissp.brittwhite.io, this site was built using cardd.co. This is a great resource to create simple and free websites, or you can upgrade to Pro for only $19/year. This is a great option if you are looking to build a portfolio, and maybe not a full blog site.