Writing Tips For Bloggers
First a question…
Are you a much better
speaker or a much better writer?
Personally, I’m a far
greater speaker than I am a writer.
I can speak in public
areas confidently, but with composing, it really is a different story.
I am not really
unique - For a few of us it really is more normal to speak and for others it
really is more natural to create.
Of training course
there are several who have both skills but anecdotal research suggests they
certainly are a minority.
I ask this issue
because my first recommendation is:
1) Record Your Content / Blog Post
If I plan an extended
article (2000 phrases plus) I think it is better to initial record what I
intend to say and after that get it transcribed. If you don't desire to
transcribe yourself, after that my transcription provider of choice is normally
CastingWords .
An outline should be
had by you of everything you plan to say before you begin.
Keep centered on your
subject and outline seeing that you speak. If you don't, then you risk finding
yourself a recording that addresses two or also three blogging site posts!
Consider your sound
transcript a mannequin which to hold your article. The transcript will never be
ideal but with some editing and additions the complete procedure for creating a
post is becoming much easier.
Make an excellent
enough documenting and a Podcast is normally had by you.
2) Make use of a pen and paper!
Write longhand!
With technology since
it is - longhand composing is nearly a lost art.
The human brain
thinks longhand differently by using. For me, the ideas longhand flow quicker
in. With typing the magic thought provides disappeared before I get yourself a
possibility of type it often. (But as a 1960 baby, this can be a generational
thing!)
Don’t understand what
to create about?
Take it a stage
further and just reveal everything that comes into your mind for 5 or ten
minutes.
I call this
free-writing.
You'll be surprised
how ordinarily a credible idea comes out of this ‘garbage’ you merely wrote
down!
3) Be personal - but don’t allow Ego take over
Craig Ballantyne is a
great example on a writer I have learned a lot from.
In this very personal
post: 3 Big Life Lessons From a Doggie Craig really lays it on the line
professionally and personally.
Everyone who also
follows Craig will know how important his doggie Bally is to him.
Bally even fills in
for Craig and ‘sends’ out his email on occasion. The emails from Bally often
get some of the best open rates and responses! See a fun example here .
Injecting personality
into your writing will warm your readership to you.
Do not however become
vain and egocentric - that is boring!
4) The shorter the sentence, the better.
If the sentence is
longer than it would be comfortable that you should speak, then it’s probably
too long.
Two sentences is
almost always better than one long sentence.
5) Use “Cheat Sheets” to may you look like a writing pro.
Most writers have
external methods of getting inspiration (Swipe Files etc) - and do not rely on
brainpower alone!
As an example - the
chart below is an excellent way to get alternative words - courtesy of
iwastesomuchtime.
6) Use Quotations!
Don’t over do it -
unless you plan on doing a post that includes lots of quotations
Using an appropriate
quotation by A N Other is an excellent way ‘lift’ a blog post and inspire
yourself!
And the quotation
does not have to be from someone famous - it could be one by a favorite uncle
or your Irish Grandmother.
As long as it is
pertinent, even a quote from your friend Ben or Mary will do!
Better still if you
can weave the ‘quote’ into a related story!
7) Get to the point
Do not make persons
wade through seven paragraphs of unrelated anecdotes before you get to what
you’re really trying to say!
Sometimes as writers
we are so impressed with our own writing we go of at tangents.
We reside in a world
of information overload.
Bore persons and you
lose them.
The point of your
article and what it promises to deliver, should be clear from the first
paragraph.
A business writing
coach once told me that your first 50 words are the most important.
If it is not clear
what your intent is in those first 50 words, chances are high you will lose the
reader.
Readers will scan -
trying to work out if it will be worth their while to go deeper into your
masterpiece!
8) Write Often
Writing well is
usually habit! Write every day.
The more you write,
the better you get!
In these days of
Instant Messaging and email it is ‘easy’ to abbreviate when writing.
However, the best
writers usually write well - even in emails and Instant Messaging.
Sure, it may be a
chore to use proper grammar but the more often your write properly, the better
your writing becomes. FACT!
With SMS / Text there
may be good reasons to use the abbreviations and I use them - but that is the
only exception!
9) Master the Art of Concise Writing (AKA Edit Ruthlessly)
I am working on this!
Good reference
article: concise writing cheat sheet
Example:
Only repeat a word if
it is necessary for clarity or emphasis.
Original: My brother
Chris, who is my only brother, graduated from the University of Houston with a
degree in English.
Edited: Chris, my
only brother, earned an English Degree from the University of Houston.
Check out:
Cut Out Weasel Words
10) Switch your reading habits
Read a book that you
would not normally do.
Do something you
would not normally do. If you normally read nonfiction then go through fiction
and vice-versa.
Be contrarian in your
blog posts! Challenge the Norm!
Imagine how you would
feel if you decided something you really believed was true - was not?
Read Newspaper ads,
posters, billboards, store signs etc
Credit: ’10 things to
do when you cant think of anything to write.
11) Change the scenery
If you normally write
in your office, move somewhere else.
Go to a different
room, go outside, in the garden or visit a coffee shop!
For me, a walk works
wonders!
12) History Lessons
Is there something in
history that you can relate to your topic? An event or person in history that
you can use to make a point in your article?
When you are stuck
for inspiration “This day in history ” is always a good spot to start in an
article. Works equally well when making a speech.
13) Find and follow people who write well
When you find writing
you enjoy, examine the structure and the words.
How does the writer
craft sentences, use punctuation etc.
How can you use the
writers strategy in your own writing?
Seeking out and
following good writers is perhaps the best guidance I can give any writer who
also finds writing a challenge.
14) Read out loud what you write!
In short, if your
writing is hard to speak, what makes you think it’s going to be easy to read?
Reading out loud is
an excellent way to discover mistakes and make further improvements.
If it doesn’t sound
natural when you speak out loud, it is simple - rewrite it!
15) Talk directly to the reader
Use words such as
“you,” “we,” and “I” to make it clear that you are talking to the reader.
Readers will be more
attentive when you’re talking directly to them about their issues.
Remember, if it is
boring for you, it will be boring for your reader!
16) Edit it again!
I am not a naturally
talented writer.
Writing is getting
easier, but it is still hard work.
It is not usual to
write one day, edit it on the second day and then further edit it on the third
day.
With each edit I
remove terms, sometimes even entire paragraphs!
The point of every
edit is to make it easier for your reader to understand.
Not every writer
needs to edit this much - some get it right on the first attempt!
I am not yet one of
those writers!
Recommended Reading:
Slacker Words and Phrases
17) Writing Tips For Bloggers - Use Lists and Graphics
IncomeDiary is famous
for lists
When all else fails
there is always lists to fall back on.
Lists like…
Top 30 Most
Influential People In _____ (Blogging, Web Design, Photography, Golf, Gaming
etc)
10 Reasons Why It
Rocks To Be a _____ (Blogger, Web Designer, Photographer, Golfer, Gamer etc)
10 Christmas Gifts
For _____ (Bloggers, Web Designers, Photographers, Golfers, Gamers etc)
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