The online audience is looking for brief paragraphs, subtitles, visuals, and other elements that make reading on screen easy. I was bringing my high school English repertoire to my blog, and that wasn’t good. Write a new short short story each day in February with daily writing prompts from editor Moriah Richard. Try to wrap up your blog post in style so that you can deliver the message to the readers in the most exciting way. But then comes the editing. Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and an example poem to get things started on the Poetic Asides blog. Don't you have writing skill or time to manage writing on your own effectively?In this post, let me dive deep on why, how, and where to outsource your blog writing tasks. Write a blog with the goal of helping others solve that problem. Writing a blog can be fun, but if you don't know the dos and don't of how to write a blog, you'll never attract a bigger audience. Indeed, outlines are one of the most essential blog writing tips that you should internalize. If you’re searching for a good way to share your thoughts, feelings and expertise, now is a great time to start a blog. #3. And when you write efficiently, your words have power. You'll go a lot further by being positive, inspirational and supportive to the community that you're writing to. Blogging is also a great way to experiment with your writing style. Not all posts will lend themselves to an image, but when they do, take advantage of it. Ellis Pratt's latest episode of Cherryleaf lists goals that technical writers have for 2021. Write a funny conspiracy theory behind an important event or people. Blogs are the new business cards. Express Writers is a USA-based writing team was founded by Julia McCoy in 2011. This week, write a clear poem. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. Limit your word count. If you have been asking yourself “should I start a blog”, then here are 11 things people should consider before creating a blog and beginning writing at all. Too many adjectives…cutting and pasting to form ideas that make sense, etc. Writing killer blog posts ain’t easy! I Should Be Writing is the Podcast Peer- and Parsec Award-winning show that I’ve been hosting and producing since 2005. It's important to let your blog evolve over time, and the only way this can happen is if you take risks every once in awhile. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. This doesn't mean you can't feature shorter pieces or that you should ramble on just to meet a word count, but don't be afraid to break down antiquated perceptions that blogs need to be short. Ideas for blog posts are everywhere — but interesting, relevant ideas are harder to find. When you write a good post, you get immediate feedback. Share a list of little-known facts about yourself, your business, or your blog niche. And before you think this is only possible in the U.S., meet Bamidele Onibalusi, a Nigerian, resident in Nigeria, and making thousands of dollars monthly from freelance writing. This is a solid freelance writing tip: writers need to give readers information that relates directly to them or solves their problems. This is a great first question. Award-winning author Charles Yu explains why his latest work is a Scribd Original and how his characters' voices help him navigate form. Be negative. It doesn’t matter where you write your blog posts as long as you have a simple repeatable process to follow. WIIFM is also a great way to help you figure out what you should blog about. Start out by posting weekly and get in a groove. This week, compel a character to perform a task. Blog posts should be suitable for online reading. Fun Blog Post Ideas These ideas are great for personal blogs, but they can also work for business and professional blogs to help your readers get to know you a little better. Your content is what draws them in while your personality, or your voice in writing, is what will keep them there. Even writing 30 minutes every couple of days will lead to a couple of posts a week. And, if you do, correct them immediately. Also, if you can, work in some subheads. Having a blog and writing about important topics that are relevant to your audience establishes yourself as an authority in the space. Set Unrealistic Goals. I’ve used the show to chronicle and discuss the bumps one encounters through working on a writing career by talking about my own situation and interviewing several pro writers. Let your readers get to know you. 15 Reasons You Should Start a Blog. As soon as you’ve created your first post, you’re officially published on the Internet, and can promote yourself to companies far more easily by linking your blog than showing outdated articles. Coming up with a name for your blog is a similar process—it should be mutually beneficial. This step is called outlining and is an important part of the writing process. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Except…as a writer myself, I know how that story can end. Deciding on a topic, organizing your thoughts, facing that dreaded blank page for days and pouring your heart and soul into your work…only to get a total readership of 20 views a year later. We’re not usually taught technical writing, or copywriting, or blog writing. The introduction to your blog post should be compelling. The crossover point between what you want to write and what they want to read is the sweet spot you should always aim for in order to cultivate long-lasting relationships with your blog readers. Whether you are linking to other blogs or websites that contain great information or linking to past posts on your own site, do it whenever you can. They presented interesting data. Content Marketers: Stop Writing Blog Intros Like A High School Research Paper. Brian A. Klems is the editor of this blog, online editor of Writer's Digest and author of the popular gift bookOh Boy, You're Having a Girl: A Dad's Survival Guide to Raising Daughters. 2. Fifteen minutes a day, six times a week, you will practice writing like Hemingway, James Joyce, Malcolm Gladwell, and many others. Long blocks of text are hard for readers to digest, especially when reading on computers and tablets. This principle is even more true on a blog. WD competition judge AJ Wells breaks down what will make or break your self-published book, from cover design to plot construction. But correct it as soon as you can. This is an opportunity to connect directly with the people who are reading your work. I hope they can help you learn how to write a good blog too. Join us in February for our first ever February Flash Fiction Challenge! Outline your post. Business writing definitely differs from creative writing, but you can still harness the power of sensory language in your blog posts. SEO keywords’ value lessened as Google cracked down on keyword-stuffed content. Give it the professional quality it deserves. We’re taught how to engage with the creativity of our readers. 9. Here's some advice on finding free online images that you can use. The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, so we're starting this series to help identify them for other writers (along with strategies for avoiding the mistake). [Like this quote? This week's writing mistake writers make is oversimplifying your characters. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Over the past 10 years I've refined my blogging skills—that's right, I started my first blog back in 2001 and it is so embarrassing by today's standards that I'm almost unwilling to link to it … almost. Jeanne Veillette Bowerman explains what that phrase mean and why high-concept ideas make a screenwriting career. You can slow things down later. Write long paragraphs. Anything that makes it easier for potential readers to find your blog is a must (and friends and family definitely qualify as potential readers). There's also plenty of not-so-good advice. Respond to blog comments. Welcome to Mur Lafferty’s ever-changing website where you can find books, podcasts, nonfiction, and various and sundry other things. Include images. Be relatable, be yourself.What sets bloggers apart from newspaper article feeds is voice. Post to Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Anywhere Else You Can. It needs to have a well-defined beginning, middle, and end. Plenty of bloggers start off writing anonymously and then begin to use their name (such as Ramsay Taplin, who began blogging as “The Blog Tyrant”). Crucially, Becker writes about the purpose of blogging, not just how to start a blog. And sometimes it's worth just popping on and posting "Thanks for reading my blog.". Now I currently run several successful blogs, including The Life of Dad and this online editor blog.It's been a challenge juggling them but, by sticking to these 12 specific dos and don'ts of writing a blog that I've developed over my years of experience, I've been able to establish growth (increased pageviews). If you love writing, start a blog because there’s no better feeling than getting paid doing what you would gladly do for free. Read the article all the way through and then use it as a checklist before you hit 'publish'. It had such an impact on me because I immediately knew that I was guilty. So, let’s talk about some blog writing tools you can use. HuffPost is part of Verizon Media. Every good blog post is like an essay. Thinking about writing a blog? Blogging is the best way to show your writing is current, and you’re writing regularly. Here are 12 essential tips. Writing your first blog post can be intimidating, especially if you don't know what works and doesn't work in online content. Not all comments need a response, but be sure to respond to ones that do. You Can Make Money with Blogging You must have been heard or seen people who are making a lot of money by just blogging. My favorite quote about writing is by Erasmus, a 16th century Dutch renaissance humanist. Knowing how to open your blog post introduction with a bang will guarantee that your readers will read at least 65% of your content, if not the whole thing. About Blog The Write Practice is here to kick-start your practice. The more you practice this, the more efficient your blog writing becomes. If you’re a writer, it makes perfect sense: You can use a blog to serve as your author platform, market your work or find new freelance writing clients. The ending of your blog post will determine the reaction and emotions of people after reading your content. Express Writers. Now comes the actual writing part of this how to WRITE a good blog post guide! 1. Here are six of my favorite writing tools. When we’re taught writing in school, we’re usually taught creative writing. The main objective of effective writing is to take the reader on an interesting and informative ride from beginning till end. This blog writing and copy writing company has a hand-picked team of over 40 writers and editors, USA-based, with experience and degrees from Master’s in English to a background in marketing and engineering. While readers come to your blog for information and personality, they also need to be stimulated visually. New literary agent alerts (with this spotlight featuring Pete Ford of Credo Communications) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list. Before we dive in though, I really want to talk about WHY you should build a blog. Why you should create a blog and join the blogging community. My books are available in stores, online retailers, and through this site. It can be a simple page with your email address plus social n… We were inspired to research and write this blog post after reading Joshua Becker’s 15 Reasons I Think You Should Blog, in which he discusses 15 great reasons why you should start a blog. Every good story needs a nice (or not so nice) turn or two to keep it interesting. To do this, you must first ask yourself this question: Who are your target readers? So below, I’m going to outline exactly what you need to do to get started and set up your own personal blog. When the time is right, go long. Start reading and sharing their content, and comment at their blog. All writing has a pace and rhythm. They also want to get into a discussion after reading a post. It's generally unwise to air personal grievances publicly (unless, of course, that's the theme of your blog). Blog posts started to get more and more like articles. Why is the keyword here. You have to write millions of words no one is ever going to see before you can write the ones that will change someone's life. Click here to Tweet and share it! Probably the biggest one is "high-concept ideas." 6. The most traditional page on any blog is the About page. But seriously, once I get started and won’t let anything distract me, I do get on a roll. Been writing a blog for some time now and have yet to establish any growth (and by "growth" I mean "increased pageviews")? Use links within your posts. Here are 4 things to consider when researching literary agents.]. Rather than just listing each response, Ellis reads these responses while walking in some historic setting and peppers in historical asides to break up the responses. Follow Brian on Twitter: @BrianKlemsSign up for Brian's free Writer's Digest eNewsletter: WD Newsletter. Now I currently run several successful blogs, including The Life of Dad and this online editor blog. [Want to land an agent? Folks on the Web tend to be more lenient about typos, so don't stress about it if you do make a mistake. Break up your content into shorter paragraphs, bullet points and lists whenever possible. Avoid trying new things. While you should follow the advice above and start writing the blog how you feel most comfortable, it’s important that you organize the format of your blog. Click here to Tweet and share it!] This page tells new visitors to your blog what it is about, who you are and why you have a blog about the particular topic. Now, I try to speak with readers, not at them. Blogs for writers are everywhere, and there's often good advice on them about writing a blog. Writing a blog post sounds easy enough, right? Oh Boy, You're Having a Girl: A Dad's Survival Guide to Raising Daughters. Directly in WordPress. You want your introduction’s pace and beat to be somewhat quick. As you streamline your process, increase your posting if you can. Blogging is a great way to share your thoughts with the world, connect with readers, and build a writing platform for new and experienced writers. One of the first questions I'm often asked by people interested in starting—or improving—a blog is, "What should I blog about?" Whether it's adding infographs or personal stories or guest bloggers, never be afraid to try something new. Eventually, if possible, you should guest blog for them. Check out Solo: A Star Wars Story for the details that you wanted expanded from the movie, and check out I Should Be Writing if you need a supportive writing workshop in the form of a book. 4. Trying to get into freelance writing? If your readers can see, hear, touch, smell, or taste your ideas, then they’ll be hooked on your content. Author Robert Jones, Jr. discusses the inspiration that led him to write his debut novel and how he stayed focused on the heart of his story during the writing process. It's been a challenge juggling them but, by sticking to these 12 specific dos and don'ts of writing a blog that I've developed over my years of experience, I've been able to establish growth (increased pageviews). Where to Write Your Blog Posts. What a great post you have given us. Don't be afraid to use social media to tout your posts. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. 1. Order this kit of writing resources at a highly discounted price today! He said: The desire to write grows with writing. As a bazillion blogs crowded the Internet, the bar began to raise.Blog posts began to have more interviews. Posts got longer as bloggers sought to stand out and deliver more value, until 1,000 words has become fairly standard, and 2,000-word posts are not uncommon. Blogging and content marketing is … Open any text editor, start typing, and there you have it. If you have something to say, say it. Find your focus. I do like to write like a talk – or should I say tawk – he he he. Buzz words abound in Hollywood. Sponsored posts are when you are getting paid to write about and review a brand’s products or services. If so, it's time for you to outsource your blog writing. © 2021 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. Writing sponsored blog posts can be a lucrative way to earn money from your blog. First, you will need to create static content pages for the following types of information. Set the Rhythm. Remember, if you ever want readers to take you seriously, you have to take yourself (and your blog) seriously. No one should blog in a vacuum Before you start a blog, identify the other key people already blogging in your area—the influencers. When writing my blog posts I always like to start off with outlining my post as that helps me to stay organized and to know what I’m writing about exactly. A blog is to professionals in the 2000s what a business card was in the 1990s. Yourself.What sets bloggers apart from newspaper article feeds is voice freelance writing:. To a couple of posts a week ( or not so nice ) turn or to. 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Wells breaks down what will make or break your self-published book, from cover to! Do, take advantage of it from newspaper article feeds is voice oversimplifying your characters up your blog.. Open any text editor, start typing, and other elements that make sense, etc start out by weekly... You streamline your process, increase your clicks but also help with your readers some! Of it blogging, not just how to engage with the creativity of our readers with blogging must... Somewhat quick power of sensory language in your area—the influencers great way experiment! More ) to make clicking through worth their time media to tout your posts blog niche an image but. About writing a blog. `` enough, you should also mention why you ’ writing! Aj Wells breaks down what will make or break your self-published book, from cover design to plot construction as! And sharing their content, and comment at their blog. `` 're having a:. Be yourself.What sets bloggers apart from newspaper article feeds is voice start by! Is to take you seriously, you should build a blog. `` various and sundry other.. Connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search engines ) prefer to get and... ( and search activity while using Verizon media websites and apps and lists whenever possible Facebook, Twitter Google+... Other things funny conspiracy theory behind an important part of this how to start a?...