Writing, being a primal form of communication, is a skill that can be developed by anyone. Of course, everyone can write, given how language is used in everyday life. The challenge is, the proper construction of words and ideas through a popular means of communication today - the blog. Aimlessly writing a blog does not always generate readership. With a handful of strategies and much practice, you can turn your blog into a virtual bestseller. (Learn how to start a blog)
The thing with blogs is, they are just like the entries found in a handheld journal, only with more researched facts and have a worldwide appeal. So your aim is to mix your personal stories with a given topic. You can create an entry in story form or as a personal writeup similar to the ones written by columnists in the newspaper. Before anything, the first skill that you should learn is how to write properly. Here are 11 ways on how to write blog entries properly:
1. Writing is a Habit, Not an Obligation
Writing may be innate for some people, but anyone can actually write well through lots of practice. During your free time, unsheathe your pen and pick up your journal or notebook. Go to a conducive venue then let your pen fly. Remember, you are writing because of the fact that you love to write, not out of pressure.
Personal Accounts - Write about some of the recent events that happened to you, since they are pretty easy to document. Apply some wordplay and the proper use of conjunctions, which improve the writing flow. When you have mastered that art of beautifying your personal accounts, you can move on to writing entries that resemble short stories.
Short Stories - Short story-type entries are enhanced versions of regular personal accounts. The scenes are lengthened and more descriptive. In addition, the use of appropriate adjectives is required to enhance a particular scenario or detail. You can also include dialogues to add some realism to your entry. For references, you can check out the novels made by reputable writers.
Essays/Articles - Essays and articles require a more serious and less playful form of writing. Instead of focusing on your personal accounts, you will shift your emphasis to your thoughts, ideas and especially, your opinions. The flow of essays is impeccable, so you have to organize your thoughts well and insert conjunctions from time to time.
woman writing
Once you get accustomed to writing all three types, you can finally move to blogging. Knowing how to do the three writing styles will give you more options for presenting information, which is a plus in the world of blogging. The blog puts your work out in the open, so make sure that you edit your entries right after posting them.
2. Read Read Read!
Reading novels and articles are not only interesting, they will also help you diversify your writing style. All authors have distinct writing styles, even if write the same genre. The reason for this is, every person has a unique thought process, which translates to a unique set of words used to express ideas, opinions and stories.
reading
Novels - Personal blogs contain a good mixture of personal accounts and short story-like entries. As a blogger, you can add elements to your writing style by reading novels done by exceptional authors. Fantasy novels will help you better your descriptions while thrillers will improve your on building of conflicts and suspense. Well-written romance novels, on the other hand, display some necessary subtlety when writing about cliche-filled concepts like love and relationships. (Get ideas from the Top Ten Fantasy Novels Of All Time)
Newspapers/Magazines - Newspapers and magazines often display the right way of writing articles. They may look simple at first, but if you read closely, you will notice that the pieces mix a little entertainment (wordplay, organization, factoids) to the serious information presented. You should apply a similar style when writing serious blogs like reviews, interviews and topic-specific blogs.
Columnists - Any bold statement should always be backed up with supporting information, which should be applied by opinion-driven blogs. The best way to learn the proper discourse of opinions is through reading newspaper and magazine columns. You will be amazed at how these amazing writers attack “sensitive” topics and present them in a neutrally positive or negative way.
Reading exposes you to a plethora of wit and wordplay. You must combine it with your writing hobby, if you want to constantly improve as a blogger or writer. To make reading an effective tool, you can read first before writing. You can then apply some of the styles that you picked up when you start writing your entry.
3. Avoid Cliches
Cliches make blog posts corny and predictable. You should only use them to complete ideas and if there is a clear lack of words for the idea. Instead of using cliches, you can either come up with original statements or add wordplay to an overused statement. These statements are often used to end a paragraph or the entire entry.
4. Start and End with a Bang
Just like a full-course meal, you should provide an appetizing introduction and a luscious ending. Readers are often hooked by a striking initial paragraph. As for the endings, they are just as eye-catching the intros, so you will leave a good impression in each of your entries. Use pertinent questions, some wordplay and a dash of controversy to influence readers to bookmark your blog.
blog article
5. Writing Feedback
Improvement is fostered when you get feedback regarding your entries. Ask a writer or an editor to read your entries occasionally and to give you comments about your work. Don’t get disheartened by the negative comments. In fact, you should treasure them, since you will improve once you resolve the issues pointed out by your editor.
feedbacks
6. The More Conversational, the Better
Since blogs are made to collect readership, readers will want some interaction between them and the blogger. Posting comments is often encouraged, so the audience can air their “two cents” on the matter, but sometimes, that isn’t enough. If you make your entries conversational, readers will get the impression that you are reaching out to them. You will then gain their trust, which equates to more comments and page views.
7. Consistency then Variety
As a blog writer, you should first be consistent with the way you present information. That way, your readers will get accustomed to your writing style, which influences reader interaction. Your first several entries should bear a similar format. After writing about five entries, you can shift the way you present info or change writing styles in the next entry, giving your viewers much needed variety. You can then return to your original format to maintain the consistency. Repeat the process when necessary.
consistency
8. Conjunctions
Conjunctions may play a small role in elementary and high school grammar classes, but they are some of the most important elements when writing entries. These idea connectors and expounders improve the flow of statements and make reading more interesting. If you do a little wordplay with them, the entry becomes fun to read. Refrain from overusing them, though, or else your entry will look forced. Here are a few examples of conjunctions:
which
words ending with -ing
either or
neither nor
not only - but also
although
before
Sample Sentence 1: The concert, which will be held at the amphitheater, will be packed this coming weekend.
Sample Sentence 2: The answer suddenly came, making things easier for little Johnny Blue.
9. Write Comments on Some of Your Posts
Seeing a blog post with zero comments does not look inviting for some people. They will have an impression that your entry was poorly done. What you can do is hype up your entry by posting your own comments. Mind you, the comments should be well-written and must have “twang” for them to influence readers to post their thoughts on your entry. So what’s blog writing got to do with writing comments? Anticipating the comments or writing them yourself can help you determine what to edit. It can also help you improve your ending paragraph, making it more comment-friendly.
comment box
10. Eliminate Writing Distractions
The secret with speed writing is, distractions are often shunned or minimized. When writing a blog entry, you must pick a location where you can totally concentrate. You should also refrain from tinkering with virtual distractions such as social networking sites (myspace, facebook, etc), online games, and other eye-catching applications. Remember, your writing flow should always be preserved, since it often produces good blog posts. Just make the distractions your reward after writing a blog entry. (Tips on how to get rid of creative block)
11. Keywords and Key Ideas
Noting keywords and key ideas for your topic serves as your road map for writing a good blog post. Type them in “Notepad” or “Wordpad,” before making your entry. Read the key ideas carefully and arrange them in chronological order, if necessary. When everything’s set, write your entry. Look at your set of key ideas from time to time, so you’ll never lose track of your ideas and the topic.
keywords
Just Write
One of the key factors of a successful blog is exceptional writing. The truth is, being a good writer is not easy, by all means. You may need to devote a serious amount of time and effort before you can be a noted blogger. Don’t fret. Through practice, dedication and truckloads of passion, you will eventually make a name for yourself on the Internet. Just apply each of the concepts mentioned whenever necessary.
A creative blog is always pleasing to online readers, but for some it’s their way of expressing their personal sentiments. If you don’t have a blog yet, you’ll be surprised to know that making one is as easy as pie. Find out how to start a blog and put your thoughts online.