I've been reading lately about the difficulties some are having when writing blog posts. There are certain techniques that I've developed over the years from my days on Blogger until now, which have really helped me and that I want to share with others.
Never Write Under Pressure
Writing is easier for me now than it's ever been, partially due to the fact that I write so much. There are times when I just freewrite what's in my head just to get it out and keep those mental muscles fit and toned. I'm also mindful of the environment that I write in, always seeking a soothing and place either here at home, out amongst the trees, or near a body of slowly-moving water.
And when I 'm not in an environment like that, I create one using my noise-canceling headphones and atmospheric sounds instead...
However, I never force things. Some days, I'm just not feeling it. So rather than push out low-quality content, I just take a break and do something else until inspiration hits me. There is a benefit in writing something each day, and it can be as little as sharing a quick thought on #Threads, to jotting down a future post idea to be acted on later.
Blogging should never feel like work, therefore I never describe blogging on Hive as my "job" as that takes away from the beauty and enjoyment of birthing something, where nothing was before.
Develop Your Natural "Speaking" Voice
The ideal blog post should read as if two neighbors were talking over the back fence. My two grandmothers used to do exactly that, as my rich grandmother was frenemies with my "poor" grandmother, and never wanted to visit her home when she came by to see her sister.
They'd always engage in lively conversations facing each other over the back fence, thus that's where the phrase comes from. Some of the best posts utilize that breezy conversational style and make for an easy read to your audience, so keep that in mind when you write.
One of the ways that I screen YouTube videos for effectiveness is to turn off the sound. Can I figure out the general thrust of the video by what's being shown onscreen? If so, the host has done his job well as a content creator.
I do something similar with blog posts. Only in this case, I read them aloud to see if they flow as written words on a digital page. If not, I tweak things until they do. That's one of the ways to develop a natural writing style that's unique to you, and that you don't have to copy from someone else.
The Skeletal Structure
Everything I write, starts out as a first draft which I call my "skeleton." Some people stop right there and hit "publish," but for me, that's only the beginning. Many re-writes lay ahead which enhance readability and give me the opportunity to weave new ideas and new thoughts into the narrative.
What I'm doing is slowly adding bits of flesh to ol' Skelly, so that at the conclusion, he's a fully-formed flesh and blood content-created being. Sometimes I might need to make the eyes a little wider or extend the hands a bit, but he isn't ready until he is.
Often, I'll let a post simmer for awhile to ensure it's "done" enough for publishing. But if I'm honest with myself, a post is never truly finished, and I'm always going back to quash the odd grammatical bug or add some fresh new insight.
The "simmering" also allows me the space to come up with that killer line or a new angle I'd never thought of before. I love this process, as it really works to help me create more polished posts and those with a deeper meaning. In short, it makes writing fun.
The End
Right now in storage, I have a 5,000 word post that's about half done. I add to it bit by bit over time as new thoughts and ideas come to me. It'll likely never see the light of day, but its an important exercise in sharpening that natural writing voice that's become my own.
Every blog post has a beginning, a middle, and an end. You'll know it as you get closer to it. It's sort of like watching a lazy leaf fall from a tree in the depths of autumn.
The leaf slowly swirls before circling around and gently settling to the ground. Becoming part of a rich deposit of nutrients, a layer of sustenance ready to fertilize and sprout new content for the world to enjoy on a place called Hive.
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Image Credit: [1] @EverNoticeThat Created using Canva.