Everything I Need to Know About Blogging I Learned in High School

Everything I Need to Know About Blogging I Learned in High School

Reader Comments (30)

  1. This is such great information to bring back to our own blogs, I seem to get stuck writing blog posts, or sometimes go off subject a bit, this post should keep me on track;).

  2. I enjoyed your comments on the purpose of the post. I find right now most of my posts have the intent of educating or raising awareness. They aren’t necessarily entertaining or good at fostering a community. This is a shortfall I need to work on as a growing community is essential to my blogs growth.

  3. I’m with you on tight writing, although…

    Think like Hemmingway and get rid of words you don’t need. I find myself constantly revising as I write, usually looking for a more direct way to convey my message. Unfortunately, the typical blog audience has a fairly short attention span and wordy text will drive them away.

    Why not change the above to:

    Think like Hemmingway and remove words you don’t need. I constantly revise while writing, seeking a more direct way to convey my message. Unfortunately, the typical blog audience has a short attention span and wordy text will drive them away.

    Something here, something there. Great advice all around!

  4. The basic structure of writing was not just learned in HS, but years before it growing up. Everything we learned from our past has helped us today. The structure from the english classes we took have a huge impact on how we write now. I still use tips I learned from my writing teacher.

    Craig
    http://www.budgetpulse.com

  5. Great advice. My fav piece of advice is to make sure that the content actually fulfills the purpose we need it to fulfill.

    So often it’s tempting to write what comes out. But we need to remember that content with purpose packs power.

    Best Regards,

    Latarsha

  6. I tutor two boys in middle school reading and writing, so when I blog I try to remember what I’ve taught.

    Great post with excellent back to basics information………….:)

  7. It’s GAP in the UK, or sometimes TAP. The purpose tends to be a bit more general than the examples you give: to persuade, inform, recount, analyse etc.

    I used to be an English teacher, and we talk about this in my new job (content editor). The organisation I work for often confuses the purpose of its writing: it tries to persuade when it should be informing, or it tries to entertain when it should be recounting. Probably because it doesn’t leave the writing to the professionals 😉

  8. I always write with FAT-P in mind though I have never heard of the FAT-P method before. I always write with my audience in mind, I try to stick to topic, and I try to make sure that my blog posts collectively add to the lives of my readers.
    Great post and great way to remember how to write well.

  9. I really think you have a good point here. Much of what I learned in high school was from Honor’s English Class. Of course, write something controvertial on your blog, and it brings back the drama of high school. 🙂

  10. I know what you are saying – it’s just like using your common sense. We can do things a lot better if we would apply our common sense. Regrettably, most of us don’t.

  11. Hi Jim — thanks for much-needed fundamental lesson in blog writing. I especially liked your last section on Purpose — I totally agree that a blog should offer information, entertainment and/or community.

    I think that determining purpose and direction of one’s blog is not really a writer’s job, per se, but an editor’s. Since so many of us are running one-person blogs, we need to assume the duties of an editor as well.

    Lastly, I see that you’re fairly new to blogging. So am I — good on you for getting this guest post. Maybe I’ll try to do the same!

    Charles

  12. Good post. Short sentences are critical.

    One sentence and even one word paragraphs also work.

    See?

    However, I couldn’t help but be a little distracted by something…

    Why would a Copywriter title this article with ‘I’ rather than “You’? (sincere question)

    JK

  13. Good question Jude. My first thought would be that the use of the first person would be due to the “form” of a blog post which are traditionally personal and conversational. However, I suppose you could accomplish the same with the second person “you.”

    It seems a little awkward though to assume what “you” learned in high school. If my “purpose” was to persuade however…

  14. Your blog is excellent. So many great tips. I’m going to add it to my blog list, though I do seem to be getting it regularly. Thanks for all your good advice.

  15. I’m a reporter and the first thing you are taught is know who your reader is. You can write something worthy of the Noble Prize for Literature but if you’re not writing for your particular audience they’ll just pass it by.

  16. Topic, Form, and Audience are the most crucial part you can’t avoid. Purpose are just an ‘accessories’ to make your blog more look even better. Because Without that, you don know what to post and you don know what kinda blog would you like to make

  17. It has been over 40 years, since I was in high school. I started blogging a couple of years ago, and had to pretty much learn these things all over.

    I still have tendency to write long paragraphs, but working on shortening them up a bit. Good tips to follow.

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