I have read a ton of blogs lately. Well, not read them thouroughly, but have read them like you would corelary reading for a college class, or a billboard as you drive by on the highway, something like that. Anyway, below are some principles I have observed that seem to work for the better blogs out there. If you disagree or would like to add your two cents, leave a comment.
"The Medium Is The Message"
In this image driven culture it is important that your blog looks attractive. It does not seem to matter as much that the content is post-worthy as long as the layout is easy on the eyes and invites the reader to look around a bit.
"Clever Wording Wins Respect"
Blogs that are just thrown up in a *rant* style where the author is really too passionate and close to the issue to write well doesn't commuicate the passion the author is feeling. In fact, these type of blogs come across like a soapbox (and never use the word soapbox, please buy a thesaurus). The blogs worth reading are the ones where the author writes a first draft and then lets it marinate for a few days (or at least hours). Great writers (like my friend Dave Drury or Eric Nentrup) probably have a file with several ideas that are marinating and can pull one out in a pinch and put form to it, like a lump of clay, when they need to. And to be considered worth the weekly read you really need to expand your vocabulary a bit. One hint: use microsoft Word to compose your draft and when you read through it and see an oridnary word that could use some sprucing up, right-click on it and scroll down to synonym/thesaurus and a list of neato substitute words appear for the picking, try it. Or, just make up a big word, most people will believe you know what you are saying, this works for most pastors.
"Pace Yourself"
If you find yourself posting daily to your blog please stop. This is too often and nobody has anything good to say everyday not even you (no offense). If you publish daily your style will begin to change from decent columnist to teenage gossip column. Do you really want to read my feelings about why I chose a certain food for lunch today? Well, I don't want to read your feelings on the subject either. Blogging is best crafted seasonally. Which means, wait until a few days pass and you have gained perspective on a series of events, reflective bloggers are better than reactive ones.
"Brevity is the Soul of Wit"
I can look at a blog and if I have to scroll down-arrow twice on my browser it is to long for me to read. I have resisted reading several close friends blogs (maybe this one?) because they cannot make their point in three paragraphs or less. If you force yourself to this size you find you will begin to write better. I learned this from a professor of mine on college.
"Learn the Basic HTML Tags"
If you have no idea what I am talking about keep reading, otherwise skip ahead. HTML is the basic "coding" that most webpages are written in. HTML allows us to see things in bold or italics or underlined or even linked leading to another website. When you begin to use these tags embedded into your blogs they make you appear like you have earned the right to post using the web, you understand the language. It is the same respect you show while visiting another country, you learn to ask "where is the bathroom" so you don't end up pissing out back in the woods. Try visiting here for some help. Otherwise, ask a friend who is between 13-22 (or an older guy who likes Macs) they can likley help. When you have perfected HTML, there are several new generations of languages that will rock your world, look into them.
"Never use Internet Explorer"
Ok, this is a low-blow, but the best way to enjoy the web and your favorite blogs is not with IE. It's bulky, slow, territorial, and some conspiracy theorsists believe it is a sign of the end times. (every windows PC comes packaged with it?) Anyway, try out FireFox as an alternative browser, or better yet buy a MAC. You'll fall in love with browsing all over again.
Any Other Thoughts?
"The Medium Is The Message"
In this image driven culture it is important that your blog looks attractive. It does not seem to matter as much that the content is post-worthy as long as the layout is easy on the eyes and invites the reader to look around a bit.
"Clever Wording Wins Respect"
Blogs that are just thrown up in a *rant* style where the author is really too passionate and close to the issue to write well doesn't commuicate the passion the author is feeling. In fact, these type of blogs come across like a soapbox (and never use the word soapbox, please buy a thesaurus). The blogs worth reading are the ones where the author writes a first draft and then lets it marinate for a few days (or at least hours). Great writers (like my friend Dave Drury or Eric Nentrup) probably have a file with several ideas that are marinating and can pull one out in a pinch and put form to it, like a lump of clay, when they need to. And to be considered worth the weekly read you really need to expand your vocabulary a bit. One hint: use microsoft Word to compose your draft and when you read through it and see an oridnary word that could use some sprucing up, right-click on it and scroll down to synonym/thesaurus and a list of neato substitute words appear for the picking, try it. Or, just make up a big word, most people will believe you know what you are saying, this works for most pastors.
"Pace Yourself"
If you find yourself posting daily to your blog please stop. This is too often and nobody has anything good to say everyday not even you (no offense). If you publish daily your style will begin to change from decent columnist to teenage gossip column. Do you really want to read my feelings about why I chose a certain food for lunch today? Well, I don't want to read your feelings on the subject either. Blogging is best crafted seasonally. Which means, wait until a few days pass and you have gained perspective on a series of events, reflective bloggers are better than reactive ones.
"Brevity is the Soul of Wit"
I can look at a blog and if I have to scroll down-arrow twice on my browser it is to long for me to read. I have resisted reading several close friends blogs (maybe this one?) because they cannot make their point in three paragraphs or less. If you force yourself to this size you find you will begin to write better. I learned this from a professor of mine on college.
"Learn the Basic HTML Tags"
If you have no idea what I am talking about keep reading, otherwise skip ahead. HTML is the basic "coding" that most webpages are written in. HTML allows us to see things in bold or italics or underlined or even linked leading to another website. When you begin to use these tags embedded into your blogs they make you appear like you have earned the right to post using the web, you understand the language. It is the same respect you show while visiting another country, you learn to ask "where is the bathroom" so you don't end up pissing out back in the woods. Try visiting here for some help. Otherwise, ask a friend who is between 13-22 (or an older guy who likes Macs) they can likley help. When you have perfected HTML, there are several new generations of languages that will rock your world, look into them.
"Never use Internet Explorer"
Ok, this is a low-blow, but the best way to enjoy the web and your favorite blogs is not with IE. It's bulky, slow, territorial, and some conspiracy theorsists believe it is a sign of the end times. (every windows PC comes packaged with it?) Anyway, try out FireFox as an alternative browser, or better yet buy a MAC. You'll fall in love with browsing all over again.
Any Other Thoughts?
2 comments:
Don't use microscopic font sizes like my buddy J-mak here!!! :-)
LOL. I love Macs (don't have one), have just recently fallen in love with FireFox (do have it). And I do actually have a folder of drafts to be blogged. Do I win a prize?
Not bad, J.
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