Writing isn’t always easy. I get that. So here’s what you do, head on over to Copyblogger and read: 10 Steps to Becoming A Better Writer (It’s a GREAT post!)
Once you’re done there, let’s discuss the following…
Do you have a system for writing blog posts?
Personally, my approach very closely resembles the one referenced in Brian Clark’s article above. I try to always have a legal pad and pen handy. As I read throughout the day (my feedreader, emails, books, etc.), I jot ideas down worth writing about. Ideas worth expanding on. I use a hi-lighter and sticky notes to reference quotes in an article or book that I feel I want to expand on and blog about. When I write, I tend to start with the title first, and then I build an outline until I’ve covered everything that I wanted to cover in the post. An alternative approach is to start with an idea (a single bullet point) and writing the supporting content that fulfills the idea in the bullet point.
Whatever your approach, either way works. The point is to write. Write until you’ve shared an idea… Communicated a story… Delivered a message… Put the pen to paper and write. Now as you do this it might not always result in a blog post to publish right away, but at least you have ideas to build on.
This is the kind of content you’re looking for…
Pillar Content – Chris Brogan writes about how to use your content for stock answers. That’s what I’m talking about here. There are lots of questions that you will answer more than once in your day-to-day business (boy is this true in real estate). So your objective with this kind of content is to answer it once (the question at hand) and share it often. This kind of content will essentially serve as the foundation (the base) of your new blogsite.
The Other Stuff – This type of content is exactly just that…the other stuff. It’s the filler content. The area events. The holiday post. The industry news. The rates reports and market reports. Now remember, you work in a fluid industry. Guidelines change. Rates change. Pricing changes. There’ll always be something to talk about in any given week. So you might consider this the miscellany but making room for it in your editorial calendar would be a wise idea.
How Do You Do It?
How do you draft your articles? Do you start with an outline? Do you do what I do and start with the title first? Do you begin with an idea and expand on it by simply writing freely? What works for you and what challenges do you face when you write?
Speaking of challenges, maybe you’ll find some help in this post about how to write better blog posts today…
In my early days of blogging, I used to sit tight and start writing without even having a plan. I used to complete the post, proofread, and rush to hit the publish button. That's why I now know that my earlier posts were less efficient and lacking expected quality.
Now, I prepare a plan, what you called outlining before writing the original post. I also take longer time to proofread and trash unnecessary words. This helps me write more efficiently.
Hi Aminul! I wouldn't necessarily dismiss your earlier content as being less efficient or lacking in quality… Some people start with an outline, others don't. Personally, I take notes when I read books, blogs, etc. I start with the title to a post first and work on an outline. Then and only then do I hit the keyboard and type out the blog post. But like I said, this works for me and not necessarily for everyone else.
Then, as you suggest, revisiting the post and trimming it down always helps.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
You're welcome.
The only problem I face in blogging is the language barrier. It's really
hard for a non-native English speaker to express things in English word.
Still I do so just because I love doing so.
If you're interested, we may hold a chat session on gtalk. Reply with your
thoughts.
I really like your site, and appreciated your comment over at “It's All About Joy!” Thank you!
I've been restructuring how I write my blog posts, actually, and a lot of it has come from writing a book and having a professional editor. From her, I've learned that while I have good ideas, I'm not as focused as I ought to be in my writing. So now when I write, I do try to outline what it is I want to say. I let the title come last (and hope it just flows naturally from the content!), and do my best to stay on topic & concise. Not easy, but worth it!
Oh, and since ideas always seem to come to me when I'm working out, I keep an index card and pen on my treadmill so if something intriguing pops into my head, I can jot it down before the workout ends.
Lots of joy to you!
Megan: my pleasure! Congratulations on the new book (that's awesome)… And it sounds like you have a good team (your editor) on your side which is a great thing.
Outlining your ideas is always a great way to start and work on things. You know, to map out your ideas and such. I've tried using http://www.mindmeister.com for this but a simple pen and paper works just as well. I think the only difference between you and I at this point is that you work on the title last whilst I do that first (and well, you have an editor, heh). Now as for keeping an index card and pen on the treadmill with you…that's brilliant! I've used voice notes on my blackberry for taking note of ideas while I'm out running (so far, that's worked for me).
Thanks for stopping by the site Megan! Great to meet you 🙂
I think my problem is patience, Ricardo. I want to take notes and highlight when I read books. And I see the value in outlining blog posts. Especially saw it last night when I had to rewrite my post cause I started writbling (rambling when I'm writing). But do I really have the time?
I go back and forth on this. Love blogging, but it can take hours. Sometimes, IMO, I think about my posts too much. Shouldn't I just start writing. Works sometimes and other times it's more of a struggle.
The biggest thing I'm working on is writing shorter and still being able to get my point across. My posts are generally too long. But when I try cutting them I feel like I'm leaving content out. And in the end, oscillating back and forth can take as much time as my outline would have in the first place :).
Any tips on writing concisely? Enjoyed the post. Always looking for ways to make the blogging process smoother.
Best,
Justin
@JGoldsborough
Carrying that yellow note-pad around has just come naturally to me by now. it goes with me every where I go (heck, I go through them so quickly). Usually I just jot down notes/ideas as they come to me. They don't always make sense right off the bat. But when it comes time to write that blog post, there's enough information in those notes to get me to crank something out.
But I agree with you… Sometimes it comes easy. Other times it just seems to take way too darn long.
A buddy of mine has a rule: Share one main point. Even if it's brief, stick to one main point and that's it. Let the comments go where they may and carry the discussion from there.
As for writing in general and tips for improving, my recommendation would be just to write, write, write. Day in and day out. Even if you don't always publish what you end up with.
Thanks for stopping by Justin! Look forward to having you around…
Carrying that yellow note-pad around has just come naturally to me by now. it goes with me every where I go (heck, I go through them so quickly). Usually I just jot down notes/ideas as they come to me. They don't always make sense right off the bat. But when it comes time to write that blog post, there's enough information in those notes to get me to crank something out.
But I agree with you… Sometimes it comes easy. Other times it just seems to take way too darn long.
A buddy of mine has a rule: Share one main point. Even if it's brief, stick to one main point and that's it. Let the comments go where they may and carry the discussion from there.
As for writing in general and tips for improving, my recommendation would be just to write, write, write. Day in and day out. Even if you don't always publish what you end up with.
Thanks for stopping by Justin! Look forward to having you around…