Blogging is writing. While blogging may be shorter than an essay and certainly shorter than a book, it is still writing. You are still putting words together to communicate an idea. Typically this is done in prose, not poetry. Therefore, blogging is writing. Why does this matter?
The key ways to improving your blogging are therefore already known. They are the methods and exercises and techniques to improve writing. Note I didn’t say improve your readership numbers or how well you show up on a search engine. I’m talking about the craft of generating better blog posts. Or should I say writing better blog posts? While other factors like interesting pictures can help convey an idea, you still have to say it with words. An interesting image isn’t enough, even if it’s sort of eerie like the cat eyes I’ve selected for this post. Interesting images may attract someone initially, but they won’t keep a reader. Good writing has a far better chance of that.
While it’s always great to feel the thrill of knowing someone is reading your work, the key to getting better at writing blog posts is to care about your writing. It’s not about the reader, but the writing. If you aim to be a better blogger, aim to always be your worst critic when it comes to your posts. I sent this to a friend today over twitter today, because it’s something I believe in:
And remember the writer’s mindset: never be satisfied with your writing. Always look to improve it. Especially what you’ve already written.
This isn’t my original thought. I’ve seen it repeated over and over again by great writers whom I admire. I think this is what sets them apart. They aren’t ever satisfied with what they’ve written. They are constantly reviewing what they’ve produced in the past and looking to improve upon it. This, by the way, makes a good developer, too. A good developer, upon revisiting some of his/her old code after some time away, should think, “I actually wrote this? This is poorly done. I know how to improve upon it.” This should be true if you if you want to write better, if you want to blog better. Remember, blogging at its core is writing. Improve the core. Improve the writing.
“While it’s always great to feel the thrill of knowing someone is reading your work, the key to getting better at writing blog posts is to care about your writing.”
Readers feel it in your writing if you don’t care. Readers follow a blog because they feel a certain connection with the writer/blogger.
Readership is a byproduct of good writing.
I follow Jeff Goins at http://goinswriter.com/ for writing tips. Jeff’s blog is suggested to me by sql family Edwin Sarmiento (@bassplayerdoc).
Brilliant mindset. Focus on the work and readership will take care of itself.
Mark Blasini