How you can improve your blog writing
Clark's
Advice
- Know the reader
- Grab attention--go for the drama
- Make it interesting
- Short sentences, paragraphs
- Organize with reader in mind
- Write to express, not impress
- Tell a story
- Have fun
- Concise structure
- Goes for drama
- Specific details
- Quotes
- Paints pictures
- Varies sentence strength
- Paragraph control
- Conversational
If the reader took a test, what do I want him to remember?
Every blog post should start with this sentence in your mind: "This is a blog post about_____, and it is interesting because____." If you can't write that in your head, you are not ready to start writing.
How does your blog writing measure up?
Read Show, Don't Tell, and comment below something you learned that will improve your writing. By 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1.
Show, Don't Tell was an interesting read. "They’ve simply learned how to tap into our emotions by using words to create vivid mental pictures. They know how to grab our attention, and keep it all the way through the post by applying a few simple tactics." This was in the introduction, but it stuck out throughout the piece.
ReplyDeleteGreat writers can paint a picture with words. One of the things I learned was about Power Words.
"To achieve such visualization, we need to use words that tap into emotions and evoke powerful responses. Words that will lead “the reader to feel a certain way about that information”. That is, the information you’re presenting. Words that generate feelings of fear, enthusiasm, lust, anger, greed, safety and curiosity all have tremendous impact on our decision-making; and can be used to draw readers along, capturing their attention."
So using power words can evoke certain feelings within readers. With my particular blog topic, I need my readers to have an emotional connection with what I am writing about. So I have bookmarked the link she has to Power Words and will utilize them in my next blog posts.
In reading Show, Don't Tell I learned that to improve your writing you should have a compelling headline. Headlines are what attract the reader to read your blog/story and they should be crafted like a "good song-lyric". You have to grab their attention, and then persuade/motivate them- whatever you are trying to do. Engage with your audience.
ReplyDeleteHaving better persuasive language in headlines to grab the audience.
ReplyDeleteThis blog Show, Dont tell was interesting because I didn't know what words were more powerful than each other, and it was almost like some of the words I would have never thought were so eye catching just because they are everyday words.
ReplyDeleteThis will improve my writing in a way i start to use more powerful words instead of just simple ones. I will know how to grip my readers more and more and hopefully continue to grasp their attention.
Show, Don't tell was an excellent read, that I found very useful as I'm entering this new world of blogging. My word choices will do a lot to enhance my readers experience. It's important to use the proper words to captivate my audience and encourage them to keep reading. I also think that it is important to remember that I am writing to paint a picture, and have the reader experience exactly what I am telling them about. In doing that there is no need to impress, it's more important to find the proper words that fit your topic, and that the audience may find compelling.
ReplyDeleteOne of the tips she gave was writing to one person, not an entire audience. She said that people like to feel special, so make it about him/her. She called it writing to a profile.
ReplyDeleteShow, Don't Tell had a lot of really great advice, but the thing that stood out to me is that even if you use all the right words and create good visuals for your audience, unless you have important, entertaining and resourceful information, the technic won't get you anywhere. Your subjects need to be raw and real and pull your readers in just as much as your words do. Without the content to back up your visuals, it's all just "fluffy filler material" and won't actually keep your readers engaged.
ReplyDeleteSome areas I think I can improve on are making my headlines really grab the audience.
ReplyDeleteI've been struggling with headlines. I couldn't think of any interesting headlines that can draw reader's curiosity. This blog would be very helpful to come up with compelling headlines.
ReplyDeleteI learned several things from reading "Show, Don't Tell" including that I should write to just one person and I need to work on using more power and visualizing words to grab the readers attention in both my headlines and blog content.
ReplyDeleteMy writing could be more engaging. Many of my posts are long, and lacking in terms of excitement. My writing is similar to my speaking style, explaining more than interacting. I will try to show more than to tell, allowing readers to create images in their minds and make their own conclusions.
ReplyDeleteI will try to write more concisely, use more engaging language and create more thought provoking headlines.
After reading Show, Dont Tell I realized that I need to work more on the words that I choose and the way that I write. I also need to make sure that I stay on topic when I write.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is a very hands on and visual subject, I need to write with that in mind. I need to appeal to the senses more and make sure that it is short and to the point. I need to show technology more than just explain what it is.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these useful tips and tricks for writing! I am an undergraduate student and already took online business communication class assistance. I am having multiple writing assignments for that I was in need of a proper guide to start.
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