Compulsive Blogging Part 3
So now you know why you want a blog and what your blog will be about. We’ve also told you about blogging platforms and how to get your blog out there. Now it’s all about the content, delivery, and timing.
So often the best, most successful blogs are about one persons view or interpretation of the latest happenings. All too often, bloggers just regurgitate the news as 500 other blogs have done on the same day that something news worthy happens. Though this can often be the best way to distribute newsworthy information, it can also lead to mass misinformation and misquoting and can lead to damaged reputations and diving stock prices.
One of my favorite blogs out there is Daring Fireball by John Gruber, not because he regurgitates the news of the day but because he give careful thought to what the news is about and then delivers his opinion of how that might or should affect him or his viewers. He has an opinion and whether you agree with his or not, it can’t be denied that his opinion is intelligent and thought out.
“Ok fine,” you say, “I too have an opinion.” This may indeed be true, but how is your opinion conveyed? When taking an opinionated stance, as so many blogs try to do, it is too easy to sound flippant, blithe or belligerent. Care and concern needs to be taken in your wording. This is easier done if your blog is taking a comedic or sarcastic view. Tongue in cheek is far less likely to offend but a knack for comedy is not naturally inherent in most of us.
Great, so you have an opinion or another way of seeing things, and you are sure that your ability to convey that stance in your writing will be effective. Now what? Timing. You could be the best, most intelligent writer out there who always strikes a chord with your intuitive view of the world, but that does you no good if you are writing about week old news. It’s important that you keep step with the news sites and blogs out there and stay as current as possible. If you can’t read some news and turn it around in your blog in the same day, then don’t bother blogging about it.
However, if the news is older but you’ve just found out about it yourself, then by all means blog about it. Just be sure that there is value to your readers in doing so. If you think the news might have slipped by your readers just as it slipped by you, then they’ll appreciate you for it. But to regurgitate something that everyone is likely to know about just because you were asleep at the wheel will certainly turn many reader away, deeming you to be behind the times.
One excellent way to stay current is to have an RSS aggregator running at all times pulling in feeds from all the trustworthy news sites, like Slashdot, CNET, Engadget, Wired, etc… When something that interests you comes up quickly determine if there is something else you can add to the story; another angle, point of view or opinion on the matter. If you decide to go ahead with the story, do it quickly, site reliable sources (more than one if you can) and be sure that you follow up on enough leads that will show that both you and your sources are credible.
Next time around, in part 4, we’ll have a look at my ever evolving arsenal of tools that help me to post as easily and quickly as I can.
Toast me a Tart
There are certainly days when I don’t feel silly, Funny or happy or plain willy-nilly.
On the days that lack a humorous start, I get out the toaster and toast me a tart.
And once the sugar from that tart kicks in, It gets me all giddy, puts my mind in a spin.
Until suddenly I need to break into song, And go prancing and bouncing and dancing along.
Out the front door I sing and I dance, While the neighbors suspect I’ve got ants in my pants.
But I don’t care, I shall do it some more, I bound as the sweat from my brow starts to pour.
I’ll go for as long as my feet don’t give in, I’ll dance and I’ll prance like stopping’s a sin.
My voice will go dry before I give up, My legs will go weak when I’ve had enough.
Just when I think I could go on all day, The truth of the matter gets in the way.
I haven’t a tart in the fridge or the drawer, I haven’t a tart in the pantry no more.
Now I’m not happy or plain willy-nilly, It is days like these when I don’t feel silly.