I'll let you in on a secret, by Linda LaRoche

Next month will mark my Blog's 10th year and with its longevity, and 600 blog posts, I've learned a few things along the way. This week chatting with a friend, I remarked that blogging is like magazine writing.  You need to welcome a reader in, and not hide your ideas in cluttered writing that assumes the reader understands you but encourages them to learn from you.

Some years back I had a friend of a friend who, when asked a simple question, would tell you everything she knew or thought about a subject. We met at a class. If you asked where you to park, she would tell you the history of the parking lot, explain the institution’s relationship with the lot, contrast this with other parking locations, and somewhere in there, if you were lucky, and on rare occasion, would be where you could or could not park.

It didn’t help that her voice was loud and high-pitched.  Being sensitive to sound, I get affected mentally and physically by the tone of voice. Sounds have power. Loud noises and constant chatter are counter-productive for a writer and increase stress hormones.

After her monologue, I learned to nod — “Uh huh”— and my interest would sharpen when she said something relevant to what I wanted to know.

That’s how some have learned to write internet material, they ramble every facet of a subject in one post while throwing out opinions.

The problem with this is we do not naturally write the way we read. Most people tend to write in a long-winded style, assuming readers will read every word. They don’t. As Hemingway said, “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.”

Writing with clarity and brevity can be learned with practice over time. Here are ten suggestions for writing a concise blog post:

1. Choose a topic that readers can identify with.

2. Make your tone conversational.

3. Have a good opening paragraph.

4. Write your post in a logical sequence.

5. Keep in mind; Blogging is a bit of sales— if you choose a “how-to” strategy—insert supporting elements.

6. Convince your reader that the problem merits their attention.

7. Know that you provide value by offering readers how to solve a problem.

8. Increase depth by reflecting on how to make the post memorable and useful for your readers benefit.

9. Finally, offer solutions and present ideas to consider.

10. Edit and revise.

Keep in mind, a blog post is not a lecture; or a monologue, by making it identifiable— and engaging with a story there is a discovery made tangible.

I invite you to subscribe to my Blog, Do Write at http://lindalaroche.com/blog/