Blog Writing is a Conversation: What Are You Contributing?
The first thing to consider when writing a blog
Photo by Mauro Mora on Unsplash
We have become a blog society, with no lack of topics to discuss. It’s a democratic society, everyone has an equal voice, but some voices are louder than others.
There are more than 600 million blogs. And there are over 31.7 million active bloggers in the United States alone. Many millions more are readers, skimming through stories, grabbing a couple of takeaways and then leaving in about 37 seconds to go on to the next.
Whether we know it or not, we read blogs every day. Businesses, organizations, newspapers and magazines, academics, influencers and mere mortals write them to communicate with us, and the competition for our attention is fierce.
How did we become a society of bloggers? And how do we ensure our writing is making a positive contribution? On what basis do we even judge?
Start a conversation
Blogging is a new genre of writing. The word blog — shortened from weblog — entered into our daily language and the dictionary barely over 20 years ago, although it feels like it has always been there. The rules of blog writing are fluid like in the American wild west, with cowboys, Indians, pioneers and outlaws, expanding, defending, and reinventing the frontier. But there is one touchstone upon which blog writing rests.
When we blog, we want to connect with our readers and start a conversation or get a reaction. That, and the informality of blog writing, differentiates it from all other types — business, journalism, academic and even fiction.
Blogs fall into one of three categories:
The how-to blogs are aspirational. How to cook, dress, decorate, make something, write a good story, live a better life, make a fort in our backyard for the kids. It is human nature to desire to learn, improve ourselves and aspire to reach the stars.
The relatable blogs are the personal stories that connect us to others. It is human to share, to offer solstice, to teach what we know.
Blogs also provide news and opinion, and the fine line between fact-checked and edited journalism and blog writing is blurry to most. The best opinion pieces provoke an emotional response and challenge readers to think about their own beliefs. Blogging is the perfect platform for ranting, something unlikely in a mainstream newspaper.
While there are many different types of blogs, authenticity, or our unique perspective, is the common thread. Unlike all other writing, good blog writing is fundamentally personal, often with an element of storytelling. It is a conversation, and the quality of what we say determines if we are heard.
Contributing to a good conversation
The monetization of blog writing (another good story) and the stiff competition for readers have resulted in some bloggers publishing four even five posts per day. I call this extreme blogging and wonder what it contributes to the blog society’s conversation and the tsunami of blogs we face.
I know, I hear the rising chorus, “this is how I make a living.” The blog-sphere is full of these stories — How to Generate Endless Article Ideas When Inspiration Has Deserted You — and they are counter to everything blog writing was ever intended to be.
One blogger advised putting your head on a pillow until you found inspiration or forcing yourself to stare at a blank wall until you had an idea. I would rather watch paint dry than to be faced with an article in the guise of useful how-to information, but whose purpose is clicks and goosing the algorithm.
It may be useful to step back and analyze what we contribute to the conversation and if it resonates. All this before considering how we write, where we publish, how often and when, and the myriad of other questions that preoccupy the blog society.
The takeaway
Blog writing is a conversation. When what we write is a great read, then people will return. They hear our voices.
Start with an opening line inspired by a feeling or thought or question. And if for the moment we have nothing to say, it’s ok to be quiet. Think of the rising levels in the blog sea before adding our drops. Inspired writing worth sharing is guaranteed to contribute to the conversation and have a receptive and responsive audience.