Hopefully you’ve recovered from your turkey coma and ready to get back in the game! December is shaping up to be a very busy month-- I’m back to the day job this week, and have a lot of writing-related projects on my schedule over the next few weeks, not to mention finals for my classes and oh yeah, getting ready for the holidays! 2011 will be here in no time!
Because I’m always so busy these days, other than my monthly writer’s group meeting I don’t get to quite as many writing-related events as I would like to. But this past weekend I made the time and a attended a blogging workshop. Not only was the facilitator super-knowledgeable about blogging and writing, but he was funny. And British. All important elements for keeping the audience’s attention if you ask me.
Jon (funny British writer and workshop facilitator mentioned above) had some great tips for coming up with catchy, attention-getting titles for blog posts and tying ideas to your blog’s main theme that may seem unlikely at first (such as “What Playing Tennis Has Taught Me About Writing”). He uses the same approach to his blog as I try to use for finding speakers for our writers’ group—we’re open to any topic, no matter how far-fetched, as long as you can relate it to writing. Same idea here.
He also stressed the importance of remembering who you’re writing for. He suggested trying something I caught on to a few months ago—making the content more relatable and putting it back on the reader. Initially, when I started this blog I thought people would come here to get advice for their own freelance writing efforts. When it quickly became clear that I’m definitely no expert, I shifted my focus to talking about my own writing challenges (and triumphs!) and then opening the floor to readers. I think that’s been much more effective, and honestly, it’s easier to find things to blog about doing it this way!
I think the best blogs capture the blogger’s personality and voice (Freelancedom is one of my favorites) but creates an atmosphere of collaboration and idea sharing. Those are just some of the top things I look for in a good blog.
And yes, I'm a bit of a sucker for a catchy title, too!
What about you? What keeps you coming back to your favorite blogs?
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Back…Back…Back…Back to School Again
(I thought I'd kick off the week with a little Grease 2 reference).
Blogging has taken a major backseat this summer, especially over the past few weeks. I’ve had a blur of interviews, frantic writing sessions, and meeting deadlines. It’s been hectic since mid-July, with no end in sight.
I should warn that my posts will become more sporadic again at the end of August. I just can’t cram enough into my schedule. Besides all of the other things I have going on, I decided to get my Master’s degree moving again and signed up for another course. I keep telling myself that I’m in the home stretch—at the end of this semester I’ll only have 6 credits left until I have my degree!
How has the summer been treating everyone? As you can tell, it’s been one of my busiest, writing-wise, that I can honestly remember. July was my most financially lucrative month since I started freelancing, so I’m totally thrilled. I have a few more assignments due in the next few weeks and a few lined up for September, but with the way my schedule is looking, unless some totally fabulous assignment (or idea) falls into my lap, the writing will have to once again take a back seat while I spend most of my time in academia.
I’ve been working on some pretty great assignments and I have some other very interesting projects in the works, so I really can’t complain. The writing life is good!
How is your fall shaping up?
Blogging has taken a major backseat this summer, especially over the past few weeks. I’ve had a blur of interviews, frantic writing sessions, and meeting deadlines. It’s been hectic since mid-July, with no end in sight.
I should warn that my posts will become more sporadic again at the end of August. I just can’t cram enough into my schedule. Besides all of the other things I have going on, I decided to get my Master’s degree moving again and signed up for another course. I keep telling myself that I’m in the home stretch—at the end of this semester I’ll only have 6 credits left until I have my degree!
How has the summer been treating everyone? As you can tell, it’s been one of my busiest, writing-wise, that I can honestly remember. July was my most financially lucrative month since I started freelancing, so I’m totally thrilled. I have a few more assignments due in the next few weeks and a few lined up for September, but with the way my schedule is looking, unless some totally fabulous assignment (or idea) falls into my lap, the writing will have to once again take a back seat while I spend most of my time in academia.
I’ve been working on some pretty great assignments and I have some other very interesting projects in the works, so I really can’t complain. The writing life is good!
How is your fall shaping up?
Friday, February 26, 2010
100th Post! 10 Ways Blogging Has Helped My Writing
Happy 100th post!
In honor of this milestone, I've put together a list of 10 ways blogging has helped me to improve my writing skills and reach my writing goals:
1. It’s helped me to further develop my own writing “style” and narrative voice
2. It’s forced me to write on a regular basis each and every week—maybe not every day, but just about
3. It’s reconnected me with the basics of grammar and the mechanics of writing—definitely not something I think about much, so sometimes I get lazy with it
4. I’ve “met” other bloggers who write about similar topics so I don’t have to feel I’m the only one struggling with a particular issue
5. I’ve been learning about things that every freelancer needs to know (i.e. taxes, finding/keeping clients, etc.), and that I'm not well-versed in
6. Other bloggers’ topics often inspire posts of my own
7. Writing regularly forces me to keep coming up with ideas for posts; this has helped to generate ideas for articles
8. Guest posting for others helps to promote my own blog and direct new readers to it
9. I’ve gotten a few opportunities to write blog posts as a regular paying gig
10. Blogging has helped to introduce me to new authors and writers through blog tours and guest posts
In honor of this milestone, I've put together a list of 10 ways blogging has helped me to improve my writing skills and reach my writing goals:
1. It’s helped me to further develop my own writing “style” and narrative voice
2. It’s forced me to write on a regular basis each and every week—maybe not every day, but just about
3. It’s reconnected me with the basics of grammar and the mechanics of writing—definitely not something I think about much, so sometimes I get lazy with it
4. I’ve “met” other bloggers who write about similar topics so I don’t have to feel I’m the only one struggling with a particular issue
5. I’ve been learning about things that every freelancer needs to know (i.e. taxes, finding/keeping clients, etc.), and that I'm not well-versed in
6. Other bloggers’ topics often inspire posts of my own
7. Writing regularly forces me to keep coming up with ideas for posts; this has helped to generate ideas for articles
8. Guest posting for others helps to promote my own blog and direct new readers to it
9. I’ve gotten a few opportunities to write blog posts as a regular paying gig
10. Blogging has helped to introduce me to new authors and writers through blog tours and guest posts
Thursday, April 30, 2009
My Summer Resolution
Most people associate resolutions with New Year's Day, but I find that I have a harder time being productive during the lazier summer months. So I'm going to make a resolution to be both more proactive and productive until the busier fall season rolls around. How do I intend to do that? Below are a few ideas up my sleeve:
Blog. 'Nuff said. That was one of the main reasons why I started this blog--to keep me writing!
Journal. Call it a blog in hard copy. I've been very sporadic with my journaling. I'm teaching a workshop in Personal Essays Through Journaling later this summer, so I'm making a concerted effort at getting back to this. It's true what they say--it's therapeutic.
Queries. Most writers slow it down during the summer, so it's the perfect chance for those of us who will not be slowing it down (not...not!) to get those pitches into the hands of editors. I got a jump start and send out a few last week. No bites yet, but I'm trying to be optimistic. Sending out queries regularly is just good practice.
Blog. 'Nuff said. That was one of the main reasons why I started this blog--to keep me writing!
Journal. Call it a blog in hard copy. I've been very sporadic with my journaling. I'm teaching a workshop in Personal Essays Through Journaling later this summer, so I'm making a concerted effort at getting back to this. It's true what they say--it's therapeutic.
Queries. Most writers slow it down during the summer, so it's the perfect chance for those of us who will not be slowing it down (not...not!) to get those pitches into the hands of editors. I got a jump start and send out a few last week. No bites yet, but I'm trying to be optimistic. Sending out queries regularly is just good practice.
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