You don’t learn how to produce a fantastic blog post in a single day…
Often, it seems that writers are magicians because we can create something from nothing.
However, there is one thing to keep in mind concerning magicians:
They aren’t truly magicians.
Instead, they observe and mimic certain actions until they achieve the illusion of creating something from nothing.
And, of course, all artists do the same thing. We study and practice our art, making ongoing improvements and (if we’re lucky) developing habits that result in more consistent production.
Today’s post will help with the “continuous output” portion.
What is the most difficult aspect of producing a decent blog post?
I don’t think I’m alone thinking that the hardest part of writing is getting started.
We have no idea what we’ll be working on. We haven’t settled on the structure yet. However, we lack the main sentence. The ideas are whirling about in our minds like ADD cats, and we have no idea how to keep them in check.
It’s a lifesaver to have a well-known, repeatable line of action you use every time you undertake creative work, such as blog articles or podcast episodes.
Then you don’t put things on your schedule like finishing the blog post. You set aside 20 minutes to draught subheads.
The stages I noticed are listed below. You should utilize this simple process to learn how to create a decent blog post — as many blog posts as you like, actually — without crying or becoming frustrated.
Imagine yourself as a gardener instead of seeing yourself as a magician extracting a rabbit from a hat.
1. Come up with logical topic ideas
Start a large number of seedlings…
Without a specific topic in mind, sitting down to write is a certain way to waste time and aggravation.
You’ll be better off taking a short walk and carrying a pencil and index card with you. While out walking, jot down any ideas that come to you for a piece of content. (It’s not the one you’re working on.)
Successful writers understand that they must capture as much of their ideas as possible, both good and bad.
A “thought seedling” may be a published idea, but it can also be a topic for:
All of them should be apprehended. Make it a habit to have anything with you that can be used to grab notes. Most of us have a smartphone and an app in our pocket. Whatever works, however, should be relied upon. There are several advantages to using 35″ index cards, according to Victoria, a friend of mine.
Commit to capturing at least 5 ideas for content material daily – even if they’re dumb or dull. Increase this habit if you realize that you’re usually working dry on notions. The more content material you capture, the more will come your way.
2. Prepare for a high-quality writing session.
Make sure you have soil, water, and light…
After all, gardens need these problems for the plant to grow.
As a writer, you will encounter certain conditions that will aid you in producing your best work.
To create a successful blog post, you will most likely need to stay away from distractions or interruptions. (At the very least, turn off digital alerts during your work periods.) You may need a ritual to get your creative juices flowing. Most certainly, you have a favorite piece of equipment.
Cal Newport refers to high-quality writing as “deep work.”
To listen to your thoughts, you’ll need time, space, and privacy.
3. Determine the kind of content you’ll be using.
Place pegs in the ground…
What happens once you acquire all of these seedlings?
I prefer to start with a few subheads while writing blog posts. They build an intrinsic structure (similar to the framework on which you’d grow a tomato plant) that you can quickly inspect to determine whether the final model will be connected and useful.
They’re also beneficial for generating scannable information that will quickly grab a reader’s attention and urge her to read more carefully.
Some authors find an ideas map to be quite beneficial at this stage. Thought maps don’t work for me, but if they’re your cup of tea, go ahead and use them.
You may start anywhere you choose once your structure is in place. You don’t have to start from the beginning to write a decent blog post – just jump in wherever you’re inspired and write a paragraph or two.
You most likely won’t be ready to conclude the draught just yet. (If that’s the case, went on to the next step.) Take note of any words or phrases that come to mind. Expand on any points, create a few notes of stories or instances, and write down any connections you’ll need to address.
4. To get started, write an excellent blog post.
Freely write…
If you can get some draught copy down, do as soon as possible.
Unless you’re a competent writer, don’t worry about grammar, use, spelling, phrase substitution, or even logical flow.
It’s not uncommon for these ADD-kitten notions to shoot off in all kinds of wacky ways at this stage. That’s fantastic. We’ll figure out what to do with your thoughts after you’ve gotten them out of your mind and into some sentences.
If you find yourself going off on tangents that don’t seem to fit within this piece of information, these are likely fresh idea seeds. Transfer them to your thought seedling system if you don’t want to be interrupted while writing.
5. Dig a little deeper
Speak to your ears…
Try talking to yourself if you can’t get your fingers to move on the keyboard. What would you say if you were having a conversation with a friend, customer, or coworker about this topic?
(Privacy proves to be advantageous in this situation.) Not everyone has the social courage to talk aloud to themselves at an espresso shop.)
What makes you so enraged about this topic? (This always results in interesting work.) Are you bothered by anything in particular? What would you want others to do differently? What were some of the things you used to do incorrectly? How have you progressed over time?
Attempt to transcribe your mutterings as quickly as possible. Don’t be alarmed if they seem ridiculous on the web page. Right now, we still have plenty of time to make the necessary adjustments.
6. Turn your excellent first draft into a wonderful blog post.
Prune and svelte…
You may trim your framework after you’ve entered a handful of sentences into it. Anyone who understands how to produce a superb blog post may also be an excellent content material editor.
What is the main point of this article? (It’s generally nothing like you imagined it would be when you started.)
Which parts of this article have a lot of power? Could you move them to the front of the line to give them a more powerful start?
Which parts of this article go somewhere else? Remember that these are thought seedlings; thus, clipping them out of this piece will not result in their loss.
Read what you’re about to have out loud. The strange things, the unusual word picks, and the unexpected tangents will start to jump out at you as you get a handle on how to write a successful blog post.
When I’m pruning, it takes me two to three times longer than when I’m really writing the piece.
Take it to as many pruning courses as you reasonably can. It’s always better to make a pruning pass first, then let the publication rest for a while before returning to it with fresh eyes.
After I’ve pruned, I look for:
Phrases that may be shortened without losing their meaning
Concepts that might be refined and expanded upon in future work
Phrases that haven’t been utilized correctly or that might be replaced by something more precise
Complex sentence structures that can be simplified
Expensive jargon that can be deciphered
You’ll have your unique list that you’ll build up over time.
7. Take steps to ensure your long-term success.
Plant more seedlings…
Although a thorough edit is necessary for producing high-quality work, there comes the point when you reach “sufficient,” click Publish and go on to the next idea.
As a result, it’s a good idea to combine your creative routines with a content material schedule. Ship it, learn from it, and go to the next component.
Writing and gardening are both seasonal activities. Something new appears all of the time.
If you’re worried about a writing piece that didn’t turn out the way you hoped, it’s a sure indicator you should be writing more to learn how to produce a decent blog post.
Worrying over your writing will prevent you from really writing. Kicking yourself for all the ways you don’t measure up isn’t going to help you write. Even endless edits aren’t going to help you write.
And now and again, a piece that you weren’t fond of turns out to be a fan favorite. We aren’t very good judges of how well a certain piece of writing will work for us.
Take use of some more ideas. Begin to raise the next one. Write till it’s finished. Prune till it’s in excellent shape.
Then just keep going.