Wednesday, July 1, 2015

July 1: Writing Prompt #182-Great or Greatest

What makes a blog great? What makes you follow a blog or “Like” a post?
What makes a blog great? It’s the elements of a good story (or blog):
1. “Hooking” your reader: You have to get your reader’s attention with an intriguing, powerful, or at least a fascinating start to each entry. Draw them in or “hook” them, so to speak.
2. Be real (or truthful or transparent, or put it all out there…however you would word it). If you’re not able to do that, you’ll only ever “hook” them for a moment, then lose them when they wriggle off your line. 
3.  Have a story to tell. This means there’s a beginning, a conflict and climax, and finally a resolution or at least a lesson to learn. Without that, why would anyone read your musings?  What can they gain from it? 
4. Tell it and be relatable.  Do your best to just be yourself and tell your story each day or give your insights on life.  That’s what people want…to know that they are not the only ones out there struggling with the world we live in, learning as they go, experiencing the same things you are.  That’s how we build relationships, lift each other up, and make it thought this chaotic life without giving up. 

That said, the blogs I follow inspire me, lift me up, certainly make me shake my head and say, “yes, I know just what you are saying,” and they remind me that I am not alone in this world in my thoughts, emotions, and experiences.  Every entry may not be this to every person, but each entry can be this to one person or two maybe.  Blogs are not any different than short stories, novels, or biographies to me. They are just put in a different format, over a lengthier time, and they are the raw material for those “finished” pieces.  They are, perhaps, more honest than any traditionally published manuscript because they are real time snapshots in time without any editing involved.  AND that’s what I love about them. Rock on, bloggers!!

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