Blog is the Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2004, based on online lookups.
In the one year since my first blog entry in January 2003, I’ve gained several observations about blogging:
- The fear of writing must not grip you.
- Procrastination must not delay you.
- The potential that your conclusion may stimulate controversy must not hinder you.
- The anticipation of opposition must not quiet you.
If you follow a process, writing all comes together quickly. Here’s just one process I follow.
PRE-WRITE – Use your analytical skills to:
- Think it out.
- Do your research.
- Understand who your audience is.
- Organize your thoughts.
FREE-WRITE – Turn off your analytical, critical, rule-driven brain. Turn on your creative, emotional, free-wheeling brain.
- DO Get your ideas down, no matter how untamed.
- DO write extemporaneously (er, too big of a word)…”freely.”
- DO have fun. Do it with passion. Write from your heart.
- Stop. Give your writing a rest. Go away. Do something else. Sleep on it.
RE-WRITE – Turn on that analytical, critical, rule-driven brain one last time.
- Come back and check the organization, spelling, grammar, style, usage.
Remember your ABCs:
- Proofread for accuracy.
- Edit for brevity.
- Test for clarity.
How does it “look?” How does it “sound?”
- View its layouton the “page.” Some mis-informed people think this step is about “making it pretty,” but that’s not the purpose. It’s making sure visual obstacles don’t distract or impede your reader.
- Read it aloud. Listen to its sound. Words not only have a visual heft, they have an audible soul.
Now PUBLISH.
So, what are you waiting for? I’m waiting to read your blog.