How To Write a Better Blog

Set Goals!

If you want to keep growing as a writer you must set goals. I want to be a better blogger, so I need to be a better writer. I have 7 writing goals that I believe will make anyone a better writer/ blogger.

1. Keep a lazer focus.

Ask yourself, “In one sentence, what is my message?”. For example, your message might be: “Effectual prayer”, or “Do not fear”, “We need God’s grace”, “Love one another”, “Don’t complain, Be thankful”, etc. There are millions of good ideas to write about. Once you identify your message, make sure you stay focused on that message. Don’t get side-tracked. Everything you write should contribute to your message. Don’t ramble.

2. Make your blog inspire and apply to real life.

Readers want to be inspired and they want to read something that they can apply to their life. Some ideas that might add a little inspiration are a personal story, an anecdote from someone else’s life, or a quotation by a famous person. We are inspired by other people’s achievements and the trials they have overcome.

3. Develop a relationship with other bloggers.

Relate to other bloggers. Comment on their posts. What do you think they might want to read about? I posted pictures of my favorite bloggers over my desk. When I read their blog or they comment on mine, I refer to their picture. I feel like I know these people!

3. Move the reader to tears or laughter, and to a new point of understanding.

My goal is to move the reader to tears, laugh out loud, or smile. I want to move the reader to a deeper understanding. I don’t want them to think “blah blah blah…I know that.”

4. Learn the elements of style. (Write well.)

This is BIG! It also takes time. There is a lot to learn about writing that you didn’t learn in school. I have a writer’s notebook that includes things like power words, active voice, catchy titles, synonyms, overused sayings, quotations, etc.

I recommend these books: 

• The Elements of Style Book and Workbook, by William Strunk and E.B. White
• Writing for Emotional Impact, by Karl Iglesias
• On Writing Well, by William Zinsser
• On Writing, by Stephen King

5. Show it. Don’t tell it.

I have a list of quotes taken from blogs I follow. For example, I recently added theses quotes by Julie Dibble. https://juliedibblewrites.wordpress.com/2019/01/11/are-you-looking-for-hope/

“Was His hand gently lifting my chin toward heaven?”

Isn’t that so much better than saying, “I felt better when I looked at the sky.”? Her sentence makes me feel comforted myself. Not to mention, it put a smile on my face. Here are two more from Julie:

“May your faith in few be the glue to tie you tighter to Jesus.”

“… to disable pride in my heart…”

Here’s one from Stephen at Fractured Faith Blog. https://fracturedfaithblog.com

“Some days the words just refuse to flow and you have to drag them kicking and screaming out of your imagination and onto the computer screen.”

Compare that to this: Sometimes I don’t know what to write about.

Stephen’s writing is just plain fun to read. It makes you want to read more. And that is what makes an exceptional writer! I’m hoping that if I read his blogs enough, some of that will rub off on me!

6. Control your word count.

I try to keep my word count under 600 words MAX. 500 is even better. When I think it’s finished, I go back through and make sentences more precise. I usually find several sentences that can say the same thing in half the words. Rewriting is critical to writing well.

7. Read and study your Bible.

Last of all, but most important, if you want to bring a spiritual message, read and study your Bible daily. That way you can recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit. He might cause you to think of a certain Scripture. Obviously, you’ll have to be familiar with God’s Word to recognize His voice.

Once the Holy Spirit brought this Scripture to my mind:

“In humility value others above yourselves…” Philippians 2:3

It came out of the clear blue, but it was the answer to my dilema, and it was Biblical. I eventually wrote a blog about this entitled So You’re Angry.

In Closing …

These are my goals. Do I do them all well? Not yet! But I’m working on it. I know where I’m headed. I know where I want my writing to go. Set your writing goals and your writing can only get better and better!

“Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men …” Colossians 3:23 AMP

With Love, 

Cindy

This is My Journey Unscripted.

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

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