Donella Meadows left her Environmental Studies post at Dartmouth over twenty years ago to publish a column for the Global Citizen. She felt that her sustainability message would reach more people through this new forum rather than through the channels of academia. Now, over ten years later, her column has archived quite nicely online and serves as inspiration for millions of people worldwide that also wish to publish their voice.
Perhaps, the largest opportunity for blogs is that anybody can write one, so there is a challenge in finding a writer that not only says something provocative, but publishes a post on a predictable basis. This is the opportunity for major news players to incorporate public refereed news formats in blogs. This would be a decentralized and distributed model vs. a large centralized power news organization that may not offer a diversity of slants on topics.
8/12/11: I've updated the following guidelines based on reflections over my first 6 posts and couple months of free-writing:
I assembled the following guidelines from numerous online sources:
1. Focus on the content!!! Don’t get caught up on the design of the blog
Response: Sure, but I'm starting to think it would be nice to integrate some images into each respective blog. Also, I found an architect's blog that uses Wordspress.com, and its not just the design of the blog, but the organization seems far better than this Google Blog that I'm using. I'll reflect on this further when I get to blog 20.
Response: Sure, but I'm starting to think it would be nice to integrate some images into each respective blog. Also, I found an architect's blog that uses Wordspress.com, and its not just the design of the blog, but the organization seems far better than this Google Blog that I'm using. I'll reflect on this further when I get to blog 20.
2. Provocative post headlines. The title should provide direction & focus. If the title has no energy, then you should question the power of what you are about to post.
Response: I could not agree more. The title alone can inspire creative writing. I also found value in jotting down every title that came to mind within the free-writing exercises themselves, even if they suggested a completely different path, that way I can come back to them a later time.
Response: I could not agree more. The title alone can inspire creative writing. I also found value in jotting down every title that came to mind within the free-writing exercises themselves, even if they suggested a completely different path, that way I can come back to them a later time.
3. Start with something outrageous, then tell a story.
Response: I've found outrageous to be quite difficult. One way we've integrated this into biomimicry design charrettes is the use of a randomizer which forces you to create things with unorthodox combinations, and this more times than not results in some intriguing combinations of designs, so a similar use might be used to spur creative thinking in blog posts.
Response: I've found outrageous to be quite difficult. One way we've integrated this into biomimicry design charrettes is the use of a randomizer which forces you to create things with unorthodox combinations, and this more times than not results in some intriguing combinations of designs, so a similar use might be used to spur creative thinking in blog posts.
4. Be a resource. If you find yourself continuously scouring the web for a certain topic, then odds are others, too, are doing the same.
5. Make it scannable. A reader should be able to get the jist of your post in just a few seconds.
6. Make every word count. Word counts vary tremendously (between 350-800 words). Too short of a post might lack intrigue or substance while a long post may either require further editing or even be broken into two posts.
Response: 500-600 is ideal. I found anything more is often redundant or ineffective. Also, 500 words results in a one page, font size 10 and takes about 30-45 minutes to write. I also would choose to not post, over posting. There were several times that I felt obligated to post (due to my self imposed deadline), but I waited and the post is so much better for it (Of course a professional writer could be so lucky to have that convenience).
Response: 500-600 is ideal. I found anything more is often redundant or ineffective. Also, 500 words results in a one page, font size 10 and takes about 30-45 minutes to write. I also would choose to not post, over posting. There were several times that I felt obligated to post (due to my self imposed deadline), but I waited and the post is so much better for it (Of course a professional writer could be so lucky to have that convenience).
7. One person’s distraction may be another’s muse. Know what works for you.
Response: I can free-write at just about anytime & anywhere. One time I was at a Widespread Panic show & I had to step away & sketch out some thoughts, so its important to not lose these moments. However, so far, I need at least a solid day away from distractions to digest multiple free-writings into something cohesive, & then need another day just to edit the final, before I post. This is where, I felt, that I would be completely inefficient if I was getting paid to write, but again, I expect to only get better., right?
Response: I can free-write at just about anytime & anywhere. One time I was at a Widespread Panic show & I had to step away & sketch out some thoughts, so its important to not lose these moments. However, so far, I need at least a solid day away from distractions to digest multiple free-writings into something cohesive, & then need another day just to edit the final, before I post. This is where, I felt, that I would be completely inefficient if I was getting paid to write, but again, I expect to only get better., right?
8. Provide links or citings at the end.
Response: My citings were often last minute ideas that I felt were needed to bring things together & take my post beyond just thoughts in my head. What is nice about adding links is that you do no have to explain every little tangent, it is okay to be a little vague, if anything, perhaps that would be opportunities for discussions in the comments, once the blog gets distributed among enough people.
Response: My citings were often last minute ideas that I felt were needed to bring things together & take my post beyond just thoughts in my head. What is nice about adding links is that you do no have to explain every little tangent, it is okay to be a little vague, if anything, perhaps that would be opportunities for discussions in the comments, once the blog gets distributed among enough people.
9. Lastly, SEOs (Search Engine Optimization keywords) might be considered for people to find your blog through searches.
Response: I have not yet added these, but this blog is formatted to support SEOs. Of course, once I decide that I want these to be accessible to anyone, I'll want to update my posts, accordingly.
Response: I have not yet added these, but this blog is formatted to support SEOs. Of course, once I decide that I want these to be accessible to anyone, I'll want to update my posts, accordingly.
Consulted links:
- Leo Baubata’s blog. This blog is current and he has kept weekly entries for years: http://zenhabits.net/about/
- Donella Meadows Global Citizen archive: http://www.sustainer.org/dhm_archive/
- Janine Benyus advice for inspirational writing: www.biomimicryinstitute.org/downloads/TipsToGiveYourWritingWings.pdf
- 4 pillars for writing blogs: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/07/19/the-4-pillars-of-writing-exceptional-blogs/
- 10 tips for blog writing: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2005/12/30/tens-tips-for-writing-a-blog-post/
- Wordpress.com blog: http://archizoo.com/
Everything in orange are some reflections I did on August 12, 2011 of this initial post from July 8, 2011.
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