Over the coming weeks, Spark is running a special series about building an online presence you can be proud of. Merlin Mann of 43Folders.com will be our guide, and we encourage you to pick up Merlin’s homework and follow along at home or work. View all of Merlin’s segments.
So, you have a blog. You’ve figured out what you’re passionate about. You’ve established a voice. You’ve considered your audience and set expectations.
Now what?
This week, Merlin talks to Nora about getting better. Things like:
- Write better to think better
- Be a great editor
- Don’t post everything you write immediately
- Care about spelling and grammar
We’ve reposted the audio here as an MP3 download:
Play audio:
Merlin’s homework assignment: Go back to something that you’ve posted in the past (a blog post, or photo, or video), and think about how you could improve it through a bit of editing.
Do you agree with Merlin? Completely disagree? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, or better yet, write a response on your own blog and leave a link to it here.
So I’m curious about some of the comments about keeping a blog. See blogs differently. Yes it is a means to communicate and good writing skill will help bring and keep eyeballs on ones site. But, there are ppl like me who lack good writing skills for reasons of disabilities. I believe that what I have to write is important as you Nora or Mr. Mann. The big difference is I don’t write as well or eloquently as you two. So does that mean that I should leave blogging up to those best suited for such things?
I guess one reason I’ve not done more writing on my blog is I’ve not resolved this internal debate either. I read a lot and there is nothing better than find someone who communicate so well that the words just leap off the page.
As my wife as I’ve got an opinion on everything. So if I feel like writing those opinions or ideas should I, even if I’m not as effective as others?
Firstly, I’m excited to find this site and look forward to returning again. It has been refreshing listening to this podcast while doing my daily mundane activities in the kitchen.
Secondly, thank you Merlin for your wise words on creating a blog worth reading. I have just recently started a personal blog about my professional development as a distributed learning teacher. Initially I had decided that due to time constraints and my blog being a reflection of my jumbled mind that I would not worry too much about it being polished. After listening to you, I now also see this as an opportunity to improve my writing and make it more worthwhile for others to read as well. I think your advice to not publish a post too quickly is so true and I will try and remember to let my posts simmer awhile first. Sorry for the cooking metaphor, but I am in the kitchen, don’t forget.
JodieR
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. are all still incredibly important, especially when starting out. The only somewhat successful exceptions that I’ve seen are people who come across as being “larger than life” with overpowering personalities AND who are able to demonstrate expertise at the same time. Evin wen they can’t spel.
I agree that these elements are good and necessary. But my issue is who should communicate his/her ideas and opinions. Should cognitive disabilities limit someones right to write. The great thing about blogging is anyone can do it and the corollary is just because you can does not mean you should.
But, but, but…
Maybe no one will come back after one visit to my blog. There is one thing I know is I don’t know how to keep my opinions to myself. For good or for ill I’ll keep on typ
If you can’t resist “publishing” your burning thoughts and opinions online -
You. Must. Use. Correct. Spelling. Punctuation. And. Grammar. Period.
If you can’t your work yourself, ask or hire someone you know to do it for you. As one of the last standing grammar-geeks, I assure you that quality communication depends on CLEAR writing, the backbone of which is spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Your readers (and I) will thank you.
I just started a blog a couple of months ago and the learning curve has been fun. What I’m curious about is how do you get people to come to your blog?
@Haremind — just wait for episode 54 of Spark!
Hi, I started writing my blog about four years ago now. I’m an artist and I post mostly photos, collages, videos and music I make. I really like your suggestions and it made me rethink certain things. I had a question regarding the problem of language in canada. I am a french canadian posting in both french and english and I sometimes wonder if this is or isn’t a problem for my readers. Maybe it would be an interesting topic to cover on spark.
Hello Nora and others,
You’re interesting and entertaining discussions with Merlin has inspired me to begin a blog. This endeavor has encouraged me to stop being lazy, and write more. This is something I have always enjoyed doing, but have a hard time getting motivated to accomplish, and your current discussion with Merlin reminds me of why. I am a terrible speller. Every underline in MS Word can get rather frustrating sometimes. But as you say, one has to learn to improve ones self. In this world of speed and fast pace everything, I have found that taking ones time in writing is extremely valuable. Writing is a slow and careful process for me.
I don’t know where that leads me in this world. All around me I see cell phones and electronic devises promoting instant connection and quick short form grammar communication. I have a friend, who is a teacher, and she complains of essays with passages written in electronic short form, and another friend works with university students who write extremely poor grammar in the work environment. Perhaps they may think they are being creative. I worry this may become some kind of frankingrammer technobabble for the masses of the future; a byproduct of this remarkably connected world. Or perhaps that’s just my “old fogey” thirty-one year old self talking.
Your show is fantastic.
Cheers,
Snooks
Halifax
http://snooksthe.livejournal.com/