How to Write a Blog Post

[This is a satiric look at writing a blog article. Though the principles are generally true, if you’d like a more serious look at the subject, please see my tutorial How to Write a Blog Article.]

Lately, the minion brain trust has been grumbling and whining about coming up with topics for blog posts. I don’t really get that, as I am a never-ending fount of ideas. But that gave me an idea. Maybe a lot of people have trouble writing blog posts. As usual, I am here to help with a handy guide on the subject.*

First, get an idea. It can be anything, really. For example, maybe you want to write an article on how to write blog posts. Introduce the concept by stating the issue: Coming up with blog posts can be a challenge.

Then frame the debate by defining the parameters of the discussion: Blog posts are nothing more than words. As writers, this is our milleu.

Then expound on that idea by using words. Write those words down.

Next, cover all your points in a bullet list. This adds a dramatic flair to your post. Like this:

1. Get an idea;

2. Expound upon that idea, using words;

3. Write those words down; and

4. Reiterate those words in a bullet list for effect.

Make sure to rephrase your main points. Maybe some people didn’t get it the first time around. So, just take any idea, write it down and repeat the main points you wish to make in a bullet list, then look for a different way to say what you already said. This will add heft to your post.

Sometimes, it can be helpful to admit you see the merits of the other side. For example, I can see how some people might have trouble coming up with blog posts. You could include some links to articles where people were complaining about writing blog posts.

Alternatively, you could pull some key quotes from those articles, like:

“Aw man! I am having so much trouble coming up with blog posts.” – some blogger.

and

“Gotta write another blog post this week. Any ideas?” – some other blogger.

Pictures are always a help. Adding pictures to your blog post makes it look a lot longer than it really is. Heck, I’ve done a half-dozen posts that didn’t have anything but pictures and items from an old grocery list. Try to relate the pictures in some way to your article.

Two other things you can do are to inject a little humor, and to raise an issue and then digress. The problem is that humor is sort of like fireworks. Not everybody handles it well. It seems like a lot of fun until somebody loses an eye. But I digress…

You can always use a joke to underscore your point. For instance, a bear was supposed to write blog posts for a duck. When he was through, he walked into the duck’s office with his blog post, but the duck didn’t have a desk.

The bear asked, “What do you want me to do with this blog post?”

The duck said, “Just put it on my bill.”

Before you know it, you’ll be writing the summary, wherein you re-state your main thesis. For instance, in this piece I would close by saying something about how following these simple steps will make it easier to write a blog post. See? It’s not so hard to write a blog post!

Author: Stephen Hise

Stephen Hise is the Evil Mastermind and founder of Indies Unlimited. Hise is an independent author and an avid supporter of the indie author movement. Learn more about Stephen at his website or his Amazon author page. View all posts by Stephen Hise