It's time for me to switch things up. I know a lot of the new users
to Steemit are trying to figure out how to make it to the top of
that trending page. That winning spot that gives others a twinge
of jealousy. I want to give you all some tips and things to think
about when you write a post. These are things I've learned from
my time majoring in English at Purdue University and I think
they can be applied to any subject matter you choose to write
about.
I'm not saying that the content being posted on Steemit is subpar, but it's
always good to try and improve yourself and thus the platform itself-
especially since this improvement could drastically boost your bank account
;)
- Take Your Time
I spend an average of 3 or more hours planning out and typing
up my posts. Most of the time I have a general idea what I want
to write about, usually it's a crazy thing that happened, a
realization that changed my perspective, or education about a
specific topic. It's good to explore your thoughts and challenge
yourself to get critical about how or why things have happened,
and most importantly: you need to convey how it affected you
and what you plan on doing about it.
- Write It All Out
Rarely, if ever, do I write a post without editing it. I write
everything that comes to mind. Most of it is NOT what I want to
say, but when I get a good train of thought going I find that I
stumble upon a great thought or phrasing that pleases me and I do
my best to expand on that thought. Expand, expand, expand.
Write it all out. Then you can easily go back and take out
unnecessary words, repetitive phrases and pointless statements.
Hint: the word "that" is usually not needed
3.Organize it
You need to figure out what you want to accomplish with the post
and stick with it the whole way through. This will keep your
writing focused and prevent it from trailing off topic which can
be confusing for readers and make them feel like they're wasting
their time by reading it.
I begin with a general timeline, since I like to write about my
own travel experiences, this type of organization makes the most
sense. I think about the events leading up to the occasion, the
thing that happened, then how I reacted and felt about it. I like to
make comparisons whenever possible. They help the reader better
understand what I'm talking about and it can give them a better
visual, so they feel like they have experienced it also.
If you aren't writing about travel or telling a story, these are two
other ways to organize your writing- specifically if you're writing
about a technical subject. You can either begin with the Big
Picture and go further into detail with the specifics, this gives the
reader a heads up on what they will be learning about. Or you
can write it in a crescendo type fashion and begin with the
smaller details and tie them all together at the end by linking
them into the Big Picture. This gives your reader a sense of
deeper understanding on how everything is connected that way.
- Use A Language That's Relatable Yet Knowledgeable
Try to have a slightly casual tone with your writing. You want
your readers to feel comfortable reading the material, you don't
want them to struggle to understand what you're trying to say
because your writing makes you sound like a robot. It's great to
write in a way that conveys your own personality. You can do
this by including phrases you often use everyday. It's also good to
practice recognizing how your inner voice sounds when you talk
to yourself. If you can tap into that and convey it in the right way
it's a great way for your readers to feel connected to you and
they'll be more invested and interested in reading the entirety of
your post. Also, I try to be as descriptive as possible. I choose one
or two things to really describe in detail, not every single thing
but a few key details will really bring your reader closer to your
writing. They'll feel more connected and interested.
- Be Your Own Harshest Critic
Again, be very critical of your writing. Really think about what
you are trying to say and if you're using the absolute best
phrasing. I like to go over my writing and think of different ways
to organize the words to form shorter, more to the point
sentences. No one likes to read material that's really wordy, it's
boring and ultimately you'll lose the readers focus. On a platform
where content is king, keeping your readers attention should be
first on your list. You should have a clear and concise objective to
your post.
I know this post doesn't exactly warrant photos but here's a few
from Portugal, a trip I'll be writing about in the future:)
