How do you blog?

[Phil Newton]

I've been blogging for over a year now, and I'm nowhere near as consistent as I'd like to be. I started writing for one of my blogs in June, and so far I've only made around 20 posts, and I go weeks without writing anything new. When I'm in the groove, I can draft several articles in a single day, but sometimes I feel completely barren on the creativity front.

My general flow goes something like this:

1. Create ideas list -- Create a list of ideas I'd like to write about. This list is generally a full sheet of paper, and can cover all topics. I try not to limit myself to anything in particular, as I just want lots and lots of ideas to use later. Quantity over quality is the order of the day.
2. Brainstorm a single item -- I pick an item from the list and brainstorm ideas about it. I try to jot down the things I'm wanting to teach or the value I want to give, but I find that approach quite hard.
3. Draft an outline on paper -- Next comes a very rough outline on a sheet of paper. I prefer to use paper as I can scribble notes down and draw diagrams/arrows or whatever. Once I'm done on paper, I'll stick it into my "draft blog articles" folder for when the PC is on.
4. Transfer draft to the PC -- I type up the notes and flesh them out a little bit with headings and bullet points. At this stage the article is still very rough and there will be limited formatting, but it's more of a "secondary brainstorm" session as I'll end up getting new ideas as I type.
5. Leave to settle, then edit -- The easy part is leaving the article alone! I'll generally go through and rewrite it line by line, depending on the quality of the draft. I'll also add images/other sparkly things depending on how drab it looks. I'll probably add more bullet points too...
6. Post it --

My biggest problem is usually around stage 2, as I feel unless I know the topic inside out I can't write about it, which is a limiting belief that comes from my perfectionism. Thankfully I'm starting to get over it, but there's still a long way to go. I think I use too many bullet points :P

How does everyone else blog?

[Adam]

Mine is a bit shorter than yours... If I used your method, I would probably spend a month on every single post before I published it.

Whenever I come up with an idea, I start a blog article with a title and a short, 1 sentence long description of what I want to say.

The next step is to write it all out, which can take me three to fourteen days. Then, I spend a day or two rechecking it to make sure that it is easy to read, and I run it past my wife, who tells me if it is stupid or not.

After that, I hit publish, hit edit again, and fix the spacing errors that Wordpress seems to like to put in at this step.

[Michelle]

I wake up, sit at the computer and think of what I would like to write about. Normally, this is very exciting and the topics just bubble out of me. I try to dedicate 2 hours per day to this fun activity. I just write what spontaneously comes out. Then I read and revise. Read again, add and subtract and revise. Yay! :-)

If I had to use paper or a lengthy process, there would be no getting me to write anything.

[Cassie]

I keep a journal with running ideas that randomly pop in my mind (which will usually be when i'm *just* about to fall asleep, or in the shower, or some other rather inconvenient place, grr).

I'll take an idea I'm feeling passionate about on that given day, sit in front of the computer, open a blank word document, and see what comes pouring out. I'll usually spend from one hour to one day refining a post, but never more. This helps me keep the momentum going.

[thef0x]

I write film reviews so I have a set criteria I address

And when certain parts of a film really interest me I just go on my own philosophical/semiological rant about the topic

Sit in front of the comp screen for an hour a day and you'll start writing.

Don't leave. Self discipline.

[Dating Specialist]

Wow Phil, that's an awfully long process to blog. You could have written a book maybe?

For me, I'm very much like Cassie, where my ideas can pop out at the most inconvenient places haha..especiallly when I'm in bed.

When I'm outside, I'll observe as many things around me as possible, and when anything interesting catches my eye, I'll take a photo of it and from there spin an angle for a post.

I guess probably cos my blog is themed towards love and marriage, dating, relationships, it's easier to focus.

[TheBull]

I tend to be a little more spontaneous. Most of my topics come from something that I see on the web, be it another blog, news article or whatever. However, with my newest blog I have a few items that I am taking more time and thought with.

As an example I started writing one post and it got so big that it has so far turned into two, with one piece published the other day and the second piece I am still working on.

[gberardi]

When I find something to blog about, I also create a subject, a link to whatever article or website I am writing about, and save it.

I currently have over 10 articles pending in WordPress, whereas before I used to keep only two or three.

Sometimes, after coming back to an older article, or even after writing one, I end up deleting it. It might be confusing, or I might find that I just didn't like how I wrote it. I've actually written an entire article in an stream of consciousness way, then rewrote it immediately afterwards to make it easier to follow.

I have a notebook that acts as my Todo/Projects list, and when I am on the road, I can write entries such as:

Blog: What's up with XYZ?

Then, when I sit in front of the computer, I can create an entry. I can either write it out then and there, or I can leave it for later.

It doesn't have to be an incredibly formal process, but if you find that formality actually makes it easier for you, then by all means!

[MichaelRGaudet]

If something pops into my head during the day, or something really cool happens that I witness, I will take a mental note and blog about it the following AM. I'm not the world's fastest typer, so I have to restrict the amount of time I spend blogging, or that's all I'd do. If there's a burning issue that I wanna blog about, I set the alarm clock for say, 6:00 AM and then get right to it over a steaming cup of coffee. That way, there's zero distraction. I try to blog at least once a week, consistantly. To date, I have over 70 entries.

I try not to blog MT blather, rather I will wait til something really strikes my fancy. The good news is there's always the EDIT option. At ANY time. So don't let perfectionism bog you down. Have fun and be yourself!

At present, I am honing my marketing skills. I use my blog as a sort of living laboratory to try stuff out. It's very helpful.