8 Secret Steps to Easy Blogging

Writing and Releasing

                        

Blogging should not be a difficult or arduous task. 

• Rather it should be a pleasurable outpouring of your position on an issue; 
• an expression of your strong feelings about a current event; 
• an exposition on a topic on which you have done some significant research; 
• or maybe just sharing a particular point of view on something you have some real interest in.

Blog Writing as a Release
As an independent consultant the writings I often do include writing reports, designing programs, evaluating programs, and developing proposals to acquire grant moneys along with other related types of highly technical writing. 

Blog writing then is a release from that type of demanding writing. As I write this, I am experiencing a release from my normal and typical writing directly associated with making a living. I see blogging as not just an emotional release, but also a sharing of information and a point of view.

Blogging Simplified
Blog writing, simplified, can be broken down into eight specific and easy tasks:
1. Identify the substance of what you want to write about.

2. Work on the title of the blog. The title is extremely important. It will determine whether or not someone actually decides to read your article. Make the title a catchy and intriguing one.

3. Develop a strong lead paragraph. This is important because, after the title, the paragraph must make the reader wants to further explore what you have to say.

4. Keep your main points you want to make to no less than three and no more than nine. Two are too few. Ten are too many.

5. Support each of your points with facts and data. If you choose to quote a so-called expert, keep it to a minimum. The important thing is to make sure that your facts and data are from reputable sources.

6. Keep your sentences short and concise. Write in the active voice. And, write to the reader. Let the reader know that you are talking to him or her.

7. Use bullet points if they are appropriate to your article and avoid jargon unless you are willing to explain what it means.

8. Conclude your blog with a summary of your main points or a simplified restatement of the essence of your blog.

There it is. Blog writing should be a sharing of information and a release. Consider it to be therapeutic and have fun doing so.

More Don't Confuse Your Audience. Get Your Message Across

After my first listing of confusing words, here are more words that are commonly confused both in speaking and writing. I hope you find this list useful.

access  n. - ability to obtain or make use of
The student council president fought, unsuccessfully, to get Internet access in the cafeteria.
excess n.-- overload, overindulgence; extra
Jean partied to excess and had to miss the family reunion the next day.
 
affect v.- to produce an emotional response; to influence 
Manny was worried the movie would affect him. So he didn't go.
effect v.  to cause; to produce
Although many worried that the World Trade Center tragedy would drive people out of New York City, the terrorist attack did not effect this migration.
 
apathetic adj.- having little feeling emotion, or interest
Kara's joke made her mother fear that Kara was truly apathetic about poverty and hunger.
empathetic adj. -sympathetic; compassionate; understanding the feelings of others
Kenny showed just how empathetic he was when he donated all of his graduation money to the homeless center.
 
censor v. to examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable
The agency acted to censor the documents by crossing out several paragraphs.
censure v.  to find fault to criticize; to find blameworthy 
While Congress decided whether or not to censure the president, the reporters waited eagerly outside.
 
disassemble v. - to take apart
From a young age, Charles liked to disassemble his toys and then put them back together.
dissemble v - to pretend, disguise one's moods 
With his parents and the principal staring at him, Billy could only dissemble for so long.
 
discomfit  v. - to put into a state of embarrassment and humiliation
Darren liked to discomfit everyone with his dirty jokes, but one day a teacher overheard and sent him to detention.
discomfort  v. - to make uneasy; embarrass 
Sometimes the best books discomfort the reader, showing that person something about the world that he or she had new considered before.
 
duplicity n. - deception, dishonesty
The two girls claimed to be best friends, but their relationship was always being tested by duplicity.
duplication a - the act of making an exact copy of something
Henry used his artistic talents for duplication, and everyone was always impressed with his reproductions of famous paintings.


Again, refer to a good desktop college edition dictionary for the pronunciation of these words.


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Don’t Confuse Your Audience. Get Your Message Across

If you are a writer, public speaker, or both, you have come to realize how vitally important it is to be as precise as you can in delivering your message. While there are literally hundreds of words that are often confused and used inappropriately, here I’m only initially identifying twelve words that in my experience are often confused and which I confess to sometimes confusing them myself. Here they are:
 
1. Principal, principle. These often confused words have clearly defined and distinguishable meaning. As an noun, principle means a sum of money, a chief person, the head man. The principal invested in that scheme amounted to $5000. The principal of this school is a woman of remarkable vigor. As an adjective, principal means main or foremost. His principal aim is to get well.  Again, principle, as a noun only, means a governing rule or truth, a doctrine, a determined course of action. The manager is a man of sound ethical principle.

2.Rational, rationale. Rational, an adjective, means of sound mind, sane, logical, reasonable, sensible. Your explanation is entirely rational. This is a rational plan for lowering the sales tax in this state. Rationale, a noun, means, a logical basis, fundamental reasons,  and exposition of principles. I cannot understand the rationale for your actions. Does deliberate cruelty ever have a defensible rationale?

3. Orient, orientate. Each of these verbs means to familiarize with conditions, to adjust to surroundings. This training program will  orient (or orientate) you in your new position. The lectures are designed to  orient all recruits. Orient is preferable to orientate and is much more commonly used.

3. Belittle, disparage. These words are related in meaning: to speak of as unimportant, to regard something as less  important or impressive than it apparently is. Disparage is a stronger word than belittle in that intends to bring reproach or discredit upon the topic being considered, whereas belittle means simply to make less, to minimize. Don’t belittle my efforts, I’m trying hard.

4. Lonely. Lonesome. These words mean about the same thing and are frequently  used interchangeably. A lonely person is likely to be lonesome because  he is without companions or remote from places of human habitation. Lonesome rather than lonely is more often to mean isolated, desolate, and unfrequented. The narrow path wound through a lonesome stretch of the country. Lonely conveys a feeling of dejection, or sadness. Janet was in tears because she felt so lonely.

5. Eminent, imminent. Eminent means distinguished, high in rank, noteworthy. An eminent statesmen. Imminent, means about to occur, impending, . An imminent rain  squall.

6. Monologue, dialogue. From Greek terms meaning one word or one person, monologue refers to a speech by one person. Dialogue, from Greek words meaning two words or two speeches, refers to conversation between two or more persons. Dialogue is popularly used to refer to an exchange of ideas on the issues of politics, human rights, economics, religion. The managers and workers in this plant should have a dialogue about their common problems. 



For the correct pronunciation of these words, refer to a good desktop college edition dictionary.  


Look for more clarification of confusing words in a future post.

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