When you write a new blog entry, how do you decide what to write? And how do you decide how to write it?
I’m sure everyone does this differently, and it’d be interesting to hear some answers. As for myself, I usually write when I’m feeling inspired. I can write without feeling inspired, but it’s much harder for me. Firstly, it’s not fun. Secondly, words are hard to come by — I can spend an eternity perfecting the second paragraph. And lastly, even if I manage to finish the entry (and I often don’t), I often hold off on posting it. If I don’t really like it, why would someone else?
Unless I’m really sleepy or really upset, I do read my entries before posting them. I read them to ensure they meet my not-very-stringent criteria for published entries. Firstly, the entry must be entertaining. Secondly, it must be as concise as possible. Thirdly, it has to be as self-contained as possible.
All of these requirements can be, and have been, waived in some circumstances. For instance, important updates aren’t required to be entertaining (although if they are, it’s a bonus). Entries aren’t required to be concise if I’d have to edit out the interesting parts, or render the entry meaningless, to make it so. Entries aren’t required to be self-contained if they’re a follow-up to another entry. I’m also more likely to waive requirements if I haven’t written anything in a while.
Really, the hard part of blogging for me is motivating myself to write. Inspiration doesn’t strike that often, or at least not at times I’m actually at a computer. I have no shortage of things to write about (including this, I have eight drafts!), but I don’t feel like writing about any of them. Not even this, but I decided it looked like the easiest draft to tackle. Hmm.
Anyway, that’s the convoluted manner in which I compose my blog entries. How do you write yours?
