Comments on: Writing Tips for Genealogy Bloggers

By: Caroline Gurney

Caroline Gurney — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 23:22:50 +0000

Thank you so much, Thomas, for these really helpful tips and thank you also to everyone who contributed their ideas in the comments. Now I need to put them all into practice. I’m extremely new to blogging but enjoying it immensely. Geneabloggers is proving to be an excellent source of help and inspiration for me.

By: Michelle Goodrum

Michelle Goodrum — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:53:19 +0000

I have a folder called Posts-Drafts for works in progress which I write in Word. I also have a folder for photos and artwork that I am slowly collecting (with information for credits where appropriate).

Once I’ve got a post written and proofed, I move it over to Blogger and put the finishing touches on (such as links). Then I proof it again.

I schedule a lot of my posts. I really like the idea of an editorial calendar so I’ll have to start working on that!

Also, I try to keep with 3-5 paragraphs and around 500 words or less. If it needs to be longer, I make the article into a series. Short is definitely better.

By: Greta Koehl

Greta Koehl — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 03:25:46 +0000

My writing process is very much like Heather’s – from Word to Blogger. I imagine myself talking to a friendly interlocutor, write it down, edit out 5 to 30 percent of the unnecessary material, and add whatever is needed to make it flow more smoothly and logically. And, as Barbara said, proof it at least twice. I write down ideas and as much of a beginning as I can whenever I get new ideas – have a folder full of those. I add pictures when I have good ones, but otherwise I focus on content and writing style rather than taking time I don’t have to search for graphics.

By: Ruby Thompson

Ruby Thompson — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:12:51 +0000

RT @geneabloggers: What are your best blog writing tips? New #genealogy bloggers want to know – at GeneaBloggers http://su.pr/1h8hGO

By: geneabloggers

geneabloggers — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 05:03:11 +0000

What are your best blog writing tips? New #genealogy bloggers want to know – at GeneaBloggers http://su.pr/1h8hGO

By: Heather Rojo

Heather Rojo — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:38:34 +0000

I always write in Word and then later I paste my stories into the blogger website. This gives me a chance to really slow down and think. I prewrite lots of posts ahead of time, and then enter them into Blogger about a week ahead of time. Some stories take weeks or months to finish, others I can write in fifteen minutes. All my stories are saved in folders by the month, with the biggest folder being my unfinished stories! I have a large folder for images, too, which I save as I go along, knowing I’ll use them eventually. This way, if I need to, I can email a story to relatives, experts or curators elsewhere for some feedback before I put it on the blog.

By: Kerry Scott

Kerry Scott — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:34:52 +0000

Focus on content. Not twirly things, not gimmicks, not link exchanges (especially not those!)…just content.

All the goofy stuff isn’t going to help if your content isn’t compelling…and if your content IS compelling, you won’t need the goofy stuff.

Make human connections with people and write good stuff. That’s really the most important thing to know about blogging.

(Pictures are good too though)

By: Barbara Poole

Barbara Poole — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:29:13 +0000

Know your topic, and have a beginning, middle and end. I guess the next thing would be don’t jump around, stick with the subject so it all goes with the title. Oh yes, proof at least twice.