SAVE YOUR WRITING FROM BEING BURIED ALIVE!

Writing killer content but your blog posts are dying in internet purgatory?

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Here are 5 tips on how to write posts your audience will love to read.

5. Add quality images, but sparingly.

I'm a firm believer in adding interesting and pertinent images to my blog posts. Too many images can flood the reader, working against you, and not enough images can be boring. Pictures give the article flare and keep the reader interested. Don't forget to cite your images, if you are borrowing from the internet. I use a small link and caption to cite mine.

4. Break up the content.

Blog posts are essentially flash-non-fiction: we want something quick to read that gets to the point. Long sentences and paragraphs are overwhelming. Instead of structuring your post as mounds of information, split up the content and write shorter sentences. Breaking up your long paragraphs into short blips will almost guarantee reading success.

3. Provide bold headings.

In addition to short sections, give your article bold headings. Bold headings are visually appealing and draw-in the readers eye. Don't have time to read the whole post? Readers should be able to take away the basic information by simply reading the headings. 

2. Write creative titles.

Which article would you be more apt to click on, "Writing 101- How to write a good blog post" or "SAVE YOUR WRITING FROM BEING BURIED ALIVE!"? Ok, the all-caps might be a bit much, but I write all of my titles that way- it demands attention. A catchy title will save your post from never being clicked on in the first place. Get your creative juices flowing and write something that allures or stuns. 

1. Understand your audience.

I previously wrote an adult horror blog that reviewed movies and events. Today, I write a blog surrounding my middle-grade horror book. Never in a million years would I use the same voice, language, or content for both blogs. Kids and working-moms don't want to hear about how many times a limb got chopped off in the latest scary movie. Remember if you plan on publicizing your blog, write for your reader.

In addition to these tips be sure to write quality content and edit before publishing. Good luck!

BOOST YOUR IQ BY DAILY JOURNALING

Good morning to all of my twelfth-grade students and readers out there (Hi, Mom!).

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Today, we are beginning a project where over the course of a semester we will maintain a daily journal on our blogs. When I say 'we', I mean both me and my students. While I have never attempted an online journal before, the benefits, like stretching your IQ and boosting comprehension, are imminent and undeniable. Check out the full list by the Huffington Post here.

As a newcomer to the virtual diary, I searched the internet for help. Day One, a website that hosts a smartphone journal ap, provided me with the criteria for our content. After all, any good blog is ruled by structure and powerful posts. Thanks Day One for the assistance.

For our online journals, each day of the week will provide a different topic for us to examine. This way, we will never get lost in the black-hole of writer's block. The entries must be a minimum of one paragraph (5 sentences) per day and will be used to chronicle our thoughts and growth over the next few months.

You can find my entries under the 'Journal' tab on my homepage
or by clicking HERE.


Here is what each day entails:

Monday
Write about a little moments of joy.
"Sometimes there are just some moments in your life—a hug, a kiss, a goodbye—that while at a glance may seem irrelevant, have a long-lasting importance for you. Writing a bit about the moment, or even taking a picture of it, eternalizes it for you."


Tuesday
Write about the goals you wish to achieve.
"This is about setting long-term personal goals like learning a language or improving a certain aspect of my behavior. This makes my journal an incredibly useful tool that empowers me to review my goals and objectives from a more critical standpoint, given I can see how my objectives change throughout my life."


Wednesday
Write about things that inspire you.
"Sometimes you read a quote or article, and hear about an idea of philosophy that you relate to; your journal is an ideal place for you to reflect upon these. Because, truth be told, most of the times the important component is not the quote or article itself, but what impact that particular things had in your life."



Thursday
Write about your impressions on movies, books, or music.
"You’ll be impressed how much more you take away from albums, movies, and books once you sit down to write about it. It blew my mind the first time I sat down to really think about a movie."



Friday
Write about your innermost thoughts and feelings.
"Jot down feelings of joy and anger, hope and despair, excitement and depression, love and sadness. If I feel that what currently is on my mind is of some sort of importance to me as a person, I write it down. This enables me to look back and understand how I evolved and developed as a person."


I am tickled to start this project and observe how we both grow over the course of the semester. Being more cognizant about our thoughts will lead us to self-discovery and self-awareness, ultimately making us more successful. Think I'm kidding? Take the journey with us and see how you transform! Let us know about your daily journal in the comment section below.

OOEY-GOOEY, TOASTY-GHOSTLY, INDOOR S'MORE RECIPE

MY FAVORITE INDOOR S'MORES RECIPE! 

(Because y'all know I hate camping)

What you'll need:

Marshmallows (I've been thinking about trying the caramel apple ones for this, too)
1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 box of graham crackers
2 Hershey chocolate bars
1 bottle of your favorite Halloween sprinkles (Mine are ghosts from Home Goods!)

1 baking sheet
1 small pot
1 rubber spatula
Aluminum Foil
Wax Paper
1 Plate
*This recipe yields approximately one dozen S'mores*

STEP 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. While you're waiting, pull out a baking pan and line it with foil.
You can use Pam for good measure, but its not necessary


STEP 2

Carefully, I repeat, carefully break the grams in half. Save any casualties/scraps for later.
 Place them as you go roughly an inch apart on the baking sheet.


STEP 3

Dress half of the graham crackers with marshmallows and the other half with 2 blocks from the Hershey's chocolate bar.
I give the marshmallows a little squeeze before putting them on so they don't roll.


STEP 4

The oven should be preheated by now. Stick those puppies in and stand by.
I'm telling you based on personal experience, don't walk away!
You can expect to let these bake for approximately 3-5 minutes.

STEP 5

Once the marshmallows have a golden color pull them out and set them on the stove. Save the lined baking tray to use again later.

*Burnt S'mores? If you like your campfire marshmallows extra toasty, don't worry. They still taste great dipped in chocolate! 

STEP 6

Sandwich the S'mores together and place them on a plate.

Once plated, stick them in the freezer for 5 minutes.

STEP 7

While the S'mores are cooling in the freezer, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips.

I don't have a double boiler so I simply turn the stove on low and continuously stir the chocolate until it is melted.

*Again, don't walk away. Burn't marshmallows are okay but burnt chocolate? Gross.

STEP 8

 Line the baking sheet with wax paper and transfer the S'mores from the plate back to the tray.

Next, dip your S'mores into the chocolate. I typically only dip half of the S'more in.

A rubber spatula will help you stop the chocolate from dripping.


STEP 9

Use the plate from the freeze to put sprinkles on.
Finally, roll the S'mores in the sprinkles and wah-lah!

*Above you can see how in Step 8 I used the broken pieces for tiny dipping sticks.

STEP 10

Place the S'mores sprinkle side down on the wax paper and put them back in the freezer to cool for approximately 10 minutes. 

STEP 11

Grab your favorite Halloween Plate.


STEP 12

Pull out your S'mores and plate them.

STEP 13

Enjoy!
Warning: these are messy! Use a napkin to avoid crumbs and sprinkles everywhere.
Place any leftovers back in the fridge.


Have a favorite Halloween recipe? Share it with me below!