I don’t usually participate in blog hops and link ups with Fabulous Blogging, but I thought I would do this one because it’s helpful to get inside the writing process of a blogger if you are a beginner yourself! The gals over at the Science of Parenthood are friends and fellow bloggers — even guest posting here last year about their blogging partnership. They tagged me in their writing process post, so here it goes!
What am I working on/writing?
Here on Fabulous Blogging, I am always thinking about tutorials and guides. Niche blogs have advantages over personal/lifestyle blogs because the topic is already laid out for you. Oftentimes I’ll read other blogs, ask questions online, or just troll on Twitter to see what people are asking about with regards to WordPress, social media, etc. From there, I’ll come up with ideas.
Or, if I’m feeling really dry, I’ll use some blog post title tricks to get the juices flowing. Melissa from Blog Clarity has a great little tip for coming up with blog post ideas. And Pauline over at Twelveskip also has a great infographic to get your titles working for you.
Don’t forget to go back and revisit your old posts. If I’ve got a really stubborn case of writer’s block, I’ll simply revive and rejuvenate my archives hoping it sparks something new!
How does my work/writing differ from others of its genre?
My genre has some pretty stiff competition, and I don’t pretend to have a corner on the market of the blogging and social media world. That said- over and over again- I hear people say that Fabulous Blogging is just so easy to read and digest. It’s laid out well, full of tutorials, and generally geared towards the beginner. That is always in my head when I’m writing.
Will a beginner feel intimidated or feel like ‘hey – I can do this!’
I try to write beginner hacks too – like how to write code without writing code for example. In that post I show people that if you can’t write HTML, no problem! Just follow the blog post and you’ll have some cool pre-written code in seconds. I also try to give graphic tutorials using free programs like Canva and PicMonkey.
Why do I write what I do?
For my business, I get the same questions over and over. I prefer to give people the tools rather than just doing the work for them. Writing my blog posts ensures I have a treasure trove of answers right at my finger tips. It gives me a chance to focus on clients who need specialized help that can’t be solved in a simple tutorial. When people are looking for design or blog help, my guides come up in search results as well, thus increasing the possibility of more exposure and more business.
How does my writing process work?
I wish I had a system for the “coming up” of ideas, but I don’t. However once I have one, the process is usually the same.
- I start by writing the straight text. No images, no formatting, just simple typing.
- When I’m done, I go and search for photos that might be relevant, or I make the graphics in Canva.
- Then I upload the graphics in one big batch {and usually refill my tea while they upload}.
- Once that’s done, I insert them into various spots in the text. This helps keep the formatting from getting all wonky tonk. You WordPress-ers know what I’m talking about right?
- Then I go through and add formatted headings and my dividers.
- I fill out the SEO fields, categories, tags, and featured image.
- Finally, I add any javascript or special codes (like tweetables, pins, and/or embedded youtube videos).
- Then I preview it one last time and hit publish!
So there you have it. No magic. A lot of hard work. I try not to stress about every post being the next “viral” hit. I try to write what is helpful or inspiring in the moment. Now I’m supposed to tag three people to explain their writing process using the above questions.
These are three bloggers I crush on in the blog world.
- Ellie Petrov from Creative Geekery
- Peg Fitzpatrick from Canva and Peg Fitzpatrick (dot) com
- Pauline Cabrera from Twelveskip
If you have the time, I’d love to hear about your writing process!
For more information about Fabulous Blogging and what goes on behind the scenes, you can check out Behind the “Screen” with Fabulous Blogging!
