LISTS
Curated Resource List (aka “Listicle”)
- Jane Friedman: https://www.janefriedman.com/lit-mag-resources/
- Kris Carr: https://kriscarr.com/blog/favorite-inspirational-podcasts/
- Search far and wide for the list items (and…ahem…borrow from other similar lists).
Your List
- Jen Eddins / Peanut Butter Runner: https://www.peanutbutterrunner.com/my-2019-running-goals/
- Have a new take on the subject. Be thoughtful, and test it on a beta reader (they almost always have improvements/additions).
Steps (To-Do, How-To, etc.)
- Paul Reali: https://www.charlottelit.org/blog/immutable-laws-of-writing-1/
- Be very clear for each step—make it easy to follow.
TK Ways…
- Michael Hyatt: https://michaelhyatt.com/3-ways-to-go-further-faster/
- It’s not necessary to be comprehensive, but be thorough. Look for issues that many people experience.
COMMENTARY
Open Letter
- Dave Pell: https://medium.com/startup-grind/open-letter-to-apple-ed3acc4dbf96(caution: expletives)
- Say what people are thinking and wish they could say to someone they can’t actually reach.
Cultural/Current Events Commentary
- Dave Pell: https://medium.com/@davepell/good-b0514bb4ac08
- Show that you understand the issue. Do it without ranting (a different kind of post, also allowed, but only if it suits your style), be passionate without being so one-sided that the gray areas are lost.
Cultural/Current Events Commentary (Oblique)
- Seth Godin (Seth’s Blog): https://seths.blog/2019/01/the-thing-about-arguments/
- Look at a current issue and find the core concept beneath it.
Opinion
- Paul Reali: https://www.charlottefive.com/simply-radical-how-to-get-hb2-repealed-in-24-hours/
- Dave Pell: https://medium.com/@davepell/hes-trying-to-lose-9f0c174fb9aa
- Negative Example: https://www.charlotteagenda.com/151861/basic-driving-skills-charlotteans-cant-figure-out/
- Be well-versed on the issue. Be fair, even if not balanced. Include a personal anecdote/connection.
REVIEWS
Review
- Writer’s Digest: https://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/scrivener-3-0-update-whats-inside-and-is-it-worth-the-money
- Cathia Friou: http://cathiafriou.com/blog/book-review-finding-meaning-in-the-second-half-of-life/
- Negative example: https://medium.com/@tpletcher/scrivener-3-review-9f35c710e413
- Can review anything: products, services, experiences, books, movies. Most important: make it relevant to your audience; that is, focus what you review about the [book/movie/product/etc.] be what they care about.
UNDERSTANDING
Synthesis / Comparison
- Jane Friedman: https://www.janefriedman.com/story-planning/
- Do true research: try out the options in an authentic way so that your experience is real.
Facts vs. Myths
- Charlotte Smarty Pants: http://charlottesmartypants.com/2018/09/how-to-keep-your-kids-lice-free-this-school-year/
- Find research for both sides: people believe this, this is what’s actually true. Add sources.
Q&A / Interviews
- Charlotte Smarty Pants: http://charlottesmartypants.com/2018/05/smarty-mom-tonya-miller/
- Limit the number of questions. Ask questions different than might be expected. Edit for brevity and coherence. Ask more questions than you will use, and choose the best ones. Consider a format, such as “Three questions for….”
WISDOM & WIT
Personal Essay / Experience
- Cathia Friou: http://cathiafriou.com/blog/low-road-crowded/
- Tell your story and look for the universal.
Humor
- Tracy Curtis: https://www.tracyleecurtis.com/single-post/2018/03/18/Baseball-isnt-exactly-a-home-run
- Humor is hard. It’s fair to say that you have it naturally or you don’t. But it can be learned by studying other writers.
Short and Smart
- Seth Godin (Seth’s Blog): https://seths.blog/2014/06/treating-people-with-kindness/
- Get right to the point. Have an insight that makes people say “ah, that’s right.”
OTHER
Series
- Paul Reali: https://www.charlottelit.org/blog/immutable-laws-of-writing-1/
https://www.charlottelit.org/blog/immutable-laws-of-writing-2/
https://www.charlottelit.org/blog/immutable-laws-of-writing-3-writers-block-does-not-exist/ - A great way to extend an idea to multiple posts, and to keep each post concise and readable.
Combos
- Dave Pell: https://medium.com/@davepell/pick-a-side-c30824d44(current events commentary, list)
- And more ideas: https://optinmonster.com/73-type-of-blog-posts-that-are-proven-to-work/