Boing Boing - Still one of those role model blogs
Boing Boing is a great blog. If you don’t read it, you should.
It’s one of those role model blogs, a success story, that everybody looks up to and admires.
Truth is, it’s also one of those success stories that seems overnight, but wasn’t quite - they’ve been at it for many more years than blogs have been around, beginning life as a paper zine. Remember paper?
Michael Martine has just written a fantastic post called What You Can Learn about Blogging from Boing Boing that covers some of the lessons you can glean from this most mighty of blogs. It brought a smile to my face to learn that Michael’s article was inspired by one of mine.
Cory Doctorow once said you should pretend you’re a news wire writer when you write your headlines; simple and to-the-point. The key to remember is that if you’re writing a blog that isn’t quite as newsy as Boing Boing is to use that principle… but only for the headline.
It differs for blogs that write anything other than news. Here’s how:
During your post, stick to some of those newswriting conventions - short paragraphs (1 sentence per paragraph for news but 2-3 will do for blogs), aggressive removal of tautologies and redundant words - and even paragraphs if you’re that kind of writer - and remaining on topic at all times.
That said, create a voice for yourself and use it. Show your personality when you write. Don’t make it self-obsessed, and watch out for the overuse of the word “I” - the key is to develop a personality, not talk about yours.
One trap that many writers following this advice fall into is adding in useless “I think” or “I reckon” or - you get the point. You’re writing the piece. It’s obvious that it’s about what you think, and you don’t have to point it out. If you do, it just makes you look uncertain.
So visit Michael’s blog and learn the lessons of blogging that Boing Boing offers.
But remember, if you don’t write a Boing Boing style blog, don’t try to write as if it is one.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Good point, Joel. My intention was to show what we can learn from BB, and authenticity is also something BB has in spades. But if it wouldn’t be or feel authentic for you or me to write like that, then it would definitely be the wrong thing to do. I’m a big believer in taking what works and discarding the rest. Thanks for the link back to my link back!