Earlier this year, @tantek posted Twelve Blog Post Writing Tips, from which I got a great deal of inspiration.
This post is a checklist version of his post. Print out this list. (Yes, physically print.) Keep it next to your computer while writing a new blog post. You need to be able to quickly glance at it as a reference, without needing to switch to a new window on your computer.
When writing a blog post, make sure your post abides by the following guidelines:
- Use a local text editor
- Single topic post
- Tweetable post title
- Summary opening paragraph
- Provide context
- Don't bore with background
- Expand on your post title
- Put tangents <aside> (if any)
- Use quotable sentences - strong, self-supporting sentences as the start, end, or even as the entirety of a paragraph
- Make lists
- Use subheadings
- Stop adding content when you've covered the topic
- Edit furiously - anything that's not helping your main point is distracting from it
- Use a footer - updates, terminology, previous writings, additional reading, and citations
- Check your references
Please refer to the original post for a full description of each topic.
