In recent weeks, a handful of upstanding members of the Game Informer Online community have created their own "Beginner's Guides" to the site, detailing how to get comfortable with the interface, where to meet and chat with the most community members, and how to compose blogs. I don't want to simply retread their footsteps (as they've done a better job than I ever could at that), but I thought I'd detail my somewhat unorthodox approach to composing blog posts so that you may have a better idea of where to begin when writing articles if you're new to the site. When I first joined, no one gave me an instruction book titled "How to Write an Effective Blog Post" and I learned and grew as a writer partly through trial and error, but mostly through experience and finding out a lot about my own writing style through practice and peer criticism. If you're a new GIO community member and eager to blog though, it can be daunting to get started without any sort of guidance, so allow me to share you some tips and insight on my own approach to blogging so that I may help you.
Brainstorm
Every effective blog post stems from a creative idea. The beauty about blogging is also a bit of a curse - you have the freedom to write about whatever you'd like (heck, it technically doesn't even HAVE to be about video games) so no idea is too abstract to justify being fleshed out in a blog post. However, because few ideas are off limits in terms of what you can develop in a blog post, it can be daunting to come up with a good one to capture reader's attentions while simultaneously being enjoyable to write. The best way to remedy this issue is to let the ideas come to you rather than search for them on your own. As a blogger, you have no deadlines: you're free to write for fun and at your own leisure so if you can't find the time or the ideas to write a blog about for over a month, there are no penalties for this. In my personal experiences, sitting down and trying to come up with blog ideas seldom yields success. I oftentimes come up with novel concepts for a blog organically - whether I be in the middle of playing a video game, pretending to be paying attention to my Professor in class, or on the John. As such, I always carry around a notepad or find some surface to scribble these ideas on when they come to me so I don't forget later. Everyone is different in how they come up with effective and focused ideas to write about, but if you're like me you'll come up with your best ideas when you're not actively trying to, which is something you should keep in mind whether you're a veteran or novice blogger.
You never know when a good idea to blog about will hit you. I recommend keeping a notepad with you whenever possible so you're ready if when that moment comes.
Start Off Your Post With Style
The beginning of your blog post is easily one of the most important parts of your entire article - if it doesn't grab readers attention from the get go, it doesn't matter how much work you invested into developing a compelling article - some may not read it to the end or even click on it to read it. Once you obtain 500 points on this site, the blogs you write will appear on the main blog page where they have a much higher chance of being seen or read by other bloggers. Your potential viewers will see three things when they look at the link to your blog - its title, its thumbnail image (if there is one), and the first few sentences of your post. As such, if you want many people to read what you say, it's important you both have a compelling title, and a clincher statement to suck readers in. For example, if you're writing a blog about say, what the Golden Sun series means to you, the title "The Captivating Magic of Golden Sun" would be far more compelling than "Why I Like Golden Sun." Furthermore, the first few sentences that potential readers see when they look at the link to your blog leave a big impression on them. It's important to make them interesting to grab their attention and encourage them to read what it is you have to say. Whether you employ a clever joke, snarky pop culture reference, a profound statement, a memorable quote, or just inject your unique personality into what you have to say, make sure you make the first few lines of your post stand out to bump your view count up considerably.
Finally, coming up with a brief title to sum up a sprawling blog article can be a daunting task. Many times when I write blogs, I come up with a good idea but don't name my article right away, instead using a placeholder title. Many times, I come up with the title for my blog last after I know for certain which direction I took my blog in and can more easily come up with a title that both summarizes what I have to say, and will grab readers attention. Going into the future, if you've any intentions on blogging, if you're like me you may find it easier to hold off giving a clever title to your blog until the very end.
Be sure to make sure your blog has got one of these.
Write Now, Proof Later
I can't emphasize enough how important it is to have a general direction of where you blog is heading before you start writing it; like a good essay, it should have some kind of "thesis" or statement you want to prove, though unlike an essay it doesn't have to be a boring or unexciting one. However, at the same time there's only so much planning you can do beforehand and sometimes planning too much will stifle your creativity and flow of ideas. Sometimes, a great approach to writing that works well for me (but is the bane of some writers' existences) is called "stream of consciousness." This is a unique approach to writing where you essentially put your pure and honest thoughts onto paper without regard for how it sounds or appears. The benefits of stream of consciousness is that once you start writing in this fashion, genuine and organic ideas, as well as snazzy statements may come naturally to you once you start it. Of course, publishing a blog written in this format would likely result in your end product being unprofessional and unfocused. This is where proofreading comes in.
No one likes to proofread. It's why my English teachers and Professors have historically hated me. But if you don't want to come across as a loon to anyone who reads your work, it's an invaluable process. I pick up on an innumerable amount of errors when I initially set to work proofreading my rough blog drafts. The usual suspects are always there - spelling errors, grammar mistakes, etc. But oftentimes I also detect areas of my blogs that are poorly developed or explained, as well as parts that have redundant word choice or get too far off topic. When you proofread, it's important yet difficult to hunt down these rough patches of your blog and fix them, but an easier way to hone in on these mistakes and eradicate them is to read your post aloud, whether to yourself or someone who is interested (or forced) to hear what you have to say. Sometimes verbalizing your written post will help you detect awkward wording or statements that aren't as profound or clever as your originally thought and fix them. Ultimately, everyone has a different writing style and approach to fleshing out their blog, but if you're running low on creativity, stream of consciousness may help you come up with great ideas. And no matter what, PROOFREAD what you have to write. No one would respect me if I didn't.
This came up when I typed in "proofreading" on Google Images, so let's go with it. This brings me to my next point...
Pretty Posts are the Best Posts
Text Walls. It's an Internet phrase that has such a dirty and undesirable connotation associated with it. Because no one likes text walls. On the off chance you don't know what those are, they are essentially blobs of text with no spaces or pictures to break up this mountain of words. When people open up a blog and see a text wall rear its ugly head, more often than not they are turned off by what you have to say and won't read it to completion. That's why it's crucial not only to include a generous amount of paragraph breaks in your work - especially when moving on to a new point or topic - but to also add some pictures and videos to your post to make it look pretty and more appealing or digestible.
Adding pictures to your blog is a great way to make them appear more professional and more appealing to read. To add a picture to your blog, you must first save it to the device you're working on (which I'm going to go on a limb and assume is not a phone). The easiest way to find a picture for your blog and save it is to use Google Images. Simply search for a picture that will fit what you're writing about or further illustrate your point on Google, find something appropriate, right click it, and tap "Save As." From there, you can click on the button you see above you in the Advanced Editor, click on the picture you saved, and viola! It will appear within your blog wherever you put the insertion point, so make sure it's in the right spot. If you find your desired photo is too miniscule or massive, you can always resize it using the Paint application on your computer.
Adding videos is also another great alternative to making your blog look snazzy. Thankfully, they're even easier to add to your blog than pictures. First, find a video on Youtube that illustrates your point, or at least has to do with what you're writing about in some way, shape, or form. Once you've found it, copy the link, go back to your blog, and place the insertion point where you'd like to add the video. Then click on the above button that looks like a film strip and the video will be added! Keep in mind that not all videos from Youtube will be copied - some will only become a link in the final blog. Be sure to preview your post before publishing to make sure the video was successfully embedded in your post.
What you actually write in a blog is more important than how it appears, but it should include at least a picture or two to encourage more people to read it. I usually make my blog posts look appetizing last - as in, right before I publish them. First, I work on developing a focused and well-developed post, then I proofread it, and finally I make it look pretty to readers. It's also better to save this step for last as it's often the most fun. Keep in mind you aren't FORCED to add pictures or videos to your blog, but they do wonders in making more people read what you've taken the time to write.
Reach Out to Others
Game Informer Online is frequently referred to as a "community" for a reason - like any picturesque community, this website is full of talented writers who are more than happy to discuss games with others, or help them out when it comes to their blogging endeavors.
If you're just starting off writing and are daunted by the prospect of it, reach out to other people in the community. Go to their wall or send them a friend request and PM them. Ask for tips - where they get their ideas and how they develop their articles. Everyone has a different approach to writing, and oftentimes learning about new ones will help develop your own techniques more. Another common practice on GIO is to involve your fellow community members in what you have to write. I've created several collaborative blogs in the past where I worked alongside other writers here to get multiple perspectives on an issue; this is a fantastic approach to new writers as it allows you to not only develop your own writing style by seeing those of many others, but to also break out of your shell and engage in gamers with different preferences and perspectives. Simply put - don't be shy. Comment on people's posts or their blogs. Ask for their help or guidance in writing if you find yourself stuck. I for one, and many others would be glad to assist you.
For once, this idiotic "Keep Calm" meme has provided sound advice.
Write, Write, Write
You can read books about how to write effectively until the cows come home but at the end of the day, the best way to grow as a writer is to practice. Your first few blogs will likely be humble efforts that you aren't too confident of and that you'll look back on embarassingly once you've grown as a writer. But the more you write, the more you'll come to realize what it means to you to be a blogger, what to avoid when composing a post, and most importantly you'll gain confidence. It's always crucial to take a confident tone with what you're writing about (though there's a fine line between confidence and arrogance) and for many it will only be after they have blogged several times and received praise or constructive criticism form others that they gain that necessary confidence. Which brings me to my next point - if you only receive praise for your work, you'll become complacent and never improve. Sometimes receiving constructive criticism (not insults) from other writers is the best way to find out about your writing style and make it even better than it already is.
So don't be afraid when you publish your first post. Be confident in what it is you have to say, and take any praise or criticism others have to say to heart.
The best way to get good at blogging is to write often. Rise to the occasion!
And Most Importantly.....
Have fun of course! Blogging is not supposed to be a chore. We do it because we're passionate about writing and gaming, and would like to share our thoughts with others - to see what they have to say on the issue, and to make our voice heard. To make a difference in the gaming community. Writing is the best way to express yourself, and blogging is one of the best ways to write. As I said before, with blogging there are no deadlines, no requirements, and few rules. So above all us, enjoy yourself when you sit down to blog. Grab a cold beverage, sit in your favorite recliner, and have fun talking about your favorite games with one of the least judgmental and most fun gaming communities on the Internet. Oh, and don't spam. No one wants to hear about your Nike sneakers.
The briefest, and best advice I can share with you.
How helpful was this beginner's guide to blogging to you? Did you learn anything useful? Sound off in the comments below, and happy blogging!