This past September, after four years of blogging, I wrote about four things I’d learned. Lucky me, it took only seven months to learn four more!
So, for what it’s worth, here they are:
4. Instead of Reposting, Repurpose
I know, it’s easier to click “repost” than to use something a fellow blogger wrote to inspire your own story. But the results can be amazing! I’ve been inspired to do this several times—giving the other person full credit, of course.
This happened last Fall when I read a post by Sandrah, at OneMunchingMama. Her masterful piece, A Part of the Picture describes how we often show others only the parts of our life we want them to see.
That same week, I’d felt woefully inadequate as a substitute choir director, but thought my fellow church musicians didn’t notice. News Flash: they did and blanketed me with love and prayers. Sandrah’s initial post, coupled with my experience at church, led directly to my own post, Showing the Whole Picture.
3. Leave Room for Cream
Coffee drinkers who like to “doctor their java” know this well. If you fill the cup to the brim, there’s no room for anything else. Likewise, writers who tell everything they know, about a subject, leave no space for readers to make their own contributions.
My blogger buddy Gary Fultz is a master at leaving room for the reader. His posts give others the foundation and framing to build the rest of the “house” with their accompanying thoughts. More than once, I’ve commented on something Gary wrote and he responded, “I thought about that, too, but decided to let folks come to their own conclusions.” Guess what? It meant more when I discovered a truth myself, rather than being spoon fed the same thing by someone else.
2. Make Something Old Seem New
How can there be oodles of hit songs with the same familiar themes? The answer is they succeed by exploring something well known from a fresh angle.
This works for bloggers, too. Case in point: The Devotional Guy. When you tap or click on one of Rainer’s posts you find a unique story from his personal experience, with mostly his own photos, and a clear application to ordinary life. In other words, it’s not a “cookie cutter” creation a dozen other Christian bloggers can duplicate.
For example, a post entitled, My Brilliant Thoughts about Leviticus Chapter 23, is a non-starter. This is something anyone can find in a commentary. However, Something Just Happened To Me, and It’s Straight Outta Leviticus! works.
1. Tell “Sticky” Stories
I understand not every blogger wants to be a storyteller, but a great book about what makes good stories both engaging and enduring is Made to Stick, by Chip and Dan Heath. The authors’ analyze those urban legends that just won’t die—like the one about the person who wakes up in a bathtub full of ice missing a kidney.
Here’s their acrostic for an irresistible tale: Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, Story. Now that spells success. Almost.
My friend Betty, from Chambers on the Road, is an outstanding travel blogger who tells sticky stories. She and her husband, Dan visit places a bazillion people have already been, and make you feel like you woke up there missing a kidney. Wait, that didn’t come out right. 😳
Betty finds the unexpected in the familiar, then writes about it in simple terms with a splash of positive vibes. That’s better.😀
Kind reader, there you have it. This isn’t my usual fare, but I hope you find it helpful. Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Davids Daily Dose 
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