How to be more successful in blogging
There are probably thousands of articles published every week about how to be a successful writer or blogger. I have written on this or similar topics on a number of occasions. Just scan through the contents section or the categories or even the archives (found on the side bar) and you will find many such articles I’ve published over the last year and a half.
Every so often, however, I come across another little gem that takes a new look at the same topic: how to be a more successful writer or blogger. I’ve just read Five Essential Skills for Blogging Success. Take to time to read it a bookmark it. Not only does the author make some very pertinent points, she has included many very useful resources and reference works relevant to both writing and blogging.
Overcoming Writer’s Block
All writers seem to suffer from the affliction known as writer’s block at some stage in their careers. I’ve even written about it myself here.
For a light hearted look at the problem, and some easy solutions try reading the hints in this article:
- Shut up and write – written by Eli James on the Novelr blog.
Top 5 Writing Hints
Darren Rowse on his ProBlogger site has challenged his readers yet again with his Top 5 Group Writing Project. This time around there is a single prize of $1001 to some lucky contributor to the project. This writing project has inspired me to write this article on what I consider to be five top writing hints. This post will NOT be entered in Darren’s writing project; my entry on a totally different topic has been posted on my Birding Blog here.
Top Five Writing Hints:
- Read every day: writers are readers. This is a vital part of your apprenticeship. Read my articles called “Lurking with books” and “The importance of books.”
- Write every day: writers write. Even if you only write a few paragraphs a day, every sentence will go towards improving your skills. Read my articles called “Practice every day” and “Write every day.”
- Rewrite what you write: very rarely will that first, rough draft be your best work. Rewrite, rewrite rewrite until you get it just right.
- Edit your writing: no matter how careful you are, errors will creep in. Edit your working meticulously. Then get someone else to check your work with fresh eyes. Read my articles called “Proof Reading” and “The importance of Proofreading.”
- Set realistic goals: remember to set goals that are achievable and measurable. Read my article “Aiming for the stars.”
Idiom #18: An Early Bird
1 Comment »7th May, 2007; Category: Idioms
It has been a long time since my last article about idioms. It is time to get back on track, to let the cat out of the bag and to turn over a new leaf before my readers think I’ve abandoned them with egg on their faces and that I’ve cooked my own goose.
In earlier examples of idioms (click here) I concentrated mainly on idioms relating to birds. This is because birding is one of my passions and the focus of another blog I write (see Trevor’s Birding here).
This week’s idiom: An early bird.
Meaning:
If someone is “an early bird” they get up early in the morning, or they are very early for an appointment.
Origins:
I cannot find any references as to the exact origins of this phrase. It quite likely comes from the proverb “The early bird catcheth the worm” quoted in John Ray’s A Collection of English Proverbs published in 1670. This proverb seems a logical statement due to the habit of many birds to rise early, to be very active even well before dawn and thus anyone who is an early riser is said to be “an early bird.”
Example:
“In order to be the first in line, you will have to be an early bird.”
Links:
- Idioms – a series of articles about idioms from my archives.
Australian Magpie
Australian Magpies often begin their beautiful carolling well before sunrise. They certainly are one of “the early birds” in Australia.