How do you write what people actually want to read?
Predicting what people want to read is difficult for me. In truth, when I write a post, I’m never entirely sure if anyone will be interested in it. I make frequent use of WordPress’s daily prompts for inspiration, and they are certainly a starting point, but I don’t feel that there is a guarantee that any given article will attract attention.
But to summarize, I write things that I would be interested in reading, I try to write a variety of types of posts, I keep it short, and I try to be funny.
If an idea strikes me, I go with it. If it interests me, maybe it’ll interest someone else, too. If I’m using a daily prompt, I try not to limit myself to the question. I treat a prompt as a diving board to jump off of into a sea of possibility, not a corral to hold me in one spot. I want to hold the reader’s attention, and short, dry responses to a prompt don’t appeal to me.
I mix it up. Observations, reflections on life, and sometimes, poetry. I’m frequently surprised by what gets a positive reception. I’m no poet. I dabble in it from time to time if I’m in the mood, and amazingly enough, my amateur poems are often noticed more than my other writing. Perhaps they’re charming enough to attract readers, or maybe people are laughing into their sleeves. Either way, they get views.
I try to keep my posts short. People are busy. Some people don’t have even a half-hour to spare on recreational blogging. So, I try to keep it short and simple.
Finally, I try to be funny. Humor always helps. Not laugh-out-loud maybe, but if I can get even a small chuckle, then I’m doing something right.
If anyone reading this post has their own thoughts on what readers – what you – want from a blog, please feel free to share.
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Many thanks for visiting my blog. I post updates on my writing career, I muse over storytelling and fiction, and I reflect on the curious and wonderful things in life.