Tag: blogs

The Best Writing Advice Ever

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A lot of people enjoy rambling about good writing.

But what does good writing mean? You’ll find rambling distort the illusion people know what they’re talking about. Most probably don’t.

Of coarse, there’s many talented authors that could easily school me too. But so for the sake of this article, I’m giving you the easiest writing advice ever:

Keep it short.

There I said it. Make writing easy to understand and brief. That’s it.

You might think this advice contradicts everything we’re taught about writing, with its verbose words and long paragraphs. What you’re missing is that educational writing doesn’t retain attention like a news story. It’s regimented and useless beyond classroom doors.

Picture your audience as a kid with ADD by a window. Make them pay attention. Attention, attention, attention.

Also, some sentences share the same meaning but are more difficult to understand. For example, “The boy kicked the ball” is easier to read than “The ball was kicked by the boy”.

Use this advice and you’ll be a writing pro.

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Does Blogging Make Me Evil?

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Blogs destroy lives.

Does that make me evil for blogging?

If you follow me on Twitter, you already know I blog often. What you might not know is bloggers are some of the best and worst people ever.

On one hand, they’re authentic reporters dedicated to facts and honest news. On the other hand, they’re greedy click-whores desperately generating traffic through demeaning headlines.

In other words, clicks come first and consequences come second. And as a result of controversial headlines, people’s reputations can be decimated. Which means that simply adding a HEADLINE can bring down anyone. That’s a lot of responsibility and I’m not ready to be responsible for that.

But the thing is, literally any writing piece published online is a blog. Anything from Joe-Shmo to the editorial board of the New York Times. It’s funny because despite their average viewership, both play by similar rules online. Both have tremendous power to influence a vulnerable online audience.

You don’t have money if you don’t have clicks. And boy, does drama sell.

The real reason I’m fearful of blogs is because of their efficiency. The fundamental source behind blogs is clicks. Which means blogs require quickness and efficiency. This means that if you break the first tweet or post with big news, you publicize it ASAP. Drama sells. Because of this, if any journalist claims to have “Breaking News” but doesn’t release  immediately, there’s a 95% chance they’re lying.

It’s why when Rachel Maddow touted that she had Trump’s tax returns, I was the first to call bullshit.

Even if she did suddenly get her hands on that paper, the taxes would’ve been published on Twitter immediately. And as it turns out *shocker* my prediction was correct. She didn’t have the president’s tax returns at all. Unless, of coarse, you count his 2005 tax returns. 

 

I’m not trying to brag and I’m sorry if it sounds like I am. What I’m doing is trying to shine a bright light on how unhinged this media system is.

The new media is scary and fun. Normal people have the same influence as news channels, and honestly I’m a bit worried. Anyone could take down an individual simply by word of mouth, and I’m being completely serious. 

Regardless of your opinion always question breaking news. You never know anymore.

Even if it’s from me.