Okay everyone, Dr. Bob is in session. Please have a seat.
I wrote a post the other day about checking your blog for Plagiarism. And I got a lot of nice comments. But I got something unexpected too. I got a lot of people saying things like, "I don't think I'm a good enough writer to be reblogged" and "I doubt anyone would want to copy my stuff," and "It's hard to imagine that anyone would plagiarize my boring material."
EXCUSE ME? DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY?
Hmmmm, it seems like we've got a bit of a lack of Blogger self-confidence here at Active Rain. This bothers the good Dr. Bob. We can't have our Active Rainers not feeling confident in their blogging abilities! So what is the cure? How does one go about becoming a blogger whom other bloggers would want to re-blog?
Here is Dr. Bob's prescription for becoming a blogger who is worth reading and reblogging...
1. Blog. Then blog some more. Then blog some more. Blog, Blog, Blog! Back when I was a long distance bike rider we had a saying for newbies: to become a bike rider you have to ride the bike. Then ride it some more. And then ride it some more. The same thing is true of blogging. To get better at it you have to keep at it. When I go back and read some of my early stuff, I just cringe. It is terrible. But over time, I've learned how to write with a pretty good ebb and flow and in such a way that seems to resonate pretty well with my readers. As you blog over time you will become a better blogger.
2. Study top bloggers. If you want to learn how to write good blogs read people like Richard Weisser, Lenn Harley, Broker Bryant (and TLW if you dare) and Jennifer Allan. There are lots of other great writers here at AR, but these folks write in a natural give and take kind of way that is easy to read. Each has their own style, but all of them engage their audience.
3. Use non-copyrighted pictures to break up your text. This means take your own pics like Richard W does. Or use pics from Flikr Creative Commons and give credit, like I often do. Pictures add to the text and make what you say more interesting.
4. Keep it short. Often my stuff is too long. I fight that because I am wordy. Remember, we are a fast paced society, used to short commercials. Long blogs tend to bore people. 
5. Write from your point of view and do your homework. You don't have to be Einstein, but you do need to know what you're talking about. And when you don't know what you're talking about, say so! It is okay to have an opinion that is in the development stages. One thing that doesn't work very well here (at least for me) is to ask everyone what they think. I don't get very many comments when I do that, but when I write a decent blog, I tend to get comments.
6. Do NOT reblog others all the time or SPAM the blog roll. I don't read people who do either of those because those kinds of things are rude to the community and usually show that someone is just chasing a bunch of points.
7. Write about experiences from your own life, at times. Including personal stories makes you and what you say more interesting. It gives your audience context, meaning that we get to see into your life a little bit. For example, Broker Bryant wrote once about his and TLW's experience with cancer and losing a home. Jennifer Allan has talked about her experience with the oil spill in the Gulf where she lives. And Gabrielle Rhind wrote one of more moving blogs here about her mother who has Alzheimer's disease. Everybody love personal stories, so write about your life experiences sometimes.
8. If you feel like writing doesn't come naturally to you, go down to your local community college and take a writing course. Or join Toastmasters. Your writing should be like your speaking - natural. And Lord knows that Real Estate agents have no problem talking to people. Writing should be the same way because you're talking to people!
9. Write about your community and write to the AR community. These are two different audiences. Learning how to write to each will help you become a better writer.
10. Finally, push your blogs out to your Facebook and Twitter feeds. Getting your material in front of a reading audience should be your goal. And interacting with people is the whole goal. And as you interact with people, you will become a better Blogger. You'll get new ideas for blogs. And you'll learn to correct mistakes in your blogs. And, pretty soon, you'll become a blogging pro that others just love to re-blog because your stuff is so good!
There you go folks. Now, I don't want to hear anymore of that, "Nobody will blog my boring stuff." Get out there and get going. I'm looking forward to reading so much good stuff from you here at AR that Dr. Bobs' head just starts spinning in glee and pride!
Einstein picture courtesy of Flickr Creative commons: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lrargerich/4162913573/
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