How to Write a Blog

By Hannah Jeoung, General Blogging

So - you're new to The Tellurian community and are probably wondering how exactly to write a blog. Or maybe you're just an interested amateur blogger seeking to get a start in the blogging community. Look no further, because this blog post has been specially made for newcomers like you!

The first step to writing a great blog is picking a topic that interests you and is pretty specific. Picking a dull topic is no fun to write and you'll probably end up hating the end result and wasting your time. Writing a blog on super broad topics - such as just "Environmental Biology" - is setting yourself up to an impossible Herculean task that often will end up unfinished or chaotic. Instead, choosing a simple yet fun concept - like "How Some Plants Survive in Deserts" - to discuss can lead to the creation of an epic informative resource.

Next, you'll have to do a pretty adequate amount of research to fact check your information. By incorporating many other sources, you'll be able to teach and learn more, as well as avoiding certain mistakes that may be potentially embarrassing. It also helps to write an outline or plan what you plan to discuss within the blog, as it will seem clearer on how to organize and execute your thoughts. Remember - try not to digress from your main point!

Your voice is also an essential aspect of blogging. While some people may be more refined in their method of "speaking through writing", it helps to avoid stiff writing in informative posts such as these, despite the educational content. By being more colloquial with your audience, they manage to hold on interest throughout your blog post and it helps establish a personal connection between the blogger and their reader. Of course, trying to make your personality shine through too much can be distracting from your overall goal with the post, so make sure that its main purpose still remains the most important part. Also, if you feel that a less-colloquial approach fits your personal voice, then don't stress to much about making it more generic.

Editing is also a crucial step. Before getting feedback from fellow peers and editors in The Tellurian, you should make sure to check over your grammar and organization. Reading it out loud once or looking at it with fresh eyes after a break may help you see it in a new light. Try to remember that most of your potential readers may not be as familiar with the topic as you are. That said, photos and diagrams are also a beneficial resource to use, as they lend help to the post's clarity.

Finally, as a member of The Tellurian, there are some guidelines you need to follow when creating a post:

1) Include your name at the top of your post, as well as the subtopic you have chosen to discuss. For example: "By John Smith, Environmental Biology". Make sure to italicize as well (you can do this by highlighting the text with your cursor).

2) Make sure that the post is at least a 3 minute read. You can check how long the read is by going to the top of your post, next to the author's name.

3) Get your work checked by an editor or peer before publishing.

4) Include at least one photo or diagram in each post.

5) Include a cover photo and excerpt in your post. To do this, go to the top right of your post and click "post settings".

6) Cite your sources at the bottom in proper format!

7) If possible, it would be extremely helpful to bold key terms and link them to online definitions. Click the box that says "new tab" for readers' convenience.

A helpful tip to writing blogs consistently and effectively is to set aside a regular time (can be every day, or once a week; it is up to you) to focus on creating a informative post. While it may seem like a daunting task at times, creating regular blog posts serves to benefit both the writer and reader in various ways. For once, both gain a deeper level of knowledge in an interesting and relevant topic. It also shows one's passion for the subject they blog about, which can be a beneficial force in their goals outside of school. By participating in gradually adding layers to The Tellurian, contributors also create a student-led, relatable source of knowledge for future generations and their peers.