The Write Stuff: A Guide for Disney Bloggers
By Sasha Coles
Writing can feel like trying to yank a sword out of a stone. Let’s try to make it easier!
Have you ever wanted to start a blog, but just don’t know where to start? Do you have great information you want to share about Disney, but just don’t know how to say it? Do you have trouble putting your writing ideas into action? I’ve been there. That’s why I created The Write Stuff. Check out these five tips for how to write posts that speak to your audience.
Identify the “Big Idea”
Think of the “Big Idea” as the moral of your story. It’s the main concept or lesson that you want to introduce and explain in your blog post. Try to pick a topic that fits with the theme of your blog. In the process of writing a post, you might think of a new “Big Idea.” That is totally fine! What’s important is that you write your post with a clear concept in mind. That way, you’ll avoid bogging down your reader with too many details and too much information. I always jot down my “Big Idea” to keep myself on track!
Understand Your Audience
A lot about our blog post will depend on your audience, so I want you to try and picture your readers. What are their interests? How much do they already know about your topic? What do you need to explain to them? What do they expect to get out of your blog? Shape your content based on your answers to these questions. To give you an idea of why this part matters, a first-time park attendee is going to want and need something different than an annual pass holder. Write your blog post with your reader’s perspective in mind.
Read Like a Writer
Are there Disney blogs or websites that you love and admire? I want you to read them like a writer. What I mean is that instead of reading websites for content, pay close attention to the writing. Try to understand what choices the author made. The point is to identify these writing techniques so that you can decide if you like them. Maybe there’s a catchy introduction, or interesting sentence structure, or fun quotes in the piece. Consider the effects that these elements have on the reader, and ask yourself, “Is this something that I want to incorporate into my own writing?
Create a Plan and Set Deadlines
Does the idea of sitting down and busting out an entire blog post overwhelm you? The good news is that you don’t have to do it all at once! Break the project down into smaller pieces. Commit to doing a little each day. Set achievable deadlines. You might, for example, dedicate a few hours to researching a topic and then draft an outline the next day. Give yourself some time to work through the body paragraphs. Before you know it, you’ve got a full blog post ready for review. Remember…Hercules didn’t go from zero to hero overnight.
Reflect and Revise
Once you’ve created a first draft, send a short reflection letter and your blog post to someone you want feedback from. In this reflection letter, tell your pal about the purpose of the blog post and the impact you want it to have on your readers. I know that this means extra work, but it’s worth it. I promise. A reflection letter allows you to clarify your intentions and goals, gain insight into what you might like to change, and give your reviewer some direction. After you get your feedback, revise, revise, revise! All pieces of writing have room for improvement, and you’ll get a lot of satisfaction out of refining your message. It’s like Mary Poppins says. “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun!”