Blogging: The Long and Short of It
There is a theory out there among blogging gurus that posts should be kept short. People just don't have the time and/or attention span to sit on one blog for several minutes in order to read a 12- or 1300 word essay. Instead, keep your post only a couple of paragraphs long. While I know that to be true of myself quite often, I wonder how widespread it is.
I have written both long and short posts and often wonder when I write longer ones if people are actually reading something I've put a good deal of thought and work into. As of late, I've been keeping posts as pithy as possible and am considering making that the rule with longer posts the exception.
I'm asking for your participation in a very informal survey of sorts. Whereas I hate doing this because if no one responds, you look as though you're sitting in a room by yourself with the proverbial finger up your nose and no one listening. "Hello-o-o-o-o? Anybody there?" Please don't let me sit with my finger up my nose...very uncomfortable...not that I would actually know.
When you see a long post, do you tend to read the title, maybe a couple of lines and then scurry off on your merry way, or do you read them in their entirety? Even if you do read them completely, what is your preference? I would especially like to hear from anyone who finds themselves on this particular blog fairly regularly to know what types of posts you enjoy reading most. Obviously, if you do come here regularly, you know I tend to focus primarily on worldview issues (events and stories that have worldview significance, Christian worldview issues, ethical/morality questions, etc.) since that's an area I've specialized in.
So, what kind of stuff scratches your itches?
I have written both long and short posts and often wonder when I write longer ones if people are actually reading something I've put a good deal of thought and work into. As of late, I've been keeping posts as pithy as possible and am considering making that the rule with longer posts the exception.
I'm asking for your participation in a very informal survey of sorts. Whereas I hate doing this because if no one responds, you look as though you're sitting in a room by yourself with the proverbial finger up your nose and no one listening. "Hello-o-o-o-o? Anybody there?" Please don't let me sit with my finger up my nose...very uncomfortable...not that I would actually know.
When you see a long post, do you tend to read the title, maybe a couple of lines and then scurry off on your merry way, or do you read them in their entirety? Even if you do read them completely, what is your preference? I would especially like to hear from anyone who finds themselves on this particular blog fairly regularly to know what types of posts you enjoy reading most. Obviously, if you do come here regularly, you know I tend to focus primarily on worldview issues (events and stories that have worldview significance, Christian worldview issues, ethical/morality questions, etc.) since that's an area I've specialized in.
So, what kind of stuff scratches your itches?
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Labels: David C. Price
posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/14/2006 05:00:00 AM
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10 Comments:
I prefer posts without spam. :)
Seriously, I'm one who seldom reads lengthy posts on anybody's blog. I much prefer short, sweet and to the point.
No Kidding! Me, too, and as soon as I can figure out where the blasted 'delete' button went to I'm getting that spamming garbage out of here.
Thanks, Tim. Hey, by the way, next time I'm coming through Jackson, I'm going to try and hook up with you.
On this post I read the first two paragraphs but began to skip the third and fourth.
I usually read a blog like a newspaper. Headline. First Paragraph. Then everything else is optional.
I think each paragraph needs its own headline - or justification for being there. But it seams like some of the best blogs do not follow this approach.
I sometimes write longer posts. Anytime I am writing a multi-part series such as my current one on Bible translations, they tend to run longer. But my feeling is that if there's any place I can occasionally write a longer post, it's on my blog. If a visitor doesn't want to read it, that's fine with me. From my own experience, I will read a longer blog post IF it's something I'm interested in. If I'm not interested, I probably won't spend too much time even if it's short.
Tony, I think you're right about the form. In formal writing, every paragraph would have a topic sentence. Blogging seems to be, more times than not, sort of streams of consciousness, aren't they? I don't know whether that is good or bad or somewhere in the middle. Perhaps a little of both types of writing is good, though it can really mess up the writing skills if we're not careful.
I also think we do often need to write for ourselves. We should write about what we like and think and hope others get some benefit without always worrying what the commenters are going to say (or not!)or what our traffic is going to be like or our blog ranking is going to be. We need to be read, though, don't we? Blogging is a narcissists dream come true. :-)
I write for myself, but I try to keep them short and sweet any way. I usually type everything up in Microsoft Word and then cut and paste into Word Press. In Word I try to keep it no longer than a page or two. If it is longer I try to break it down into subsections and do multiple posts.
If I want to read something long I will read a book...
Will
www.theologiaviatorum.com
I show up, check out the title and first few lines. If the writing isn't good or the subject doesn't catch me, I move on.
Anything longer than a few paragraphs had better be worth it. The only time I will settle in for longer pieces without reservation is if the writer is known to me and has a history of being worth the time.
Two points from where I sit ...
1.) the hook; it's got to be to the point and attention getting - I start with the title and try to tell as much as I can from that, then the first sentence, then the paragraph ... if I'm not in by then it's a lost cause BUT
2.) I read, read, and read more so once hooked I could care less whether it's S&S or article length.
Sounds like you've already made up your mind from the comments above though.
Thanks for the input J.A. Not a matter of having made up my mind...it's a discussion. On these types of topics I like to "talk through" the issue with commenters. I think you arrive at the best possible conclusions that way. Make a good case for something and minds can be changed. Thanks, again.
I read like I post.
If it's really, really, really interesting, I keep reading (or writing).
If it's just interesting, I just read (or write) a little and go on.
If it's not interesting or doesn't catch my attention, then on to something else I go.
I've always been an instapundit fan...Glenn's usually short and sweet.
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