What Should my Blog be About?

You’ve decided to create your own and now the challenge is to figure out what you want to write about. Do you have a particular passion in life? How about a favorite hobby? A blog can be on anything. Perhaps you’re a mother with kids and have some great parenting tips to share. Or, maybe you're a movie junkie and writing movie reviews would be right up your alley. Do you travel much? Or, how about your favorite sport or best cooking recipes.

Let’s look at some blogs to help you get some ideas. This first blog is written by a solo writer who offers travel tips and advice to different countries including the Philippines. 

 Solitary Wanderer

This next blog is a personalized blog which includes gluten free cooking.

Contemporary Cooking

While some blogs focus on one topic, others cover a variety of different ideas. The following is all about useful information on different things and includes holiday ideas, recipes and more.

www.baywire.blogspot.com

As mentioned about, a blog can be about a hobby. The writer of the following blog is really into fly fishing and offers a lot of helpful advice.

 fly-fishing-tips-and-tricks.com

A blog can also be of a personal nature. It can make for a great way to express one’s feelings as evidenced by this blog:

http://wherewouldyoufindme.blogspot.com

 

As for me, I’m a huge Disney fan. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t get at least one trip a year to either Disneyland or Disney World. Over the years of visiting Disneyland I’ve learned a lot and just recently launched a new blog with tips for people who are visiting there.

 http://bestdisneylandtips.blogspot.com/

As you can see, a blog can be about anything. Just find something you know and care about and write about it. If you are new to writing, I would suggest picking a free blog writing site so you can test the waters. This blog is on blooger.com which is a very easy site to set up a new blog on. Happy blogging!

Paranormal Writing Tips and Writers

As someone who's always been interested in the paranormal, when I look for articles online, I try to find credible sources. All too often paranormal articles are based on religious beliefs or opinions versus scientific fact. As someone who has a background in parapsychology, which is a branch of psychology and recognized by The American Association for the Advancement of Science, (otherwise known as AAAS,) I believe that to write good paranormal article, one should stick to solid facts.

If wanting to write a paranormal article, try to pick a very unique title as too many generic titles exist on the Internet. The following is an article I have written in which as you can see has quite a unique title. Now, it may seem like I have one Crayola short of crayon box, but if you read the article, you will see that it is based on science.

 How to Meditate to Make Space Alien Contact

Jill Stefko PhD is the Topic Editor on the online writing site of Suite101 for the category of Paranormal. She is well-versed on the topic and has written numerous articles on the subject matter. Take note her use of credible sources. Here's an example of her writing:

"The Amityville Horror:" 1979 Film: Fact or Fiction?   

Here’s another interesting article. Check out all of the sources sited at the end of the article. This helps lend credibility to the text of the article.

Mysterious Mexico: The Strange Phenomena of La Zona del Silencio

Hopefully the above articles have provided some examples of how to write a good paranormal article. Remember to keep it as factual as possible, versus opinionated, and choose a good title that accurately describes the content of your article.

How to Add Free Pictures to Your Blog

It’s easy to add pictures to blog for free. One site that offers free pictures is morgueFile. The site has a search which allows you to find a wide range of photographs. If using this site, please take a moment to read the photographers notes. Sometimes, they ask to be contacted over how you are using their pictures. In some cases it's just curiosity, while in others, they are looking to build up their own portfolios and your work may help them do so.

Another site is Wikimedia Commons. If looking through the site, be sure to find pictures that are currently in the public domain. Of course there are other sites, but let's concentrate on these two for now. While looking through either of these sites, look for a picture that best matches what you're writing about.

For example, let's say you're writing a piece about family beaches. The photograph below is beautiful. However, as lovely as it is, it wouldn't quite fit the article or blog post that you are writing because there is nothing that says family about it.

Now, look at the photograph below. This much more depicts the scene of a family beach.

A good picture can not only enhance your blog, but any online articles you may write as well, unless not allowed by the website. Here is an example of a blog which makes excellent use of pictures:

Blessed Little Creatures

Here is another one that not only uses pictures, but videos as well:

Protecting Our Natural World - All Wildlife

 As mentioned above, the good use of the picture can also enhance an online article. The following article has a photograph that matches up perfectly to the article's content.

Ben & Jerry's new flavor: "Schweddy Balls"

 Both morgueFile and Wikimedia Commons are great sources for finding free pictures to add to your articles and blogs. If looking for more resources, check out stock.xchng. If you have a free photo site that you can recommend, fill free to leave it in a comment.

When is the Best Time to Write to Get the Most out of Online Writing?

If wondering when is the best time to get the most out of your writing skills, it depends on when you're the most relaxed and able to concentrate on writing. For some people, it's first thing in the morning woke feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep. For others, it's a nighttime when everyone else in the house is asleep and all is quiet.

Sometimes the creative juices seem to flow better than others. If you suddenly get a great idea, even if you can’t fully write an article, at least jot down some notes with some key points that you have thought of. Then, when you give him time, you can go back to your notes which will help write the article.

It can be frustrating when you want to write but nothing comes to mind. Should this happen to you, either walk away for a while or try to quiet your mind. To help you concentrate, try to work in a relaxing surrounding without a bunch distractions If you meditate, try a relaxing meditation. If you don't know of any, try the following one and see if it helps you to clear your mind.

Free Online Guided Visualization Meditation for Relaxation

Of course, this is only my opinion. Here's another writer’s take on when the best time is to write:

Finding Time to Write With a Busy Schedule 

As you can see, there are some differences of opinion. The bottom line is what works best for you in order for you to find the time to right and get the most out of your writing time.

How to Write Online Travel Articles with Examples

When writing travel articles, the first thing to do is to pick an interesting title. Avoid anything too generic such as Attractions in Italy, as it will get lost in the search engines. Instead, focus on a specific place and give it a more detailed title such as The Best Venice Attractions for Sports Enthusiasts.

It’s best to have actually visited the location before writing about it. This way you can include more vivid details of the travel destination. If you have any great travel tips, throw them in. Also, if there is any way that readers can save money while traveling, include that in your article as well.

Here are some well written articles with unique titles to check out:

Scuba Diving at Heron Island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef  

The Emily Morgan Hotel, Haunted Hotels, San Antonio, Texas 

 The Easy Way to be On Time for a Flight from a British Airport

Many people enjoy taking a cruise and will look for travel tips on the Internet. Here are some travel articles focusing on cruising:

Accessible Cruises for Special Needs and Disabled Travel  

Rugby Themed Cruises to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup 

Crystal Symphony Caters to Older Cruise Ship Passengers

 Another way people write about travel online is with blogs. There much more freedom when blogging and money can be made. Check out these examples of travel blogs:

www.camping-in-spain.blogspot.com

Jordan Holidays

 

If possible, add some colorful pictures to your article to give readers the sense that they are there. Remember, when writing a travel article, be sure to pick a unique title, add lots of vivid descriptions and any traveling tips that will help readers plan the best vacation possible.

How to Write a Top Five List with Examples

A top five list can be on just about anything. It can be the top five homemade lasagna recipes or the top five humorous road signs in America. It really doesn’t matter. It’s simply a listing of the top five of something.

To give your list some substance, it’s best to start with an opening paragraph before writing out the list. When writing the list, a suggestion is to use a numbering list to make your content easier to read. After the list, a closing paragraph is recommended. Here are some examples with numbered lists:

The Top Five Things for Visitors to Do at South Shore Lake Tahoe  

The Five Top films of Dilip Kumar 

Top Five Children’s Movies of All Time

 

 Another way to write a list is to separate each item into its own paragraph with a sub-heading to accompany each one. Here are some examples of this form of creating a list:

Top Five Gifts for Gardeners

The Top Five Dangerous Jobs

Top Five Mistakes Freelance Writers Make 

Writing a top five 5 type of article can be fun and easy. It’s also a great way to express your favorites in a particular topic area. If possible, try to include at least one photograph for readers to enjoy.

How to Become a Feature Writer on an Online Writing Site

Most online writing sites have what is known as feature writers. This is a step above contributing writers. Feature writers are generally well versed in a particular topic. In some cases, this means more opportunities to earn revenue. It can also lead to greater exposure on a website.

I happen to be a feature writer for Xomba.com in the paranormal listed under their category of science and history. Click the link to see what the feature page in paranormal looks like. You’ll see how a feature writer is more promoted versus a contributing writer.

Paranormal

If interested in becoming a feature writer, a piece of advice is to first write some articles in the category in which you hope to be promoted to before applying for the position. This way the editors will see that you have knowledge in the particular category. You might also be asked to submit writing samples. Avoid anything too general and try to hone in on something more specific. Here’s an example of a feature article I have on Xomba:

The Creepy and Haunted Old Washoe Club in Virginia City

Xomba is only one of many writing sites that have feature writers. Another is Suite101. The following articles have been written by different feature writers on this site:

Ethics in Nonprofit Organizations - Current Standards

Hire a Personal Tour Guide While Visiting Colorado Springs, CO

Hundreds of Israelis, Palestinians and Italians Race Together

Becoming a feature writer is a way to further your career in the world of online writing. Whether it means more money, exposure or both, it’s a way to advance yourself as a freelance writer.