If you have not written a blog before – never fear! by Ryan Jefferies

You are not alone. In a curious twist of fate, I am also writing my first ever blog post. The plan is to write a calming collection of tips for how to approach writing your first blog post for THESIS. Yes, you guessed it, this is that blog post. Please read on.

Am I the best person for the job? A blogging novice, maybe not – but I believe a dead Stoic with a beard roughly said, when we teach, we learn. So that’s good, and I also have the THESIS group (and the Internet) to call upon for guidance. We’re in expert hands.

 

First, take a deep breath. Publishing a blog with THESIS is an excellent chance to share your ideas with the world, it looks great on your CV, and it should be fun to write. Yes, loads of fun. Your blog is not an essay assignment. It is whatever you want it to be (minus the obscenities). It can be serious in subject and tone, or lighthearted. Above all, try to relax and enjoy the process. It could be the first blog of many!

Audience. Who are your readers? Are they students, academics, industry professionals, all the above? Thinking about the specific needs of the people you aim to enchant with your blogging, will shape both the content and style of your post.

Focus. Resist the lure of wild tangents. Make it clear to the reader what your blog has to offer and then deliver the goods. If you’re writing a collection of tips for blog writing beginners, do not fall into a meta-blog spiral of doom that takes the innocent reader down a useless hole…

If you do get lost, that’s perfectly normal, do not worry, the THESIS editors are here for guidance.

Style. Is your reader engaged? Or enraged? Have you been too playful with a serious subject? Have you made a playful subject too formal?

Striking the right balance is important, but blogging doesn’t need to be formal – it can be written in your natural voice. For example, I can happily write the contraction doesn’t without unleashing the editor’s wrath. Just try to keep your writing easy to understand and ask your lovely editors for help if you cannot locate your voice. Finding your voice can take time and practice. Please contact me if you come across mine.

Examples. The THESIS website is a treasure trove of blogs written by RHUL students and staff. To get an idea about writing styles and structure, have a read. You’ll notice everyone has slightly different ways of doing things, so you can draw inspiration from each when shaping your own.

 

So, there you have it. I hope this blog post has done something to ease your concerns about blogging. If not, then please email me at ryan.jefferies@rhul.ac.uk

We can chat some more about blogging, and together we’ll teach and learn in a joyous cycle that would’ve squeezed a stifled giggle from the dourest of Stoics.