Recently I’ve come across some posts about quality or lack of it on Hive. This subject has been a longstanding topic of discussion on the platform.
Quality is subjective.
While any content creator would like to be known for quality, you’ll do well if your posts fall into the good content range.
Good Content
At the core of good writing, is well, writing. You want to be sure to include:
- interesting topic
- organized thoughts on the topic
- an introduction, the message and conclusion
- write to draw your reader into the piece
Your writing style will make or break the reader’s experience. It’s not just information you’re delivering. It’s a message, your message.
Create a Storyline.
Pay attention to stories you read. Writers feed you details in an organized flow. You become immersed into the story.
Your message also needs to flow. Allow the reader to absorb and understand what you’re telling them.
Find balance between leading your reader through the details and taking too long.
The average person reads at about grade 5-7 level. Target your writing level there. You can target to a higher level, but, you narrow your audience.
So how long should your good content be?
Length is not an arbitrary value. What matters is your content shares a message with your reader. If you can accomplish your message in 200 words or if it takes 10,000 words, it really doesn’t matter.
Deliver a Complete Message.
If you want your reader to read your message you need to take care to be organized, concise and well presented. If your reader feels they are being led in multiple directions without some sense of a thread to follow, they will leave your post.
In many ways, a good post is one your readers want to read.
You Can Learn to Write
Writing is a craft. It’s not a gift that you’re born with. As long as you’re willing, you can learn the craft of writing like any other craft.
It doesn’t matter the topic you are writing about. Write well in an engaging manner and your reader will enjoy reading it.
Short precise sentences are preferable to long meandering sentences. A short well-written sentence carries more weight. More words do not make for better reading.
Once you’ve written your words and polished them to the best of your ability, it’s time to turn your attention to how you present them.
Pay Attention to Presentation
I have spent a lot of time over the years working on improving my writing and how to present it for an online audience.
The Basics of Presentation
White Space Rules
Electronic screens are not easy on our eyes. White space gives them an opportunity to relax.
- short paragraphs with line breaks between them are important
- vary the length of paragraphs
- generally, paragraphs shouldn’t exceed four sentences
- write left aligned or fully aligned.
- don’t write centered paragraphs they are hard on the eyes to read
- use bullet points when possible
Graphics Matter
People respond to visual cues. The graphics you use matter. Take the time to select at least one graphic. It can either relate to the subject matter or catch the reader’s attention.
Be sure to add your source to the graphic(s) and the source grants you rights to their use.
Use Effective Headlines
People scan before reading. Use headings as a first layer for your reader. If they get a sense of your content from the headings, they will pause to read.
Proofread
I try to avoid doing a lot of editing while I’m writing. In the first round, I want to get the details onto the screen.
I’ll read through the piece two or three times after I finish. I’m looking for:
- spelling mistakes
- missed punctuation
- not using the right form of a word like — two, to or too
- awkward sentences
- information gaps in details
- my writing weaknesses
Over the years I’ve identified weaknesses I have with my writing.
For example, I tend to overuse the word ‘that’. I’ll read through looking for where I’ve used it. I’ll remove the word and see if the sentence makes sense. If it doesn’t, I leave it in.
Take the time to read your work out loud. When I do this, I usually find mistakes I’ve missed.
Will your work be perfect?
That’s the goal, but don’t let uncertainty stop you from posting. You’re shooting for a good post, perfection is not required.
Keep writing and working to learn the craft. You’ll surprise yourself as it evolves.
Shadowspub is a writer from Ontario, Canada. She writes on a variety of subjects as she pursues her passion for learning. She also writes on other platforms and enjoys creating books you use like journals, notebooks, coloring books etc.
NOTE: unless otherwise stated, all images are the author’s
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Perfect is the enemy of good.
Or as my dad used to say:
So here you go:
good work 👍
(You did a perfect job)
!PIZZA
thank you
I am still struggling to write and I find this very informative.
I also bookmarked this as a future reference. 😊
Thanks a bunch!
!1UP
what has you struggling?
To be able to write faster.
I can't find the right words to express my thoughts fast enough. It usually takes me from 4 hours to 2 days to write a post.
My intro post actually took me 1 full week to finish. 😅 There is a big improvement as compared before but I am now hitting a wall - progress is getting slower.
English is not my main language and I used to dislike any of kind writing - I am more of a number person in the past. 😊
OH dear, you put a lot of pressure on yourself. Do you know stress can actually slow your thinking processes?
Have you ever tried just sitting down with pen and paper, taking a few deep breaths, letting yourself relax and then pick the pen up and just put words down. Any words, who cares if they are related.
Just write down words until you just can't bring any more to mind. no crossing words out, no correcting words. Anything goes, it's free fall from your mind to the paper.
Write in the language you are comfortable with.
Explore the words. You've just done free writing. You can set yourself a time limit if you wish or just let it flow until you think it's all you can think of.
You may surprise yourself at the thoughts and ideas that just flowed easily from your mind because you weren't trying to squeeze them out. You may discover some themes you wouldn't mind writing about.
Writing is a craft. It's not a craft that can be forced. You can prime the pump with exercises like that.
Write until you're happy in your language ... then translate.
Hang in there and be kind to you.
I thought of that sometimes so I usually go for a short walk to lessen the stress. But most of times, the pressure to produce some output makes me forget about it.
I will take on your advise and start on paper first. I am more comfortable in English when writing (but not when speaking) as we've been used/forced to use it to write at school and work.
Thanks for taking your time giving me this useful advice. 😊
I'll be curious to hear how you make out. Hang in there.
I all agree with your wise thoughts my friend. Quality does not equate length, and that it does not mean that longer posts that take up to 10,000 words are considered as quality, for sometimes short, concise, with an interesting organization of ideas are considered to be one. But in writing, there are a lot of writing styles to be considered, the key is to have an introduction, body, and conclusion so that readers would not be mislead.
It is like our favorite burger wherein there is a top bun, delicious fillings at the center, and a bottom bun. Similarly, the top bun represents the introduction, the center consist all the yummy ingredients which makes the burger very delicious, and that is the body, and the bottom part represents the conclusion that makes the burger so perfect to eat. As we write our blogs, let us always think of how to make a very delicious burger.
How I love burgers and so with writing my random thoughts. Thank you so much for the suggestions and recommendations my friend @shadowspub. This is truly very helpful and I have learned a lot from you today.
I love your burger analogy and as we know there are many condiments to use on a burger giving us lots of variety for the message part of it. Great visual.
The pleasure is mine my friend, shadows. I really love reading your daily contents. And this one is really so informative especially for beginners and even good points for any content creator to revisit. Thanks as well for the appreciation. Have a nice time and take care.
Love this post!!
You always do these kinds of posts so well.
thank you
Right, I agree. It's just that sometimes there is a problem with me, even when I proofread it I really miss the words and wrong spellings. And there are times when I also struggle with how to explain the article I'm working on. It took me all day just to finish it. Thanks for this, I learned something.
striving for perfection can sometimes hide the message. Start with messy to get the message then clean it up. If that works for you then it's the perfect approach.
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Great advice. At times I do find major mistakes in my works and from experience rereading it does help❤️🤗
I'm never failed to be surprised when I have read a piece over a couple of times and then read it out loud how many mistakes are still there. Just that shift in delivery can uncover missed details. And then there is the details that jump out after publishing.. never fails.
I can totally relate 😂😂
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Hey @adolf39 I see you've been on Hive since June and haven't written any content. Yet your comments attempt to send people to other sites. The comments are barely related to the post you're spamming links on. You need to start writing some content and leaving comments that actually relate to the post your commenting on if you actually want to thrive on Hive.
Kind of begs the question..why have you not posted content?