In this video Tyler Cowen of Marginal Revolution has some helpful advice on how to be an effective blogger (RSS and email readers click through to see video):

• When I’m reading things, I’m always thinking, “Is this bloggable in some way?” If you’re going to have fresh material every day, the switch has got to be always on.
• I don’t worry about, “This kind of post will draw in more readers.” I think that’s a big mistake. It makes the blog boring, least common denominator, less innovative, less entrepreneurial.
• I try to make people think about old things in a new way…It’s about ideas and trying to open up horizons.
• Blogs will last forever. I don’t think it’s a phase. I think the combination of information with personality will persist.

When I think of the bloggers I enjoy most, it’s definitely that combination of content + personality that draws me to their writing.

Some bloggers have lots of content, but it’s a character-free-zone – you’d think that a robot was writing the posts. Others have little to say, or just recycle the same message again and again, and hope that the force of their personality or the details of their personal life is enough of a draw.

It’s a very difficult balance to strike, but Cowen is right, it’s content PLUS personality that attracts us, interests us, and inspires us.

I’ve noticed an increasing number of Christian authors going down this route too (intertwining their own story with their teaching) and in some books it does enhance the final product.

However,  I wouldn’t like to see preachers taking this approach in the pulpit. A personal story now and again may help illustrate a point, but too much of that and the focus easily and fatally moves from God and His Word to the preacher and his life.

So, what do you think makes a successful blog? And should a preacher regularly bring his own story into the pulpit?

1. Smaller: smaller and smaller pieces of writing are being published
2. Easier: anyone with access to the Internet can easily and cheaply publish trivial, tiny pieces of information
3. More personal: people are putting more and more of themselves out there.

He then goes on to consider the impact of this on traditional books.

And while we are on the subject of writing, here are five tips for self-editing:

1. Don’t try to edit while you’re writing
2. Write one day, edit the next
3. Look for one mistake at a time
4. Get a second opinion
5. Read good writing from other people

1. Preach to make a point not to reach a time limit.

Vigorous writing (preaching?) is concise. ~William Strunk Jr.

2. Help another edit their preaching.

I try to leave out the parts that people skip. ~Elmore Leonard

3. Write something every day that you do not intend to share

This is a bit strong. However I think it is worthwhile, especially for students at Seminary, to regularly set apart some time to prepare sermon themes and outlines, even when they may have no opportunities to preach them.

4. Outline before drafting your sermon

If any man wish to write (preach?) in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts; Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

5. Don’t get caught up in re-stating the obvious

The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. ~Anaïs Nin

I want to be a bit careful about this, because one task of the Gospel preacher is to keep re-stating the same truth (2 Peter 1:12). However, we don’t need to re-state the same truth the same way every time.

6. Befriend a dictionary
 
The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug
. ~Mark Twain

Again, care required here so that we do not start using words that no one else understands. But, we can refresh our vocabulary with simple words also.

7. Keep a little notebook for moments of inspiration

Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable. ~Francis Bacon

8. Not having a pen in hand does not mean that you are not writing

The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes. ~Agatha Christie

Or as the writer of this article put it: “There’s no such thing as writer’s block. But there are times when washing dishes is a better use of time than staring at an empty screen!”

9. Be kind to yourself

Every writer (preacher) I know has trouble writing (preaching!). ~Joseph Heller

1. A dash of brevity.
   
2. A heaping tablespoon of clear and grammatical expression.
   
3. A pinch of humor. 
4. A teaspoon of personal context. 
5. A scant cup of nicety. 
6. A seasoning of structure. 

Read whole article here.

1. Don’t bury the big news
Don’t build long case up to climax. Hit them with the big news first. Get the key points across early.

2. Don’t use unnatural language.
Using fancy and showy language diverts attention to the medium or the messenger rather than the message

3. Don’t overuse nouns
Use verbs much more. Not, “It is our suggestion…” but, “We suggest.”

4. Use shorter sentences
Cut down on “and” and aim for an average of 15 word sentences (also short paras)

5. Don’t use passive voice
Start with the “actor” then the “action,” not vice versa.

And if you really want to improve your writing (hence speaking) here is a great resource of 101 writing tips in a few pages. For this and three more free ebooks on writing visit Magneto.

My_Golden_Writing_Tip.pdf
Download this file