What I've Learned About Blogs... So Far

 

Image from "10 Ways to Stop Yelling At Your Kids and Instead Coach Them Through Emotions"

    Imagine you are scrolling on your phone, trying to find a recipe for pasta. Suddenly, you stumble upon a website titled 'Giada's Kitchen' and now you have found too many recipes for pasta. That is a blog. The parents sharing their thoughts on a thread about who can burp their baby the best? Also a thread. Blogs are essentially a way for people on the internet to deliver their thoughts, share advice, and collect others thoughts or eyes. Personally, I enjoy reading blogs in my specific range of topic of interests like gardening, music, or relatable personal stories. The most enjoyable topic I have read has been the personal stories as they remind us that moments in life are just moments, and they always leave you with some sort of lesson or afterthought. Regardless of my opinion, a good blog contains a clear story, a tone that the reader can feel for or trust, and images that do not crowd the entire page. 

    Over the past week I have read a number of different blogs, one I can not get out of my head and the other just seems to be lackluster. The first blog is a personal story narrating John's strange addiction, respectively titled "I Was Addicted to Hair Transplant Consultations" by John Paul Brammer. The second is an informational blog about how to parent better, "10 Ways to Stop Yelling At Your Kids and Instead Coach Them Through Emotions" by Ashley Soderlund PH.D. Each blog is written in a different style and with a different goal in mind but the first is written a lot clearer and truly captivates my attention. 

    In the first blog written by John Paul Brammer, a lot of his wording draws the reader's attention in from the introduction, "You can get hooked on damn near anything. God. Drugs. Sex. Eating drywall. The human brain is a matchbook doused in gasoline just waiting for a spark. Some obsessions are more unusual than others, like the one I developed at 20..." The author uses imagery throughout to give us an introspective look into the mind of a vulnerable person who battles insecurity. The writing is clear and the author's structure overall was very descriptive. There was not much rambling on and on and the storytelling feels relatable both in a dark and humorous way.

    The second blog is a parenting blog and discusses how to better care for your child. This blog seeks to aid parents searching for answers, empathize with them, and give professional advice. Written by a certified psychologist, this blog uses very intellectual language and calls for the reader to take action on their specific behaviors. It is less of a piece to help you think, and more to help you be better overall. Although the blog was well-written and provides useful information, it is covered in ad spaces and is hard to read with full focus due to the short paragraphs. Regardless, it serves its purpose as a blog and informs the reader on what they may need information.

Photo by John Paul Brammer

    Overall, I feel that blogs are absolutely an essential part of human communication today. They cover a variety of topics and come from our own community. Whether you write about your battle with hairlines or fussy children, as long as you have a clear purpose and a structure your blog will turn out good.