R is for Rich Re-Tell

Everyone loves to tell and re-tell and re-tell again to anyone who will listen about important things that happen in our lives. When you’re re-telling an event have you ever noticed that sometimes your audience is hanging on every word and then other times they are clearly tuning you out? Why is this?

I think it has to do with the passion of the story-teller. When someone tells me a story and I can see what has happened to them in my head and imagine what it would be like to be them, I hang on to every word. But when someone tells me a story and just sticks to a list of events, well I tend to do my best to politely listen.

There is nothing wrong with sharing an event that has happened in your life with your blogging audience, but do your very best to create what this event looked like, smelled like and felt like so your readers can join you as you re-live the adventure.

For a tremendous example of one way this be done take a look at Jenny’s post E.

I is for Imagery

The topic might seem silly but Emily has written a post that will knock your socks off with its super effective use of imagery. I’m sure every reader of Emily’s S is for Showers post will find themselves day-dreaming of their own relaxing shower routine.

If you are working on making your own posts more descriptive this is an outstanding example of one approach.

D is for Diction

Diction is one of those fancy terms writers and editors use to talk about choosing good words in your writing and speech. The official definition is:

“Choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction, disposition, and application of words in discourse, with regard to clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.”

Thomas, Saski, Tommy and Jenny all made great choices with regard to diction in their posts this week.

Take a look at their posts and consider how you can make even more effective word choices in your next post.

G is for Great First Alphabiography Posts

Check out the following blogs for some examples of great writing:

Laurel and Andy – for letting their own voice come shining through their writing
Emma – for applying what she learns in language arts and using an impressive magnet simile in her post
Darcy and Rowena – for excellent use of descriptive language
Jamie – for clearly connecting her life lesson to the main idea of her post