Today’s Assignment: publish a post for your dream reader, and include a new-to-you element in it.
Time to put your writing caps back on, and start honing your blogging focus.
We often create posts hoping that someone in particular will see (and appreciate) our work. Today, publish a post for that person — whether they’re a real-life figure or not — and stretch your blogging chops as you do.
Today’s Assignment: publish a post for your dream reader, and include a new-to-you element in it.
Why do this?
- Writing with a specific reader in mind is a great way to focus your thoughts.
- Exploring new elements and post styles adds more tools to your storytelling toolbox.
- Publishing different types of posts and media adds visual interest and keeps people reading.
Even if you’re simply blogging to have a place to practice writing, there’s someone you’re hoping will read. Maybe it’s your dad, so he’ll finally understand your life choices. Maybe it’s the head of Random House, so she’ll skyrocket you into literary limelight. Whether serious, frivolous or purely hypothetical, focus on your dream reader and write a post — about anything — aimed at him or her.
This doesn’t need to be the Greatest Blog Post of 2014 — it can be on any topic at all. The key is to keep your dream reader in mind as you write, and see how that influences what you create.
In your post, include one new kind of element. If you’re a photo blogger, try add context to your images with some haiku. If you’re a parenting blogger, add a photo. If you’re discussing current events, embed the tweets of other folks chatting about the same topic. If you’re an Instragram or Pinterest user, embed one of your own shots or some pins. Embed a song that resonates with what you’re posting about, or a map of a place mentioned in your post.
Trying something new brings an interesting twist to your blog, and thinking about what you post from a different angle is a useful exercise for any blogger. And the more tools you have at your disposal as a blogger, the more effectively you can tell your story.
Here are embed instructions for WordPress.com bloggers:
- Upload and insert images.
- Embed Instagram photos.
- Embed video clips.
- Embed a tweet.
- Embed from Pinterest.
- Embed tracks from Spotify or Rdio.
- All the other things you can embed and more ideas for using them.
Before you hit “publish,” make sure you’ve added the blogging101 tag to your post — it’s the easiest way to make sure other participants can find you. (Still not sure how to add tags? Read this.)
Questions? Hit us, or share your works-in-progress in The Commons.
Editor’s Note: Using The Commons and feeling overwhelmed by new post notifications? If you’re following the Commons, head to https://wordpress.com/following/edit/ to modify your settings. Find the 101 Commons and click “Edit” — you’ll be able to turn notifications off entirely, or choose to receive them as daily or weekly digests.
Oooohhhhh….. This sounds like a a Blast!!
Can’t wait for morning to come quick enough (when I do finally manage to drop-off that is) when I can get stuck right into this assignment.
=D
In the mean time, I already have a piece http://guclucy5inc5hipz.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/sacred-relationship-love-as-a-by-product-of-being-alone-my-story-by-me-3/ that I created, in response to a Blog Post at soulharmonyondemand.wordpress.com which I thoroughly enjoyed creating.
I received some lovely feedback also.
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Me too, I’m at work now, looking forward to getting home and writing this one. I can already see how it’s going to go…
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Can’t wait to see your result Abbie!! =)
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http://abbiesbabble.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/dear-dream-reader/
🙂
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This is exactly the type of post that I envisioned making when I first created my blog! It took a really long time to make, but I’m so happy I made it.
https://blushableme.wordpress.com/2014/09/14/urban-decay-shadow-box-for-fall-2014-full-review-and-swatches/
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Thanks so much for the info about embedding video and other things. Very helpful 🙂
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Hey guys, it’s quite late in London so I can’t wait to see in the morning your posts 🙂 Actually I decided that my dream reader should be very open-minded person. So for those close-minded: warning! you may not like the content of the following post http://tantoverde.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/the-hardest-of-christian-dispensations/
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Yes, the same in Dublin… but then we have all night to think about and write perfectly 🙂
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I am exactly in the same timezone 🙂 no this night I slept, and how about you? were you making homework? 🙂
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Yes I did my homework… then walking, replied for the letter of exchange letters initiative, I created a while ago… and finished the night with some painting as well 🙂
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Nice prompt
http://diariesofthenight.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/dear-fear/
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LOL. Nice post. 🙂
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Love it!! ❤
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I like your post, too. Fear is the thing that has been driving me all over the years, and cannot get rid of it. I will follow you now, hope you’ll follow back. Fear is our worst enemy, as per one very favourite book of mine, ‘The Master and Marguerita’…
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Thanks for the kind words!
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your blog is so eye-catching!!! I love it.
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http://modestfashionblogdotcom.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/what-is-modesty/
Added my post today with this assignment. Something like I used to put on my blog a while ago. Decided to go back to where I began.
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I have to dress very conservatively for my job (I work with kiddos), so I think your blog may be a great place to find modest outfit inspiration!
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please check out my posts im new on here and i would really appreciate it 🙂
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Your posts are definitely not unoriginal. 🙂 Nice writing, I’ll follow you now and hope you’ll follow back!
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Not able to login for The Commons Blogging 101 but can for Writing 101..
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Check your email; I re-sent the invitation 🙂
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You.. yes, you are my dream reader..
http://soulcurryz.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/dear-dream-reader/
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I was one day ahead of you! I won’t do this assignment as I wrote a post specifically for my son already. Check it out if you have time!
http://chrisjurewicz.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/open-letter-to-my-son/
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Yes, I read this one yesterday, and found it really engaging and touching!
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Here’s mine:
http://wp.me/p4QnIR-8Z
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And this:
http://wp.me/p4QnIR-8L
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We’d appreciate it if you kept the links shared here and on the Commons to posts related to Blogging 101. Thanks!
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Let’s be honest – you guys are my ideal readers! Here’s a blog post about my dining experience at Zero Zero with you guys in mind.
http://yeahhserenaa.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/zero-zero-san-francisco/
Now before you say “another food blog”, here’s my “about me” from Day 1: http://wp.me/p4UUue-3u (it’s the wordpress shortlink)
This community allowed me to find my niche and I appreciate all the feedback you guys provided in Day 1 of the About Me assignment – and you guys inspired me to keep going.
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There is nothing wrong in ‘another food blog’. Like mine is ‘another tall blog’. 🙂 Do stop by and maybe follow me back, as I’ll follow you. I like food blogs!!
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Great task 🙂
I am going to give myself 6 hours to think of what to write 🙂
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At least and then write with the flow of inspired action 🙂 Cheers from Ireland
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On second thoughts, I might need much more than six hours 🙂
Thanks Swav 🙂
Cheers
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Ohh I don’t even have to think.
I am almost nocturnal and my mind works the best when there is no disturbance 🙂
So late night is my time ;0
It is 0252 here as I write this now 🙂
What about you, do you have a preferred time?
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Take your time, and then just let you mind and soul to come up with the perfect writing… Did you ever thought of the best time to write ?
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I’ll go with the flow whenever inspiration comes, night or day doesn’t matter 🙂
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This topic is hard. 😐
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glad to know I’m not the only one… the struggle is real for me right now.
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Same. I’m struggling on what to write as well. xD
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Wow, this is fantastic idea… I’ll be on the beach today, so I might have a chance to challenge my laptop again 🙂 Have a great day…
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Done with this, yay! 🙂 Can you please let me know if you can see the embedded video?
http://ohyeahthislifeofmine.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/you-yes-you/
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I like it very much (indeed) but there is no video or at least I can’t see it. Did you insert a link from internet or uploaded it from the laptop?
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I inserted a link from youtube following this short code
Hahaha driving me nuts!
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Yes, I can’t see the video either, otherwise is a nice post. I tried to embed a photo into mine, but all I’ve managed to, apparently, is to insert the link to it. D’oh.
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This is really interesting! Guess who my dream reader is.. (I reveal it at the end of the blog post)
https://rhodainmanila.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/you-cant-be-perfect/
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Yay yay 😛 now I also know but won’t tell to anybody
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Love this! Thank you for your post!
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Thanks for reading!
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I plan to work on a post this afternoon while cooking the next recipes. Meanwhile, here are two letters already written to two dream readers – one to Nigella and one to Marcella:
http://shazzameena.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/a-letter-to-nigella/
http://shazzameena.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/writing-101-day-14-a-letter-to-marcella/
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Here is an open letter to my dream reader(s). Love the prompt. Let me know what you think… http://abbiesbabble.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/dear-dream-reader/
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guys visit mine… http://www.mindtechnorms.wordpress.com
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Is it the post with the bird photo you meant? Otherwise, your blog seems wise, calm and collected, so I will follow you now. I would appreciate it if you find mine worth a follow back!
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good morning peers!!! Not sure what I am going to do today. Since my blog is so random I don’t really think I have a specific reader, but just anyone who is interested lol. So since that is the case lets do the following.
I will go out of my element and write a poem. Catch is I want you guys to comment with a topic, anything at all i.e. Randomness, and I will go from there!!! sounds fun right?
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Great post! Thank you for sharing! It truly spoke to and inspired my heart this morning. Blessings to you! 🙂
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Hi all, here is my take on today’s assignment: http://notanothertallblog.com/2014/09/18/the-colour-of-my-hair/.
I hope you like it. 🙂 Let’s be nice to each other…
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LOL! I love it! Sounds like something that might happen to me.
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Here’s what I did with the assignment (added media to an already written blog that was definitely for someone…who never replied). Alas, here it is…http://chasinglifeandfindingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/08/26/a-closet-the-man-and-an-epiphany/
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Nice post… You’ve done a lot of thinking… I will follow you now and hope you’ll follow me back!
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Great resource list, Michelle’s! Thank you! I especially appreciate the short code list.
One question – how do you upload a .pdf? I’m trying to get some portfolio samples on my site, but when I “save as” .jpg, they become illegible. Any thoughts?
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Here you go: https://wordpress.com/support/uploading-documents/
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Michelle – Thank you! This worked great! I wasn’t getting the part about inserting a custom URL, as opposed to the image itself. So, I got the image up, now I just have to write the copy to explain it. Thank you!
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CERTAINLY AURORA IS STILL A PRINCESS AU 2+
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This here is a music blog, it is here to emphasize that there is still great music being made whether it be underground or not and that why I would like to share it with people so if anyone is interested feel free to check it out in your spare time 🙂 Thank you and have a good day.
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Hmmmmm…this one stretch me quite a bit. I had this topic floating around in my brain so I decided to use it. Thanks! This one helped me face my fears of how to say and encouraged me to just say it. 🙂
Post: http://choosing4me.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/an-open-letter-to-agents-of-change/
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This one scares me. The word, CODE, was used.
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Oh now that sounds hard… I hope it isn’t too computery or I’ll be lost
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Ditto! Just doing links at first. Will work my way up to t he short codes or whatever they are called…
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I’ve been wanting to learn this embedding business. Can’t wait to get going!
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