Category: Blogging and Writing
I have been blogging in the area of Christian discipleship for quite a few years. It is important for me to keep up on biblical studies and theology to make sure that my content is accurate. But I also need keep up with best blogging practices. It is not enough to type something up and … Read More “A Resource That All Bloggers Need” »
Have you ever considered starting a podcast? If you are serious about getting a message out, podcasting can be an effective means. Podcasting fits nicely with blogging and social media in presenting what you value. I am an active podcast listener. I travel a lot and while I enjoy music, I prefer to listen to … Read More “How to Start a Podcast” »
If you are just starting out with writing, you need a couple of things. You need experience and you need some jobs. The more experience you get, the easier it will be to find jobs. One way to do this is to sign up with Fiverr. Fiverr is one of the best kept secrets on … Read More “Looking for Freelance Gigs?” »
I talk to many people who want to blog but find it hard to set the time aside. I understand that. At certain times in my blogging career, I have let it slip. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Let me show you a plan. Before giving my advice, I will put out … Read More “How the Busiest Person Can Find Time to Blog” »
I was sad to hear that author William Zinsser had died. Although he was in his nineties, it always unfortunate to lose a person who has had an impact on so many people. The first book on writing that I ever read was his On Writing Well. Whenever I ask people what books on writing … Read More “William Zinsser Wrote Well” »
Here are some more Kindle deals that writers might be interested in. I need to remind you that the prices listed are those that were at the time of this post and may change over time. Anti-Procastination for Writers by Akash Karia – $2.99 Writing a Kindle Book a Week by Alex Foster – $2.99 … Read More “Kindle Deals for Writers” »
Get certified! I have just completed Hubspot’s Inbound Marketing Certification. You may think that is strange as my background is more in Christian ministry and theology. However, I have found this training to be very helpful. What is inbound marketing? Inbound marketing is a major shift in maketing. Whereas previous generations put all their effort … Read More “Inbound Marketing Certification” »
You know that famous author who really inspires you? You are not them. So why do you try and write like them? One of the most difficult aspects of writing is finding your voice. You start writing because you believe you have something to say. But when it comes to seeking publication, you feel pressured … Read More “Finding Your Voice” »
What type of blogging platform should you use? I am currently working on an eBook on blogging but I thought I would share some thoughts here as well. Specifically about the different blogging platforms that are available. If you want to blog (and I think you should), you need some sort of blogging platform. Each … Read More “What is the Best Blogging Platform?” »
You may have felt the call of writing since you were a child. Your passion is writing that special article or exciting novel. You live firmly in the world of the creative. There was a time when that was enough. Once your book was in the hands of the publisher, you showed up for the … Read More “Not Just a Writer” »
One of the best places to find affordable resources for writing is on Kindle. You can often find Kindle deals for less that $5. Please note that I am quoting the US Amazon store and that the price may change after the time of the posting. Also, I am not necessarily endorsing any book. They … Read More “Kindle Deals for Writers” »
If you are just starting out on your writing career, I hope you are not aiming at never receiving a rejection letter. The only way to not receive a rejection letter is to never submit any writing. So when you receive your rejection letter, take it as a learning opportunity. Instead of getting angry and … Read More “When Not If You Get Rejected” »
I personally find blogging to be very enjoyable. But what about writers who do not currently blog? Is there any point in starting to blog? I would like to share five reasons why writers should consider blogging. This is especially true for those just starting out but it is applicable to more experienced writers as … Read More “5 Reasons Why Writers Should Blog” »
Perhaps one of the best opportunities for apologists these days is that of blogging. You can put out your thoughts and people can read your content for free, no matter where in the world they live. There is a sense of anonymity in that your audience can read your posts even if their culture would … Read More “5 Things to Include in an Apologetics Blog Post” »
Blogging can be a fulfilling activity for people who enjoy writing. But not all blog posts are the same. Both of the ones I will share are important but it is helpful for you to understand the difference. As examples I will share links to my two most popular posts. 1. Timely These kinds of … Read More “2 Types of Blog Posts You Need to Write” »
A long time ago, when the earth was still cooling, bloggers could set up a Facebook page, post a link and the traffic would just come. It was the golden age. Those days are long gone. Facebook has changed and keeps changing their algorithm to make those posts much less likely to appear on people’s newsfeed. … Read More “How to Promote Your Blog Posts With Facebook” »
Assuming you are blogging regularly with some quality posts, I have a foolproof way of growing your blog. There are only three steps. Read very carefully. Set a goal. Achieve the goal. Repeat. I am not kidding. It is as easy as that. What do I mean and how does it work? First, you have to … Read More “3 Steps on How to Grow Your Blog” »
I recently did a survey of Christian bloggers and the overwhelming majority said they do not monetize their blog. What do I mean by monetizing? That would include things like Google AdSense, Amazon affiliates, other affiliate programs and selling ads to other organizations. Basically the concept is that there can be some source of income … Read More “Should Christian Bloggers Monetize Their Blogs?” »
I invaded the blogosphere (do people still use that word?) in 2006. I had just published my first book (with Stan Porter), Unmasking the Pagan Christ, and discovered that someone (Ian Clary) was reviewing our book. His reviews were appearing on something called a weblog or a blog. I read some more of his posts and … Read More “How I Started Blogging” »
Should you self-publish a book? There is no easy answer to that. It depends on many things. Why Did You Write the Book? If you wrote your book because you need publishing experience for your academic career, it is not good to self-publish. If you hope to get your book in university libraries, it is … Read More “Is Self-Publishing a Bad Idea?” »
I often get asked how one becomes a writer. Despite the title of this post, it is not a matter of plugging into an equation. You need to begin with some ability. There is a place to sharpen those skills but there has to be something to start with. Assuming that you have some basic … Read More “10 Steps to Becoming a Writer” »
So you want to start a blog. What are the first steps? I have posted on this previously with So You Want to Be Blogger? I have also offered some tips on how to develop a list of potential blog posts. What I would like to do is expand on some of what I have said … Read More “How Do I Start a Blog?” »
Twitter is a fantastic component of social media. Twitter enables us to have contact with famous people in a way that we would not normally. It also allows to respond to events in real time while tracking what others are saying about the same subject. Having said that, there are people on Twitter that make … Read More “Don’t Be a Twit on Twitter” »
You need to make a decision. Why are you blogging? There are two possible reasons. One is as a diary. It is just a nice way to express what you are feeling. The other is because you have something of value to say that you think other people would benefit by reading. If it is … Read More “Don’t Get Lazy With Your Blogging” »
Being a Christian on Facebook and being Christian on Facebook are not the same thing. How can we become a Christian presence on Facebook? It is more complicated than posting as many Christian memes as you can find. Here are some thoughts. Try to be positive. There is nothing more annoying than someone who is … Read More “How to Be a Christian Presence on Facebook” »
Admit it. You know you have done it. You are stopped at an intersection or you are driving on the highway and you feel that tingle in your nostril. There is something that needs to come out. You look around. You are surrounded by glass on all sides. It feels safe. You take care of … Read More “Picking Your Nose in the Car and Blogging” »
Many of these tips are relevant to all bloggers, but in this post I am writing specifically for apologetics bloggers. These come from my experience as an apologetics blogger. I enjoy blogging and I hope that these tips will be helpful to you. 1. Blog consistently. I will admit that there are times that I … Read More “6 Tips for Apologetics Bloggers” »
There are many people who think they know English. But then you read their blog and you know differently. I have seen bad English in book and articles. As an editor, I sometimes find it painful to read what people write. Basic grammar is often a weakness. My biggest problem is as a college instructor. … Read More “Writing English” »
List blog posts (10 reasons why… 7 ways to…) are very popular these days. If you look for advice on how to increase blog traffic, this will be near the top. I can tell you that it works. I have used it many times and they are often my most popular posts. I do think … Read More “5 Reasons Why List Blog Posts are Dangerous” »
Twitter is a great social media vehicle. It can be a lot of fun. While very different from Facebook, it has its own strengths. It is great finding famous people and some not so famous but like-minded people to follow. But if you are going to make the most of Twitter, you will want some … Read More “How Do I Get Followers on Twitter?” »
Can you make money blogging? Sure you can. Will you get rich? Not likely. There are some people who make a full-time income blogging but they are a very small percentage of bloggers. Others make some money, either a part-time income or a little less. I speak to you as one on the journey. I … Read More “How to Make Money Blogging” »
I recently did a post on Why Do I Blog? In that context, I talked about why I blog about the things happening in my life, as that is my personal blog. It is just as appropriate to ask I blog in the realm of apologetics. I will start by sharing the reasons that are not … Read More “Why Do I Blog? (Part Two)” »
I have been blogging for six or seven years now. I don’t do everything perfectly, but I have learned some things through trial and error. If you want to be an effective blogger, this advice may be of some help. 1. Blog. Really, try to blog as often as you can. Blog regularly, whether that … Read More “So You Want to Be a Blogger?” »
One of the things that I have discovered in the last couple of years is the world of self-publishing. Sometimes there are projects that may be of interest but are not big enough for a publisher. I discovered an excellent web-site called www.lulu.com. This web-site allows people to publish their material for free, paying only … Read More “The World of Self-Publishing” »