writing

3 Things Your Blog Needs in 2017

If you’re new around here you may not know this, but See Jane Write is not my only blog. I also blog at WriteousBabe.com. Sort of.

To say that I am inconsistent with my other blog would be an understatement. This year I’ve only published 25 posts there. I published more posts than that at SeeJaneWrite.net just last month!

You might be tempted to blame my inconsistency on my busy schedule. With managing a business, freelancing, and teaching, how could I successfully maintain two blogs? But honestly, I think time management has little to do with it.

I struggle with consistency with WriteousBabe.com because I lack purpose. With See Jane Write I have a clear mission and a clear audience in mind and this keeps me motivated day after day. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for my other blog.

This is why I believe all bloggers should enter 2017 with specific goals for their blogs. (Sign up for my free online training on goal setting here.)

But that’s not all you need to make 2017 a happy new year for your blog.

Here are the three things you need to make your blog successful in 2017:

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How to Give Useful Writing Critiques

writing-critique
photo via

One of my favorite things about See Jane Write is our monthly, members-only writing critique sessions. At these gatherings members bring a piece of writing of 500 words or less to be read and revised by other ladies of See Jane Write. These sessions have helped some members complete entire first drafts of books and these sessions have been the beginnings of beautiful friendships.

If you’d like to host a critique session of your own, here are a few tips on how to give useful writing critiques.

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365 Blog Post Ideas and Writing Prompts

writers-write

Writers write. Period. But sometimes we get so caught up in personal brand building, social media marketing, and blog monetization campaigns that we start to neglect our first love.

One way to fan the flames of your romance with writing is to write every day. Here’s a list of 365 blog post ideas and writing prompts to keep you inspired every day of the year.

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Why You Must Share Your Story

every-woman

The women in my world are warrior women.

They are strong. They are brave. They are courageous.

They are not warrior women because they are flawless or because they live perfect lives or because they never fall apart.

They are warrior women because when they do fall apart they find the strength to write themselves back together again.

They are brave enough to share their stories. They are courageous enough to show their scars because they know their words can help heal other women’s wounds.

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What’s the difference between a blogger and a journalist?

blackburn institute

On August 27 I had the honor of returning to my alma mater, the University of Alabama, to serve on a panel at the Blackburn Institute, one of the nation’s most unique and dynamic leadership development programs for college students.

The panel I was on was called “How to Find the ‘Truth’ in the Shifting Media Landscape” and was all about how to discern fact from opinion in a world full of blogs. podcasts, alt-weeklies and more.

Despite my experience as both a full-time and newspaper reporter and a freelance magazine writer, I was there mostly to represent the world of blogging.

During the panel discussion an audience member asked, “These days how do you determine if someone should be called a blogger or a reporter?”

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