Writing Blog Posts: “But there are many ways to say the same thing?”

August 19, 2010

Do you know or remember any really great teachers? What was one thing they all had in common?

My answer is, a great teacher can easily convey potentially very confusing topics in a fun, engaging way that is unique to the audience and moment.

Our ability to understand any given topic is limited by our mood, personality and current interaction with the teacher. If the teacher uses the same words for every person all the time, chances are, they’ll have limited success.

My acupuncturist was offered a great opportunity to write health articles for a respected online journal. Now, from my experience, she has a real talent for teaching. But she objected to writing a blog or article because she felt that there was no way to convey a teaching through print or the web, because there are just “too many ways of explaining the same thing. And it depends on reading the body language of the person you’re talking to”.

Here’s 2 tips for writing blog posts that I’ve come across that help me through this hurdle.

1) Use stories. We humans are social creatures and can understand (and engage with) a story better than a logical outline. Think about the enduring teachings that last thousands of years (Bible, Koran, Gilgamesh, an apple falling on Newton’s head), they are all stories. Find a way to say what you want to say using metaphors and stories. This will help people “fill in the gaps” of understanding with what is common experience.

2) Say the same thing twice. Or say it almost the same way twice. If you’re writing a blog or for a journal, you’re going to feel that “Hm, what should I write about today” from time to time. Don’t be afraid to re-visit a (popular) topic. Find a unique or new way to look at the topic and write about it. This way you’ll help your readers get a deeper understanding of the material.

How do you explain tough topics online or in print? Please leave a comment and share your experience.