How do I compose a blog post?
Over time my blogging process and content has evolved. My early posts, back when I started in 2008, were often quite brief and I didn't always describe the plot of a book. These posts were written when I was still working full time so I used them more as memory joggers for titles I had read and enjoyed. Back then I did one post each week (4 per month) now I do one each day (nearly)! I think my posts have improved over time.
My intended audience is perhaps a little too broad? - Teacher-Librarians, Teachers, and young readers themselves especially those aged 10+. I also think about parents especially when I share a preschool title or very occasionally a board book. I rate at number 74/100 on the Feedspot list and number 8/25 on their Australian list.
The promotion of my blog via social media could be better - this might be a project for 2025.
So here are some of my blogging steps (not strictly in order):
- First off, I read the book, and I put post it notes on pages I want to quote or if I forget to do this I try to remember the page number or chapters.
- Note not every book I read makes it onto my blog.
- As I blog or explore a book I skim back through it again - so this is kind of like a second reading.
- I sometimes begin my post with a significant quote from the book - one that perhaps sums up a powerful part of the plot. This applies to novels more than picture books.
- Then I think about a star rating - five stars, four stars or no stars (that just means the book was good but not a title I would give a star). I do not go lower than four stars. I usually assign stars only to middle grade or junior novels and rarely to picture books or non fiction.
- I add my labels (I think I could improve this).
- I try to summarise the plot but only as a way to tempt you to read the whole book. I don't always manage to avoid spoilers but I do try.
- I try to add a qualitative comment and sometimes an age suggestion.
- I hunt for other reviewers who have talked about the same book and then I add quotes to my post with links to their pages and I give an extract of their review which often more eloquently summarises my view of a book. I have listed below some of my main sources of reviews.
- I select a linking colour that matches the book cover.
- Thanks to blogger Joy Lawn and her blog Paperbark Words - I borrowed her term Companion Reads to share books that are in some way related to the book I am discussing and with each of these companion titles I put a link to my own blog post.
- If I can find teacher's notes I add this link and if it is a picture book I might put a link to a video reading - but many of these out on the internet are so awful I am quite careful with this plus I really want children, teachers, teacher-librarians to READ the book not view a video reading.
- If there are illustrations especially in a picture book, I try to include one or two so you can see inside the book.
- If the author uses interesting words or examples of a rich vocabulary I try to list examples.
- I look for details about the author and illustrator and add links to their webpages and sometimes I add a few bio details.
- I often include a picture or link to other books by the same author or illustrator.
- Occasionally I add ideas for book talks.
The books I blog are not only from Australia (we speak English and can enjoy the best books from USA, Canada, New Zealand, and UK) and the books I blog are often out of print but hopefully many will be in your local or school library. Older books and very old books can be treasures you do need to discover just as much as the latest titles that have just hit the shelves of your local bookstore.
My interests in children's books are quite varied but I especially enjoy finding wordless book (IBBY call them Silent Books); interesting and quirky nonfiction; books translated from other languages; and picture books which are examples of excellence in book design and exquisite illustrations. And of course I read lots of middle grade titles. I borrow books from a school library or two and I buy books. Three or four times a year I receive review copies of books from one Australian publisher University of Queensland Press UQP. It would be so fabulous to see new release books from Walker Books (Australia); Gecko Press; Allen and Unwin; Fremantle Press; Hachette; Berbay Books; Thames and Hudson; Lantana (UK); and Penguin Random House.
Here are a few of the blog reviewers I often quote:
1 comment:
A really interesting post. Thank you for sharing.
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