A break delayed, The hunt for awesome Hive blog posts, A primer on writing relateable commentaries, and the SNAP, CRACKLE, & POP! that makes for immersive and impactful writing
I was supposed to be taking a break from writing, but that's hard when you're a writer to the bone, and you love to read and share experiences. In this age of short attention spans where creators are doing everything they can to get their content consumed, we often forget about those little things that make our writing stand out.
Give me Gritty, and Give me Real
I can still remember the post I read years ago, either on late Steemit or early Hive. It was from a new person somewhere in the Pakistan, India, Bangladesh region, or possibly even in southeast Asia, I don't recall anymore. But it was about a guy who worked in a ramshackle little store, and all of the personalities he encountered throughout the day.
I was transfixed, and gobbled up each new entry, anticipating a years-long series about life in a small general store. As an American, we rarely get the opportunity to get a first-hand look at village life in the third world. Yet here I was being exposed to the gritty realities facing a person making his way through life.
There was so much character in the way he described how people lived day by day. I could almost picture it as if I was there myself, a specter, silently peeking over his shoulder as he interacted with everyone that walked through the doors.
It reminded me of my own time working in retail, so I could relate. But this was "realer" in a sense, as the stakes were much higher for those barely scraping by and living on the edge.
However, as quickly as it arrived, it departed, never to be seen again. Maybe it was a lack of support, possibly a real-life situation changed, I don't know. As a struggling student, I could barely make ends meet myself.
Make your Blog Posts Authentic and Relatable
But that's why the blog was so relatable to me. Here was yet another human soul, just like me, "going through it" while continuing to put one foot in front of another.
This wasn't yet another crypto-DeFi post, or a newbie bicycle-seat-sniffing at the posts of a whale, hoping for a juicy upvote handout. This was real life and authentic, written with all of his character flaws exposed for the world to see.
You knew it was real and not something contrived, and the memory of those short series of posts have stayed with me even years later. That's the kind of writing that stands out to me, and it's the type that I try to share with my readers.
I try to give you a slice of my headspace, and let you experience things from my own very real perspective.
And if you'd like to experience a great example of vivid, impactful writing, checkout the blog of @jacobpeacock. His bolded descriptions give you a snappy little preview of what you're about to read, and they're the best in the business.
When you read his work, its almost as if you're right there with him, giving you a vivid picture of his daily life.
In fact, his writing inspired me to get off my lard ass and add interesting descriptions to my own blog, which will help with SEO. He writes in the Homesteading Community, which is a great place to learn, while sharing your knowledge and experience. So thanks for that Jacob, and go check his blog out, it's a good read!
And that's what I'm looking for when I scroll through posts on Hive. I'm looking for someone sharing real experiences, with all the range of emotions that accompany us as we make our way through each day.
This is where vivid descriptions and imagery come in. Take us inside that beat-up old RV that you're restoring, so that I can feel as if I'm right there with you. Describe that soul-numbing cold that seems to whip right through you, with snowflakes hitting your face like little daggers in the wicked, winter wind.
Share the heights of heavenly happiness, along with the anguished depths of sorrow and loss, which offers balance, in this all-too-often, less than perfect world.
THAT'S what makes me stop scrolling to check your work out, and keeps me coming back for more, time and time again. Writing that inspires, uplifts the soul, and teaches life's lessons. So that we can become better human beings for us all. Do it.