Disqus - Latest Comments for aliventures

Re: How to Write Faster, Better Blog Posts: 4 Techniques Top Bloggers Use

Ali Luke — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 15:13:10 -0000

Absolutely, hiring freelance bloggers or inviting guest posters on board is a great idea if bloggers are struggling to keep up with writing and publishing as much content as they'd like ... thanks for that addition to this piece!

Re: How to Write Faster, Better Blog Posts: 4 Techniques Top Bloggers Use

Ali Luke — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 15:12:05 -0000

That's an interesting angle, Priscilla. I haven't noticed that as a particular issue with AI myself but I don't write content about politics. I do think there's a danger of AI going off on a tangent that's unrelated to the topic, which is where it helps to go step by step -- e.g. creating the outline, then getting AI to write the sections, rather than just prompting AI to write the whole post.

Re: How to Write Faster, Better Blog Posts: 4 Techniques Top Bloggers Use

Ali Luke — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 15:10:29 -0000

Ryan, what a fantastic alternative perspective -- thank you for sharing it! I think you're absolutely right about the importance of standing out with content that's different from the run-of-the-mill, for long-term impact. It sounds like you've made exactly the right choices for you with your writing process and the growth of your online profile. And that's a great point that more time invested earlier in the process will result in less editing, too.

Re: Four Types of Blog Post to Create if You Don’t Want to Write Much

Ali Luke — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 08:42:37 -0000

Thanks for the great thoughts, Ryan!

I completely agree with you about videos -- for this piece, I wanted to focus on how to produce a post that has plenty of words, but a video post (or even a post that's very focused on images) can be a great option too. It sounds like it's working really well for you, as well. :-)

Re: Four Types of Blog Post to Create if You Don’t Want to Write Much

Ali Luke — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 08:41:07 -0000

Thanks Karen! So glad this came at the right time for you. :-)

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 12:30:40 -0000

Thanks Susan! :-)

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 12:30:10 -0000

Thanks Ryan! :-)

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 12:30:02 -0000

As I say, I do realise this issue raises strong feelings! It'd be great if English had a neutral pronoun that could be used, but as it doesn't, the singular "they" works fine for me. (This is hardly unprecedented in our language, either: the pronoun "you" can be singular or plural, depending on context.)

Ultimately, of course, you get to decide what you do on your own blog.

I don't think there are no standards that should be upheld (the misuse of "literally" bugs me, for instance), but I do think that when language isn't doing its job of letting us say what we want to say, it's appropriate and indeed right that it evolves accordingly.

But I recognise we'll probably have to agree to disagree on this one!

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 15:00:07 -0000

I think "one" sounds a bit formal in most blogging contexts, personally -- though I can see that it might work for a corporate or fairly academic blog.

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:58:56 -0000

Good point! I barely notice "they" used in this way. I do remember it sounded odd to me when I first heard a friend use "they" to refer to their non binary child... but I soon got used to that, too.

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:57:09 -0000

I know it's an issue that sometimes raises strong feelings! Glad that some of thr alternatives work for you.

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:56:00 -0000

There's never going to be a single perfect solution ... sounds like you've figured out good options for both your blogs, though. For me, "one" can sound a bit formal -- but I can see how it could be a good fit for a corporate blog.

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:54:26 -0000

Thanks, Tracy! I think the way language evolves is really fascinating.

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:52:41 -0000

Thanks Kari! :-) So glad this hit the mark!

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:42:49 -0000

Thanks, Stella! Glad to have given you some options on this. :-)

Re: Should You Use ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’ in Your Blog Posts?

Ali Luke — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:39:39 -0000

Thanks for catching that, Lori -- a careless example on my part! Ovarian cancer would indeed have been better -- I'll see if I can get that changed.

Yes, I think being conscious of the issue is what's key -- whatever solution you use.

Re: How to Make Your List Items and Bullet Points Super Smooth

Ali Luke — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 04:49:38 -0000

Really glad this will be helpful for you, Raza!

Re: How to Make Your List Items and Bullet Points Super Smooth

Ali Luke — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 04:49:27 -0000

Thanks Steven! Glad this helps solve a puzzle for you. :-)

Re: How to Make Your List Items and Bullet Points Super Smooth

Ali Luke — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 09:47:24 -0000

Thanks Ryan! Yeah, I think this must be a huge challenge for ESL bloggers (goodness knows, I can't imagine blogging in anything other than my native English, so I really admire anyone who's blogging in a second language)!

Re: How to Make Your List Items and Bullet Points Super Smooth

Ali Luke — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 03:04:31 -0000

Thanks, Shardwan! Yes, while a "brain dump" of ideas can be great when you're outlining a post, it's not what your readers want as the finished piece. :-)

Re: How to Write Short Sentences and Paragraphs the Right Way (and Why It Matters)

Ali Luke — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 09:17:32 -0000

Thanks! (I'm Ali -- short for Alison -- though; Luke's my surname. It confuses a lot of people!)

Great point that every word needs to pull its weight. :-)

Re: How to Write Short Sentences and Paragraphs the Right Way (and Why It Matters)

Ali Luke — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 09:16:53 -0000

Thanks, so glad this was helpful!

Re: How to Write Short Sentences and Paragraphs the Right Way (and Why It Matters)

Ali Luke — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 09:16:47 -0000

Hope it all goes well for you, Donna! I think readers can enjoy a wider variety of styles than some advice would suggest -- but most large blogs do indeed use a conversational tone (and that can cover a pretty wide range of writing). :-)

Re: Seven Sure-Fire Ways to Annoy a Blog Editor (and What to Do Instead)

Ali Luke — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 06:20:51 -0000

Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Ryan! I think we all make mistakes early on, and there's nothing wrong with that -- it's how we learn!

Your comments were always a delight to receive back when I was editing DBT. I think you do a great job of building up relationships and friendships around the blogosphere. :-)

Re: Seven Sure-Fire Ways to Annoy a Blog Editor (and What to Do Instead)

Ali Luke — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 06:18:22 -0000

Haha, well done you on avoiding them all! :-)