Writing A List Post Without Writing A List Post
(What does the picture have to do with writing list posts? Absolutely nothing…)
Many will agree that list posts are often times the most popular format as they enable the reader a quick skim without missing much of the core message. As blog readers, we may intend on reading through an entire post, but we certainly don’t want to have to actually read the thing before we determine if it’s the one we want to give our precious time to. With a list post we can glance at a few listed headings and make this determination without breaking a mental sweat. Too many 12px sized letters between these headings and we’re libel to just move on to our next possible post.
The problem is, many bloggers either don’t like writing conventional list posts or many blog readers don’t really enjoy reading them. So how can we maintain this skim-ability without confining our content to 1’s, 2’s, 3’s and so on?
Breaking Down Big Posts
I’ve been writing some pretty hefty posts over at Motivate Thyself. Some have pushed past 3,500 words. Yet if you were to pop over there and scroll through a few, you’d see that they are still quite easy to skim and decide if the content is worth the full read. I rarely go more than a few paragraphs without some kind of heading that introduces the next hundred and fifty words. I list my content without using bullets or numbers and while maintaining a more conventional writing style (most of the time).
As I write, I keep an eye out for chunks of content. If I’m starting a new paragraph and it seems to jump into its own unique thought or idea or section, I create a heading to start it off. This way, I not only give my readers clear guidelines to my longs posts, but I maintain a kind of listed structure that helps me maintain focus as I blaze through thousands of words.
Other Kinds of Content Markers
Headings, bullets and numbers are only a few ways of breaking down your content into easily indigestible bites. We can also achieve this by using other forms of text formats. Whether we bold our words, color or italicize them, we can cleanly organize our insight while maintaining the interest of our readers.
Integrating A Conventional List
Many of my posts also have numbered or bulleted lists built in. Usually toward the end, acting as a kind of summary, I find this to be perfect for the application part of the post. It’s easy to knock out some great writing and share awesome insight, but then leave out the real meat. Most blog readers (depending on what they’re reading, of course) want to know what to do next. If they’ve read an awesome, thought provoking post, they want that last bite to be filled with some form of direction. A kind of, “Now do this, this and this…” kind of thing. Otherwise, they’re left feeling like, “In theory, that all made sense, but how do I apply it to my own life?”
Sticking To Your Own Unique Style
The bottom line is this: We all have our own unique voice to share with the world and no one can convey that style better that you can. Yet there are certain ways to write our thoughts that are most effective for the common blog reader. If we neglect either of these facts we risk weakening our reach. So by all means, find what works and then mold it into an easily edible morsel for visitors to comfortably enjoy.
Listing your thoughts is a tried and true method in the blogging community, but not all lists have to look the same. Find the structure that fits your style the best, while leaving bread crumbs for your readers along the way. Go too long without a breather and risk losing many of your readers as they grow tired of the uninterrupted information overload.
Eric
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I enjoy your longer posts, Eric, and appreciate all you do to break them up and signpost the sections. Today’s post has valuable ideas. Not all readers exist on a diet of How to…, Ten Tips for… and List posts, but like you say, that doesn’t mean we can’t make life easier for those people who do like our longer contributions enough to stick with us.
I personally enjoy breaking up my longer blog posts with quotes, other people’s or bits of my own post highlighted to draw attention to the main message of a section. In my longer articles, I’m afraid I just depend on a reader’s desire to stick around. If they don’t want to read it all, they’ll leave. And that’s fine.
I don’t change my style to broaden my “reach”. Luckily our voices are jigsaws of who we are, patchwork quilts and mosaics. We attract different readers to different parts of ourselves and we speak differently to all of them, depending on who they are, where we are and what the communication is between us.
Nice post, Eric. I especially liked the last paragraph.
janice’s last blog post..Claiming Your Voice
Eric, are you trying to set my brain on fire with that picture?!
Hayden Tompkins’s last blog post..Rocking the Zodiac for a Rocking Marriage!
Too much nipple ring for me to read on.
Matthew Dryden’s last blog post..The Typewriter
I get tired of lists. That’s not to say I haven’t read many list posts that were dynamite, just that I think they are sometimes overdone in blogopolis. I also think it’s generally a lot easier to write a list post than a non-list post. Making an argument with one focus is not only more difficult to create, but often more fun to read.
The following is a great blog post making an argument for why non-list posts are better:
http://writetodone.com/2008/06/02/why-single-idea-blog-posts-often-work-better-than-list-posts/
Also, I think headings should be done on a case by case basis. And I think it’s an overstatement to suggest they should be included in every blog post.
Sometimes I avoid headings because I feel they can effect the delivery in an unfavorable way.
If you’re not using headings or lists, there is one strategy that can, nevertheless, always be used. And in fact, I believe that generally, this strategy should always be implemented. And that is – keeping paragraphs brief.
Paragraphs that look like mountains are intimidating to the eye. Small and swift paragraphs are much more inviting.
While I think headings can be very effective and should be used… I also think there are times when they are better not used.
Naturally, it all depends on many factors.
Dude, I’ve not been able to get a single bit of work done today thinking about that sexy man and his nipple ring. Instead of sub-heads on all your posts from now until forever, you should just have thumbnails of that guy. It would be awesome.
Oh, and I 2nd Writer Dad and his comment on the nipple ring.
I didn’t notice the nipple ring. I was looking at the cool “Heroes” tattoo on his arm. Besides, what are all you guys doing looking at a man’s nipples?
Eric, I love how you take something that works so well on the Internet (the list post) and mold it to fit your own needs. And so successfully as well.
We writers often talk about learning the rules of grammar and then breaking them but we don’t look at the rules of blogging and whether we should break those. Kudos to you for doing so.
I really needed this post, Eric. I tend toward longer posts on occasion and have noticed that you do a great job in making your posts look more visually pleasing. I’ve been trying to copy you lately and now I feel justified because you just wrote a post instructing us to do that. I feel like less of a leech now. Thanks.
Nipple ring. Reminds me of a story. (I know–you’re thinking “Here goes another one of Randi’s stories.” Gimme a break. I’m old. I therefore have lots of stories.)
About ten years ago I was managing a team of computer geeks at a huge cow-spotted computer company that shall remain nameless. Like all big companies, we had security guards at every entrance, who inspected each incoming person for an ID badge. Most of us wore lanyards with our badges attached.
One of our techs named Steve came up to my desk to apologize for being late. He was being “harassed” by the security guard. “The #@#$@$ guard told me that my badge has to be clearly visible as I pass. My badge WAS clearly visible as I passed.” I looked at Steve and said, “Steve, your badge is not clearly visible to me. I can see why the guard may have issues. Where is your badge?”
At that point he lifted his shirt and showed me that his badge was attached to his nipple ring. Apparently he felt that flashing the guard as he passed qualified as “clearly visible.”
Randi’s last blog post..How to be Frugal Without Being a Scrooge
I prefer writing short posts that include small lists. Sometimes I question if my short posts (like my current one) provide readers with enough content or if my limited words leave my readers feeling as if I have not gone into depth about a particular subject. I’m keeping it real and staying true to my voice. My posts are to make people think, not to provide all available data on a subject.
And I would have completely missed the nipple ring if it wasn’t for Matthew. Ouch.
hello
I am very happy to have landed here
milf hunter[/url
Hey Janice, thanks for reading past the nipple ring. It seems that some found it a bit too distracting to continue…
I think you and I share similar styles when it comes to writing, as we like to cover all the bases and go deeper than some. I think it’s even more crucial for those like us to break up our thoughts into more easily indigestible morsels. I think using quotes to do this is a great idea; one I forgot to mention, so thanks for adding that. Eric
That was my intent. Did I succeed? Eric
It’s a bit blinding, isn’t it… Just visually blackout out the nipple ring and read on. That’s what I had to do in my proof read.
Eric
Very good points. It’s no doubt more of a challenge to take a single thought and elaborate it to any level of depth. For me, I like to do just that, but break it up in such a way that it can be absorbed more easily. I wouldn’t consider these conventional lists, but definitely chunks of information as apposed to one big bite.
Anyway, I totally agree with the short paragraph point. Great advice! Eric
Since we can’t make milk, our nipples are for looking.
Sean’s last blog post..7 Steps to Squeaky Clean Copy
I didn’t even realize the dude had a face until just now. He’s got a tatoo? Oh yeah, to the right of the shiny ring of disgust.
Thanks Marc! I’m glad you enjoyed it and appreciate my points. It’s all about exchanging ideas and finding what works, you know? Eric
And apparently piercing with shiny hoops…
LOVE the story, Randi!
And you wouldn’t be talking about Dell’s 90’s nemesis that sounds like ateway, would you? 
Eric
Why, Eric. I should have known that an ultimus maximus uber cool nano geek such as yourself would figure out ANY clue as long as the sentence contains the word “computer.” You are correct. Just don’t say the “D” word in front of me again, K?
Randi’s last blog post..How to be Frugal Without Being a Scrooge
K!
I must be ready to be made into glue. I didn’t even notice the nipple ring. I went straight to your writing, Eric. Some souls have the same pulling power as nipple rings! I did give the photo a second glance after I read, though, but just wondered about someone having that much crackly energy power in their fingers
janice’s last blog post..Hunger and Hope
That’s funny!
Sometimes we’ve got tunnel vision and in this case it was a good thing. Eric
Hey Stacey, I truly believe that every style has its place. Many of your readers are probably interested in nothing BUT thought short, thought provoking posts. If that’s the style that words best for you, then that’s the style that’s going to translate the best to your readers. Eric