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THE WRITERS’ ROOM - How do I write a blog post?

In the Writers’ Room this week, we chat about a question we have received from Laura, who attended one of our Online Courses:

‘Hi Laura and Pete, I want to move ahead with my writing and start blogging. How do I write a blog post?’

Laura suggests to:

1. Take some time to conduct a bit of research. Looking at blogs that you enjoy reading. Then decide what sort of blog you’d like to write, spend time to identify its purpose.
2. t's important to think about your audience, who might read these posts and how might your writing style be influenced by your intended audience? Knowing who you are writing for can help you focus the tone and style of the pieces. 
3. Start planning some posts and have fun with the writing. The key to a good blog post is that it's got a clear purpose and audience, but also that it has a solid structure. Ideally, you need a clear introduction, middle and nice summary at the end.

OUR CURRENT PROJECT UPDATES - What writing projects are we working on & what’s happened this week?

Laura is working through the long process of editing the Wedding Planning Book. And after the podcast episode with the editor Alex Davis, Pete is spending more time checking the draft of his travel memoir before sending it for the first edit. 

LESSONS WE’VE LEARNED THIS WEEK - What have we learned about writing & publishing this week?

Pete has been reading Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life After Which Everything Was Different by Chuck Palahniuk.

Recommended Product of the Week - Vellum 

To format her book - Everyday Storytellers: A step-by-step guide to writing about your travels, adventures & life – Laura used Vellum. This is a software program that creates beautiful books from your manuscript. It then allows you to upload them, ready for sale. Once you have created your book in Vellum- it’s ready for print. Page numbers. Margins. Headers. Font. Line spacing. All the setup that can take hours elsewhere happens automatically with every book you create.

By using this link you can buy a tool to publish your books, and it helps support the work of Derbyshire Writing School. 

BOOKS WE ARE READING AND RECOMMEND - What books are we reading this week?

• Pete has been reading lots on the impact of sugar in our food. Interested how one author facing a problem turned the way he solved that problem into a series of books. 
• From the many books Laura read while having a few days off, she chooses Calypso by David Sedaris as the book she talked about this week. 

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT DERBYSHIRE WRITING SCHOOL THIS WEEK? - How are we building the business this week?

Laura tells us some feedback from one course and then the inspiration from one listener who sent us their writing wins. 

PERSONAL UPDATES - What’s going on in our lives?

But both Pete and Laura feel as many do how important it is to keep positive through the lockdown, focusing on what makes them feel grateful. 

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