Comments on: Making writing http://www.markpollard.net/making-writing/ By Mark Pollard Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:58:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Mark Pollard http://www.markpollard.net/making-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2244 Mark Pollard Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:08:26 +0000 http://www.markpollard.net/?p=723#comment-2244 @Evan Just checked your blog and see your interest in asking questions. Asking questions is great but do you think you need profile/connection as you already obviously have (as a writer and as part of News Ltd) for it to get traction? If anything, asking a question connects to one of my points about being incomplete - not knowing, inviting thought. What was one of the questions you asked on the blog that provided the most interesting discussion? @Evan Just checked your blog and see your interest in asking questions. Asking questions is great but do you think you need profile/connection as you already obviously have (as a writer and as part of News Ltd) for it to get traction? If anything, asking a question connects to one of my points about being incomplete – not knowing, inviting thought.

What was one of the questions you asked on the blog that provided the most interesting discussion?

]]> By: Evan Maloney http://www.markpollard.net/making-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2241 Evan Maloney Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:59:10 +0000 http://www.markpollard.net/?p=723#comment-2241 Interesting ideas, but I'm going to go against the grain here and say I'm not sure I agree that not having a strong opinion presents any serious problem. Maybe you're right, in a general sense: I doubt you are, but I don't even have a strong opinion about having a strong opinion. I reckon fundamental uncertainty can keep a blog going strong for years. Most of the time when someone has a strong opinion all they are showing is a refined arrogance compensating a limited imagination and/or a general intellectual lethargy. More important than having a strong opinion, I would suggest, is involving the reader. It's their opinions that matter most, not yours, and if you give them a direct route to being involved in a topic then you're going to keep their attention and probably get a response. As such, I wonder if asking good questions is not more important than anything you have listed above. If you really want to get your readers involved in a topic, what could possibly be better than a fantastic question that gets them thinking? Interesting ideas, but I’m going to go against the grain here and say I’m not sure I agree that not having a strong opinion presents any serious problem. Maybe you’re right, in a general sense: I doubt you are, but I don’t even have a strong opinion about having a strong opinion. I reckon fundamental uncertainty can keep a blog going strong for years. Most of the time when someone has a strong opinion all they are showing is a refined arrogance compensating a limited imagination and/or a general intellectual lethargy.

More important than having a strong opinion, I would suggest, is involving the reader. It’s their opinions that matter most, not yours, and if you give them a direct route to being involved in a topic then you’re going to keep their attention and probably get a response.

As such, I wonder if asking good questions is not more important than anything you have listed above. If you really want to get your readers involved in a topic, what could possibly be better than a fantastic question that gets them thinking?

]]> By: Mark Pollard http://www.markpollard.net/making-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2126 Mark Pollard Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:59:37 +0000 http://www.markpollard.net/?p=723#comment-2126 @Alison Agree. I think a lot of people curious about Twitter find that one hard. @Gav Agree. I write for myself. @Ivan Yes, thanks for the tingle. Was fantastic. @James Your voice? Can't your voice just be how you talk to your friends? @Jess What's the link to your blog? Blogging is like going to the gym for me... with kids, you gotta do what you can and just enjoy while it's happening :) @Alison Agree. I think a lot of people curious about Twitter find that one hard.

@Gav Agree. I write for myself.

@Ivan Yes, thanks for the tingle. Was fantastic.

@James Your voice? Can’t your voice just be how you talk to your friends?

@Jess What’s the link to your blog? Blogging is like going to the gym for me… with kids, you gotta do what you can and just enjoy while it’s happening :)

]]> By: Jess http://www.markpollard.net/making-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2125 Jess Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:41:16 +0000 http://www.markpollard.net/?p=723#comment-2125 This is great Mark. I've started so many blogs but have never followed through because I thought every post had to be epic and deep... the key is really to post, and to post like I read - in short energetic bursts. Maybe I'll stick with it this time... This is great Mark. I’ve started so many blogs but have never followed through because I thought every post had to be epic and deep… the key is really to post, and to post like I read – in short energetic bursts. Maybe I’ll stick with it this time…

]]> By: Ben Shepherd http://www.markpollard.net/making-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2104 Ben Shepherd Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:12:19 +0000 http://www.markpollard.net/?p=723#comment-2104 First 5 points are spot on mate but I'm not sure about the rules bit. First 5 points are spot on mate but I’m not sure about the rules bit.

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