Hello again Pirates! Today marks the beginning not of a giveaway or a new crown shop item, but a contest hosted by KingsIsle!
Ever wanted to see who you fare at blogging? Well now's your chance. KingsIsle is turning to its readers to write blog posts for them for the holidays, and the prize is 60,000 crowns!! So get writing, everyone! You have a 300 word minimum and 600 word maximum to tell KingsIsle "what Wizard101 or Pirate101 meant to you and/or your family in the past year." KingsIsle will be choosing posts throughout the holiday season to be featured on their site.
If you're new to writing blog posts or just want to make something extra special, here are some helpful guidelines to keep in mind that everyone from beginner bloggers to online writing pros should use:
If you're new to writing blog posts or just want to make something extra special, here are some helpful guidelines to keep in mind that everyone from beginner bloggers to online writing pros should use:
1. Know your audience
This means that you know or at least estimate who is gonna read your post. In this case, it's gonna be a lot of people, from ages 3 to 103, so make sure it's something that targets everyone so that they can all relate to and enjoy your post.
So talk about something that both kids and adults can relate to. While getting the latest video game for Christmas, for example, is exciting and something kids can relate to, many older people never had video games and wouldn't understand your excitement. On the other hand, getting a puppy is something that has made people happy for thousands of years- both young and old!
This means that you know or at least estimate who is gonna read your post. In this case, it's gonna be a lot of people, from ages 3 to 103, so make sure it's something that targets everyone so that they can all relate to and enjoy your post.
So talk about something that both kids and adults can relate to. While getting the latest video game for Christmas, for example, is exciting and something kids can relate to, many older people never had video games and wouldn't understand your excitement. On the other hand, getting a puppy is something that has made people happy for thousands of years- both young and old!
2. Brainstorm a topic
You should find just one topic to write about throughout your post. KingsIsle's overall topic is "What has Wizard101 or Pirate101 meant to you and/or your family in the past year?" but you'll have to find a topic that expresses a good answer to this question. If you choose more than one topic, it's hard for the reader to understand what you're trying to say overall.
To brainstorm, try taking a piece of white paper (no lines, if possible) and scribble down general ideas for topics as they come to you. Give yourself 2 minutes by setting a timer and telling yourself you can't use your eraser. You can draw, write ideas in bubbles or just free-write (start writing as if you're writing your blog post). When the timer goes off, look over all the ideas and choose which you think will be best to write about. And if you get stuck on one topic, you have a whole list of others to try.
You should find just one topic to write about throughout your post. KingsIsle's overall topic is "What has Wizard101 or Pirate101 meant to you and/or your family in the past year?" but you'll have to find a topic that expresses a good answer to this question. If you choose more than one topic, it's hard for the reader to understand what you're trying to say overall.
To brainstorm, try taking a piece of white paper (no lines, if possible) and scribble down general ideas for topics as they come to you. Give yourself 2 minutes by setting a timer and telling yourself you can't use your eraser. You can draw, write ideas in bubbles or just free-write (start writing as if you're writing your blog post). When the timer goes off, look over all the ideas and choose which you think will be best to write about. And if you get stuck on one topic, you have a whole list of others to try.
3. Organize your writing
You probably have a lot to say if you've found a topic that you think you'll really enjoy writing about. It's important to organize your writing so the reader can easily follow along and get some enjoyment out of reading your post.
Outlining is a really great way to keep things organized. You might have learned how to outline essays in school- well this is the same thing (though blogging is sometimes more fun than school essays). Start by writing down everything within your topic that you'll want to touch on during your post. Organize it into a list so that it flows from one topic to another easily instead of jolting from one idea to the next. If you find that you have a lot to say, you can also edit out certain parts of your post if you think it might be kind of boring to sit through all the details of how your dad prepared the turkey (but it might be fun to get in all the details of how he slipped and dropped it as he was carrying it to the table!).
You probably have a lot to say if you've found a topic that you think you'll really enjoy writing about. It's important to organize your writing so the reader can easily follow along and get some enjoyment out of reading your post.
Outlining is a really great way to keep things organized. You might have learned how to outline essays in school- well this is the same thing (though blogging is sometimes more fun than school essays). Start by writing down everything within your topic that you'll want to touch on during your post. Organize it into a list so that it flows from one topic to another easily instead of jolting from one idea to the next. If you find that you have a lot to say, you can also edit out certain parts of your post if you think it might be kind of boring to sit through all the details of how your dad prepared the turkey (but it might be fun to get in all the details of how he slipped and dropped it as he was carrying it to the table!).
4. Write the body of your post
This is the best part. Take an hour or two to write out your blog post. Find a good coffee shop or just a cozy corner of your house or the library to write. You can start on paper and then go type it up, or start right in on the computer- whichever you are most comfortable with.
This is also a good time to do any additional research. Did your dad slip and drop the turkey before your mom dropped the water pitcher, or after? Ask your grandma or siblings what they remember.
Make use of this word counter right away to make sure you are within the 300-600 word limit that KingsIsle is looking for.
This is the best part. Take an hour or two to write out your blog post. Find a good coffee shop or just a cozy corner of your house or the library to write. You can start on paper and then go type it up, or start right in on the computer- whichever you are most comfortable with.
This is also a good time to do any additional research. Did your dad slip and drop the turkey before your mom dropped the water pitcher, or after? Ask your grandma or siblings what they remember.
Make use of this word counter right away to make sure you are within the 300-600 word limit that KingsIsle is looking for.
5. Write your thesis, intro and conclusion
It might seem kind of weird to put this step after the writing step. I thought it was weird for years after I learned it. But then I realized why it's so important to do it this way. It turns a good piece into a GRRRRREAT! piece. You should have an entire paragraph for your introduction at the beginning of your post, and another separate paragraph at the end for your conclusion.
Once you're done writing your post, you'll have a better feel for what your post is like overall. This makes it easier to write an introduction that really stands out and captures the overall mood and topic of your piece. This page from a humanities college class site is a good, short guide on writing a great intro.
Remember that when writing a truly good piece, you shouldn't list out every single point you're going to touch on, even if this is what your elementary or middle school teacher said to do, but, rather, you should write a thesis statement. Purdue OWL has great tips on this (I used this site all throughout high school, and I did very well on my papers because of it!). Your blog post will fall under the expository category.
Your conclusion will go back and wrap everything up into a nice Yuletide present with a bow on top. Don't go back and summarize what you've already said. Instead, tell the reader the "so what?" of your post. This means taking everything you've said and explaining why it's significant overall in a way you have not already described. This is the trickiest part of the writing process, but also the most rewarding when it finally comes together. Visit Literacy Education Online's page for writing conclusions for further tips and examples on this.
It might seem kind of weird to put this step after the writing step. I thought it was weird for years after I learned it. But then I realized why it's so important to do it this way. It turns a good piece into a GRRRRREAT! piece. You should have an entire paragraph for your introduction at the beginning of your post, and another separate paragraph at the end for your conclusion.
Once you're done writing your post, you'll have a better feel for what your post is like overall. This makes it easier to write an introduction that really stands out and captures the overall mood and topic of your piece. This page from a humanities college class site is a good, short guide on writing a great intro.
Remember that when writing a truly good piece, you shouldn't list out every single point you're going to touch on, even if this is what your elementary or middle school teacher said to do, but, rather, you should write a thesis statement. Purdue OWL has great tips on this (I used this site all throughout high school, and I did very well on my papers because of it!). Your blog post will fall under the expository category.
Your conclusion will go back and wrap everything up into a nice Yuletide present with a bow on top. Don't go back and summarize what you've already said. Instead, tell the reader the "so what?" of your post. This means taking everything you've said and explaining why it's significant overall in a way you have not already described. This is the trickiest part of the writing process, but also the most rewarding when it finally comes together. Visit Literacy Education Online's page for writing conclusions for further tips and examples on this.
6. Write a title
Blog posts always have a title. For example, the title of this post is "12 Days of the Spiral: Day 3." Not very catchy, but it serves my purpose. You'll want to write a cool title that will stand out in a list of blog posts.
Like the icon I chose for this item of the list represents, your title should reach out and sock your reader. Not literally, of course, but you'll want something short and snappy that shows how creative you are. Skip the online title generators and write down single words that describe your post or your topic. Use these to make a title reflective of the mood of your post. Is your post about a silly occurrence? Try alliteration, rhyming or imitating the title of a famous literary work in a humorous way. Is your post very serious? Try using just one word, or write a short, 3-5 word poem (avoid rhyming, just make it sound pretty) about the topic of your post.
Also remember to write "By:[your name here]" right under your title so that KingsIsle knows who's writing to them. To be on the safe side, also include your username in your email when you send your post off to them.
Blog posts always have a title. For example, the title of this post is "12 Days of the Spiral: Day 3." Not very catchy, but it serves my purpose. You'll want to write a cool title that will stand out in a list of blog posts.
Like the icon I chose for this item of the list represents, your title should reach out and sock your reader. Not literally, of course, but you'll want something short and snappy that shows how creative you are. Skip the online title generators and write down single words that describe your post or your topic. Use these to make a title reflective of the mood of your post. Is your post about a silly occurrence? Try alliteration, rhyming or imitating the title of a famous literary work in a humorous way. Is your post very serious? Try using just one word, or write a short, 3-5 word poem (avoid rhyming, just make it sound pretty) about the topic of your post.
Also remember to write "By:[your name here]" right under your title so that KingsIsle knows who's writing to them. To be on the safe side, also include your username in your email when you send your post off to them.
6. Review, edit, then review and edit again
The revision process is where you'll work out any kinks like transitional hiccups or typos; minor things that don't affect the overall outcome of your post. Having a parent, teacher or older sibling look over your post will be one of your most powerful ways to ensure you've written a great post for KingsIsle.
Read through the post once or twice by yourself, first. Make sure you are using a computer program that has spellcheck so that you can see if you misspelled any words (misspelled words will be underlined in red. Some of the fancier programs can even tell you if you have a complete sentence or not with a green or blue underline). Make sure you've found every possible error.
When you give your post to someone else to read and review, make sure to tell them that you are looking for constructive criticism, which is where they tell you nicely what you need to change. Your parents might be tempted to simply say you've done a great job, but press them for anything you could improve. If your parents aren't into writing, however, they might not know what to look for. This would be a good time to go to your English/Language Arts teacher or your older sibling, especially if they're taking any AP (Advanced Placement) classes in writing or literature. The more people you can have review your post, the better. Multiple people will all have great suggestions- and remember that you don't have to take their suggestions, although it is strongly advised you do unless it's something big they didn't understand about your post.
Once you've gotten plenty of feedback, go back and edit your post accordingly. Then print it out again and give it to other people to review. It's ideal to have a different set of people for this second revision, but if it's not possible to do that, don't worry about it.
The revision process is where you'll work out any kinks like transitional hiccups or typos; minor things that don't affect the overall outcome of your post. Having a parent, teacher or older sibling look over your post will be one of your most powerful ways to ensure you've written a great post for KingsIsle.
Read through the post once or twice by yourself, first. Make sure you are using a computer program that has spellcheck so that you can see if you misspelled any words (misspelled words will be underlined in red. Some of the fancier programs can even tell you if you have a complete sentence or not with a green or blue underline). Make sure you've found every possible error.
When you give your post to someone else to read and review, make sure to tell them that you are looking for constructive criticism, which is where they tell you nicely what you need to change. Your parents might be tempted to simply say you've done a great job, but press them for anything you could improve. If your parents aren't into writing, however, they might not know what to look for. This would be a good time to go to your English/Language Arts teacher or your older sibling, especially if they're taking any AP (Advanced Placement) classes in writing or literature. The more people you can have review your post, the better. Multiple people will all have great suggestions- and remember that you don't have to take their suggestions, although it is strongly advised you do unless it's something big they didn't understand about your post.
Once you've gotten plenty of feedback, go back and edit your post accordingly. Then print it out again and give it to other people to review. It's ideal to have a different set of people for this second revision, but if it's not possible to do that, don't worry about it.
7. Make one last check and send it off
You're so close! By this point you should have a blog post that really shines. Make one last check by reviewing it against the requirements given to you by KingsIsle.
Make sure that your post meets all of the following requirements. If it doesn't meet even one of them, go back and edit your post accordingly and go through step 6 again.
You're so close! By this point you should have a blog post that really shines. Make one last check by reviewing it against the requirements given to you by KingsIsle.
Make sure that your post meets all of the following requirements. If it doesn't meet even one of them, go back and edit your post accordingly and go through step 6 again.
Checked everything off? Great! Send your post to KingsIsle by shooting them an email that includes your post and your username to: [email protected]
Who knows, maybe this will end up being the thing you need to show you that you are a good writer and should start up your own blog… :)
Happy writing, Pirates!
Happy writing, Pirates!