A New Blogging Format
I’m trying a new prose form that should improve clarity and eschew verbosity. This blog will only use this form.
In my last post on michaelgruen.com, I charged that blogging tends towards inanity and verbosity. That sentiment remains; but, in following a strict set of guidelines, I think I can satisfy my laconic inclinations while still providing digestible content.
Think word sushi: delicately-prepared high-quality content that’s easy to consume.
The guidelines:
- The post should take no longer than a minute or two to read. The average adult can read 250 words per minute. 300 words should be more than sufficient to make a point.
- The post opens with a statement of 140 characters or less because anything worth saying can be compressed into a Twitter-sized nugget. This statement is the core message of the post. Additionally, it doubles as a summary so visitors need not re-read the entire post to remember the punch line. And, quite obviously, it provides a “tweetable” hook to the content.
- A short phrase cannot always capture an entire thought. So, a brief introduction follows to contextualize the opening statement. 50 words or less should do.
- Following the Twitter-sized précis and brief introduction, the bulk of the post is largely free-form. In this case, it’s an enumerated definition of a new form.
- The post concludes with an optional final thought, consideration, or link to more information.
This post opens with 112 characters. This entire post comprises 271 words and takes under a minute to read. It took me just under an hour to write.
And that’s the point: Posts should take longer to prepare than to digest.
March 23, 2008 at 6:28 pm. Comments (12)
blog is a four-letter word, gruen…
[...] Some people think blogging with 10 dollar words makes it ok [...]
Sushi?
[...] baked ideas; for most posts – I’ll follow the intention behind Michael Gruen’s “word sushi,” if not the [...]
This is a good idea, I will probably use it if I ever manage to get back into blogging.
It was nice to see you in person yesterday, even tho I didn’t get to meet you. Sat right in back of you at SWB2 (while Andrew and Micah were talking to Stow) and saw your title page come up…and I was wondering ‘when the hell will he write on his blog again’.
So question now answered. Maybe the next time you come to Boulder I will actually get to talk to you in person. Hope you had a great trip!
Btw, I agree with the 140 word goal. Post-Twitter, I find myself writing shorter notes overall.
When it comes to talking tho? TOTALLY different
Very nice approach to blogging. I am going to give it a try for the next 2 weeks and see if the quality of content improves.
I’m with you Mr. Gruen…
for the love of god, please register wordsushi.org now – that’s a movement waiting to happen.
can you come back to NY and hang out already?
You should totally write satire.