Write, publish and share blogs in SUMERNET website: Reflections from a SUMERNET writing webinar
How to write a blog? How to publish it? And how to share it? Communications experts from SUMERNET shared their tips and advice.
By Boripat Lebel
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Feb 2, 2022
When writing a blog – short news or opinion pieces – it is not enough if you just type a lot of words then sit back. It starts with what we think of is the main idea, the many “drafts” we do to revise and polish the piece, and then complete a final draft (with pictures) for posting in the website and sharing.
Critical reading is important for improving your writing
“How to write blogs”, we looked at the many types of blogs in the SUMERNET website: news or event blogs, which document or recap proceedings; opinion or commentary based on personal thoughts and experiences; interview articles where a Q&A was conducted with an authority figure or expert; photo story that uses imagery as a narrative; announcements to promote a tool, share findings or call for applications; as well as briefs aimed at policymakers.
Planning a blog: Start with an idea, think of your audience
When planning a blog, the first task is to know who you’re writing for, as this will determine the style and form of the piece. The second task it to frame your article around a specific topic. Be clear about it. Make a point. Once you have a first draft, re-write it. No one writes a perfect first draft. It is normal to go through several versions. While you do so, reflect.
As a general rule, SUMERNET blogs are around 500-800 words, and not more than 1,000 words.
Publishing and sharing
When publishing a blog, the layout is important. This includes: a simple and concise title; a short introduction (description) to summarize what the piece is about for the reader; images in the text to make it visually appealing (make sure to use high quality photos and keep in mind copyright licenses); add relevant hyperlinks to other webpages. Also, using tags can help with categorization and site navigation and makes it useful when readers search the website. Most importantly, proofread the article for typos.
Once the blog is finished, it is shared on social media. A number of different platforms can be used to engage with audiences, promote the blog and connect with others in the same field. For instance, the SUMERNET Facebook page is a network or community group to share blogs and events, while SUMERNET Twitter is used to link up with network partners, policymakers and media.
It is important to choose a platform that is appropriate for you as a writer. Once you’ve chosen your channel, the social media posts need to be consistent and timing is important for maximum reach, such as in the morning or mid-day for the Mekong Region. Also the text of social media posts needs to be clear and concise; hashtags or keywords can also help highlight key messages. All in all, social media is a great place to share your work and connect with others.
In summary, the webinar provided a lot of practical tips and useful information about the writing process in general, and the SUMERNET website publishing procedure especially.
A good blog isn’t just a write-and-done execution, it’s a whole process, from coming up with ideas to sharing the final product with your audience.
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This piece is based on the webinar event “From planning to publicizing: Tips for writing a blog and sharing on social media” bringing three experienced communication experts to share their insights and tips. The webinar was organized by SUMERNET Youth Network in collaboration with the SUMERNET Communications Team on 26 January 2022 at 1:30PM to 3:00 PM (Bangkok time).
Our thanks to Dr. Sangam Shrestha, Professor from the Asian Institute of Technology, who gave welcoming remarks. The webinar trainers were from the SUMERNET Secretariat: Rajesh Daniel, Communications Coordinator; Variya Plungwatana, Communications Assistant; and Oungkham Oo, SUMERNET Fellow. The moderators for the webinar were: Sofia Cavalleri, PhD Candidate, SEI Asia and Chulalongkorn University; and Boripat Lebel, Research Coordinator, Unit for Social and Environmental Research.
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This story is part of the following project
SUMERNET 4 All: Engaging with water insecurity in the Mekong Region
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