To contribute a piece to the blog, please read the guidance below then email your piece to us at Email.
Your contribution will form part of a number of posts on the Policy & Politics blog. These will include other posts on published articles, posts on our annual lecture, material from our annual conference, and other invited posts.
Writing a blog is quite different from writing a journal article. People tend to read blogs on the move, either on their tablet or phone, and so they are often time-limited. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started and write a great piece. Remember these are only suggestions though – feel free to experiment and do things differently if you think that works.tips
Title
Often the last thing you think about, but the most important part of your blog post! Try to keep it under 10 words long, and make it engaging, either by posing a question or making a statement. Don’t be too abstract – you want people to know what it’s about, so make sure you use words and language that most people, even if they’re not subject experts, will understand.
Tone
Blog posts are often read quite quickly and at a time when the reader is multitasking (for example on the commute to work, or whilst eating lunch at their desk). As such you want to try to use a conversationalist tone – type your posts as you would say them out loud. Use questions, feel free to give your opinion, and invite comments back. If you’re worried about how long your post should be – the golden rule is less is more!
Structure
Unlike a journal article, a blog post can start with a statement or decision then have an explanation later. Get to the point straight away and then back up your argument. It will get people interested in what you have to say – you have to grab their attention quickly.
Clarity
For the same reasons as above, make your content concise and clear. Long sentences are a no-no, and paragraphs should also be kept short.
Use multimedia
We’re very used to writing text in academic circles, but here you can be creative! Feel free to use graphs, pictures and videos to provide a different view and break up your text. Remember though – if you didn’t create them you’ll need permission from the owner to re-use them.
Use examples
Some contexts are tough to comprehend, so don’t be afraid to use examples and refer to current events to back up your arguments.
Be accessible
Give people a way to contact you and find out more about your work. Include a short statement about yourself at the end of your blog, with a link to your institutional homepage and twitter profile (if you have them).
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