English & Language Arts: Writing a Homeschooling Blog

Would you like to have your own online journal to share information, experiences, thoughts, opinions, advice, and suggestions about homeschooling and your life as a homeschool parent? Then consider starting a homeschool blog. Blogging is a more recent and very popular phenomenon on the Internet.

A blog, or "web log," is an online journal website where you can post entries as often and as long or short as you'd like. Blogs are usually subject-based and are geared toward a specific audience, and in this case, your main subject would be about homeschooling, attracting a readership of homeschool students and homeschool families or other individuals interested in homeschooling. Blogs also feature comments that allow your readers to provide feedback to a particular entry.

If you're concerned about the fact that your writing abilities may not be "good enough," take heart. The blogging world is fairly casual. You don't have to be a stellar writer and your grammar and spelling need not be perfect. You do, however, need to have something to say. You need to find a voice, write in an interesting, engaging style, post often (or at least regularly), and interact with your readers through comments.

First of all, what can you write about homeschooling, the homeschool life, and your homeschooler? There are endless ideas here. You can write about the different benefits of homeschooling, the challenges of having a homeschool, how to switch from public school to homeschool, personal experiences, your children as homeschool students, opportunities for homeschool families, and curriculum issues and ideas.

Now that you have some ideas of what to write, you need to find your writing style. First, try to write the way you speak or think. Forget about being technical or trying to be a professional-be natural and relaxed, like you're having a conversation. For example, don't just regurgitate online research about Homeschooling, talk about your real homeschool experiences as well as thoughts and stories about your homeschooler. Also, keep your audience in mind as you write, and finally, check out other blogs about homeschool families or homeschooling to get a feel for it.

Furthermore, make sure you write in your blog regularly. You will lose your readership fast if you're sporadic. It's best to write as often as you can, even if you write short entries about your particular day as a homeschool parent. Posting daily or every other day is generally recommended, but if you can't, try at least to post regularly and consistently so your readers will know when your blog will be updated.
Finally, interact with your readership. If someone comments on one of your posts about your thoughts of the homeschool life, reply with your own feedback so your readers know you are interested in their responses.