What You Should Read to Make our Blog Sing

byTheCatherine

14.5K followers

1 day ago

If you've ever read a blog post that felt so vivid you could taste the flavors described or smell the rain-slicked cobblestone streets in a faraway city, you know the powerful effect of well-crafted prose. Writing a killer blog post isn't just about throwing words at a screen. You've got a short intro to grab your reader's imagination, keep them glued to your page, and let your personality shine through every sentence. But here's the big question: how do you actually get better at this so you're not just another voice lost in the noise?

Here's the scoop: if you want to take your writing up a notch, you've got to feast on every type of book and article you can get your hands on. No more staying safely in your favorite genres. The best bloggers out there treat their brains to a smorgasbord—savoring dusty old classics one day and skimming the latest marketing or business book the next. They'll even pore over poetry to master the art of saying big things with fewer words and flip through top magazines to see how the pros keep it punchy. Simply put, they soak up every style and idea under the sun. That keeps the spark alive in their writing, helping them rise above the sea of blogs out there.

While it might sound obvious, the best blog writers read very widely diving into everything from classic fiction to cutting-edge marketing texts. They devour poetry for its economy of language and follow leading magazines for their clarity and concision. In short, they expose themselves to a tapestry of styles, subjects, and storytelling techniques. Below, we'll explore several categories of reading that will elevate your blogging prowess—empowering you to craft posts that inform, delight, and inspire

Classic Literature and Modern Fiction

For many writers, immersing themselves in classic literature is like taking a masterclass in style and structure. Diving into Jane Austen's world feels like crashing a fancy tea party and listening in on all the juicy gossip—her writing sparkles with sly humor while she pokes fun at social norms.

Then there's Gabriel García Márquez, whose stories sweep you right into a surreal fever dream where everything's both wholly ordinary and wonderfully strange at the same time. Who else could entitle a book "Love in the Time of Cholera" And then Toni Morrison? Well, reading her prose is like being gently led into a room full of poetry and hard truths, each line settling into your bones long after you've turned the page.

Salman Rushdie, often hailed by admirers as one of the greatest living writers, has earned global acclaim for a tapestry of reasons. While calling anyone the "best writer on the planet" will always be subjective, Rushdie's immense skill, daring narrative style, and significant influence on contemporary literature place him in a rarified echelon.

Mastery of Magical Realism and Mythic Elements

Rushdie's genius is his seamless blend of the real with the surreal. In "Midnight's Children," he interlaces India's political and cultural history at the time of partition with fantastical occurrences, giving readers an otherworldly yet oddly familiar experience. This technique of magical realism entices the audience into an imaginative realm that is neither pure fantasy nor stark reality.

How You Can Emulate This

• Write with conviction: Tackle the themes that truly matter to you, even if they feel risky. Authenticity resonates powerfully with readers.
• Maintain respect and complexity: Present differing viewpoints fairly. True mastery comes from transforming controversy into thoughtful discourse.
• Lyrical and Lush Prose

Salman Rushdie’s prose doesn’t just sit on the page—it dances, swirls, and tastes like mangoes secretly ripened, hidden in plain sight in an orchard. Every sentence hums with color, culture, and a sly wink at the world. You smell the spices, hear the drumbeats, feel the sun-baked earth on your skin. He wraps you in a tapestry of words you almost want to reach out and touch.

Example? Think of a line like: “The night sky split open like a coconut, revealing the milky sweetness of distant stars.” It’s a rush of taste, texture, and wonder, all in one gulp. That’s Rushdie for you—lyrical, lavish, and oh-so-sensory, inviting every sense to the feast.

How You Can Emulate This

• Vary sentence rhythm: Mix short, punchy sentences with long, flowing phrases that envelop the reader.
• Choose vivid details: Instead of saying a sunset was "beautiful," describe its molten gold rays as they shimmer across the horizon, painting an otherworldly glow.
• Employ layered metaphors: A well-chosen metaphor can convey emotion and atmosphere more powerfully than a literal description.

1. Panoramic Cultural and Political Insight

Reading Rushdie feels like stumbling onto a carnival ride you weren’t quite ready for—everything’s whirling, lights flashing, and then suddenly you’re caught off-guard by a joke that makes you snort-laugh. But before you can catch your breath, you’re plunged into some bottomless, cosmic question about life or fate or something else too big to name. It’s that constant flip—humor and heartbreak, zany jabs and serious soul-searching—that keeps your blood pumping. One second you’re smiling like an idiot, the next you’re pondering the meaning of existence, and somehow it all fits together. You can’t tear your eyes away. You don’t even want to. It’s a wild ride from start to finish, and you’ll hop off feeling just a little wobbly but itching to jump on again.

How You Can Emulate This

• Harness contrast: Place moments of levity next to serious scenes so each emotion intensifies the other.
• Use humor with purpose: A lighthearted moment can underscore the severity of the bigger issue at hand.

Rushdie's style is a masterclass in courageous storytelling, mythic imagination, and poetic language. Here are a few suggestions to help you capture a bit of that Rushdie-esque energy while embracing your own voice and whimsy:

1. Infuse Personal Passion
2. • Write about subjects that move your spirit. Passion is contagious; if you are genuinely excited, your readers will be too.
2. Create a Sense of Wonder
3. • Never shy away from evoking awe. Even ordinary moments can become extraordinary when viewed through the lens of curiosity and delight.
3. Experiment with Structure
4. • Try nonlinear timelines, interlinked short stories, or layered narrators. Fresh structures can mirror the complexity of real life.
4. Dare to Dream Big
5. • Don't confine your imagination. Let your writing push the boundaries of genre and expectation. Combine tall tales with personal anecdotes or philosophical musings to shape a wholly unique narrative.
5. Revise with Intention
6. • Rushdie's prose might read as though it flowed out flawlessly, but behind every brilliant page lies rigorous editing. Write freely at first, then refine with laser focus.
6. Always Keep a Playful Heart
7. • Even when addressing grave topics, a dash of playful curiosity can keep your voice approachable. Readers often connect with the author's sense of wonder.

Cultivating Whimsy and Excitement in Your Writing

To truly embody a high-level lady of fun, whimsy, and joy, don't hold back from revealing your own awe at the world. Think of your writing as an invitation to share laughter, warmth, and insight—always from a place of sincerity. You can channel the buoyant energy of a curious traveler exploring an undiscovered land, letting your wide-eyed enthusiasm sparkle through every phrase.

• Use playful descriptors: Instead of the river being "swift," let it "dance and cavort under the midday sun."
• Keep a light, bright tone: Even when your subject is serious, weave in the occasional wry aside or whimsical metaphor to soften edges.
• Include your personal voice: Let your individuality shine. Readers are drawn to authenticity, and your unique perspective is your greatest asset.

By studying his work—and practicing boldness and creativity in your own writing—you can craft pieces that resonate deeply with readers. Embrace wonder, refine your craft, and invite your audience into a world only you can conjure up. That is how to become not just an entertaining writer but an unforgettable one.

Spending time with these literary giants does more than just entertain: it clues you in on how to create characters so real they practically breathe on the page and how to drench every scene in emotion and vibrant detail. In other words, if you want your own writing to pack a serious punch—and maybe even stick in readers' heads—soak up their magic and see how they capture hearts, rattle nerves, and make entire worlds feel alive.

• Appreciate Storytelling: Observe how they build tension and guide readers through twists and turns.
• Develop Vivid Descriptions: Take note of how the senses—smell, taste, sound, touch—are awakened.
• Craft Authentic Dialogue: Study how speech patterns reveal personality and drive the story forward.

Narrative nonfiction—

There’s something mesmerizing about taking real events—actual flesh-and-blood moments—and weaving them together like you’re writing the next great page-turner. Jon Krakauer does this like it’s no big deal. “Into the Wild” is crammed with facts and research, yet it reads like you’re on some heart-thudding adventure in the middle of nowhere.

Here’s the thing—truth isn’t something you just find lying around. No, you have to scrape it together, bit by stubborn bit, like trying to piece together a puzzle that’s missing half the edges. And then—this is where it gets wild—you don’t just tell it straight. You splash it out, bold and messy, like you’re throwing paint at a wall, except somehow it lands just right. Suddenly, it’s not just facts, it has a life of its own.

And that line? The one glimpsed between cold, hard reality and a story that’s almost too good to believe? Gone. Before you even realize, you’re dragging people into this weirdly, electrified space where they’re clutching their chairs, not sure whether they are reading fact or fiction That’s the trick. Real life, but louder, brighter—amped up like the volume knob got stuck on max.

At the same time, essayists such as Joan Didion use introspection to illuminate social realities, while Malcolm Gladwell interprets everyday phenomena with a fresh lens. Reading this genre teaches you to:

• Balance Fact and Flair: Weave research into your blog posts in a way that feels personal and engaging.
• Include the Human Element: Infuse your writing with anecdotes and personal stories that readers can relate to.
• Maintain Credibility: Source your information thoughtfully to build trust with your audience.

If your blog focuses on travel, health, or lifestyle topics, narrative nonfiction provides a structure to keep your readers riveted, even when tackling dense or complex subjects.

Poetry! It’s like the sky at dusk—miles away from blogging but still right there, full of color you can’t ignore. Think Maya Angelou. Mary Oliver. Their words drip with raw emotion, but they never drown you—just enough to set the heart tingling. Then you dive into short stories. Flannery O'Connor. Alice Munro. They slam you with brevity—quick, precise, no wasted breath. It’s like they’re saying, “cut the fluff, kiddo, people have things to do.”

Every word must pull its weight. Nothing extra. Because when you care about each syllable, you find a new clarity. You start dropping metaphors that taste like salt and stardust. Your readers stop in their tracks, soak in the feeling, and remember you long after they’ve closed the page. And that’s the magic: short forms force you to be lean, laser-focused, sharp as a knife.

Then there are journals, magazines, newspapers—old-school but oh-so-teachy. They show you how to build a framework, keep your voice strong, and deliver the goods without all the clutter. Learn from them, too. Read, scribble, practice, tear pages up—whatever gets you there. Just keep it real, keep it messy, and don’t be afraid of the heat. That’s how words come alive.

To be a great blogger, you must also be an astute observer of the world. High-quality publications—like The New Yorker, National Geographic, or major newspapers such as The New York Times—are excellent training grounds. Feature articles and op-eds spotlight various writing styles, from investigative journalism to personal commentary. As you read, look for:

• Hooking the reader Early: Journalists get know how to arrest your attention with a compelling lead.
• Concise Language: Space is precious in print, so every sentence counts.
• Multiple Perspectives: Good reporting reflects diverse viewpoints, a habit that can deepen your blogging content.

Regularly following reputable periodicals also helps you remain current on global trends, social issues, and cultural evolutions—valuable fodder for timely, relevant posts.

Top Blogs in Your Niche (and Beyond)

While devouring classics and essays will hone your style, studying top blogs in your niche offers real-world insights into what resonates with online audiences. For example, if you're a travel blogger, you might analyze Nomadic Matt for his budget-travel tips or The Planet D for immersive adventure narratives and stunning photography. Go beyond your niche, too, to discover:

• Reader Engagement Tactics: Study how bloggers interact with comments, social media, and email subscribers.
• Design and Branding: Notice how a blog's aesthetic and layout bolster its message.
• Voice and Consistency: Examine how each blogger's personality shines through post after post, creating loyal followings.

1. Business and Marketing Books

A great blog goes beyond compelling storytelling—it also requires a foundation in marketing and branding to stand out in today's digital ecosystem. Authors like Donald Miller ("Building a StoryBrand") and Seth Godin ("This Is Marketing") reveal the psychology of audiences and how to speak directly to their needs. From these books, you can learn to:

• Define Your Brand Voice: Identify what you stand for and the unique tone you bring to every post.
• Strategize Monetization: Discover ethical ways to generate income—affiliate marketing, e-books, online courses—while serving readers.
• Grow Your Reach: Implement content marketing techniques that increase visibility and build a community.

1. Books on Craft and Style

Wielding the right tools for the trade can make all the difference. Iconic guides such as "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser, "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White, or "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott break down the essentials of clear, concise, and compelling prose. Key takeaways include:

• Mastering Clarity: Short sentences and active verbs powerfully carry ideas.
• Editing and Revising: Discover the art of rewriting to polish your message.
• Finding Your Confidence: Understand the rules of grammar so you can break them creatively when it suits your style.

1. Inspirational and Spiritually Uplifting Texts

Finally, a touch of spiritual or inspirational reading keeps your writing brimming with optimism and wonder. Think of "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho or works by Thich Nhat Hanh for mindfulness and peace. These books serve as guides for:

• Reflective Depth: They seamlesslrssly incorporate moments of introspection without veering into over-sentimentality.
• Universal Themes: Tap into fundamental hopes, fears, and dreams shared by all humans.
• Gentle Encouragement: Motivate your audience to see possibility and hope within everyday experiences.

Why Reading Broadly Matters

Reading is not a passive act—it's a dynamic engagement with new ideas, viewpoints, and expressions. As you journey through different genres, you'll notice your writing voice expanding. You might borrow the punchy intros you see in newspapers, the emotional sensitivity of a favorite poet, or the narrative flow of a seasoned novelist. These influences meld into a style that's uniquely yours, setting you apart in the blogosphere.

Yet reading broadly is also about constant self-discovery. You'll unearth fresh ways to tackle familiar topics, adding intricate layers of insight and nuance that captivate readers. The more varied your sources, the more agile your mind becomes. Over time, you'll refine your instincts on what works (and what doesn't) in the world of your blog.

Approach every book, article, or poem with genuine wonder. Look, you’ve gotta show up with your eyes wide, like a kid on Christmas morning, every single time you crack open a book or read some random poem your friend wrote on a napkin. Let each little revelation—every weird turn of phrase, every heart-stopping metaphor—fill your mind with sparks and your soul with a wild sense of possibility. Then, when you finally sit down to write, you’ll be brimming with so many ideas But that’s the magic: a head that's buzzing with the curious, a heart stuffed with wonder, and a playful itch to turn words into something that makes other people gasp.

If you incorporate the reading and the practice into becoming a better writer you can't fail .