Here are ten things that I learned from watching Teletubbies that you can apply to your blog:

1. Make up your own language.
2. Listen to the giggling sun baby.
3. Be more non-communicative.
4. Use more bright colours to relate with toddlers.
5. Treat your audience like they are toddlers because they probably won’t get what you are talking about anyway since you are a genius (and so am I)…

I am going to do something that I rarely ever do—I am going to go out on a limb. You might be thinking: Rhett you are too heavy to go out on a limb, but—if we are going to be honest—you are probably thinking: When am I going to get another delicious serving of mashed peas and who is going to change this diaper that I just soiled? You probably wouldn’t use the word soiled though because it’s a bit too adult. Making a poopy is better.

Teletubbies has nothing to teach you about blogging. I have no easy-to-follow (or swallow) list for you. Writing is hard work and very little can be gained from analyzing Teletubbies. You are not a child, nor are your readers (if they are then analyze Teletubbies to your hearts content).

If you read any of the meta-blogs out there you have seen these posts: Ten Things ______ Can Teach You… Because it’s Friday I am not going to go on a tirade about lists. There are times when lists are beneficial.

Last week in my post What Does Occam Know About Writing I said: I do not mean your writing should be simple, but the path to your subject matter needs to be and I meant it. There seems to be a golden web rule that internet users are lazy and require jot-note lists in order to understand anything. If there are more than ten items you will lose the attention of your audience. I think that was and continues to be true for the static web, but now we are evolved and if I am reading your blog then I am reading your blog. So don’t treat me like I can’t handle more than your jot-notes.

Your writing should not be simple. Make it as complex as you want. Take on tough subjects. Or take on an easy subject but hone your writing with beautiful, challenging prose. In the end, I want to understand what you wrote—lead me—but give me, give us something to chew on. I will read it and so will your audience. This fad of treating readers like simpletons is over. More and more readers are getting tired of this. You don’t have to water-down your subject matter or your writing, but plan a strategy to explore it. Make a list of the top ten points that you want to cover, write your post and then delete the jot-note list forever knowing that you are better for it and your audience will be too.

Or they might get mad because no one has changed their diaper yet. Have a great weekend.

Photo by swoodie