The following is an excerpt from Lorelle’s popular book, Blogging Tips, Tips Bloggers Won’t Tell You About Blogging.
There are a number of bloggers who thrive on the attention of negative energy. They get their thrill by being nasty, whining, and complaining. And people love them.
There is an art to being a nasty blogger. You can’t just rant about an issue. You have to take a side and be clear around the intent of your complaint. The blog post must have a focus and a purpose.
- Choose one subject and have at it.
- Choose a side and stay with it.
- Explore the other side of the issue, but only as justification for your position.
- Don’t lower your standards into name calling or blame games. Rant with higher standards.
- Be totally righteous in your opinion.
- Convince others you are “in the right”.
Lorelle VanFossen blogs about blogging and WordPress on Lorelle on WordPress and the Blog Herald, and is the author of Blogging Tips, Tips Bloggers Won’t Tell You About Blogging.
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I think you’re right Lorelle, there is an art to being a negative blogger but the point’s you listed are really the characteristics of an opinionated blogger.
I write (negative posts) about bad adverts on UK TV. I’m occasionally nasty, whiny, and complaining but I try to do it from a “I’d like things to be better” point of view.
I don’t want to be “the most hated man on the Web” so I try to be witty and self-depricating where I can.
I believe being truly nasty won’t get you anywhere people will soon get bored of what you have to say.
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Maddox comes to mind when I read this. People like him just straight up complain about stuff, and he’s one of the most popular people there are on the net (Can’t call him a blogger, he hates that, though he is one.)