---
author:
    email: mail@petermolnar.net
    image: https://petermolnar.net/favicon.jpg
    name: Peter Molnar
    url: https://petermolnar.net
copies:
- http://web.archive.org/web/20190624130029/https://petermolnar.net/re-short-form-blogging/
in-reply-to: http://scribbling.net/2014/10/16/short-form-blogging
lang: en
published: '2015-11-30T13:22:22+00:00'
tags:
- internet

---

> **If it's a paragraph, it's a post.** Medium-sized content gets short
> shrift these days. Don't go long. One or two paragraphs count. Then
> press publish.

I disagree with this just a little: "If it's a paragraph, it can be a
post."

> **Negotiate a comfort zone** on two axes: personal and public, tech
> and everything else (feminism, musical theater, MMA, parenting, etc).
> 2001-era Scribbling.net was too personal, Lifehacker/Smarterware too
> tech. There's something in the middle.

Yep. Totally agree.

> **Traffic is irrelevant.** Don't even measure it.

+1

> **Simplify, simplify.** No comments. (Maybe G+ or Disqus later on?)
> Use Markdown and Draft to write. No pages, no requiring an image every
> post. No categories, tags, footnotes, special post styles, pages.
> Virtually no plugins. Default WordPress installation with the most
> stripped-down theme possible.

Somewhat agreed, somewhat disagreed. No comments, that is ok - but
receiving pingbacks and webmentions[^1] in my opinion are important;
that is how you keep the web alive.

Categories and tags are only useful if you actually use them for
anything, so if you don't, forget about them; that I agree with.

Virtually no plugins: yes. Also, find a lightweight - as in computing
requirements - theme. It'll do miracle to a WordPress site.

> **Ask for trusted collaborator feedback.** Clarify ideas when you're
> not sure how they come across. Run a draft by people you trust.

For example, a spouse for proofreading is always helpful :)

> **Have fun.** Blogging is not your job. Don't add it to your to-do
> list. If it's not fun and you're not done? Screw it. Take the baby to
> the park instead.

YES.

[^1]: <http://indiewebcamp.com/webmention>