Recently I went to a professional development breakfast where the topic was perfecting your elevator speech. We practiced with each other in a format very similar to speed dating. What I began to realize after round two was I still keep talking, even as the elevator doors closed behind you. I bring this up since I’ve begun to notice this blog is running away with me, too many feisty words. The perfect blog length is between 200 to 300 words. (80 words so far)
I could tell you about the time I was about to be introduced to the US Secretary of Transportation and my co worker told me to keep it on a leash, but that would be 246 words.
Or the time I blanked out on someone’s name during an introduction and had to use his behind closed doors moniker, WBC, (Whine Bitch and Complain) but that would be another 157 words. So quick, out of the gate, this week’s microwave recipe. (164 words and counting)
Weekday Sheppard’s Pie
1 pound ground beef
½ onion minced
10 ounce package frozen green beans (I could go on and on about how I like extra green beans so I add more but that would be more words)
1 can tomato soup
½ teaspoon dried basil
1 tablespoon Worchester sauce
3-4 servings instant mashed potatoes according to directions
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Brown meat and onion in casserole dish in microwave. Add green beans, tomato soup, basil and Worchester sauce and heat for 8 minutes stirring once or twice. Scoop mashed potatoes on top, heat for 2 minutes. Sprinkle on cheese and heat until melted.
I pledge to fit this blog on a single screen, saving you from having to scroll down. Important to keep that index finger in shape. Length of articles are dependent on the amount of liquor consumed. (Akkk, so close, maybe next time I won’t actually count the recipe, 326 words)
26 comments:
My mom used to make Sheppard's Pie. I haven't had it in years, but I think it's time to make it!
The perfect blog post is 200 - 300 words? I've never heard that before and I don't think I've ever said anything in only 200-300 words. I have so much to share and it's all intelligent and witty and really needs to be said. When I was a newspaper reporter we were supposed to keep our articles down to a certain number of inches because supposedly the average reader will not read more than . . . I think it's eight inches of copy. I don't think any of us at the paper could say anything in only eight inches of space. Our articles were almost always twice as long. I can't comprehend brevity is the soul of wit because nothing worth saying can be said in so few words.
Well, o.k., that's all for now. I need to give Franklin a shower, use the hard floor cleaner in the laundry room, and wipe out the microwave, all while turning cartwheels and writing a poem that's running around my brain. And oh my goodness, it just started raining really hard and my garbage got picked up this morning and I bet the can will get blown into the street if I don't hurry and get it.
Love,
Lola
2-300 words hun? I'd never make it since I am way too chatty of a person....
If it needs to be said say it!! Writing a blog is how we process things and connect with people :)
Yay! Another recipe I could actually manage.
If I tried to stay under 300 words I'd have about 5 posts on my blog.
Ha! Thanks for your concern for my index finger ;-)
Did it hurt to have to cut yourself off like that? ;)
The recipe sounds fantastic!
Ah, Tuna, you and me, we just can't be confined to 300 words. Nope. x
Blimey, is that true - that an ideal blog should be between 200-300 words? I never knew that, and need to get down to some editing quick! I love shepherds pie - it is a staple dish in the UK ;-)
I'm a run-on too. Bah for the rules.
Really?
I have never counted words.
ANd two blogs that I REALLY REALLY ENJOY are waaaay beyond that amount of words.
Heck, that's just their first paragrahs.
xo
And I LOVE Shepherd's Pie.
200-300 hundred words! I have tried to keep mine short and sweet but don't think they are anywhere NEAR that short! That's like one bad knock knock joke!
This is my guilty pleasure when I'm dinning out and have a big appetite...this is what I order - the Shepard's Pie. Thanks for sharing the recipe here. It's a little different from what I'm use to, but I like it! Thanks. Great share!
I always use too many words, but then again,I always talk a lot too...
Nice to see the Worcestershire sauce in the recipe.. its not right otherwise ;-)
a recipe that I can follow ~love it! ah, and no need to limit yourself!
OMG we're expected to not only find the words, formule them into sentences, but also count them? I'm so doomed, I'm pretty sure most of my fricken blogs require much scrolling to the bottom...then again, I suspect most people don't even read my blog, simply scroll through it to see if I've included the words "Poop," "vagina, and/or "penis." Good luck with the stats. You're almost there girl!!!!
I couldn't agree more. Shorter posts are the way to go, but rather than get wrapped up in word count, I think it's more important to break up paragraphs, which you do well. Knowing when to stop is a virtue. Just stopping by from BPOTW. -Lola from www.buddhatropolis.com
I find it difficult to read long posts as my attention span is like a 2 year old's. You did well with this post :)
Thanks for the recipe - yum!
Hahaha! I'm known as Red 'too much information' Nomad, so I feel your pain, girlfriend!! I'm tempted to do a short version with links to a longer version for those who want more - then do some analysis and see how many ended up reading the long version!!
Good gracious, 200-300 words? Not gonna happen. I hadn't heard that rule, so maybe it won't get around to alot of people :p
Shepherd's pie recipe sounds yummy!
hi, i'm here from bpotw.
i've been trying to scale down some words, but sometimes a good story can't be told that quickly. and i agree with whoever said that breaking up into shorter paragraphs helps too.
i've never eaten or made shepherd's pie, but i'm thinking i could manage that & it sounds good!
Yummy, the recipe sounds good. I'll add this to my recipe box. :-)
New follower!
Shreta
iphonemom.blogspot.com
I'm happy to read blogs longer than 300 words, but only if they're entertaining, and even then, I prefer things wrapped in no more than about 750. I'd rather go back for Part 2 than to glance at the screen and think, ugh, really???
a - i need those shoes. no really.
b - LOVE this recipe! how simple. and makes me hungry.
(p.s. i got me a new site - on wordpress even! mommakiss.com Uh Huh!)
Rats. Posts are supposed to only be 200-300 words?? That's the length of my usual comments. *sigh*
Ya! Microwave meals! This is good for the RV lifestyle. :)
Post a Comment