How to Write a Blog

Matt wrote in:

I just finished reading your post “It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know..And Also What You Know.” I agree, what you know is super important, and people need to know what you know.

I keep hearing how industry bloggers get career opportunities because their blog is like an easily accessible “portfolio” of their knowledge and experience. So, I have a lot of ideas (don’t worry, unrelated to being a PA specifically) and people have recently been telling me to start a blog so I can build some industry credibility.

I was curious how often you’ve been able to do that. So, do you ever use your blog or even your other media appearances to demonstrate that you’re someone who knows a lot about Hollywood, to people in the business who can get you work/career opportunities based on your knowledge and experience? Do people find you through your blog? If so, got any tips for someone who wants to blog about the industry?

Let’s start with this: nobody gives a shit what you have to say, unless you’ve already done something.{{1}} Your life story probably isn’t that interesting, and any insights you might have come with the giant caveat, This Person Hasn’t Actually Done Anything.

So, the first step is to go out and do something. If few people have done it but lots of people want to do it, all the better.

Then write about it. A lot. Every single day, in fact. People have short attention spans, and they’ll forget about you pretty quickly. Provide content on a daily basis that can be read and understood in a few minutes.{{2}}

Don’t think about how to “express yourself.” That’s secondary. I mean, expressing yourself is fun and all, but if that’s all you care about, you can just log a journal at 750words.{{3}}

Instead, consider your audience. What do they need or want? How can you provide that?

I’m a PA. While there are a lot of us, there are way more people who want to climb onto that lowest of rungs on the Hollywood ladder. They need advice on how to do that; I give that advice. I also share resources, like the UTA joblist, and my own specific experience with reviewing thousands of resumes.

I also try to be funny sometimes. People like that.

After doing this for some time now, people have reached out to me. I’ve definitely had people ask to hire me based solely on the way I describe the job. Producers have asked to read my scripts, based on my writing skills.{{4}} I’ve even considered writing a book, summarizing the advice on this blog.

So, yeah, writing a blog can lead to places. Just make sure you have something to say, first.

[[1]]Your friends and family care, because the thing you’ve done is be a friend and/or family member.[[1]]

[[2]]There’s a reason few of my posts are over 500 words.[[2]]

[[3]]This is good exercise for writers, by the way.[[3]]

[[4]]The previous TAPA left because of this very reason.[[4]]