During my blogging class at Boston Center for Adult Education a few weeks ago, a student asked for tips on transitioning her writing from the voice of a dry corporate drone to a fun, friendly blogger. Most people have heard the advice that you should write like you talk. But what if you've spent so much time in a cubicle drinking the Corporate Kool-Aid that you actually talk like a bad employee manual? Well, friends, it's time to start reading other blogs to see what works (and, of course, what doesn't). Which is why I've compiled a list with some of the sassiest, most original, fiercely individual bloggers I know. You'll notice that most of these bloggers are not the typical freelance writing blogging about writing that I normally link to (though you'll see a few sprinkled in). Nope, here you'll find shelter bloggers, social media types, and others, proving you don't need fancy writing credentials to be a great blogger. Whatever their background or niche, they all share one trait--a killer sense of style when it comes to crafting posts and keeping readers glued to their RSS readers, eagerly awaiting the next post.
- John & Sherry Petersik, Young House Love
I'll admit it: the delightfully vivid photos are a big part of this design blog's appeal. But it's the fun, conversational writing that keeps me reading once I've ogled all the photos. And it's clear that this DIY-obsessed couple loves updating the blog just as much as they love rearranging furniture or finding the perfect throw pillow on clearance. - Ruth Pennebaker, The Fabulous Geezer Sisters
Each of Ruth's posts is a small, slice-of-life vignette, covering everything from her observations on being in a Texas transplanted to NYC to surviving her breast cancer diagnosis. Alternately hilarious and heart-breaking (but never veering too far into saccharine or woe-is-me territory), this is a must-read for anyone who writes personal essays or blogs in a confessional manner. - Marian Schembari, Marian Librarian
Marian doesn't consider herself a writer (she's a social media consultant), but man, when that girl blogs, her writing sparkles with just the right amount of sarcasm and sass laced with social media advice. She also works in a healthy dose of pop culture, as evidenced by the Edward Cullen Guide to Metaphor Posts. - Alisa Bowman, Project Happily Ever After
Alisa's candor shines through in each and every post, boosting her relatability factor as she shares how she fell back in love with her husband after getting so frustrated she was literally planning his funeral in her head. In addiction to Alisa's common sense advice on relationships, you can also pick up some tips on how honesty and humor can work for a blog. - James Chartrand, Men with Pens
James' writing has such a confident, masculine swagger that many people (including yours truly) were shocked to discover that he was actually a she. Controversies aside, Men with Pens' consistently delivers entertaining, yet thought-provoking posts that often challenge preconceptions.