Moving Beyond the Listicle

Meet Your Characters
Sasha: A curious content writer who is stuck in a rut.
Nancy: A creative storyteller and blogging wizard.

Sasha’s been staring at a blinking cursor for too long…

Sasha: Okay, I’m officially listicled out. If I have to write another “Top 5” post, I might start ranking my side-hustle job options instead.

Nancy: Whoa, let’s not get down on listicle blogs. They’re easy to skim, easy to organize and easy to share. All good stuff! But I hear you, they can get a little dull to write. Want a few ideas for more creative blogs?

Sasha: Yes, please! Something more than bullet points and numbered headers.

Nancy: No problem. Here’s some blog ideas that flip the format and rewrite the playbook. You ready?

Sasha: Hit me!

Nancy: Okay, first one is Interactive Blogs. Think quizzes, clickable maps, decision trees. You know, things that get your readers tapping, swiping or choosing.

Sasha: Ooooh, like “What Kind of Editor Are You?” or “Build Your Own Blog” type stuff?

Nancy: You betcha! Digital dopamine.

Nancy: Next, try Fictional Storytelling. Come up with a character and give them a goal. You tell a story while dropping in any info you want to share.

Sasha: So like a productivity post told from the point of view of a sleep-deprived sloth trying to run a hammock business?

Nancy: Um, sure…

Nancy: Number three, Multi-Media Integrated Posts. Embedded audio, videos, GIFs and illustrations all bring any blog post to life. I mean, I love words, but you know what they say about how many words a picture’s worth.

Sasha: So, could I narrate my blog post like a mini podcast?

Nancy: Totally! Or critique your latest TikTok vid!

Nancy: How about Dialogue-Driven Posts? Like this one.

Sasha: Wait, I’m in a blog format?

Nancy: Yes, and you’re crushing it! It’s casual, pithy and great for simplifying big ideas.

Nancy: And along those lines, how about a Behind-the-Scenes Diary? Write out your process about some project, sharing what went right and what went wrong.

Sasha: Oh, I can see people wanting to read about my launch disasters…

Nancy: Yes, make them laugh but also make them learn.

Nancy: Have you considered a Conceptual or Themed Series? Come up with a blog series built around a creative concept – like monthly interviews with punctuation marks or grammar tips told as bedtime stories.

Sasha: Right, use serial content to create serial engagement.

Sasha: Nancy, those are some great suggestions – you are a blog wizard! I feel like I just got permission to be so much weirder with my blogs.

Nancy: You did! And guess what? Weird can make content unforgettable.

Sasha: Okay, thanks. One thing…you realize that this is technically a listicle, right?

Nancy: Hey! I’m not the one who was bored with them!