Introduction
CPWF-Mekong encourages its projects, partners, and Opportunity Fund grant recipients to write blog posts on their CPWF project activities. Blog posts will be posted on the CPWF-Mekong website, and allow projects to tell the world what they are doing. Projects can use blog posts to tell stories, boast about their successes, foster dialogue on issues that the project seeks to address, and inform readers.
Content
Blogs may be written in a number of different styles and for a plethora of purposes; however, CPWF-Mekong is looking for posts that are more personal and engaging, and that tell a story.
How to start
Ideally, the post will have a clever title and introduction to hook the reader. The introduction can be playful and humorous; it may also contain a relevant short anecdote to set the scene for the rest of the post. The who, what, when, where, and why of the story should follow directly after.
What tone to use
The tone of the blog should be relatively informal and writing in first person is preferred. Writers can express their impressions, thoughts, opinions, and feelings. The use of technical jargon should be avoided; language that is easily understood by different audiences should be used.
Writers should avoid writing posts that are basic summaries of meetings or activities. This is a chance for the writer to be creative.
Show engagement
For the projects, posts can be used to show how the project is engaging in a wider discussion of issues relevant to the project, but which are more high-level than the project itself. Projects may highlight how they contribute to addressing these issues on a smaller scale.
Use quotes
Well-selected, pithy quotes can be used to emphasize points and bring the reader into the story.
Structure
Keep it short
Posts should be short—no more than 1 to 2 pages in length.
Make it scannable
The blog post must be scannable. People tend to scan webpages, and usually decide within 10 seconds if they want to stay on the page or leave. Using more and shorter paragraphs increases scannability. Likewise, sentences should be simple and concise.
Use headings
Headings and sub-headings are useful for grabbing readers’ attention and providing a quick overview of the blog’s content.
Use pictures
The use of compelling pictures provides readers with a break from reading the text and can help them to connect with the story.
Use links
Where possible, include web links to key ideas, organizations, or resources in the post.
Cite your sources
If the post contains information that should be cited, citations must be included.
Submission and Review
Blog posts may be submitted to the Mekong Basin Leader, Kim Geheb, at k.geheb@gmail.com. Posts will be reviewed by the CPWF-Mekong Coordination and Change Project before they are published on the CPWF-Mekong website.
