It’s not hard to write about familiar topics and still attract Western readers!(Image from a photo by PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay/CC0 1.0 )
International writers often struggle on writing sites that are geared towards Americans and other Westerners. Sometimes they may be barred completely from writing for a site because of where they live. But even on sites that welcome writers from all countries, an international writer may sometimes feel her writings are overlooked. Some international writers earn less than they think their writing is worth and become discouraged because the compensation isn’t equal to the effort they put into writing.
Not long ago I wrote about the importance of targeting a Western audience and how this impacts on both your SEO and earning potential. Today, I want to write about some of the ways you can write about familiar topics in ways that will attract Western readers.
Is your country a tourist destination? Then you can write plenty of travel articles aimed at Western tourists who will want to know what to expect when they visit for the first time. An article that covers the basics of travel to your homeland might include info about:
One of the best things about blogging and social writing is that people from all over the world get to learn about each others’ lives. Your life is unique, and not like any other in the world. What is it like living in your town? What are the best things about everyday life in your country?
Tell your reader what is special about your homeland, or about some experiences that are common and that link you to your countrymen no matter where in the world you find them. Talk about the things you are proud of, or raise awareness for a political or social issue that needs to be resolved.
Write about how the average family is structured and where most families live. Write about health care, about education for children, and about job opportunities and career training or university education for the adults. Is your country known for some of its industries or academic institutions? Do you export specific agricultural products or consumer items?
Writing goes international: How to target a Western audience
(Image from a public domain photo by Wokandapix/Pixabay)
Every country and region has its special food ingredients and its famous dishes. What are the best-known foods from your part of the world? What foods are considered a staple in your daily diet? What foods are hard to come by, but often sought out?
You can use your post to introduce Westerners to fruits, vegetables or grains that are common to you, but exotic to us. Write an entire post about a single food ingredient. Add lots of pictures, and even video if you find some. Show your readers what the food looks like, how it grows, how you buy it and prepare it.
You can build a post around a traditional recipe that you enjoy. Give its name in your language, but also give an English name or description. Explain what it is and how it’s prepared and eaten. If there are ingredients that may be unfamiliar to a Westerner, take a moment to introduce them and tell your readers what each one contributes to the recipe. Think about possible substitutions, should your reader be unable to buy the correct ingredient.
Are you ready to take on the challenge? Ready, set, get blogging!
Need a place to publish your blogs? Join LiteracyBase now, and get paid to write about life in your country!
What is the Main Cause of a Heart Attack? What is its Solution? A heart attack is the blockage of… Read More
In the vast economic arena, one term that often takes center stage, inciting extensive debates and discussions, is the "debt… Read More
De-Dollarization: The Changing Face of Global Finance The financial landscape is in a state of flux, with an intriguing economic… Read More
The curtains closed on a dramatic Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich standing tall once again, clinching their 11th straight title.… Read More
The Unfolding Story of Celine Dion's Health In recent news that has left fans across the globe stunned, iconic singer… Read More
As the echoes of the recent NBA season start to fade, the attention of enthusiasts is firmly glued to one… Read More
View Comments
Indeed, there are topics, which are interesting for many people. In my experience, food is always a great topic, and pictures of tasty meals can make a blog really look appealing. Travel is popular as well, and there are places in every country that can impress the readers.
@ninab There are so many fabulous topics that writers can choose from. The important thing is not the "what" but the "how" of writing about the topic. Food and travel are really hot topics, and so many here have fabulous foods and beautiful places to write about. But it needs to be written so you don't have to be a local to appreciate the post.
As an avid blog reader I cannot overemphasize how valuable it is to read "how to" blogs and blogs from other countries. It's very hard to provide nutritious food to my kids. We're surrounded by junk - pretty packages of prepared food loaded with sugar and devoid of anything valuable for their little growing bodies and minds. Also, while we're learning how you do things- whether it's how you make meals for your family, or how you organize your kitchen tools, how you make anything, or what you regular routine is (Do you get up with the sun? Do you have daily rituals? Do you have a special tea time or visit with neighbours? Etc.) We get to see how we can improve our own lives- westerners are usually overy connected to our electronic devices and isolated from the people and nature around us- while we learn so much from you, we also get to see how wonderful other people are - different cultures and different people with different ideas. I want so much for my kids to understand that there is so much to LOVE about everyone. Whenever someone grumpily frowns and complains about others being different - "But, they're not like us," I feel fearful and remember stories about my Grandma's relatives in Germany and other places and how Jews were treated. Even dressing a little differently here draws criticism, when the differences are so silly. One could be filthy and draw less ire that a perfectly respectable lady with a head covering. Not everyone is rude enough to speak their mind, but the ideas need to be challenged - with truth and love - and ultimately they will change.
So, in a nutshell - share your stories - your real life flesh and blood you - and people will read and watch. You will prosper in proportion to the number of people you help, while sneaking in an "advertisement" for P.
:)
.. while sneaking in an "ad" for Peace.
(No idea how that got cut off...)
I love the way you look at it, Tamie! It's true that most of us want to celebrate diversity, regardless of how some react to it. The more normal it becomes, the more mainstream it is to read about the delicious foods and special days and beautiful places around the world, the richer we will all become as a people.
The first step is to make that kind of reading more accessible.
Excellent article with very good suggestions. I agree that we need a more diverse repartition of cultures to bring this and other sites alive. After all, the world has become global through and through.
We certainly are living in a global world @frankie2016! But for so many of us, the internet is the way we come into contact with all the richness of another land and its culture. The key to us celebrating our diversity is encouraging people to write about their own experiences in a way that they will be accessible to the most people possible.
We must write for earning because we sell our thought, feelings and emotions but writing as a hobby is not useful because writing for a a purpose must. But most of the people write as hobbies allThese are all practice prompts. Once you have chosen the best ideas from these, you will probably feel ready to start the writing process. over the world. My friend write in my country as hobby in the newspaper but I do not like writing as a hobby.
Turning writing into a hobby takes determination. It may not seem so but making time to write, finding things to write about and then remaining dedicated to seeing the entire piece through to its endpoint, requires planning and self-discipline. Nevertheless, it's a great hobby to have and definitely worthwhile if you're keen to turn it into a favorite hobby.
Some people prefer writing with pen and paper, such as in a notebook. Some prefer typing into a word processor such as a computer, iPad or laptop. Many people like to combine both approaches, as this allows for different modes of thinking, working, sitting, relaxing, and so forth. Try each and then combine them to find your favorite approach.
This is the first good habit to get into. Write down the things you think you'd like to write about as you come across them. While many of these ideas may amount to nothing, some may turn into your next poem, article, great American novel, or whatever. If you don't note down these ideas as they occur to you, you'll be likely to forget them.
These are all practice prompts. Once you have chosen the best ideas from these, you will probably feel ready to start the writing process.