Blog Writing Checklist

Blog Writing Checklist

Based on Dieleman, Weng, and Nielsen’s Best Practices

PRE-WRITING

  • Define the core insight: What is the one key thing readers should understand?
  • Identify your reader: Expert? Practitioner? Curious generalist?
  • Create a narrative arc: Beginning (why this matters) → Middle (deep dive) → End (implications)
  • Decide on length: Is this a 15-min read or a 45-min deep dive?
  • Gather references: Research papers, prior work, historical context

STRUCTURE & ORGANIZATION

  • Write a compelling introduction that establishes relevance
  • Create a detailed table of contents with numbered sections
  • Include jumping links so readers can navigate non-linearly
  • Break content into logical, self-contained sections
  • Use clear section headings that are descriptive, not vague
  • Include subsections (h3/h4) for better scannability
  • Add “reading time” estimate at the top
  • Number sections consistently (1. 2. 3. or 1.1. 1.2., etc.)

WRITING QUALITY

  • Start with intuition, then add mathematical rigor
  • Explain the “why” before the “what”
  • Use analogies and real-world examples to ground concepts
  • Define technical terms when first introduced
  • Avoid jargon unless essential; explain when used
  • Keep paragraphs concise (3-4 sentences max)
  • Use transitions between ideas (“As we discussed…”, “Building on this…”)
  • Write conversationally while maintaining rigor
  • Be honest about limitations and uncertainties

VISUALS & MEDIA

  • Include diagrams for complex concepts (text descriptions below)
  • Use images strategically (not decoration, but explanation)
  • Add animations/interactive elements if feasible
  • Caption all figures clearly (“Figure X: What this shows”)
  • Use visual hierarchy: bold, italics, spacing, color intentionally
  • Avoid dense walls of text; use bold for key terms
  • Break up long text with visual separators

RIGOR & REFERENCES

  • Cite sources properly (even for well-known concepts)
  • Link to original papers, not just summaries
  • Provide BibTeX snippets for academic context
  • Acknowledge prior work and give credit
  • Reference related posts in your own blog
  • Include references section at the end
  • Verify all links still work before publishing

ENGAGEMENT & TONE

  • Invite reader feedback (“What do you think about…?”)
  • Acknowledge if you might be wrong
  • Thank people who influenced your thinking
  • Use a warm but professional tone
  • Include occasional humor (self-aware, not forced)
  • Address counterarguments or alternative views
  • Make connections to broader implications

UPDATES & MAINTENANCE

  • Note date of publication clearly
  • If updating, add a line explaining what changed and when
  • Fix broken links periodically
  • Correct errors with transparency (note what was fixed)
  • Check if the post is still accurate relative to recent work

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES (Advanced)

  • Use footnotes for tangential information (keeps main text clean)
  • Include a “closing thoughts” section summarizing key takeaways
  • Provide a summary sentence for each major idea
  • Create a “further reading” section for interested readers
  • Use consistent formatting for key concepts
  • Include concrete examples, not just theory
  • Add a “Table of Contents” jumplist for long posts

BEFORE PUBLISHING

  • Read aloud to catch awkward phrasing
  • Have someone unfamiliar with the topic give feedback
  • Check for consistency in terminology
  • Verify all code examples work (if applicable)
  • Ensure image quality is high
  • Test all links
  • Check formatting on mobile and desktop
  • Proofread for grammar and typos