Talking about your journey with axial SpA can be difficult and sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Everyone’s experience is different, but sharing your story can be a really important part of gathering your thoughts and dealing with your diagnosis. To help you, we’ve put together a simple guide on how to start creating blogs and vlogs to support yourself and others with their axial SpA.
Blogs
Be Inspired!
Check out some of our other blogs to get some ideas about how to format and style your piece, as well as exploring some of the topics we frequently look at. Try to use headings and excerpts to break up the text, as well as a short and sharp introduction to draw your reader in. A short bio is also useful to include at the end so you can start to build your reputation and gain a followership. Try to think of a snappy title and find interesting images that will draw the reader in.
Short and Sweet!
In general, the shorter the post, the more engagement it will get on social media and the more people will read it. Try to keep your blogs shorter than 800 words, this way, people will be able to really get to grips with your message and understand your story. If you can’t keep it short, consider splitting it into two parts if you feel like you are losing the heart and thrust of your piece. As well as this, it’s a good idea to think about the language you’re using, try to make it more conversational and informal. Try to write as if you’re talking to a friend who has no knowledge of axial SpA (AS).
Write for yourself!
The most important person to consider when you’re writing is yourself. Axial SpA (AS) is an ever-changing and personal condition that effects everyone differently, so be sure to work out why you want to write your blog and what thoughts and opinions you have. As long as you are honest and forthright, our audience will appreciate and understand your perspective.
Be Positive!
We know that living with axial SpA (AS) can be a real challenge, but it is important to try to find a positive angle for your blog. ASone’s audience are potentially vulnerable young people who may have been newly diagnosed and need reassurances and inspiration about the direction their life has taken. Of course, it is also important to be honest about your experiences with the condition so that people know what to expect, so it’s always a balancing act.
Find your style!
Whether you want to write an opinion piece, an informative article or share your journey with axial SpA (AS), it’s crucial you find your own style and pace. There are no specific rules or regulations when it comes to writing blogs, you just need to be yourself! Our guest blogs section is a great place to start if you want to have a look at the variety of posts we include on our site.
Vlogs
Blog or vlog?
First of all you need to work out whether a vlog is the best medium through which to share your content. A vlog is a great way to keep people’s attention if you are trying to communicate your more complex ideas and thoughts, or just want to share something longer. Some of the above tips such as being yourself, creating something positive and finding your own style will definitely also apply when vlogging.
Lights, camera, action!
First things first, you need to make sure you are recording in a well-lit room with a stable, good quality camera, these days, most smartphones will do the job. There is nothing more off-putting when watching something new than shaky, grainy footage! You don’t need to have all the expensive equipment in order to achieve this, a quick search will reveal a variety of options on how to vlog on a budget. It’s a good idea to film with the sun or the light source behind the camera, not with the sun behind you, as well as filming somewhere quiet so you don’t have to worry about any background noise. If you own one, you could use a selfie stick or mini tripod to steady your camera. Make sure you film in the right location, perhaps think about where you would take a zoom meeting or video conference. Please also check that any family photos or personal information that you wouldn’t want to share with the public isn’t visible in the video frame.
Practice!
Vlogging may be awkward and difficult if you are just starting out, so the best way to make sure you are as natural and as personable as possible is to practice in front of a camera before you start recording. You can even watch back your footage (as hard as it may be!) so you can see where you can improve. This will also help you strike the right tone, as you should make it as conversational and as informal as you can.
Editing
Once you have decided what you want to discuss and recorded your content, it’s important to create a slick edit to capture your viewers attention. Be sure to use, but not overuse transitions and to have an attractive intro and outro to keep people watching and ensure they remember your videos. There is a lot of a free software out there to help you and this guide is a great place to start. You can also incorporate music into your vlogs to give it that professional feel. Mixkit is a useful place to find stock music for you to use and edit. An enticing thumbnail is also important to attract people to your video.
Have fun!
The most important thing to remember is to have fun with your vlogging. Creating a video is an amazing way to connect with people all over the world and to share your personality with those you wouldn’t normally be able to.
If you have your own tips and tricks, please do let us know in the comments!
