PSA: The Shape of a good Mylot Discussion
By Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
Centralia, Missouri
November 25, 2015 11:40am CST
We all write them, we all want people to read them, so what exactly makes for the general framework of a GOOD discussion on mylot? (I got reminded to always tell what a shorthand means, PSA is public service annoucement)
Title: Something descriptive and catchy. This should also be interesting!
First two sentences: Remember this can be seen on the preview, and is best handled like a newspaper article (I do not always do this, so take it with a grain of salt). Basically don't bury the lead! Put the important and exciting, or teaser here to draw people in.
Body: now write everything else. Best length is 2-4 paragraphs, spaced out, (and for the love of all things Cheese, with some punctuation!) Keep in mind TLDR (too long, didn't read) is something most people on the net are guilty of. If it's too long you lose people. If it's too short you leave a poor discussion that never really went anywhere. There are exceptions to this, I can think of some village discussion that are longer.....and hilarious, so I read the whole things. But these is a general good rule to follow.
End: leave us with a thought, a question, a "hook", to give us something to catch on and discuss.
Tags: add descriptive tags. 1-5 people might find your discussion this way by using those.
Image: we love them, so add away!
General notes: check spelling and look for typos. Spread those discussions out, no one likes a flood at once. Explain any shorthand.
** anything I need to add?
36 people like this
36 responses
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
The question is, when. I dont know on times yet
1 person likes this
@slund2041 (3314)
• United States
26 Nov 15
How do we know the best times to post? I do not understand time zones very well. From your experiences when is the best time to post?
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
25 Nov 15
a good picture accompanying your text always helps catch attention as seen with your own illustration here
7 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
Yeah, and I have wondered that bright color photo might not be better, because they are eye catching
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
26 Nov 15
@Rollo1 - I can bet that you will not fail, but your discussions will make you pass with flying colours. 
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
pfft, I like yours, there are always exceptions to these "Rules" and I would like to note that I break them too!
@celticeagle (160216)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Nov 15
Best times to post is a good one to add. Using guideline to verify what we need not to do. And, also might add title interest. I can go on if you want.....
4 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
I honestly dont know when is the best time, but I really do like the bit on the title!
1 person likes this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
25 Nov 15
You're right - this is what a good discussion SHOULD look like. Unfortunately, none of these things really impact on what makes a discussion successful or popular.
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
Perhaps not, but I think one that posts quality tends to attract more following, which leads to more success. Oh that one post might not be successful, but the over all benefits are there.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
PSA, otherwise known as a Public Service Announcement. :-D, and this made me realize i need to add something
1 person likes this
@just4him (309149)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
26 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt Thanks for the definition.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
25 Nov 15
I was just steeling up to write the very same thing myself but you beat me to it! I had missed the point about the first couple of lines showing up in the list. That's a very good point!
The only thing I'd add is ... a full stop after "add 1 -5" (and a capital 'P' for people of course!) I had to read that twice ... adding people's names as tags is a no-no! (well, you did ask!)
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
The tag thing was me not proofreading carefully enough, I mean tag 1-5 things and people will notice...I got called and fixed that one already!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
25 Nov 15
hi@Jessicalynnt you really did a complete post on making good discussions thanks f or good post informative for us all
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
the question at the end totally does, it invites people to respond
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
26 Nov 15
I love the no flooding and spread them out..good..no great advise and hope the ones that do this take heed!
Oh and you forgot to ALWAYS BRING BROWNIES to the Hostess..
2 people like this
@allknowing (130292)
• India
26 Nov 15
Honestly I just say things as they come to me and going by the attention my posts get looks like I am doing it right. The responses may not be many but this I attribute to the fact that most myLotters will not see them in the people category at the start of the page because of the time zone factor.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
yeah I have noticed when I am on and around I have a good group doing the same,
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
26 Nov 15
I try to make my posts interesting. I always did. I have some stories that might be somewhat longer than you mentioned, but they are short stories. Well, maybe micro stories. My poems are about average I think. And my posts usually go from 2 to 4 paragraphs. I know I am no writer, but I do my best.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
26 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt I think they will serve people well also. I feel that if it is a short story or micro story, then maybe it is okay for those. But my regular posts and poems I try not to make them too long at all. I also know the titles are very important. Grabbing the attention right away.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
@inertia4 titles and that first couple sentences, like making a first impression kind of deal
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
I posted up NANO bits and those were WAY longer. So I, we, break the rules. I just think that these guidelines will do many people well
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
I was like wait what? And the realized what you meant, that line is edited, that was totally not what I meant to say! lol
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
26 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt Got it! I'm glad. I would have been simultaneously relieved that you weren't tagging me and then jealous that you didn't love me as much as the people you had tagged (if you see what I mean).
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207677)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Nov 15
I always add an image. Even if I can't find one that perfectly fits the post, it just makes the post more attractive to me. And to those who are paying attention, there's always SOME tie-in between the picture and the post, even if it's subtle.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
lol, mine may not even have that, but I agree, it all needs a photo, even unrelated.
@slund2041 (3314)
• United States
26 Nov 15
Thanks for the tips on writing. I also want to thank you for taking the time to tell us what those abbreviations mean. I would never have figured it out.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
Yeah I gotta be careful about that, slang is not universal,
@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
26 Nov 15
Those are some really good tips and I'll keep them in mind.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
25 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt excellent advice. I wasn't using images until a couple of days ago. Using them seems to have helped traffic a little.
1 person likes this
@totobasso (331)
• Canada
26 Nov 15
Very interesting! I will see if I can follow your suggestions.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Nov 15
I see you are new, this isn't something you have to do, only that it will help with attracting readers, no one follows it all of the time.
1 person likes this
