How to Use the Inverted Pyramid Technique in a Blog Post
Writerings
Once upon a time, in a land not so very far away (unless you live in Australia, in which case it’s quite far), there lived a writer who wanted to write a blog post.
But alas! His posts were as confusing as a hedgehog in a balloon factory. Readers would begin at the top and, somewhere around paragraph three, wander off to do something less taxing, like alphabetising their socks.
Enter: The Inverted Pyramid! (Cue dramatic music and possibly a small brass band.)
What is the Inverted Pyramid?
Imagine a pyramid.
Now, invert it. (If you’re having trouble, stand on your head. If you’re
still having trouble, stop reading and consult a local architect.) The
wide bit is at the top, the pointy bit at the bottom. This is not a new
hat for pharaohs, but a way to organise your writing.
How Does It Work?
Like this…
Start
with the Big News - Begin with the most important information.
Don’t make your reader dig for the treasure—dump it right on their
heads! If you’re writing about a new cheese that tastes like socks, say
so immediately:
“Scientists have invented a cheese that tastes exactly like socks.”
Add the Juicy Details. - Once your reader is
reeling from the cheese revelation, give them the how, why, and
what-for.
“The cheese, developed in a secret laboratory in
Bognor Regis, is expected to revolutionise midnight snacking for people
who enjoy laundry.”
Finish with the Fluffy Stuff - End with the least
important bits: background, quotes from people who may or may not exist,
and possibly a limerick.
“Professor Wobblebottom, who led the
research, said, ‘We hope to pair this cheese with a nice Chianti and a
clean pair of socks.’”
Why Use the Inverted Pyramid
Because readers are
busy. They have things to do, like alphabetising their socks (see
above). If you put the good bits at the top, they’ll get the gist even
if they wander off before the end. If they stick around, they’ll be
rewarded with extra details and possibly a joke about cheese.
In Conclusion (Which Should Really Be at the Top, But Isn’t):
The inverted pyramid is the best way to write a blog post,
unless you’re writing about actual pyramids, in which case you should
probably consult an Egyptologist. Start big, end small, and never, ever
try to wear a pyramid on your head.
Now go forth and invert your writing! (But not your readers. That’s just messy.)