Checklist for publishing content

I sometimes wonder if world wide web provides us with all the information that we want. At times the information are oblique and scattered over various sites and we have to browse for hours before we find something concrete. Scattered information not only affects user experience but does equal damage to website traffic. Great and unique content is the basic necessity for a successful site but the question is how to ensure quality content.

Before publishing content many of us check the content for grammar or punctuation errors but very few of us maintain a checklist. A checklist is a must for successful article as content are often cluttered with several minute errors which are commonly ignored. A checklist can be created if we cultivate the habit of writing down the errors which we figure out while publishing our content. Here is a checklist which I go through before publishing my content. I make sure to tick all the relevant things off the list. This habit has helped me to publish quality content.

Catchy heading: Heading is one of the first things that attracts the attention of the reader. Heading need not be too long but also need not be too short. It should have enough information to tell the reader what the article or post is all about. It should not be oblique but should be appealing.

Content Objective: The purpose of your content has to be fulfilled; go through the content and check if the purpose is met. If the content is meant to provide information, then check if there are enough information. If the purpose is to explain or instruct, then you should make sure the steps are clear and in proper order. No matter what, your purpose of writing an article or post has to be clearly visible.

Split the Content: Do not club everything together. Clear and concise writing is appreciated by everyone. Make sure that you properly split the content in correct order. If you have too much information it is preferable to add sub-headings or bulleted list to the post.

Grammar and punctuation: It goes without saying that you need to check your post for any grammatical or punctuations errors. Make your post as simple as possible. You goal is to make your post readable so try using Active Voice or construct simple sentences. Check for spelling, typos or sentence errors.

Preview: The golden rule is to preview your content. Read through the post as many times as possible. At times we ignore silly errors, and it is advisable to take breaks before proofreading your post.

We are happy-go-lucky people

“Oh, you do not look at all a ‘chinki’ though you are from North-Eastern part of India.” "Don’t you people  look alike?”.   “Fair, bland skin, lean and  effeminate”. Do I even bother to give an explanation to the mainstream stereotype thinking? No, I do not, I wish had the patience and time to put out all the unnecessary racial profiling I am subjected to for the reason that I come from North-Eastern part of India.  I do not understand the mainstream fixation with the people from North-East.

People from North-Eastern region have always being easy targets of mockery and humiliation. They are mocked simply because they look different, unlike the dominant section of the Indian society. Fair, spotless skin, straight hair, lean statue have been the source of several differences and unrest in this country. The way North- easterners looks, or what they eat or wear have always been ridiculed and scorned off by certain section of our society. But, recently the way North-easterners are being portrayed in the Indian television are more shocking and gruesome.

The other day I was watching a reality based tv show, and towards the end of the program I was irked by the way North-easterners were being projected.  The episode was about the male protagonist being stalked by one of his friends. The so called ‘hero’ was being projected as a tall, dark and handsome teenager residing in Delhi and the “stalker friend” was a fair looking effeminate young fellow played by the so called ‘chinki’. The Tv show authenticated the mainstream thinking. My question is: Why not reverse the character portrayal? Why is the fair looking North-Easterner being made to play the gay character in the episode and why not the robust looking hero?

These debatable questions are raised but are always left unanswered.  The Tv show was actually a play of common conventions of our mainstream society. The common conception of gay men as effeminate and fair looking is being validated by bringing a North-Eastern guy to play the gay character. It is humiliating and unacceptable. Television is in one way or the other shaping our perceptions. In a subtle way we are forced to think that men from North-east are not only weird in their looks but are also mostly gay. Why such forced perception? Why are we an easy target? We are happy-go-lucky sort of people and nobody has any rights to discriminate us on false and forced perceptions.