How to create a dKos diary that makes the Rec List

[beachmom]

Okay, first off, the example I'm going to give here is not mine, but by an arch nemesis of mine -- One Pissed Off Liberal. Here's his diary and it's right now #1 on the Rec List:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/6/15432/97756

It's a bit of an extreme example of what really will get noticed on that site -- it's long, has an incredible amount of photos, tons of links and quotes to all kinds of alternative media, strikes a theme for the whole diary, and then offers solutions at the end. It strikes at the heart, and will make you mad about what the Republicans have done to this country. It also looks pretty with nice block quotes, all the http links use a method where you show words instead of the entire link, has bold print, everything.

The writing? Eh. Only okay. Words like "crap" and "douchebag" abound. One Pissed Off Liberal is no intellectual. He (most definitely a guy) came charging into John Kerry's diary some time back asking why JK still continued to support the war, even though Kerry had come out 2 months before with his withdrawal plan. In short, OPOL (my nickname for him) is an idiot. But he knows how to build a great diary.

I don't even know how interested the JK forum is in getting dKos attention for Kerry. Most of us (all of us?) can't stand Markos, the owner, and have all had bad experiences over there. But I gotta say that since his site is currently the #1 blog, I for one want to stay engaged there and see Kerry's name on the Rec List (or at least a diary which includes something about him within the body of the diary), and I have seen more and more people from here at the JK forum do diaries. But . . . they are diaries that are more conducive to DU. I've seen threads in DU with over a hundred replies for which the original OP gives maybe a one paragraph opinion with maybe one link. That's how DU works. But not on DailyKos. You have to "build" a diary. A John Kerry press release is going to sink fast there; in short, there is actually a work ethic over there -- you better have put some effort into it or you will NOT be rewarded. Now, there are cases where people do everything right and STILL don't end up on the Rec List. But if it got less than 30 comments and is a really good diary, then SusanG at Diary Rescue might frontpage you the next day and encourage people to take a look.

Finally, John Kerry is still not an extremely big name over at DailyKos. I guarantee you that if my diary had been about Feingold sending that letter to Negroponte, my diary would have been #1 with an extra 100 comments. But, you know, I like a challenge, don't all of you? It just means we need to make our diaries that much better. From the incredible writing I have seen on this forum, I think all of us are up to that job.

A few tips:

1. Catchy, short, non-press release sounding title
2. Use multiple links and quotes to prove your case and prop up the Senator, but make your diary personal and in your own voice. Put yourself into the diary.
3. My method of making it look nice (because I am not particularly tech savvy) is to bring up 2 dKos screens -- one to do the diary and the other with the FAQ cheat sheet up to figure out how to bold, blockquote, etc.
4. Also, read the rules Kos has laid out -- that was very helpful.
5. In general, make the diary about more than Kerry, because then you will attract non-Kerry supporters who still support the underlying cause (like getting bin Laden or withdrawing troops from Iraq). Create a "hook", a message of Dems fighting (that Dem being Kerry) and winning the rhetorical war. Kossaks love that, since everywhere in the MSM, Dems are depicted as losers. They like to go to dKos to feel empowered -- make your diary accomplish that goal.
6. My handicap which I need to get around to learning are pictures -- I haven't used photobucket, but for those of you who are photo-literate throwing in a few pictures that enhance your message will also show you've done the "work".
7. To avoid the "are you a Kerry staffer" questions, I think how Whometense and I had it today worked well. She received the press release by e-mail, but then posted it on LBN on DU. I linked to her LBN post, so there is no suspicion that I'm a staffer (which obviously I'm not even close).
8. Preview, preview, preview until it looks perfect and pretty.
9. Get the message out quickly to everyone you know to rec and comment -- it's almost like in that scene in the movie "Wall Street" where Charlie Sheen calls a few people, they get the ball rolling, and then it takes on a life of its own, and he affects the stock price accordingly. In our less dramatic case, getting the recs and comments coming fast may lead to other Kossaks to take a look and rec. Once it's in the Rec List you get a LOT more readers. Of course, time is of the essence. You need people to rec it within an hour, sometimes less depending on Kos activity.

Several people here have gotten their diaries on the Rec List; our two Faneuil Hall liveblogs got there built on our own strength when planned ahead of time. But I'm just telling you what I have observed about increasing your odds of making it to the top.

[karynnj]

1. Thanks for writing this -

I won't be able to do anything for a couple of weeks, but I do think I'll try at some point. Like you, I think it's good when he gets positive attention. Your diaries have been great.

[ray of light]

2. thanks! I hope you journaled this!

[ginnyinWI]

3. I've never tried a diary over there--

I am constantly confused by their format. By contrast DU was super-easy to learn.

[wisteria]

4. I think you are wise to suggest we keep engaged at Daily Kos.

The only downside for me is I just don't have the expertise or time to do this.The research alone is time consuming. Perhaps, we could try something as a team. I would certainly be willing to contribute in some way.

[beachmom]

5. In a way, we're already doing that

When I put together the diary about the Iraq Peace Plan having a timetable for withdrawal just like Kerry/Feingold, I stole tons of things from this forum to put it together. However, it's a bit topsy turvy for me to do lots of dKos diaries (well, you're allowed only one per day there), since I'm home with small children. Plus I saw other people take the time to put together a diary, only to see it die a quick death, and I felt like my observations would be helpful.

One more thing I forgot to add as a rule -- it should be newsworthy AND whoever does the diary should be overwhelmed by inspiration to do it. That's the only way you'll want to take an hour or so out to put that diary together. People can sense that passion, I think, and will respond to it.

[demdiva]

6. This is great ...thanks so much

[karendc]

7. Thanks beachmom

We sent your Kos piece into the JK office yesterday. I am sure they are happy with it!

I am at the end of Day 5 of the Troops Home Fast fast, and I am not exactly highly functional right now. But I did do a Kos piece on today (not following any of your good advice) and if anyone is interested, check it out and do what you will with it.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/8/201756/4187