Battlestar Galactica, the science fiction show for non-scifi fans, the show that has been hailed as “one of television’s very best dramas — on a par with 24, The Wire, and Lost —” has returned for a 3rd season this past week. And all I can say, is thank the Gods for that! :D (as you can tell, I am a huge fan of BSG).

It got me to thinking — what is it about this outstanding show, which transcends its geeky roots to being a top flight drama, that bloggers can learn from. Well, quite a bit actually.

1. Be substantial: The characters on Battlestar Galactica are fascinating, deeply flawed and human (or human-appearing). They’re also some of the most compelling characters to watch on television. When crafting your own posts, are you writing anything of substance — does your style have any verve? The content of your posts is critical, with both what you say and how you say it. Everyone’s guilty of contributing to the endless echochamber (yours truly included) from time to time; but the only way you’ll grow your readership is by contributing original, fascinating posts of real substance and worth. Make your posts more than just a headline and a quote. Explain what your position is — with evidence. Take a stand, and explain it with flair. Break some news, and go the extra mile with the interview. Be substantial.

2. Don’t be afraid to be controversial: [SPOILER AHEAD] The most current season sees the remnants of humanity under the stiletto-heeled pumps of some pretty hot Cylons. Although the authors have tried to use the occupation of France as a likeness for this season’s story, what others have noticed is how close it resembles the current Middle East conflict. Suicide Bombers. Insurgencies. Occupation of a repressed people. It goes on. Some blogs post about “evergreen” topics that have nothing to do with contemporary issues; even so, one way to inject some hot flavour into your every day posts is to try and bring in relevant and daily issues relevant to your industry or things of interest. Don’t shy away of bringing up topics of controversy; revel in it. Take a stand on some issues. You might alienate some, but you’ll attract a few more fans as well — and their respect as well.

3. Serialize and Cliffhangerize: In the vein of 24 and Lost, Battlestar Galactica is a serial; each episode is really built upon each episode before it, and is often punctuated by some sort of punchline or cliffhanger. Unlike Startrek for example, there are very few stand-alone episodes, and few, if any, are “reset” to the status quo at the end of every episode. In your every day posting, what’s your own approach? Does every post stand on its own? Or do your writings live within an ecosystem of your blog? Some of the very best blogs, I find, have recurring themes that the author(s) visit and revisit; at other times, there’s a concerted effort to create a series of coherent posts that tackle a topic difficult to break down in a single post. In terms of the actual copy, you may find that some success with adopting “cliff hangers” of your own to introduce up coming posts to built suspense and interest as well. Ultimately, blogging in a way that creates intoxicating readability should be one of your goals. What are you building into your own blog that takes this into account?