For those who have hosted blog carnivals in a pinch, it’s a big help to have a working template that has all of the posts basically ready to go.  That’s what BlogCarnival.com’s InstaCarnival is.

All of the posts are cast into simple sentences, like

Blogger presents A Really Cool Post over at Some Blog, saying “Some Comment”

The InstaCarnival is a perfectly readable and serviceable carnival, and the focus is on the posts.

It also can be a really boring, and for those that recognize an InstaCarnival when they see one they may determine that the host was (a) really efficient with time management or (b) really lazy.

But it is what it is, and the InstaCarnival is unlikely to go away.  I’ll admit that I’ve used the InstaCarnival as a template for carnivals I’ve hosted.  Here are some tips to use, rather than abuse, an InstaCarnival:

• Read the posts.  If the InstaCarnival is taken as is, every post, regardless of whether it’s on topic or not, is included.  At least get rid of the off-topic or spammy ones.
• Vary the phrasing.  The simple see-Spot-run sentences are a starting point.  Adding a little flavor spices up the carnival quickly.
• Add commentary to the descriptions.  Or just include the poster’s comments as is.
• Organize the posts into categories.  If they’re not already organized, putting like posts together improves readability.
• Organize the best ones up top.  “Editor’s Choice” is becoming a popular tactic for highlighting the posts that stand above the others.
• Add humor.  Or at least call grand attention to the fact that you host this InstaCarnival proudly.
• Insert appropriate art.  This also does wonders.