I'm addressing the writers or wanna be writers in the group today. I've seen a lot of posts about blogging to get your name,
and your book out, into the world of social media. I've been on a blog tour for two new releases
since mid-April. I may be grumpy as I
write this. Usually I love blogging.
Maybe a bit too much. So bear with me as
I list out the top five reasons you shouldn't be blogging.
Reason #1- Blogging is Facebook or Twitter on Crack. If you can say something in 140 characters or
a short Facebook post, why spend 350 words or more waxing nostalgic about your
high school prom memories?
Reason #2 – Blogging is not writing your manuscript. On deadline? You’re better off using that
time to slough you way out of the dreaded middle of a book where you’re certain
you totally suck as an author. (Breathe,
you don’t really suck.)
Reason #3 – Blogging in a group isn't going to earn you more
readers. Well, it might. If you have a quality book out there for people to
buy. Blogging gives news readers a chance to see you in action. Remember that when you decide to blow off
your scheduled blog day. Your actions are speaking volumes.
Reason #4 – Blogging is fun. It’s easy. Blogging is spending your Saturday at a local food festival. It doesn't seem like
work. Writing is work. And writing is the work you need to be doing.
Reasons #5 – Blogging is not a one way conversation or a
lecture. If you’re blogging, you should watch your comments and respond. The
commenter’s took the time to write to you, it’s only polite to write back.
Think of it as having a lot of mini-pen pals. I work a day job where I may or
may not be able to drop into a blog to comment. I’m not ignoring you, but you
may have reached me during a time when I had my imaginary do not disturb sign
posted on my door.
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| Michael Hauge - responds to comments at a St. Louis event. |
So, to blog or not to blog, that is the question. For me, the answer always comes down to my
WIP. If words are flowing there, then I can give myself permission to blog.
Many of my blog posts are written during my lunch hour. That way, I feel like
I've moved forward without trying to get into a story only to have to quit a
few minutes later.
Do you blog? Are you a faithful blog reader?
Lynn
9 comments:
I love to blog and I like reading other people's blog posts. Yes, it takes up time I could be writing.
Interesting topic, Lynn.
My blog is where people (readers?) get to know me. I can write posts on whatever topics I choose and, if someone disagrees with my opinion, they are free to leave a comment - in fact, I encourage them to. I post once a week and I find that, often, writing those posts is therapeutic. Does it eat into my writing time? No. I do lots of other things beside write and posting on my blog is just one of them.
Marilyn, I think to blog successfully, you have to love it. Glad you've found your niche. When you're on tour, I see you everywhere. :)
Paricia - Nice to hear you've found it worthwhile. Don't get me wrong, I love blogging. I just wonder sometimes if it is an effective marketing tool.
Confession -- I agree with what you write, Lynn, at least up to a point. Who really knows how good most blogs are for book promotion? Some say not at all or not much, but others (Like Marilyn Meredith) have used blogs very well for book promotion. I wonder if the jury on blogging importance will remain out forever. It certainly has so far in my case. (And, for me, the most important negative reason you state is that it takes time from "real" writing. Who can do it all! (And one thing I rarely do is read blogs. I simply haven't that much time.)
Radine
Radine, I am on the fence too. Except when blogging gets in the way of writing. If I'm writing too many blogs (getting ready for a tour) and don't have time to escape into my fantasy worlds, I get grumpy. Thanks for stopping by this blog for a second.
I have been in my comfort zone of revising my novel (over and over), submitting to only the top agents and the biggest novel contests.
I've gotten more encouraging rejection letters from top agents, and I've made the finals in big writing contests, but the reality is my novel is still unpublished, and that's "what's so," which the opposite of is: "so what."
Author, Sunny Frazier recently encouraged me to blog (and other things). If I do it regularly on a weekly basis, it will not inhibit my writing or get in the way of my day job.
I've found it's not hard either. After all, variety is the spice of life. I think I just wrote a very old cliché, which for writers is a no-no. But I'm blogging and not writing a novel and I think it gets the message across.
I have been in my comfort zone of revising my novel (over and over), submitting to only the top agents and the biggest novel contests.
I've gotten more encouraging rejection letters from top agents, and I've made the finals in big writing contests, but the reality is my novel is still unpublished, and that's "what's so," which the opposite of is: "so what."
Author, Sunny Frazier recently encouraged me to blog (and other things). If I do it regularly on a weekly basis, it will not inhibit my writing or get in the way of my day job.
I've found it's not hard either. After all, variety is the spice of life. I think I just wrote a very old cliché, which for writers is a no-no. But I'm blogging and not writing a novel and I think it gets the message across.
Hi Linda - sounds like you're at a good spot to blog. Or write a new book. LOL
Thanks for stopping in.
Thank you. I am half through my second book, A Promotion to Die for. It's a rough draft, but I need to move fast on my first one, Just Another Termination (HR Manager turned sleuth).
Your book, Guidebook to Murder, sounds like a cozy (what I write and read). I'll buy it and put a review on Amazon after I've read it. I read a variety of books. My sister mostly sticks with cozies and is always looking for them.
Yeah, I think this segment of this blog could be called: "To blog or not blog, that is the question."
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