THE Group for Authors! discussion

I have a book contract in which one of my obligations is to keep my own web page (which the publisher will set up for me) up to date. One thing I'm considering is blogging as I've read that it helps an author find a following.

Does anyone here blog?
If so, what do you write about?
Is it a chore or a joy?
Has it helped you build a profile?

Hi Kevin, a blog is a must. I have one where I get the actual protagonist of one of my novels do the blog--I'm her alter-ego. Heheeh. I do the blog via video so someone's got to speak for her. Her name is Cat Ryan. Check out Sylvia Says at www.sylviamassara.com.

Cheers,
Sylvia
Novelist

I've kept a blog of my cultural experiences since 1998 (ok, it didn't start out as a blog), which meets my contractual obligations for Dragon Bones: Two Years Beneath the Skin of a Himalayan Kingdom. Lately it's become more of a commentary on news relating to Bhutan, but that still works. Be prepared - a blog requires some effort to maintain.

I do blog. I've had a few books published, most of them fiction. So what I blog about is pretty much me. I have no set niche. I also just had a nonfiction book release, We're not Blended, We're Pureed--which is about blending family. It doesn't really fit with my current blog www.pencildancer.com but I can't imagine trying to keep up with 2 blogs. So I'm going to start adding a day when I blog about blending. Otherwise I do an a2z meme on Tuesdays, sometimes a book review, sometimes something about being gluten free.

One of the reasons I went with this type of format is when I find a writer I like to read, I want to know more about the author--not so much the book I just read.

I think it's important to find what works best for you in a platform, whether that is having a blog, being on Twitter, Facebook, Google + or whatever. Not everything is for everyone. The thing about a blog is that you have to offer the readers something to keep them coming back, something enjoyable or something that helps them. Finding your reason for blogging is key.

Heather wrote: "I think it's important to find what works best for you in a platform, whether that is having a blog, being on Twitter, Facebook, Google + or whatever. Not everything is for everyone. The thing abou..."

Heather, I like what you're saying. I once studied acting where rule number one was that you are there for the audience, the audience isn't there for you. It's all about keeping it fresh and entertaining your readership.

I recently started a blog with wordpress. Take a look: http://stephenlivingston.wordpress.com

Hi Kevin and other posters on this thread.

I have been writing for years but have only just succeeded in finally getting published but only after resorting to self-publishing e-books on Kindle and more recently on Smashwords for Nook, Kobo, Apple etc. I was so pleased to get a short story and a romance novel out there, about 3 months ago now. Sales so far are very, very slow. It is I know, early days. Since then I have been reading lots of self-publishing guides - all of which recommend a blog as a 'must have' as part of the promotional mix, along with websites, social media activity etc etc.

I have been posting daily for 3 months - and as other comments on this thread say, the trouble is finding something to blog about. I decided to write about the trials and tribulations of my life in some vain hope that they might be of some interest or amusing in some way. I have recently moved from the UK to France so there is plenty of potential for comparison of life in both places as well as my ongoing struggles as an author.

So far I have but one lone follower and a random assortment of views from all round the world each day.

Its all very well having a blog but the problem lies as always, in driving traffic to it. I have linked my blog to my Twitter and Facebook accounts via Twitterfeed so it gets posted automatically, along with autofeed to my website, other blog sharing sites, Amazon, Smashwords and of course here on Goodreads. But it is very disheartening that so few people actually find it.

Blogger (who host my offerings) give out fantastic stats about who is reading which posts and from where in the world - you can even follow the link to see which site they came from to get to your blog. It transpires that most get to mine by accident! As an example, I had a spate of views in Africa - turns out that someone was looking for information on Google about tipper trucks and I had a an action photo of a recent delivery of sand for a patio that is being built here in France... I am not sure what those African builders made of the rantings of an author of romance literature. Needless to say they have not signed up to follow my blog.

The other thing that is recommended when trying to establish oneself as a brand is time... something which I guess I need more of as 3 months is nothing in a lifetime of struggle to publication.

I love writing the blog as it is WRITING which is what I want to do. But it does take up time, along with all the other promotional activities. There is no short cut.

I just downloaded another Author Self Help Guide. The thing my books are apparently missing now is promo videos on Youtube, oh well watch this space, here we go again...

I would really welcome any constructive criticism on my blog posting if any of you have the time:

http://www.emmacalin.blogspot.com

Thanks and happy blogging to you all

Emma
x
PS Stephen, Diana and Murray I will check out yours

Knockout! A Passionate Police Romance


Sub-Prime

Quick note and one way to get visitors do the memes that work for you. One that I do is at www.pattywysong.com called a2z you can jump in this week. Look on the right side of her blog for colorful plastic letters, click and it will take you where to the post that tells you how to play along.

Also do a search for Wordless Wednesdays. I can't remember where I found that one right now something moms...anyway they let you post your blog there every week under a different subject. See if you fit there.

Emma wrote: "Hi Kevin and other posters on this thread.

I have been writing for years but have only just succeeded in finally getting published but only after resorting to self-publishing e-books on Kindle and..."

I'd love to live for a while in Paris.

Just found this article and thought it might be helpful to you all too. 45 ways to Blog
http://blog.bookmarket.com/2011/06/45...

Diana
www.pencildancer.com

Thanks Diana, just had a quick look. It's such a new way of marketing. Some of the ideas sound a little ego-centric but in the end I guess your product is yourself.

And Kevin, that's what is so hard for a writer to do. Make it about yourself. ;(

Hi all,

I'm the author of a YA fantasy novel (The Changeling King) and have only recently (last couple of months) become a Goodreads author. I've been running my own website for four years to promote my book that came out this year. I've also been blogging for the last couple of years. I get an average of 80 visits per month on my blog and about 120 at my website. I do the whole social networking thing with Facebook and Twitter and have cross-networked everything to everything, including Goodreads and Smashwords. If you've already done all this then its just a matter of waiting for the punters to find you. One thing I have found useful recently is to exchange author interviews and guest blog. This will drive more visitors to your fellow authors blogs and vice-versa.

I've been blogging for a while now. I initially attempted to blog aboiut writing, but quickly discovered that there's only so much you can say about craft before you start boring the common reader. My most popular posts are those that touch on everyday life. Recently, I've begun a twice-weekly feature of independent authors who respond to "The Same Six Questions." It essentially provides me with content and access to visitors that the interviewees provide! I just started a few weeks ago and am already booked into October.

I like that idea of the same six questions.
Diana
www.pencildancer.com

I was looking for a theme that would be fairly straight forward to facilitate. I don't read quickly enough to do reviews (nor do I have the time!) and I didn't want to do formal interviews. I've gone from ~100 visitors per month to 400. And, I've met some very interesting indie authors in the process. :)

Thanks Andy and Noor. There's some good tips there. I have already guest blogged once. When my book was self published I did a lot of social networking, which helped me in turn, get the book deal. It felt strange to stop but at least I finished the first draft of my second novel.

But I think you've hit on the key to promotion in a blog. Keep social networking. Make the blog about other people and a way to keep an open dialogue. Don't sit in the dark and expect that just because you've built it, they will come.

I'm a genre fiction man, fantasy, sf and horror, and providing you books are suitable for a young adult audience (as well as an adult audience) I'd be happy to interview you, Kevin, or anyone else on the forum.

Noor, I'll keep that in mind. My book won't be back on the shelves until mid 2012.

If I'm alive, I'll honor the offer.

Emma wrote: "Hi Kevin and other posters on this thread.

I have been writing for years but have only just succeeded in finally getting published but only after resorting to self-publishing e-books on Kindle and..."

I realy like your blog, the way you write and the pictures and wonderful. The font is a little small, that's the only thing I noticed. Blogging daily is a huge commitment, I could never think of enough stuff to write about, I have enough trouble with a weekly schedule. www.lynnschneiderbooks.com

Just seen your question about blogging. I have built all my information on my books and my artwork around four separate but related blogs. One gives details of my work and activities, the second contains fiction fragments inspired by photos, the third has all my artwork and the fourth is for the reviews of books. I've associated these Wordpress blogs with an online store, a newsletter and very good analytics software (that is free!).
The only downside is upgrading the various blog software and plugins, but I have a plugin that warns me by email when I need to upgrade.
http://secret-paths.com

Lynn wrote: "Emma wrote: "Hi Kevin and other posters on this thread.

I have been writing for years but have only just succeeded in finally getting published but only after resorting to self-publishing e-book..."

Hi Lynn

Thanks for your kind comments about the blog - I must admit I had seen the small font but thought it was just whilst I was editing - will look and see what is going on.

I took a look at yours and found it very interesting as I don't really know anything about writing (I read a book called 'teach yourself to write a novel' about 20 years ago... perhaps this has been my problem!) I will be very interested to try out your techniques and tips on my next novel - so thanks for that!

The sort of blogging I do stems from poetry - which is where I come from - for me it's like a word doodle. I do not write a huge amount each day - usually around 400 words. I am lucky that there are a lot of new things to discover in my life here in France so there is never a shortage of material.

Thanks again for the feedback. Keep up your blog - I need your advice!
Emma

Is there a way of creating a blog chain, like the One Ring web chain, so that interested readers can check out other writers in similar genre's. I'd throw my hat in if anyone else is interested?

I view my blog (http://bethgroundwater.blogspot.com/) as an extension of my website (http://bethgroundwater.com/), and tie it to my website with similar background color choices, pointers back and forth, etc.

I mix it up on my blog with a combination of posts about my writing activities, my life (vacation photos, etc), guest posts from mystery/Colorado author friends, and posts related to the topics in my books (Colorado locales, whitewater river rafting, gift basket design, etc.). I aim my blog at READERS, not fellow writers.

I have a blog that’s soul purpose is to support self-published authors. I am not an author myself but I saw a need for a blog that got a bunch of experts in the industry to get together and share what they know. It is not a chore because it is what we love. I think if you don’t love it then it shows to everyone who reads it. If you get up every morning because you want to give people good information on your blog and have some reciprocity, then it will be successful. Best of luck. If you need any self-publishing questions answered, let us know. We are always looking for new topics for our articles. Good luck and let us know if you start a blog.
Rick
Self-Publishing

I'm still trying to get comfortable here, so I hope you all will bear with my question, please. I do blog, and I have more or less successfully imported my blog to GoodReads...except that I made a new post two days ago but it hasn't shown up at GoodReads. The help menu stuff indicates it should be updating automatically. What am I missing? Does anyone know?

Thanks!
///////Al

I've had a blog for almost a year now, www.mademers.com/bad_egg, and I added a separate page for my novel, Baby Jane. The upside to doing it that way is that each blog page potentially supports the others; the downside is that the Baby Jane page isn't treated as a blog post, just the main posting page is, so feeds specific to my novel aren't sent out the same way. Still working on the best way to integrate everything. But thanks to this post I have linked my blog to my GR page -- didn't realize I could.

I finally got around to sorting myself out yesterday and created a new Wordpress site that separates my book marketing posts for By A Thread (http://byathreadthebook.wordpress.com) from my writer's blog posts (http://fauxmeme.wordpress.com). I kinda came into all this bass-ackwards (one year ago today), not understanding the difference. Guess I've been a little slow on the uptake! :) But a good way to start my second year as a published author!

M.A. wrote: "I've had a blog for almost a year now, www.mademers.com/bad_egg, and I added a separate page for my novel, Baby Jane. The upside to doing it that way is that each blog page potentially supports the..."

Hi. If you have a news thread on your blog (I have a specific blog for news snippets) you might try announcing the fixed pages about your books on that so they get the same kind of exposure. I do the same on a Facebook page for my writing.

Thanks for all the feedback. I have a new question. My publisher has asked me to enter the twitter-sphere as well as Facebook and MySpace. I have but would love some pointers on anyone else who uses any of these social media outlets and how they've used it.

What works for you?
What are the dos and don'ts?

I've used Facebook and YouTube personally as social media, but when it comes to building a profile, what are the rules?

I don't know about any rules, but I have only been on twitter a few weeks. Do not follow everyone who follows you. You will get a message if they click follow. Make sure it is in your interest first. I always say Thank you and I will repost their blog and book promos if they are in the same field. They usually reciprocate. There are people that are just on there to sell health products, etc. BUT. One person retweeted me to 3500 people and another to over 4000 people and all it resulted in was a spike in my blog hits. I am still waiting for the RIGHT person to read my work. Word of mouth and new publication are supposed to be the key.

Let us know how it goes. My twitter link is @virginiallorca

Thanks Virginia. Great advice. Interesting what you said about the spam as I'm trying to work out whether one of my new followers is spam.

I'm @kevinklehr

PS. I think the best advice generally is that Facebook is to follow people you know while twitter is a great way to follow people you don't know. (Good networking tool if used right)

Hi, I'm new here. it's an interesting place ;-) Embarrassingly, I find that a lot of my books have been nicely reviewed here, and I didn't even know!
Anyway, I have a blog, and have the same concerns/worries/confusion that some of the posters above have. What to post about. I did, for one short month, try having three blogs, each one about an aspect of my creative life. One about Kid's books, one about Photography, and one about weird abstract art made using the texture engine of 3D software. . . The latter two are not paying concerns but too intense for the concept of 'hobby'. I don't do 'hobbies'! Three blogs was just silly, so i condensed them into one, and then hardly posted on it at all. Sigh. . .
My books are very much about my sense of humour, my take on the world, so a blog has to be just about me. I find that uncomfortable, as I am not the type to put myself forward very much. I do wonder how interested anyone would be about my interests and obsessions outside children's books, and really how interested they would be about the minutiae of my children's book work, on a daily or weekly basis.
I like to share ideas and opinions but i don't want to be a self obsessed bore!
I'm not posting this in order to get pats on the head and responses telling me how interesting I am ;-) I just wonder if other authors feel the same way, and if so how do they tackle this conundrum?
many thanks,
Jon

Your problem is that of all diarists who publish their diaries. A good diarist is one who writes about what (s)he encounters in an inquiring spirit, with humour, compassion (tho' not so much of it as to get in the way of the humour), insight, blah blah. What (s)he encounters may be parochial to the point of miniature, as with Parson Kilvert and Gilbert White. Doesn't matter - IF you/(s)he have/has the other qualities. In your case you have interests of vast appeal, viz. photography and abstract art. So concentrate on being interesting. Hope this helps.

I have one blog for any random thought that suddenly occurs to me(yes, at times it's shameless self promotion), one to describe my writing experiences updated whenever something I think important to my writings has happens, and a new one where I offer to read and review books for people who promise to read and review my work. This one does move a little slow because I don't ask for a free copy of the book and am somewhat waiting for the sales of my own work to pick up so I have the cash to get a-hold of something before I review it. I don't give any stars to anything because everyone sees the numbers differently so they may not be a true indication of my value of a story.

Charles wrote: "Your problem is that of all diarists who publish their diaries. A good diarist is one who writes about what (s)he encounters in an inquiring spirit, with humour, compassion (tho' not so much of it ..."

Charles I love your reply to Jonathan. Jonathan articulated quite bluntly some of my concerns about blogging and using other social media to put myself out there. I've read the self-obsessed tweets and blogs etc and wonder what's the point. Thank you for your answer.

Kevin Are you agented? How else can a body sell a book? I am stymied. And I get wonderful feedback on my blog. Hasn't led to many sales tho.
http://www.dittymac.blogspot.com

LawmanSacred Sin

Sacred Sin

Charles wrote: "Your problem is that of all diarists who publish their diaries. A good diarist is one who writes about what (s)he encounters in an inquiring spirit, with humour, compassion (tho' not so much of it ..."

Thanks very much Charles, and yes, as Kevin said, you made a very good reply which addressed my concerns and showed a way past the bad taste aspects of self obsession ;-) I'm thinking that the key is not necessarily to avoid self obsession, but to disguise it very well by being entertaining and interesting. In other words, 'Do it with style!' Sorry, just having a bit of fun with the concept there. . . You are absolutely right, concentrate on writing something worth reading, and people will keep coming back to read more.

To talk dirty for a second, as a consequence, at some point, someone somewhere might buy one of your books. Should this be in your mind at all? After all it is a large part of the motivation for having a blog in the first place for quite a few people I imagine. That bothers me too. Am I to be some kind of serial seducer, turning on the charm because ultimately I want something from you, or am I selflessly giving of myself in no expectation of reward?
I think I think too much, and with the wrong part of my brain. . .

Jon

I think the way to look at it is this -- doing just one kind of writing is no longer enough. We must engage with readers in many ways, even if we are only good at one. Not just to sell ourselves, but to engage in a two-way dialogue. This is hard to accept for two reasons. First, we all cherish the idea of the solitary writer toiling away alone in a garret. Sadly, the garret is now glass fronted and moved down to street level. And second, we aren't used to the idea of two-way communication. Now we must learn to take it as well as dish it out. Something like the shift away from 'chalk-and-talk' in the world of education. Imagine how threatened an old-time teacher would feel in a modern classroom!

But I'm just being a devil's advocate here -- still not convinced that the change is for the better. Doesn't art require solitude?

Art requires solitude but the artist must pay the rent.

Don't get too solemn. In fact don't get solemn period(.). All this artist/garret/two-way communication stuff is leftover-from-the-romantic-era eyewash. The arts are about entertainment. Lose sight of that and you end up providing subsidised ***** which no one wants to watch/read/listen to etc bar some arts bureaucrat, and he does only because he's getting a fat civil servant-standard salary + trimmings hence is in denial about what art is. If you can entertain yourself while entertaining others, you've got it made. There's no better way to earn a living. It may not be much of a living, but if you don't like the level you're at now, go further down market and said level should rise. If you bore yourself while entertaining others, you may be written out. (Or painted/composed/designed out.)

I have always made it clear that my writing is for the purpose of entertainment. And, as is true in any field, it's not for everyone's taste. I don't pretend to be a philosopher, counselor or teacher.










































Lawman
Sacred Sin|12374177]

I sort of like what Charles is getting at. I've been theatre trained in the past and our first rule was 'You are there for the audience. The audience isn't there for you.'

Secondly, when rehearsing a play, once all your moves, dialogue, motivational techniques, timing etc are all down pat, then you can begin to have fun, embellish, see how far you can go. You start having fun and the audience has fun with you.

But if your still finessing your technique, the audience loses the magic.

I guess what I'm really saying, work hard on your art to get it perfect, then tread carefully in the way you put yourself out there in social networking. It's just as much of an art and just as much fun. And like a band promoting a new album by touring afterward, this is your chance to promote yourself and your ideas. But make sure you keep some of the mystery. Connect in ways that your audience 'gets'. Don't blab on about yourself as if you're the centre of the universe.

As Charles said 'A good diarist is one who writes about what (s)he encounters in an inquiring spirit, with humour, compassion (tho' not so much of it as to get in the way of the humour), insight, blah blah.'

Also check out Boyce Avenue on YouTube. They are a social media success story.

Reading this, I am thinking that it's too bad all authors are told they should blog. Truthfully, I originally only planned to to a website, just to have a place people could learn something about me and read a story. The website had a free blog, so I thought I'd post updates there. But somehow, I felt pressured to keep up the blog. It's fun, once in a while, to write something, but it has been a couple of months and I feel as though it has a life of its own (one of my blog posts...). The web is now cluttered with blogs that exist solely because we authors are 'told' we must have blogs. Something is wrong with this picture.

Don't feel you must blog every day. But see it as keeping a diary.1) One day it may be publishable. 2) It's a valuable record of what happened to you in the ever-receding past. 3) It gets stuff off your chest, stuff you'd otherwise waste time dumping on your spouse or putting in a letter to the paper wh. the paper may well not publish anyway. 4) It keeps your hand in as a writer, making your prose tauter, sparer, punchier, less prolix. 5) It keeps you in the public eye. The J D Salinger 'shrink your way to fame' (I forget who coined this) strategy can work so well no one ever hears of you at all.

Charles, you're a treasure!!!

Bless ya, Kev. Can you clone a million of ya, an' we might set this crazy planet right.