Hey there. This info is helping me alot. I'm researching blogs to start my own. Please tell me the difference between having just a blog and having a blog section on a website...besides the cost.
Thanks, Es
It depends on what you're looking for as an author.
I have my blog as part of my website, because I want readers to buy my books far more than I necessarily want them to read my blog. My blog is there for my readers -- for entertainment, information, etc. -- but my goal as a published author is to have people buy my books. Ergo, it's a part of my website.
For a novice wanting to get their feet wet, a blog that stands alone on one of the many blog networks is both free and a lot less pressure.
Which is right for you? I can't say. Only you know your own goals and where you are in the process. However, I do think authors are getting lost in the forest and can't see the trees -- only a small percentage of bloggers will be able to turn their actual blog into a successful book contract. For the rest of us, it's writing time that could be used for our books. So, go into it with clear goals -- your goals, not someone else's -- and choose accordingly.