To Blog or Not to Blog?

JRTurner · Jul 11, 2009

I use sitemeter to keep track of my blog hits:

http://www.sitemeter.com/

It's free and easy to use

I'm also posting a mid-grade Saturday Serial with illustrations on my blog and it's been a lot of fun co-authoring with another writer. It's called Letters to the 5th direction and you can see the latest episode here:

http://jr-turner.blogspot.com/

I don't mind posting excerpts of my work on my blog because those excerpts are made available from my publisher anyway. It helps readers get hooked into the story--but then, aside from the serial, everything is already under contract so I'm not worrying about trying to sell the work, if that makes sense

Warmly,
Jenny

CammyMayHunny · Aug 4, 2009

My impression has been that there are a lot more blogs out there just so people can sound off than to try to sell books.
It never occurred to me to have a blog just to broadcast my thoughts but I am currently writing a serial novel on blog software. Kind of neat...post a chapter a week.

But maybe that's not what this discussion is about? If not, sorry.

Trish · Sep 20, 2009

Here is a great link to get a free guide for aspiring author websites. It helped me with my blog. There is heaps of great information in there for bloggers and it comes with instructions: http://jordanmccollum.com/2009/09/free-guide-aspiring-author-websites/#comment-691

MsJudy · Sep 20, 2009

Over in Ask the Agent, Jennifer Laughran just posted that she'd much rather have her authors focusing time and energy on writing the next great book than on blogging... That's the first post I've seen weighing in on the side of not blogging.

Trish · Sep 20, 2009

I agree, blogging does take time away from writing, but it gets you out there. I suppose all agents and publishers have a different idea, that’s why I phoned the publisher that has one of my manuscripts waiting for assessment. I wanted to be sure before shooting myself in the foot. They said they like their authors to have a blog or webpage. It get’s the story out there. They don’t like writers to post whole chapters though, just snippets.

What do other bloggers think? Has anyone had problems with agents or publishers about blogging?

Thanks for bringing that up, Judy. The more information we get the better.

Trish.

Angela_785 · Sep 21, 2009

Blogging is very good for platform. the one thing to remember tho is that what you blog about (or how you blog) can be seen by everyone, so be careful with how much you share and not to rant inappropriately.

The only two things my agent ever suggested I didn't blog about was too much info on writing projects and rejections. The last one's important for several reasons.

Trish · Sep 21, 2009

Thanks for the link, Angela. I agree with that. I always try to keep my blog positive and not say too much or add too much. I agree with Googling ourselves too. It reminds us to be carful of what and where we post.

Angela_785 · Sep 21, 2009

Glad it helped.

Trish · Sep 21, 2009

Hey, Jenny Turner, thanks for the link to sitemeter. It took me a while to work out how to add it to my blog, but I got there in the end. Even thick old me worked it out. LOL.

I checked out your blog too. It's a great blog. I'm now following you as well as Angela's great blog.

Thanks everyone.

Trish.

nitaworm · Sep 22, 2009

I had this same question several months ago. Now I love blogging and suggest that a writer should do it in order to establish some type of internet pressence.

kposa · Sep 22, 2009

I've also been toying with the idea of putting up a blog for my writing. I already blog elsewhere about other topics, but wonder if I should/could keep one just for writing (and the eventual much-hoped-for publication). Someday, if I get published, it would be awesome to already have some web presence. But I fear that all I will ever write about are rejection slips.

Trish · Sep 22, 2009

kposa, don't say that! Be positive. Start your writing blog and believe in yourself. I was nervous at first, now I love having a writing blog and keeping in touch with other aspiring writers. Here is a link to a great writer's blog: http://jordanmccollum.com/

kposa · Sep 23, 2009

Thanks, Trish! I needed that.

repped you!

Angela_785 · Sep 23, 2009

I think another great thing that blogging develops is VOICE. So if you struggle with it, start a blog and download your thoughts. Blog posts really do show a writer's voice!

kposa · Sep 23, 2009

To blog!
I did it.

I put up my blog, and here it is: http://karenninaposa.com/

Please come by and say hi!

CammyMayHunny · Sep 24, 2009

I think another great thing that blogging develops is VOICE.

Yes, but that's your own voice, right? Not necessarily the voice of a character or novel, which is what is needed for writing things other than notes to the void.

abctriplets · Sep 24, 2009

Now I've got a blog running for the past few years, but it's just about family day-to-day life. I suppose if I get an agent ever, I'd probably need a separate more-writerly blog?

Trish · Sep 24, 2009

I asked a publisher if they like their writers to blog and they said they’re all for it. They said they like their writers to network and help promote their stories. Then if they do get published, they already have followers.

Not all agents and publishers agree though, I guess. You have to follow your own instincts, but research it first. Maybe check with agents and publishers before you send your manuscripts out. That’s what I did.

I love blogging. I have found it helps my writing, not hinders it. I’m learning new skills from other bloggers like Jordan McCollum and The Bookshelf Muse.

Amarie · Sep 25, 2009

Hi all. I've taken the plunge into blogging and am holding a contest related to my interview with author R.L. LaFevers. I feel like I'm going into this somewhat dazed and confused, so I may be back with questions.

Here's the link, if you want to read the interview or enter the contest.

Angela_785 · Sep 25, 2009

CammyMayHunny said:
Yes, but that's your own voice, right? Not necessarily the voice of a character or novel, which is what is needed for writing things other than notes to the void.

Yes for finding the writer's voice. I find that's the tough one to master.

Trish · Nov 13, 2009

I'm so happy that I started a blog. Thanks to everyone that helped me.

I entered a kidlit contest for query letters and although I didn't win a prize, the agent, Mary Kole, from Andrea Brown agency, asked to see a sample of my work and invited me to send the first ten pages of my manuscript. I couldn't wait. I edited it once more, then sent it off.

I'm sure having a blog, Facebook and twitter made a difference. I think agents and publishers like writers to network. It's surprising who you meet on Facebook and twitter. I've had people visit my blog from a link on Facebook and Twitter.

casey113 · Nov 14, 2009

greetings everyone... so how does one start a blog? Any good web sites you can recommend to get started? this is completely new to me.

www.typobounty.com

Southpaw · Nov 15, 2009

Blogging's Hard

My two cents…

When I started to think about publishing my material, I began reading literary agent blogs, etc. Many did suggest having a website or blog established was a nice perk (for reasons mentioned above: getting your name in the search engines, building a following, etc.) They also showcase your writing style and skills. I don’t recommend posting anything you actually want to publish.

I started a website, but the more I looked around the more I found out that blog generate a lot more traffic.

On this topic, sort of, yesterday I looked at my favorite published author’s websites. Several had blogs as well. And thought their entries are personable they are not personal. They write about their process. The well-known authors do put of teasers for their new books, but they are established and have agents already.

On a side note, I found myself gesticulating while I was typing this post.

Angela_785 · Nov 15, 2009

Casey, when I wanted to start a blog, I asked for tips at Verla Kays. Here's a link to the thread--I got so much great advice!

http://www.verlakay.com/boards/index.php?topic=24524.0

As for the 'should you debate', I think more and more and more the answers is YOU MUST have an online presence. Face it, getting a contract is harder than ever, and publishers are triple thinking every deal. There is less margin for error on the 'will it make us money' standpoint, and often the publisher seeing concrete proof of an online audience platform can make all the difference in the world.

I think this article supports the idea that social networking is more than just a 'maybe I should do this' thing for writers: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-bransford/moving-the-needle_b_353935.html

PVish · Nov 16, 2009

casey113 said:
greetings everyone... so how does one start a blog? Any good web sites you can recommend to get started? this is completely new to me.

Go to http://www.blogger.com and read the tutorial. Blogger is one of the free blogs sites and, since it's owned by Google, whatever you blog becomes immediately Googlable. It does work better with some search engines than others (I used Firefox).

Read a bunch of blogs before you decide your title, your template, your general theme, etc.

I started blogging over three years ago after hearing blogs promoted at several writers conferences.

To Blog or Not to Blog?

JRTurner

CammyMayHunny

Trish

MsJudy

Trish

Angela_785

Trish

Angela_785

Trish

nitaworm

AW Addict

kposa

Trish

kposa

Angela_785

kposa

CammyMayHunny

abctriplets

Trish

Amarie

carpe libri

Angela_785

Trish

casey113

Southpaw

The squirrel apocalypse is coming!

Angela_785

PVish

Cat hair collector