Terrible Forum Experience & a Question

bzMac

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Decided this week to start writing a blovel--blog novel. In an effort to get it out to as many readers in my target audience as possible, I joined some other writing websites. Nearly had a panic attack when I went through the forums to find that they were overrun with teenagers begging each other to read their sappy paranormal romances. Came running right back to AW. It does feel nice to be around more mature writers who care about craft much more than self promotion. This is my thank you note.

The question
Anyways the real point of this thread. Any blogging advice specifically for someone starting to write a blovel. I plan on writing it even if I'm the only one reading seeing as its a challenge for me as a writer. By the end I'll still have a new book. Any tips from blog formatting to tips for writing a book as blog posts are greatly welcomed. Thanks.
 

shadowwalker

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One of my biggest pet peeves with bloggers is that everything is there on the same page - so if you want to look at an earlier post, you have to scrolllllllllll down to find it. I prefer one or two paragraphs and then a link to the rest of it. But that may not bother most people...
 

DarthPanda

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One of my biggest pet peeves with bloggers is that everything is there on the same page - so if you want to look at an earlier post, you have to scrolllllllllll down to find it. I prefer one or two paragraphs and then a link to the rest of it. But that may not bother most people...

Lord yes. What shadowwalker says. I've stopped visiting many (non-photo) blogs because of the scrolling issue.

And number the chapters/sections you post so it's easier for the reader to keep track of where s/he left off. :)
 

bzMac

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Thanks Shadowwalker and DeathPanda. That's good advice considering that as a blovel the posts would be longer than typical posts.
 

BunnyMaz

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Tags. If you might be posting chapters from more than one WIP, tag them with the working title so that readers can, if they wish to, easily get to the chapters from just one work. Or have quick links in the side bar that allow them to click to "see all the posted chapters for X" or "see all posted chapters for Y". Nothing worse for me than blogs that make it as difficult as possible for readers to find posts from the past.
 

MacAllister

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Depending on how complex your project is, you might take a look at how the Shadow Unit has organized their UI - it's easy to just go and read the newest installment, but it's also easy to find your way to start from the beginning, if you're brand new.
 

HLWampler

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I HATE the scrolling!!

I do the a few sentences and then you have to click to read more on my own blog. I find it to be more organized and you don't have to scroll forever to find something. I also have an archives for older blog posts, categories, etc etc.

My twitter account is actually by my blog name and I have a "fan page" on facebook. And it's all linked together.
 

veinglory

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Just to be awkward, a contrary opinion. If I am reading a blog novel I want to go the blog and just read the latest installment right there. no clicking. But installments should be scenes, not chapters.