5 Qualities Successful Blogs Have in Common

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

When I first started blogging, it seemed that everyone was saying writers should blog to develop a platform. Of course, I jumped on the bandwagon, fascinated and even excited about the prospect of meeting other writers through blogging.

With newbie enthusiasm, I was pumping out five posts a week, visiting lots of blogs to meet new people, and commenting like crazy.

That momentum couldn't last forever (not without sacrificing my writing). Eventually I dropped down to posting three times a week and did that for a year or two. Then I decreased to twice a week for while. And now I only blog once a week on Tuesdays.

After five years, I've learned a LOT about blogging. The number one conclusion I've drawn is that having a blog is NOT essential to a fiction-writer's platform. Why? Because readers aren't surfing author blogs consistently if at all. Thus blogs won't help writers sell significantly more books. Instead of wasting countless hours writing blog posts, writers are better off putting their energy into writing books.

Sidenote: Lest you think I don't draw true "readers" because my blog is geared toward writers, I did experiment for a while with one post a week specifically written to interact with readers. The page views on those particular days dropped drastically, while hits on my writing related posts have only grown.

All that to say, I don't think blogging is necessary for fiction writers (non-fiction is different!). Fiction writers will get more bang for their buck by putting time and money into their books, not blogs.

However, that's not to say blogging has no value to a novelist. It does . . . to a degree. Some people simply enjoy the process of communicating in a blogging format, sharing their thoughts, public journaling, and meeting new people. Others use their blogs to update readers occasionally with events or new books. Those can be valid reasons to blog.

I simply caution writers who start blogging because they want to use it as a platform to draw in readers of their books. Be wary of having too high of expectations. Be careful of expending too much energy on it. Definitely don't sacrifice writing time to blog. And be realistic about the result of blogging helping with sales of book (because it will only help VERY minimally).

For those hearty, daring souls who persist in blogging, there are ways we can give our blogs a chance at having relative success, (and not just having our posts read by a dozen people, half of whom are spammers). After all, no one wants to put time into writing posts no one will read.

As I've analyzed blogs over the years, here are five qualities that "successful" blogs seem to have in common:

1. The blog has a target audience. They know who they're trying to reach and why. Whether that's writers, young parents, work-at-home moms, feminists, etc. the blog is relatable and enjoyable for a specific group.

2. The posts give the audience a reason to keep coming back. The blogger offers something tangible that speaks to a need in the reader. Visitors take away something every time. It could be advice, encouragement, knowledge, community, etc. Whatever it is, readers are willing to sacrifice busy time to swing by the blog because visiting is a worthwhile use of their limited time.

3. The posts are user-friendly, fairly short, and easy-to-read. Enough said.

4. The blogger uses multiple social media outlets for promotion of posts. It's not enough to have the philosophy "If we build it, they will come." No, unfortunately, when we publish a blog post, no one will come . . . unless we promote in multiple places, like Twitter and Facebook (although if we over-promote then people begin to tune us out). Making pinnable graphics for Pinterest can also create a continuous source of traffic (since pins are constantly being repinned).

5. The posts are consistent and reliable. Readers are more apt to return if they know WHEN we're posting (rather than having a random schedule) and if they know they'll get consistently good content time after time.

What's your blogging story? Has your blog been helpful to you or not? What do you think goes into having a successful blog?

Blogging Changes

By JodyHedlund, @JodyHedlund

No doubt about it, the nature of blogging is changing. But that's not too surprising since social media is constantly evolving.

What changes have I noticed in blogging over the past nine months?

I've seen a decrease in the passion for blogging. Almost everyone that started a blog about the same time as me has either cut back or fallen away from blogging altogether. And from those who are blogging, I hear more nay saying and grumbling about blogging than I used to.

I've also noticed a decrease in activity surrounding blogging. Overall people interact less with posts via comments. I also see fewer tweets and facebook links. Surprisingly the stats for my own blog have remained fairly steady, but I haven't seen the exponential growth that came during the early days of blogging.

Overall, I've sensed fiction writers moving away from the urgent need to blog and placing more importance on channeling writing energy into more productive outlets like novellas, short stories, and additional novels.

While blogging for novelists can be a useful social media tool to a degree, many writers have realized that it can quickly become a time suck away from other more beneficial uses of our limited time.

For published authors, blogging can serve as a venue for connecting with readers. But I've noticed that most of my readers don't read my blog on a regular basis. (There are a few who do! You know who you are and I appreciate you SO much!) Generally, I garner the greatest reader interest in my posts when I hold a giveaway or make announcements. Most people just don't have the time or inclination to pop over and read author blogs on a regular basis.

I've tried to adjust to the changes in blogging over the past year, and I've come to the point in my blogging where I'm ready to make another slight adjustment. Over the fall and at least through December I'll be cutting back my posting to once a week. 

Of course I don't make any changes without a great deal of thought. And cutting back on blogging is always a hard decision for me to make since I've always liked blogging and enjoyed the interactions.

But I've decided to make the change to posting one time a week for a number of reasons (in addition to weighing all of the above):

1. I've added new writing projects. I've branched into some different writing projects over the past year (in addition to my contracted historical novels for Bethany House). I'm not at liberty to share what I've been working on yet, but I hope to have news to pass along in the near future!

2. I'll be teaching a grammar class this fall. My older children are in a high school co-op which requires parents to contribute in some way. I agreed to teach a grammar and composition class. While the class only meets once a week, I'll still have mounds of preparation along with weekly essays to grade.

3. I'm posting twice a month on another blog. This past spring I joined a group blog called Writes of Passage. It's a talented group of inspirational historical authors who came together to share more personally with readers. Since I post there twice a month (the second and fourth Saturdays), I feel the need to post here on Thursdays for readers has diminished.

All that to say, I've slowly added more to my plate over the past year. And we all know that we can't keep adding without taking something away. So for now, I'm taking away one blog post a week. While it doesn't seem like much, it will hopefully allow me to remain sane and still pursue my new ventures!

Thanks to everyone for reading my blog on such a regular basis! I appreciate you all! This blogging experience is so much richer because of you! I hope to see you here every Tuesday. (Or visit me at Writes of Passage the second and fourth Saturday of every month.)

How about you? Have you noticed changes in the blogging world lately? If you're a blogger, how are you feeling about your blogging experience lately? Has it been beneficial, a drag, or something in between?

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For a chance to win a signed copy of my newest release, Rebellious Heart, head over to Sylvia Ney's blog this week and leave a comment there! 

Also don't forget to go back every week to the Fall Into Love Contest for a chance to win more prizes!

The Changing Nature of Blogging for Fiction Writers

Image Source

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I've never believed that blogging was a must-do for ALL fiction writers. In fact, I've always urged new aspiring writers to use extra caution before jumping into the blogging world (and social media in general). I've advocated young writers to focus most of their time and energy on writing and learning about writing.

Lately I've noticed several other big names in the writing industry advocating the same thing. Jane Friedman recently said this to new writers: "If you’re a totally new, unpublished writer who is focused on fiction, memoir, poetry, or any type of narrative-driven work, forget you ever heard the word platform. I think it’s causing more damage than good."

L.L. Barkat said something similar to experienced writers: "But if writers already have experience, and they are authors trying to promote themselves and their work, I tell them to steer clear [of blogging]. If they’ve already found themselves sucked into the blogging vortex, I suggest they might want to give it up and begin writing for larger platforms that don’t require reciprocity (an exhausting aspect to blogging and a big drain on the writer’s energy and time)."

I found it interesting that Jane encouraged new writers to "forget" platform building and that L.L. Barkat thinks experienced writers should "steer clear" of blogging.

Overall, I'm sensing many industry professionals are coming to the realization that for fiction writers (whether beginner or old timer) blogging is time-consuming and doesn't drive book sales. While blogging can offer benefits, those benefits just don't seem to be outweighing the costs (of time and energy).

In fact, L.L. Barkat goes as far as to say: "Is blogging a waste of time? . . . For the experienced writer, my answer is yes … in 2013."

As a published author who's been blogging since 2009, I thought I'd throw my opinions into the mix.

Has blogging been a waste of time for me?

Yes, when I was blogging five days a week, that was overkill. Even three days a week took more time than it was worth. Because not only do you have to write the posts and edit them, but you have to format them and find pictures. Then once the post goes live you want to be available to read comments and respond to questions. (And early in blogging, as Barkat mentioned above, the whole reciprocity aspect takes tons of time.)

Posting two days a week is manageable for me. I make it my priority to meet my daily word count goals first before working on blogging stuff. Blogging always takes a backseat to the real work of writing fiction.

Has blogging helped me in ANY way, even slightly?

It has NOT helped me sell significantly more books. Initially the large bulk of my sales came from the inroads made by my publisher's sales and marketing departments. Now that I have four books out, word of mouth from current fans is also helping to expand my readership.

Oh sure, occasionally I'll have a brand new blog reader tell me that they've purchased my book as a result of reading my blog. But it's only a scant handful compared with the bulk of the rest of my readers.

By and large, the most beneficial aspect of blogging has been the relationships I've been able to form with other writers. Although now that I don't have the time to give to the reciprocity aspect of blogging, I find that the relationships aren't as deep as I would ideally prefer.

Does blogging help me connect with fans?

At the beginning of 2013, I decided not to solely blog about writing, but instead to devote one of my two weekly posts toward readers. And while it's only been three months since I began the experiment, I've noticed that readers don't really stop by. Those who frequent my "reader" posts are still largely writers.

And yes, I make sure to let my readers know about my posts in a variety of places, particularly my Facebook page. But even with the encouragement to come over to my blog and chat, readers don't interact with the same openness they do over on Facebook.

So I would have to say that no, blogging hasn't helped me interact significantly more with my readers.

Should I throw in the towel on blogging and focus on other things?

For now, I'm not planning to give it up.

Elizabeth S. Craig also did a recent post on whether fiction writers should blog. And I liked her summary of it: "It's nice to have a home base on the web...a website, a blog, some place to hang your hat. Definitely a professional-sounding email address, at the very least."

I like having a place where I can "talk" about writing and reading and all of the things that happen in the industry. I appreciate being able to share the writing experience with others. And I also like having that home base where readers can come if they want to.

So if I ever feel like giving up on blogging, I'd probably cut back to once a week first. But for now I'm continuing with twice.

What do you think? Did you read any of the above articles on blogging that I cited? Do you think the importance of blogging has diminished over the past year or two? How are you feeling about blogging lately?

The BIG Question: What Should Fiction Writers Blog About?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Social media is constantly changing and evolving. One of the things that is changing is the nature of blogging for fiction-writers. Many are coming to the conclusion that blogging doesn't build a large platform for novelists, particularly before publication.

That raises the question, "Should fiction writers blog at all? Why bother?"

Well, I for one don't think we have to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Yes, I still think blogging can have a role in a fiction writer's career. It can still be beneficial in many ways. Here are the top two benefits:

First, blogging can help us build friendships, a team of people who can support us through the ups and downs of the writing life. Those friends will usually become some of our strongest supporters during publication and beyond.

Second, blogs can serve as a home base for unpublished writers who aren't quite ready to put the time and money into a website. If agents, editors, or other professionals want to find out more about us, we will at the very least have a page with a professional-looking picture and our contact information.

Yes, blogging has many other benefits as well. But . . . fiction-writers need to be careful about how much time and energy they're pouring into blogging. Writing our books and stories always needs to stay paramount, because those are the things that build a readership, not blogging.

Fiction writers who take the plunge into blogging invariably grapple with the question: What should I blog about?

I'm of the opinion that there really isn't a right or wrong choice regarding WHAT a writer blogs about. I don't think WHAT we blog about is as important as HOW we blog.

What do I mean?

I mean, blogging is a lot like crafting a novel. Some writers can take any setting or idea and can craft an exciting, enchanting, and endearing story from it. Other writers can take the same basic setting and plot and put us to sleep with their story.

No matter the medium (books or blogs), we have the power to shape words so that we grip our readers. Or we can bore them to tears.

So how do we take ANY subject and make it gripping enough for a book OR blog? Here are a few things I consider:

1. Write about something that elicits passion inside of us. If there's a niche, topic, or subject of expertise that we love, then we should go for it. When we LOVE something, that tends to come through to our readers versus writing about something that excites about as much as scrubbing a toilet.

On the other hand, if we don't have a niche or area of expertise, then we shouldn't worry. We can keep a running list of ideas that interest us and draw from that. We should approach idea-hunting for blogging the same way we do with our stories: view the world through writer eyes, see things others don't, take notes, and keep a growing list of possibilities.

2. Balance our passion with something that also interests potential readers. Yes, we want to write about things that get us excited. But . . . we have to continually keep in mind what our readers will want and need. This is a fine skill to learn with our stories and one I think we can also attempt to do in our blogging.

Again, I think we can take any subject and turn it into something that can elicit pondering, discussion, and even debate. Perhaps we'll encourage, motivate, or inspire our readers. The point is that we have to connect with our readers on some level. Otherwise, our blog simply becomes a personal journal.

3. Say it with our unique voice. We can't stop with putting our passion together with reader interest. We have to take the next step, and that is to find our unique writing voice. I personally think blogging is a great place to experiment with our voice, to try different ways of writing and expressing ourselves until something begins to click and feel natural.

So what should fiction writers blog about?

Anything goes. Write about your writing journey, your family, your interests, things you're thinking about, issues that bother you. Dig deep. Discover what makes you tick. And then share it in such a way that is worth reading.

The above saying by Robert Frost is so true: No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.

Ultimately, good writing has to move US before it can move our READERS.

Have you struggled with WHAT to write about on your blog? What are you currently writing about? Are you taking into consideration HOW you're shaping your words?

Is Blogging Important for Novelists Considering Self-Publishing?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Lately I've hosted quite a bit of discussion here on my blog about the issue of blogging and platform for fiction writers, specifically whether it's a time-suck and whether agents and editors require it. My agent had a post yesterday that continued her thoughts about whether all authors should blog.

In the ever-changing publishing industry, it really should come as no surprise that the nature and need for blogging is changing too. We've learned a lot about social media over the past several years, and the bottom line is that social media, blogging in particular, doesn't significantly impact whether a novelist is going to find success with his or her books.

I'm traditionally published and I've come to the conclusion based on my own experience as well as through observing others, that one great book after another builds a successful platform for a novelist, not blogging. (That's NOT to say blogging is useless. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Blogging CAN serve many purposes and has many benefits. It's just not going to tip the sale's scale too far.)

But what about fiction writers considering self-publishing? Do they need to work harder at blogging and building a platform? After all, they don't have traditional marketing dollars to help spotlight their books. Should they develop a pre-existing platform before self-publishing? Are they doomed to obscurity if they choose not to blog?

In order to get an answers to my questions, I turned to a successfully self-published author Addison Moore. I've been friends with Addison for a number of years before either one of us were agented or published. While both of us have chosen different publishing paths, we're still friends and it's been exciting to see where our writing careers have taken us.

Addison started independently publishing her books in March of 2011 with her first book ETHEREAL (Celestra Series Book 1). In May, she released her second book TREMBLE, and then by July she had two different producers interested in turning Celestra into a TV series. She opted to go with 20th Century Fox. Currently she has eight books available with a few scheduled to release before the holidays.

Her latest release, TOXIC, is ranked within the top 400 on Amazon's best seller list for Kindle. Although I'm not at liberty to share specifics on her sales statistics, I can say the numbers she shared with me are astronomically enviable.

I asked Addison a few questions about platform, namely if it's helped her to achieve her success.  

First I wanted to know whether she thought novelist considering self-publishing needed to put time a lot of time into developing a blog or platform.

Addison answered with this: "For a writer considering blogging each day, I would say don't do it. Utilize your time writing and producing interesting and exciting books. Keep the blog current but don't become a slave to blogging. Your time is better spent writing your next great novel."

She also said: "I find that most of my readers don't have blogger accounts and it makes commenting difficult so I rely heavily on facebook for communicating with readers. I use my blog as a home base where readers can come and learn more about my books or read extra's that I've written. But overall facebook is a far more fluid venue for creating interpersonal relationships with readers."

I also asked Addison what role social media has played in contributing to her success (if any).

She only posts on her blog about once a week in a post she calls "Teaser Tuesday" in which she shares excerpts from her upcoming books. I don't see her much on Twitter. As mentioned above, she interacts with her readers mostly on Facebook.

Her OWN social media efforts were NOT what lead to her success. Rather it was the WORD OF MOUTH of her readers "via their blog’s, their generous facebook shout-outs, and twitter recommendations. Pixel of Ink picked it up in April of 2011 and they have a huge social media following via facebook, twitter and their own blog. They lifted the series off the ground a few times due to their incredible subscriber base."

In other words, Addison didn't have an enormous pre-existing blogging or social media platform that rocketed her into the spotlight. Instead readers enjoyed her books and naturally spread the word so that her popularity continued to grow.

Finally, I asked Addison what she considered the most important factor(s) in her books becoming popular and selling well.

She answered that "the most vital role in the series success was the low price of the first book. For over a year ETHEREAL was .99 and currently the book is free." She also offered this advice to anyone considering self-publishing: "Get a very good editor or two."

My Summary: I think it's really important for fiction writers whether traditionally published or self-published to keep blogging in perspective. The ingredients that make a book take off are a fantastic, compelling book and word of mouth by readers who are excited about that book. BLOGGING doesn't significantly sell more books. Great BOOKS sell more books.

So what do you think? Are you surprised by anything Addison said? Do you think blogging and developing a platform are more important for self-published writers? Or do you think it comes down to the book itself no matter which publishing route a writer chooses?

A HUGE thank you to Addison Moore for taking the time to enlighten us regarding blogging and social media for self-publishing writers. You can find out more about Addison on Facebook or her Blog.

Do Agents and Editors Expect Novelists to Blog?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

How important is blogging for fiction-writers? Many of us are trying to sort out what role—if any—blogging should play in a novelist's career. Just last week I had a post, "Is Blogging a Time-Suck For Writers," which generated some thoughtful discussion about the issue.

During all the debating around cyberland (both on my blog and others), I heard a number of writers say: I'm blogging because agents/editors expect it of us. Or agents/editors still pay attention to whether or not you blog and how many people visit and follow you. Or agents/editors continue to look for a strong online presence when contemplating contracting with an author.

Such statements didn't ring true with me. But instead of writing a post full of my own assumptions, I decided to go directly to the two people who could give me straight answers: my agent Rachelle Gardner, and Dave Long, the senior acquisition editor for my publisher Bethany House.

I wanted to find out if agents/editors really are placing a heavy emphasis on blogging and platform-building for fiction-writers, or if we're worrying needlessly. Are they putting the pressure on writers, or are we putting the pressure on ourselves?

I asked them both the same questions: How much attention do you pay to blogs/platforms of fiction writers? Does it have any bearing on whether you sign on a new author?

Rachelle Gardner's answer:

For fiction authors, I don't take their blog platform into account at all. It really is all about the book, and their overall writing experience and potential. I can help an author build a platform and market their books, and so can the publisher. But I can't really help them write a great book - they need to already be doing that before they come to me. I'll certainly have a discussion with a potential client about the need to participate in promoting their work, and if they don't have a blog, I won't necessarily even try to talk them into starting one. We'll talk about various ways to promote books.

The most important thing for me is the quality and saleability of the book the author is pitching; and I also want to see that it isn't their very first book, that perhaps they've written others (marketable or not) so I'll have confidence they can write more.

Dave Long's answer:

Platform gets thrown around a lot. It’s something we’re aware of, but it’s not #1 on our “needs.” #1 is a great story we believe in, hopefully in a genre we can sell.

That said, we obviously hope for authors who understand and can use social media at least somewhat effectively. Facebook, Twitter, a blog. Something. But for true fiction writers (not music stars “writing” a novel or non-fiction authors “co-writing a novel) platform and brand are almost always going to be built around the books. Stories that deliver, time and again.

It’s tougher and tougher for new writers to find something worthwhile to blog about. There are lots of writing blogs out there and most novelists don’t write fiction that translates easily to a non-fiction oriented blog. So unless an author had a good idea for a new blog, I don’t know that I’d push them that way at the moment. Six years ago? Probably. It’s simply more time intensive than Facebook/Twitter. (This is for new bloggers. If you’ve got something that’s working…that’s a different question.)

I think it’s easy to overstate the impact of an author’s reach though. We can all compare numbers. 3000 friends is obviously better than 50 friends…but once you reach a certain threshold there’s a tendency to plateau. And, perhaps I’m wrong but I don’t know that there’s all that much difference between 2000 or 4000 or 6000 in terms of being able to move a needle. 70,000? Sure. 250,000 contacts? Absolutely. But those numbers are obviously rare.

Again, I’m not dismissing 2000 friends. Or 6000. That’s great. What’s most important is that, authors with the ability/interest find an authentic way to interact with the friends/family/readers who want to engage them. And then hopefully the books deliver and the brand builds and who knows where you’ll end up five books down the road!


A BIG thank you to both Dave and Rachelle for taking the time to enlighten us. I think I can safely summarize both of them by saying, while fiction writers shouldn't ignore social media, they should focus first and foremost on writing great books. 

So, what do you think? Did Rachelle and Dave's answers surprise you? Have you been putting too much pressure on yourself to blog at the expense of writing your books?

*Photo Credit: Flickr foxtongue
 

Is Blogging a Time-Suck for Writers?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Last week my agent, Rachelle Gardner, had a post called "Who Needs a Platform?" After reading the post, I glanced at the first comment and was surprised to see James Scott Bell's name there.

Since Bell is someone I really admire and whose writing craft books I've devoured, I had to read his comment regarding building a platform. Of what he said, this stood out: "Don’t pressure new fiction writers to be doing all those things that were fashionable in 2007. Especially starting a blog, which is the biggest time suck for the smallest return known to man. Encourage them to work at their craft and publish." (Emphasis mine)

(Sidenote: Notice Bell said fiction writers. Platform-building and blogging for non-fiction writers is an entirely different topic and is of much greater importance. This post is geared to fiction-writers.)

To be honest, I was taken aback by Bell's comment. But he definitely gave me food for thought. It led me to re-read a post I wrote this past summer: Does Social Media Really Help With Success?

I said this: "In all the social media hype over the past couple years, have we elevated its importance too high? Does social media really give a boost to an author's sales, land them on best seller lists, get them bigger publishing deals, or turn them into national celebrities? After several years and several books, I've decided that even though my social media presence is fairly strong, it has NOT been the most significant factor in my success."

So on the one hand, I tend to agree with Bell's comment. We shouldn't be laying such a heavy burden on fiction writers with social media, that writing excellent fiction is what builds the brand of a novelist.

On the other hand, I'm not sure I agree that blogging is "the biggest time suck for the smallest return known to man." Even if blogging hasn't been the most significant factor in my success, it has benefited my writing career in many ways. I can't easily quantify all of the ways, but I wouldn't be where I'm at without it.

But . . . I can definitely understand why Bell says blogging can be a time suck. I've been blogging for three years. And during that time, I've gone through several phases: 

1. Eager, excited beginning blogger who spends way too much time crafting blog posts and blog-hopping in order to build a following.

2. Burned-out blogger who realizes she's spending too much time on blogging at the expense of real writing time and other responsibilities, who then cuts back to a more manageable level.

3. Seasoned, realistic blogger who understands that consistent blogging is a lot of work, but cuts back again to find a balance in blogging so that the output in time equals the returns.

Let me repeat that last line, because ultimately I think it's a wise approach for fiction writers: Find a balance in blogging so that the output in time equals the returns. I actually think it's a good approach for all social media, but particularly for blogging.

Why spend hours and hours on something that isn't moving your career forward? On the other hand, for those who've found a niche and have an easier time building a following, the returns might be greater.

The bottom line is that the "returns" are going to look different for fiction writers depending on how we define it.

For some, the benefits of blogging are the relationships they build with other writers, because let's face it, most of us don't have real life friends who "get" our passion for writing.

For others, the return in blogging is in learning more about writing, networking with other writers (which could open doors), developing influencers, or gaining industry savvy.

Still others want to see increased sales as a direct result of blogging. They look closely at their statistics and how they can tempt visitors into buying their books. And by guest posting and doing interviews, they generate buzz for their book that wouldn't happen otherwise.

All of us have different reasons for blogging, derive varying benefits, and usually have a mixture of reasons for doing it. 

But the truth is, we can't spend more time on blogging than we're getting out of it. We have to keep it in its proper place in the scope of the writing life, otherwise it truly will become a time suck with little return value.

I continually evaluate the returns I'm getting out of blogging and weighing it against how much time I'm devoting. Even now after three years, I keep asking myself, is the amount of time I spend on blogging worth the effort?

Ultimately, we have to keep our stories the number one priority. Because for fiction writers, our books are what build our platforms. Slowly, over time, one good book after another is what helps our names and readerships to grow.

So, keep blogging in its proper place. And keep the main thing (writing), the main thing.

What do you think about Bell's comment? Do you agree that blogging is a big time suck with little returns? Or do you think that fiction writers can benefit from blogging? 

6 Ways to Beat the Blogging Blahs

We all go through times when we wake up in the morning, take one look at the clock, and pull the covers back over our heads wishing we could spend the day cocooned away from the world.

We have those days (or weeks!) when it’s hard enough to force ourselves out of bed, much less make ourselves sit down in front of our laptops and try to come up with something witty and interesting to say on our blogs.

Most of us have had the blogging blahs at one time or another, those times when we run out of things to say. Or if we have ideas, we feel like no one really cares what we say, so why bother.

Since consistency is important in building a web presence, how can we make it through those blah times? How can we persevere through the gloom to other side where everything is all sunshine and roses again?

1. Change our expectations. 

The fact is, once the initial newness and enthusiasm of blogging wears off, we go through an indefinite amount of time where blogging isn’t fun and games anymore and may never be again. All of us go through the reality phase, where we wake up and realize blogging isn’t as enjoyable as it was at the beginning. Suddenly blogging is the four-letter word—WORK.

2. Accept blogging as part of the job. 

So once we’re hit with the reality that blogging is actually WORK, then it’s time to just roll up our sleeves and treat it as part of the job responsibilities that come with being an author in the modern age.

We have to show up for our day-jobs whether we feel like it or not. In fact, we’re not only expected to show up, but we’re also expected to be there with a professional attitude and work diligently, every day, whether we’re in the mood or not. Professional writers should expect no less of themselves.

3. Change things up a bit. 

If we’re bored with our blogs, then chances are high that our readers will be too. Take some time to brainstorm and make a list of things we can do to change the tone. Write about something different. Have a guest poster. Be creative and do something fun. Post about something controversial. Stir up discussion.

4. Dig deeper within ourselves. 

I'm always on the lookout for ideas and posts that move me in some way. I figure if the topic is something that interests me, then I’ll be able to write about it with more passion and enthusiasm. If it’s not anything I care about, how can I expect to convey it in a way that will make my readers care?

5. Find a way to engage in community. 

Blogging is most fulfilling when we have people reading our blogs. If we’re pouring our hearts into our posts and not getting anyone reading or commenting, then it gets discouraging to want to keep at it. It’s at that point we have to ask ourselves, are we sitting back and waiting for others to reach out to us? Because you know, that rarely works in real life or online.

If we want to make friends, we usually have to make the first move and reach out the hand of friendship. When we begin to genuinely engage others, we’ll find them engaging us back.

6. Re-evaluate our blogging schedule or take a vacation. 

Rather than letting the blogging blahs derail us entirely, there may be times where we’ll need to step back, take a hard look at our schedules, and decide that it’s time for a change. I had to do that last fall when I decided to cut back from three days to two. Or we may need periodic breaks throughout the year. Everyone needs a vacation and writers do too—even from blogging.

So what about you? Have you ever hit the blogging blahs? What did you do to get yourself out of the slump?

How to Build a Blog Following From the Ground Up

If you’re a blogger, do you want to build your following?

I’m guessing that 99.9% of bloggers would answer that question with a resounding YES. Most of us check our stat counter and visitor statistics religiously. We keep track of every new follower and throw parties when we reach milestones (like 100 followers or 1000). And we have good or bad days depending upon the number of comments we get.

Okay, so maybe we’re not that bonkers over building our followings. But the fact is, whether we're a writer or not, we crave genuine connections on our blogs. We’re relational people. And so when we put ourselves out there, we long for a response, for someone to take notice, to care, to communicate back.

Recently I had a couple of emails asking me how I built my blog following, questions like:

“I hold your blog as one of the best examples out there. How do you do it? I find it extremely hard to generate content for my own blog. Do you have any advice for starting down the long road of building an online presence?”

“I hear people mention you and your success and how you had a built-in audience when you finally published your books. I was wondering if you had any tips for building a blog readership? How long had you been blogging before you got an agent and published your first books?”

So how did I do it? How did I build my blog following?

Of course, everyone’s blogging journey will be different (just like our writing journeys will be unique). But I think there are some basic principles that can help any blogger connect with other bloggers (and subsequently find more fulfillment in the blogging experience).

Here’s what I did early in my blogging career:

1. Start blogging well before publication. I began blogging months before I had an agent or book contract. Thus I had plenty of time to build genuine relationships. My followers didn’t have to worry that I was blogging to sell them anything.

2. Actively seek others out and mingle. I didn’t sit back and wait for people to come to me. I made a point of sticking out the hand of friendship to others. I followed the links of bloggers in comments of more popular blogs I was reading (especially people whose comments indicated they might be someone I’d like to get to know). I went to their sites, started reading their posts, and took the initiative.

3. Comment regularly. Whenever I visited a blog, I tried to leave a thoughtful comment that would let the person know I was genuinely interested in what they had to say. Over time, they would get to know me and often would come visit my blog in return.

4. Follow others generously. Most blogs I visited, I signed up to follow. I figured it was supportive to that blogger. And even if they didn’t follow me back, I still was getting my name and avatar into a variety of places where others might see me and follow the link back to my blog.

5. Schedule time for visiting other blogs. During my early blogging days, I’d allot 30 minutes to an hour for reading and commenting on other blogs. After I got busier, I’d usually try to reciprocate visits to those who regularly visited me, or new visitors, or hard core followers. The important thing was that I scheduled blog-hopping and made a point of keeping in contact with followers on a regular basis.

6. Post on your own blog consistently. I also tried to post interesting, thought-provoking, or helpful posts to my readers. I made sure people knew my schedule and I stayed consistent. I also have always kept my name, author photo, and contact information clearly visible. In other words, I’ve tried to maintain a professional but warm appeal to my blog.

So that’s my story for building my blog following. Of course, now that I’ve been blogging for a number of years and have built a solid foundation, the techniques I currently employ in my blogging are very different from when I first started (but that’s the making of a future post!).

How about you? What’s been the most difficult aspect for you as you’ve tried to build your blog following?

How Often Should Writers Blog?

Starting next week, I will be cutting back on blogging. I’ll be going from three days a week down to two. Instead of posting on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I’ll be moving to Tuesday and Thursdays.

Why? You may be asking. Why in the world would I cut back now when things are going well, when I have a large following, and when there’s been a recent splurge of posts talking about how important numbers are for a writer’s career ( here are a couple: Author Marketing & Platform & Numbers Are Our Friends) (see the bottom of this post for my brief opinion on the numbers issue).

Here’s a short list of reasons why I’m cutting back:

• I need to build some margin back into my life. I mentioned that one of the mistakes I’ve made in my journey to publication (here) is that I didn’t anticipate the increase in the workload. Over the past couple of years, my responsibilities have increased, but the time I can devote to my writing career hasn’t increased at the same pace. When I evaluated my writing schedule, I realized whittling off one blog post a week wouldn’t change things too drastically but would still aid in freeing up a little more of my time.

• I’ve built a solid team who has supported me. Now it’s my time to focus on supporting them. As I said in this post, The Purpose of Blogging for Fiction Writers, one of the primary benefits of blogging is gaining a network of other writers and readers who are excited about helping promote you and your books. I feel blessed to have those connections firmly in place. And while I don’t want to take friendships for granted, I also don’t need to start at ground zero anymore.

• I need to give more time to readers and most of them don’t hang out on blogs. My interaction with fans happens primarily through emails, facebook comments, and hand-written notes. Since interacting with readers is important to me too, I want to leave enough time to respond.

So, how often should writers blog? What really is the most effective way to build a solid blog following and increase our social media presence? And will cutting back hurt a writer’s efforts?

Of course, everyone will have different opinions on the matter, but here are a few of mine. (Please share yours in the comments!)

• Quality is more important than quantity. If we post every day but it’s fluff that doesn’t resonate with our readers, then we aren’t going to keep those readers coming back. People can tell when we take the time to craft a meaningful post or when we just throw something onto our blog because we have to, which often happens when we over-extend ourselves.

• Consistency counts. I’m far more likely to remember and interact with bloggers who are consistent as opposed to those who post or comment sporadically. Even if it’s once a week, consistency helps keep our name out there.

• Beginners will have to work harder to build relationships. Anytime we’re new (whether in blogging or real life situations), we'll have to make more of an effort to reach out and get to know people. It always takes a little more time and effort at the beginning. Once we’re more established, we find that we don’t need to expend the same energy anymore.

• And no, numbers don’t always tell the whole story, particularly with blogging which has an attrition rate. There are always followers who fall away, but then new ones swing by. So while I may have over 1500 followers, not all of them are active anymore. Likewise, I could have over a thousand visitors on a post, but only 25 comments. Thus, while numbers can give us an indication of how we’re doing, striving after them is a bit like chasing the wind.

My Summary: Each of us has to find a blogging schedule that works for us. We can’t get paranoid about the number of followers or the number of times we post. But instead, we can look for ways to reach out, make our posts resonate, and build genuine connections.

So what’s your opinion? Do you think that writers who post less frequently or even sporadically will have less success? Is there an optimal number of days writers should blog? Or are there other factors that contribute to a blog’s success besides how often we post?

The Purpose of Blogging for Fiction Writers

Over the past several months I’ve seen numerous posts around the blogosphere debating the issue of what fiction writers should blog about.

On one side, some say that fiction writers should NOT blog about “writing.” They encourage us to find out what our target fiction readers want to hear and gear our posts toward them. They believe that if we gear our blogs toward writers, then we’re missing out on our potential to connect with readers (particularly after publication).

On the other hand, some say if we’re passionate about writing, then why not share that love with others? Since we often can’t share the ups and downs of our unique writing journeys with real life friends, blogging provides an outlet for talking about writing and publication. Besides, we have a lot to learn from one another.

I haven’t jumped into the discussion because quite frankly I haven’t been sure who’s right. I guess I’ve always considered blogging to be individualistic and figured each person needs to find the niche that works for him or her. Of course, non-fiction writers really should have blogs geared to the topics and audiences of their books. And of course, there will always be the one-in-a-million blogger who has a unique voice and way of sharing that will make a name for themselves in blogging (like the Pioneer Woman).

But the majority of us are pretty average bloggers. So is there really a right or wrong way for fiction writers to approach blogging?

Sure, we can talk about attracting our genre readers before publication, but that’s very hard to do because we’re relatively unknown to readers. And we can talk about how we’re going to attract our readers after publication, but that’s hard too because when we’re a young author, we’re still mostly unknown.

The fact is, most readers aren’t flocking to their favorite authors' websites and reading them on a regular basis anyway. This might change for authors who eventually go on to be big time best sellers and have millions of readers. Perhaps then, we can expect that readers will seek us out on a more regular basis. But for now, I’m not expecting hoards of readers to wait with bated breath for every blog I post.

The more I’ve thought about the issue and evaluated my blogging experience, the more my opinion has evolved. Here’s my current philosophy—I believe one of the primary purposes of blogging for fiction writers is to develop a team or tribe, particularly before publication.

I found that through blogging I’ve made incredible connections, expanded my web presence, and developed a network of team players who are supportive, encouraging, and willing to help me out in numerous ways. During the releases of my books, my team has spread the word of my books in SO many more ways than I ever could have done on my own (which includes many of you—thank you!!).

When we blog authentically and relationally (meaning not all one-sided!), we will begin to build our teams. We develop friends who will go out of their way to promote us because we mutually care about each other and want each other to succeed.

In the scope of today’s crowded marketplace, I can’t emphasize enough just how much of a difference having a team has made in the promotion of my book. And I wouldn’t have had that team if it weren’t for my blogging.

So then, does it really matter what we blog about?

Yes and no. Yes, we want to attract team members. We want to refresh, encourage, and inspire them through our posts. Maybe we’ll make them think, or laugh, or cry. We want that give-and-take relationship that is a part of team-building.

But no. We are writers. We can take a dried worm and make it look good enough to eat. We can craft our words and posts in such a way that draws people—no matter what we’re talking about. Right?

What’s your opinion? Do you agree with my evolving philosophy that one of the primary purposes of blogging for fiction writers is in building a team? Do you think it matters what a writer blogs about?

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Mid-week blog tour stops:

Thurs. 10/13: I'm visiting on Karen Lange's blog and sharing a time management tip that has held me in good stead as a writer. (Plus a book giveaway!)

What Is a Blogger’s Role in Responding to Comments?

In the blogging world there are plenty of opinions and expectations about what equates appropriate and effective blogging. Even among blogging experts, the advice varies, the rules change, and the lines get blurry.

If you’re like me, you read contrasting posts, throw up your hands, and wonder what you really should be doing. You begin to doubt that all the time and effort you’re putting into blogging will pay off.

On the one hand, not having clear and concise parameters for blogging is a good thing. The lack of set “rules” allows each of us to shape our blogs into a unique reflection of who we are. The blogosphere would be downright boring if each of us were doing the same things.

But on the other hand, sometimes, we do need the voice of reason amidst the clamoring of opinions. We need reminders about what comprises good blogging etiquette, how to make our blogs more professional in appearance, and what we can do to meet reader needs.

I don’t claim to be a social media expert. I defer to others for that. But because I’ve been blogging for a while, I can share what’s worked for me and what hasn’t. So, today I’m going to attempt to answer Nina B’s questions about blogging comments. She asked: “What do you feel is the blogger's role in responding to comments? Do you think if a blogger rarely responds that people stop commenting?”

I’m sure we all have various opinions (or have heard experts give their opinions) about interacting within the comments of our blog posts. And as I said, the varied approaches is beneficial. The differences keep our blogs from being robotic copy-cats.

However, in thinking about a blogger’s responsibilities with responding to blog comments, I would offer these three gentle pieces of advice:

1. Let go of the pressure to have to respond to each comment.

Let’s face it, most of us don’t have the time to respond back to each comment. Even if we do have the time, how do we find interesting things to say to each comment? How do we prevent our responses to everyone from looking like a checklist, like something we had to do instead of something we wanted to do?

Some comments have a “reply” function. The positive aspect is that a blogger can directly chat with specific people. The negative aspect is choosing whom to “talk” to without looking like you’re playing favorites.

My solution is to let go of the expectation of having to reply to every person. Most people don’t have the time to come back and read a response anyway. I never do when I leave a comment unless I ask a question.

2. Maintain visibility in one form or another.

So maybe we won’t write a personal comment to each person who stops by. But that doesn’t mean we should throw our post out there and disappear. If we never make an effort to interact or rarely respond, then yes, I do believe comments will decline. When we don’t show our visitors that we’re listening, they’ll stop talking and perhaps even cease coming.

I jump into the discussion when a comment strikes me with an additional thought. Even if I don’t have anything to add, I still try to make a comment once or twice throughout the day. This lets anyone who comes back know that I appreciate the input. And it lets future commentors know that I’m reading and available.

Also, I always make a point of answering questions. Even if I don’t have the answer or if I decide to use the question for a future blog post, I leave a responding comment to that effect.

Sometimes, if the person has an email address in their blog link (which everyone SHOULD have!), I’ll shoot them a quick note. Other times, I’ll check in with them on twitter and let them know my thoughts on their comment.

3. Be thoughtful and genuine in our interactions.

In a perfect blogging world, we’d all have the time to chat back and forth with each other in the comments. But since our time is limited and we want to be good stewards of the actual writing time we have, we can’t expect to keep up with leaving comments for everyone.

However, we can always attempt maintain a genuinely friendly, kind, and thoughtful attitude among the interactions we do have. The inviting atmosphere of our blogs will make them attractive and keep people coming back.

It boils down to remembering that each person who comments is a real person, with real dreams and aspirations just like me. No one is better than anyone else. We’re all in this together. I want to treat others the way I like being treated--with respect and kindness.

What’s your opinion? Is there a right or wrong way interact within blog comments? How do you handle responding to comments on your blog?

Why Staying Silent Can Cost You

I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon in blogging. Over time, my number of unique visitors has increased, but the number of people leaving comments hasn’t gone up in the same proportion.

From time to time, I’ll chat with people via an email or twitter and discover they follow my blog but have never left a comment. Or occasionally someone will leave a comment and say something like, “I’ve been reading your blog for a while, and this is the first time I’ve commented.”

I’m sure the reasons vary from person to person for why they don’t leave blog comments. But to satisfy my curiosity, I decided to take a Facebook poll.

Here were the choices in answer to the question “If you read blog posts and do NOT leave comments, what's your MAIN reason for staying silent?”

• Have nothing new to add to what others have already said

• Too busy/Not enough time

• The post didn't resonate/wasn't engaging enough

• Too many comments already/blogger seems untouchable because of popularity

• Don't know much about the subject

• If I read, I always comment

• Too shy to comment

• Prefer reading blogs for information rather for socializing

I thought for sure the main answer would be that people are just too busy. But I was surprised to discover the top reason the majority (48%) of people don’t leave comments is because they have nothing new to add to what others have already said. Only 17% answered that they’re too busy. (Hop over to my FB page, scroll down to check out the rest of the results, and make sure you click on the question itself to see all of the options.)

Not commenting because of lack of time is one thing—it can be a valid excuse. But if we have time and don’t comment because we have nothing new to say, that’s another issue altogether. It’s an excuse I would encourage all of us to toss out and here’s why:

We’re writers. It’s our job to find things to “say.”

Blogging is a great way to hone our writing skills, learn to write tightly, and get initial feedback on our writing. When we write our posts AND comments, we learn how to think quickly, formulate our thoughts coherently, and share our opinions succinctly. All of that practice can translate over into our books.

Besides, if someone else has already left a comment saying what we would have, then it’s great practice for us to find a way to put a new spin on the thought, delve a little deeper, and add our unique twist. Once again, the practice can help us in doing the same in our books.

In the blogging world, it’s okay to keep our comments simple.

When a post hits home, bloggers tend to leave longer comments—which is great and I love when that happens. But just because the post resonated with some people and they pour out their hearts into their comments, doesn’t mean everyone has to leave a long comment every time.

In fact, sometimes it’s okay to say just a few words, to keep it brief, and to say something like, “I agree” or “Thanks for the tips.” Of course, it’s ideal when a blogger can pick out something specific within the post to comment about. But most of the time it’s better to say something small, than to say nothing at all, because . . .

When we don’t join in the discussion, our silence could hurt our blogging efforts.

If we're actively trying to build up our blog followings, then neglecting to comment could hurt our efforts. When we leave a comment, we’re spreading our social presence. Others will begin to see our names and pictures around cyberland. Not only does the blogger get to know us, but other commenters will begin to recognize us and our names as well.

Many times, those bloggers will reciprocate visits and followings. When they see us often enough, they may follow the comment link back to our blogs (which is why it’s important to leave your link within your username!) Early in my blogging career, I found leaving comments to be one of the best ways to meet new people and gain new followers.

My Summary: If we’re actively seeking to build our platforms and broaden our online presence, then staying silent on social media sites is NOT the best strategy. Instead, we should look for ways to get off the sidelines and join in the discussion. We make our names more visible, people begin to recognize us, and we get to know others more personally.

What about you? If you don’t leave blog comments, what’s your main reason from those listed above? And if you do comment regularly, how has commenting benefitted you?

3 Tips For Finding Something To Say When You're Out of Ideas

I was recently browsing through one of my Twitter columns, looking at all of the great writing links. And I couldn’t help thinking, with all the information out there, what do I have to contribute that’s different from what others are already saying?

There are over 200,000,000 blogs. What could I possibly have to say that hasn’t been said?

Whenever I do a post about blogging, I hear comments like, “I’ve run out of things to say” or “I don’t know what to blog about” or “I’m still trying to figure out the direction to take my blog.”

The bottom line is that most of us struggle with what to say on our blogs. How do we keep on coming up with interesting posts, day in and day out?

I think the blogging dilemma is similar to what happens when we write our books. There are millions of books out there. If we come up with a unique plot or character or conflict—chances are high that someone else has already used them at some point or another.

How do we come up with a book (no matter the genre) that is completely different from something anyone, anywhere has ever written? That’s pretty tough to do. Maybe we can come up with a really “unique” story for our first book. Maybe our second, even our third. But then what?

I’m currently working on writing the third book of my 3-Book contract. After I turn in my completed manuscript to my publisher, I’ll need to come up with ideas for my next proposal. Likely, I’ll try to find at least three more book ideas with the hope that my publisher will offer me another 3-Book contract.

As I’ve started thinking about future book ideas, and as I try to find settings or plots that haven’t been used, I realize that most topics have already been covered. How then can I hope to write books that are different from the masses already out there?

With books and with blogging, we struggle to find unique content. Sure, we should keep striving to find brand new ideas. But even when we do find something, we likely won’t be the first to tackle the topic. So then what? Do we quit blogging? Stop writing?

Of course not. But we may need to adjust how we view the whole process of coming up with ideas. Here are three methods I employ for my writing and blogging:

1. Look for a fresh spin.

Maybe a thousand people have already blogged about the query system. I could have added to the masses with a simple post about the pros and cons of querying or how to write a query letter. But I decided to take a new twist: Is the Query System Dying?

We can take familiar topics but look for new angles, dig deep for the controversy, seek out the conversation starters, find the specific areas where we’re struggling (because it’s likely others are struggling too).

2. Tell it from your unique perspective.

Uniqueness doesn’t depend on content so much as voice. We could take any old topic and make it into something different simply by telling the post or story through our distinct and colorful inflections, experiences, personality, life-experiences, beliefs, and style.

I could list examples of many bloggers who write with distinct voices. One example is Paul Greci on his blog Northwriter. He’s an avid outdoorsman living in Alaska and his posts reflect his unique life experiences.

I believe voice is simply a compilation of all the things that make us a unique individual. When we dig deep and find out who we are, then we can strip away the facades and write from our inner core.

3. Unleash your creativity.

Sometimes we get into the habit of writing in a box—we get stuck in the same old patterns. We need to give ourselves permission try new techniques, brainstorm, go further into the recesses of our minds.

Clichéd writing happens most often when we move too quickly and haphazardly through our writing time. When I’m struggling to find something creative, the first few things that come to my mind are usually clichés. If I reject them and search harder, that’s when I move into a more creative mindset.

Have you ever struggled to come up with interesting post ideas? What about trying to find unique content for your books? Is it really possible to find new ideas or is it more about we present them?

5 Ways to Persevere Through Blogging Slumps

Anyone who’s blogged long enough will eventually hit a slump—a point where we get tired of blogging and wonder if we should quit.

Perhaps we're weary of the hard work regular posting requires. Maybe we can’t think of anything interesting to say anymore. We may even decide blogging is an emotional and physical drain.

Whatever the case, we all hit slumps. I have. I’ve thought of giving up more than once. And I’ve talked to plenty of other bloggers who’ve experienced blogging-fatigue too.

However, if we give in to the fatigue and fall away after putting effort into establishing a foundation of followers, we’ll make more work for ourselves in the long run. When we decide to pick back up again, we'll likely have to start over rebuilding all we lost.

In all reality, the best thing for writers hoping to use blogging as a platform is to persevere through the slumps. But how can we keep at it, especially when we’re burned out, have nothing to say, or just are plain sick of blogging?

Here are five methods I use to persevere through my blogging slumps:

1. Set a blog schedule and stick to it.

I made a decision to blog three times a week. I picked specific days of the week along with a set time. Then rain or shine, I stick to the schedule. Your plan doesn’t have to look like mine. You might blog on Tuesdays and Thursdays, twice a week. Maybe you’ll blog only once per week (I don’t recommend going much less than that). The key is finding something that works.

When we have a plan, we’re more likely to stay on track than if we leave our blogging to whim. (And actually the same thing is true of our daily or weekly writing schedule!) In fact, we can view our blog as part of the job of having a professional writing career. When it’s time to work, we show up.

2. Keep an “Ideas File.”

I have a blog notebook. Every time I run across an idea for a post, I jot it down. I brainstorm post ideas when I’m fixing a meal or cleaning the toilet and scribble thoughts in my notebook. I also have an email folder. I toss blog questions, interesting comments, emails, or anything that could generate a post into that file.

I’ve also realized that in order to generate relevant posts, I need to keep up with what’s going on in the publishing industry. When I see interesting facts or opinions, I use my blog as a place to try to understand how I feel about the issues—knowing others are likely to feel the same way.

3. Write posts ahead and schedule them.

As part of my Saturday writing time, I block out some time for working on blog posts for the upcoming week. I write them in a Word document, save them on my hard drive. Then I copy and paste them into a blog post. I’ve found this method allows for more flexibility and protection.

Once I have the three posts written and edited, then I schedule them all out for the week so that they automatically post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 6:00 am. This allows me to take the time during the week to respond to comments and focus on other social media efforts, rather than scrambling at the last minute to write a post.

4. Take mini-breaks from time to time.

We all need vacations from our work. Instead of allowing ourselves to get to a point where we feel like giving up, we should build in breaks to prevent some of the intense burnout.

I usually take my breaks around American holidays—Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July, etc. I’ve found that when I take the time off, I come back with renewed energy. We can even use those breaks to re-evaluate the direction we want to go with our blogs, what we hope to accomplish, etc.

5. Remind ourselves that the effort will pay off.

Sometimes none of the above helps, especially during times when we’re particularly tired or overwhelmed. It’s then I remind myself I made a commitment to having a professional writing career and that blogging is just part of the job. I tell myself it’s not going to be easy, that it’s a lot of hard work, and that I can’t quit just because I’m having a bad week.

And even though blogging won’t always be fun or easy, the rewards are countless. I recently got an email from writer Tonya VanWinkle. She said she'd stumbled upon my blog, found helpful information in various posts, and liked the sidebar photos of readers holding my book.

Then Tonya said this: "I would read your blog posts you would say something or ask a question that made me think . . . It is because of your responses to me, your ability to connect with your readers and fellow writers that made me think, I should really read her book. It wasn't the normal things like the cover, the blurb, the 1st sentence, the reviews...it was you. All you. I hope and I pray that as you continue to grow and write that you will keep that connection strong, because I believe it will take you far."

Your turn! Have you ever been tempted to quit blogging during a slump? What are some things you do to push yourself through those slumps?

Is Blogging On the Way Up or Down?

Is blogging dying? Lately, I’ve read a couple of posts that have discussed this issue. At the same time, I’ve also read posts that claim the number of people blogging has increased.

So which is it—is blogging on the way up or down?

While no one really has a definitive answer to the question, I’ve begun pondering the issue for myself.

Here’s what I’ve finally decided: Yes, there are indeed some changes effecting blogging partly having to do with the growing popularity of Twitter. But I have also noticed that for many people blogging tends to be cyclical.

The Twitter Effect: As more and more bloggers have started using Twitter, we’ve found we can stay connected with each other in a faster, easier, and less time-consuming way. There’s a growing trend of leaving fewer comments on blogs, and instead retweeting posts that are helpful. There may even be a new trend of discussing posts on twitter (versus the comment section).

And while the Twitter Effect may have something to do with the changing nature of blogging, I also believe that the cyclical nature of blogging has more to do with the ebb and flow.

The Cyclical Blogging Effect:

• New Phase: We start out blogging with lots of energy and excitement. We try to do all the right things—visit other blogs, leave comments, interact with those coming to our blogs. We’re having fun meeting new people. And we find incredible satisfaction in connecting with others through the written words of our posts.

• Reality Phase: The newness fades. We realize coming up with interesting and creative posts is hard work, visiting all those other blogs is time-consuming, and growing our blog requires a lot of dedication. We may even struggle to find our blogging voice.

• Cut-Back Phase: We’ve dedicated time and effort to our blog. But we see that other things (like our writing time or family) are suffering because of the energy we’re putting into our blog. We begin to question whether blogging is really going to help us develop a platform. So, we decide to post less frequently and concentrate on other things.

• Burn-Out Phase: We’ve been blogging for a while. Perhaps we’ve made solid connections and the numbers of followers has steadily increased. But the pressure to keep going day after day is just wearing on us. Maybe we don’t feel like we have anything to say anymore. Perhaps we’ve even begun to feel like blogging is a weight around our necks pulling us under.

• Longevity Phase: We’ve weathered the other phases. We’ve determined to put our heads down and keep blogging. In fact, we realize the longer we’ve been doing it, the easier it’s become to write our posts. We’ve lost our fear of having to be perfect. And we understand that our blog has become something bigger than ourselves.

One by one, bloggers drop out of blogging land. Some only make it through one or two of the phases. Others stick with it until they’re burned out. And even fewer hang around for the long haul.

How do certain bloggers make it through all the phases and end up blogging long term? That’s fodder for another post on another day.

Today, I want to go back to the question I raised at the beginning: Is blogging dying?

My conclusion: Within social media, things will always be changing. New forums will pop up. Old ones will pass away. As writers, we need to be flexible and savvy.

But I don’t think blogging is dying just yet. Rather, it's cyclical. Individual bloggers come and go. New blogs burst bright and flaming on the horizon just as others are fading away.

I miss the “old-timers” who used to haunt my blog, those who’ve fallen away. But I continually see fresh faces, new bloggers who are excited about what lies ahead. I'm convinced blogging is still a viable way for writers to build a platform.

What do you think? First, do you agree with my conclusions about the nature of blogging—that while it might be changing (due to Twitter), it’s not necessarily dying but rather a cyclical fading in and out? And secondly, what blogging phase are you in? (And you can make up your own if none of mine describes you!)

How To Avoid Becoming Another Boring Writer's Blog

Writers serious about publication are urged to blog. But once we start, we often don’t know WHAT TO BLOG ABOUT. We struggle to find our BLOGGING FOCUS. We flounder to discover our BLOGGING VOICE (or identity, as my agent Rachelle Gardner put it so well in a recent post: What's Your Blog Identity?).

Because we’re confused, many of us end up mimicking what the majority of other writer-bloggers are doing. Since most writers blog about “writing” and dish out “writing advice,” new bloggers end up making writing the focus of their blogs too.

After all, if it’s working for others, why not do the same thing? If writing a post about Twitter mistakes or how to land an agent seems to draw readers to a blog, then why not try it too? Why not write about the things that attract readers, even if the subject has already been covered in a dozen ways in a dozen places?

Thus cyberland sees a steady stream of new writing-related blogs that add to the already over-saturated market. Yes, the industry is indeed filled with more writing blogs than a person could ever read.

So, what should a writer do? Should we steer clear of blogging about writing simply because there are already so many other blogs covering the same stuff?

As I’ve struggled to find my blogging focus and identity, I’ve realized that the primary reason I started blogging was to give public voice to the writer inside me. I wanted a place where I could “talk” about writing and the many struggles that accompany it. And I have the feeling many other writers feel the same way.

Because we’re passionate about writing and books, those topics naturally becomes the FOCUS of our blogs. We enjoy, even need, the outlet to discuss this important aspect of our lives. (As a side note, I think non-fiction writers should attempt to center their blogs around the topics of their books.)

But how can we stand out from the thousands of other writing blogs out there? How do we keep our blog posts from being a re-hashed, boring version of what someone else is doing? Here are just a few of my ideas:

1. Find our unique blogging voice.

Letting our uniqueness come through takes time and practice. We can try writing different ways—funny, inspiring, poetic, sassy, mother-like, or serious. When we experiment, over time we begin to see what we like best and what resonates with readers most.

2. Tell our own story.

We’re all so different, in such varying circumstances and situations. None of our writing journeys are the same. We should share about our writing experiences from our completely unique perspective with our gifted story-telling abilities.

3. Be creative.

We writers are creative-types, aren’t we? Does everyone need to have bullet points, numbered outlines, or bold sub-headings like good-old organized me? Or can we take information and display it in a variety of different and creative ways?

4. Let our passion show through.

The posts I enjoy writing the most are usually the ones that get the most comments. I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Readers can sense when we’re invested. As I plan out my posts, I try to think of topics that are burning inside me, things important to me, issues I’d like to discuss with others.

5. Write with the reader in mind.

Write for ourselves from the heart, but write for our readers from the head. We want our readers to “get” something every time they visit our blogs—wisdom, inspiration, encouragement, insight—something.

We can use the above principles to not only make our blogs stand out, but to also make our books stand out. With the millions of books out there, we have to work hard at writing in our unique voices, becoming good story-tellers, being creative, letting our passion fill the page, and writing with the reader in mind.

So, yes, there are thousands of blogs, the same way there are thousands of books competing for reader’s attention. And we just have to do the hard work of learning to stand out—with both our blogs and books.

What do you think? Are there too many writing-related blogs? Do you think it’s possible to have a blog that stands out (no matter the focus)? And if so, what other tips do you have?