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3 Reasons to Start Blogging Before a Book Contract

I don’t believe every writer needs to blog, especially unpublished writers. I’ve discussed my views on this in a previous post: How Important Is Blogging For Unpublished Writers. Of course, having a web presence is important in today’s media-oriented culture. But ultimately, every writer needs to find the social media presence that works best for them.

With that said, I do highly recommend blogging. And now that I’m on the other side of the publication mountain and hiking up a new cliff, I can honestly say, I’m really glad I have a blog AND that I started it months before getting a book contract.

I’ve noticed 3 huge benefits to having started a blog well in advance of publication:

1. We can network with genuineness.

When we begin blogging early (before getting a book contract), then we can form genuine friendships with other writers—without strings attached. If we wait to start networking until we have a book in the publication pipeline, we risk being perceived by others as self-serving, as using them and blogging simply for marketing. It would be somewhat like knocking on our neighbor’s door just when we need something, instead of because we truly care to know them.

Effective blogging isn’t about building our platform and marketing—although that can be an aspect. Like all the other social medias, blogging is most fulfilling and beneficial when we socialize with others (especially early in our blogging efforts). When we begin blogging well before publication, we’re able to relate with others without asking for anything but their friendship.

2. Our writing friends become our biggest supporters.

If we’ve made the effort to know others and form relationships through blogging, then those friends get excited for us when we succeed. They know how hard the journey is. They’ve watched us struggle along the way. And so when we have a moment of success, whether a contest final, landing an agent, or getting a book deal, they’re there cheering for us.

My blogging friends were some of the first to step up and offer to be Influencers for The Preacher’s Bride. They’ve helped spread the buzz, written reviews, and hosted me for interviews. They’re willing to go the extra mile because we laid the foundation for our relationships long before publication. We want to help each other because we care about each other and want to cheer each other on toward success.

3. We can save ourselves time and effort later.

I can honestly say I didn’t realize how much work and effort my writing career would require, especially the closer I got to the release of my first book. Recently, I’ve been juggling all of the marketing of The Preacher’s Bride—planning the launch party, writing up online interviews, doing giveaways, etc. Besides that, I’ve been in the middle of some very difficult rewrites for my second contracted book as well as the beginning stages of planning my third book.

While I still make it a priority to write up and post my blogs, I’ve had to temporarily let go of my ability to visit the blogs of friends. I try to pop in to various blogs on occasion, but because of the intensity of all that’s going on right now, I can’t socialize through blogging the way I could earlier in my writing career.

However, because I started blogging early enough, most blogging friends can extend grace to me right now and hopefully know I still care about them, but realize it’s almost physically impossible during this busy time to keep up with visiting. If I’d waited to start blogging until now . . . I shudder to think of the additional stress it could have involved.

~My Summary: If we’re considering blogging, we need to evaluate exactly when the right time is for us to plunge in. If we start too fast and furiously we risk burnout. But if we wait too long, we could lose out on the benefits I’ve listed above.

When do you think is a good time for writers to begin blogging? What are the other benefits to blogging early? And are there other drawbacks to starting a blog too close to publication?

The winner of last Friday's Release Party Giveaway is: Liza Carens Salerno. She wins a copy of The Preacher's Bride and a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Congratulations, Liza! Thanks to everyone for stopping by and joining in the party! Your warm wishes meant the world to me!

64 comments:

  1. I definitely think it's a good idea to start blogging way ahead of time. An editor that is considering my manuscript is now following my blog and sent me an email praising me fpr the platform I've built, and congratulating me for it's success due to it playing a major role in sales. She also said that she loves the writing I'm doing on my blog. I have a feeling, that me having the blog clinched her interest in my ms more than my query! So yes. Definitely BLOG!!! It DOES help!

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  2. I started blogging when the urge to write again struck. It's helped me form daily discipline, try some new things, find my voice, stick my stuff in public to see what happened. I'm not nearly as nauseous as I used to be when I hit publish. :)

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  3. You raise so many good points here, Jody. Blogging keeps our head in the writing game. It forces you to see the other talent out there and exposes you to tips and trends. The social support of other writers is unbelievable. The platform we build while blogging will hopefully serve us well, too. I can't imagine a writing life without the blogging component. Thanks for an excellent discussion!

    Marissa

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  4. If blogging's something a writer wants to do, then it's never too early to start. One of the benefits of blogging is the sense of community. If I didn't blog, going to the ACFW conference wouldn't be nearly as fun. In fact, it would be sort of scary because I wouldn't have known anyone. Insead, it felt like coming home, in a sense.

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  5. I couldn't imagine trying to navigate the social media waters with no online friends yet - after a book deal. That said, I also didn't start blogging as a beginner. I'd been writing a while. So there is a time and a place.

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  6. Great thoughts. Number two is most meaningful.

    Teresa

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  7. I can't imagine going through this process without the support of the friends I have made blogging. I know we all are cheering you on Jody and are very grateful for all your information and wisdom during your process. Blessings!

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  8. Ok, I just had a big ol' comment written and it said "service unavailable" when I hit enter. I'll spare the details this time and just give you the Reader's Digest Short & Condensed version, lol.

    I agree with you in that it is important to start blogging early on. There is so much help, guidance, encouragement, etc., "out there" from other bloggers, and that can be a big help.

    For myself, I am almost starting over with my blogging, after being on somewhat of a hiatus. It's hard because when I stopped writing my blog (though I was still posting book reviews), I lost most of my readers and comments. I find it discouraging, but I know that this is something I need to work at - re-establishing friendships, etc. It's just going to take time, but I also realize it's something I have to work at.

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  9. Oh Jody, I feel like a winner in so many ways. You have made my Monday...and my Monday blog post! (Check it out...a bit more publicity for you!!) Thank you so much, and again, accept my sincere congratulations on the publication of The Preacher's Bride!

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  10. I agree with blogging before you land a contract, or even before you land an agent. Through blogging, I've discovered tons of new friends (some who live in my city), and some have become beta readers and crit partners for me.

    The main thing is having a blog that people want to visit.

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  11. I started blogging when I began to query my first book. Now I'm on my third book and still have no representation, but the friendships I've made through blogging have helped me over all my humps of self-doubt. I don't know how well I'd carried on with my efforts if not for their support.

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  12. Another excellent post! I also wanted to mention that I *LOVE* the photostream in your sidebar. I can't imagine how that makes you feel to see all those people enjoying your novel. :)

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  13. Blogging is time consuming. So, you must schedule specific times to blog and then to write and then to let all other life events squeeze in. I use blogging as a form of jump starting my muse.

    I found you through Liza at Middle Passages. She wrote such a wonderful review of your blog and work that I had to add 'The Preachers Wife' to my TBR list and I had to come by and follow you.

    Nancy
    N. R. Williams, fantasy author

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  14. Sorry...The Preachers Bride. It's early.
    Nancy

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  15. You're SO right! Blogging friendships have become some of the best in my writing world too. I think I agree with all your points. I have nothing else to say - or add. Go figure. Me. Nothing to add. Wow. :)

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  16. This is so true!! I wish I had heard this advice before I'd even sent a query letter... it would've saved me a lot of time and worry! And, BTW, once I read your book (soon I hope!) I'll TOTALLY blog about it...

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  17. I have learned so much and become so much more focused through blogging, I would not be where I am now if I hadn't started. (Not that I'm anywhere all that exciting, but at least I feel I have a book that's worth submitting.) But you do have to keep it in control. I have certain hours set aside for blogging. If x: o'clock hits and I'm not done, too bad. I move on. I don't let myself get consumed by it.

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  18. I fought blogging with my phaser until two years ago. A friend said I needed a theme, so I thought I was off the hook until God hit me over the head with an idea. Since then, I've written about 240 posts. Sometimes it's the only writing I do, but it's kept me going.

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  19. I jumped in right when I was supposed to. I'm a long distance runner so, years later, I'm still not feeling burnt out. Going strong.

    So exciting all that's happening in your writing career, Jody. Can't wait to write up a review for your book!!!

    Sending love,
    Wendy

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  20. I think it's a great idea to start blogging early. Probably at least when you're completing a novel and getting ready to edit it (if you know you're going to submit it). However, there are so many things you can learn before that (like tidbits on craft and the industry) and connections you can make that even if you don't have a blog of your own, it's still beneficial to follow certain blogs.

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  21. If you’re going to blog start early for all the reasons you stated. For me is also helped me hone my writing skills by forcing me to write better from the get-go.

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  22. Jody..blogging early, that is before our book is published is a wonderful idea. It helps us build relationships with other writers, hone our writing skills as well as create a platform

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  23. I would also like to see a manual. It is hard for some authors to step into the blogging world and as a reviewer I cringe. If you are going to start blogging make sure you can commit to it and that you look to other successful direct peers to see what they are doing.

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  24. I think right now I'm blogging for support and hopefully the other stuff will come.

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  25. I didn't start my blog until after I got my contract - a year before my first book released. I wish I'd started earlier, if for no other reason than it took me over a year to hit my blogging stride, find my blogger voice, and settle on a routine - all while dealing with the insanity of two books releasing in one year. Also, when I got my contract, my on-line presence consisted of an e-mail address. No blog, no website, no Facebook. I'm sure that was a liability - even 2 years ago - when editors looked at my proposal. Today it would be a fatal error.

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  26. I have made several great writing buddies through blogging. And I'm looking forward to many more!

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  27. Love this post. You nailed it. I'm so glad I started blogging when I did. Hopefully, I'll be on that other side of publication soon, too, and I know I'm going to be happy to have already developed such great friendships and connections beforehand.

    Also, my agent has told me that having no online presence is getting to the point of being a dealbreaker for her when considering a new client (yes, even for fiction.) Because as you outlined, so much of marketing is online and is up to the author. Having a presence beforehand shows you're savvy and already ahead of the curve.

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  28. I think blogging is a great way for writers to put themselves out there and get a good web presence and friends out there. It's also helped me realize what it is I want to write about and how I want to go about doing it. I'm inspired on a daily basis by the other writers out there with whom I've made connections.

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  29. Before I started my own blog I spent several months reading others and learning something about the industry. I was a closet writer, so joining the online community was a big step. Now after two years I feel blessed by all my encounters. In addition to meeting wonderful new friends, receiving encouragement and sharing information, blogging also provides me with writing experience that is different from my novel writing. It's a little like having a chat over coffee versus giving a speech at a women's meeting. I've learned to open up more to my readers and I think that's a good thing.

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  30. I stumbled into the perfect time to start: two months before the agent and six before the book deal.

    If I had begun any sooner, I think I wold have been overwhelmed and discouraged or too wrapped up in blogging to give my writing the focus it needs.

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  31. Blogging also gives great writing practice. I am really enjoying it.

    BTW- Love the scrolling first sightings. FUNNY!!! :O)

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  32. To me, blogging is all about community. It's become vital to my writing life. I just love all the people!

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  33. I agree, Jody. And good luck with all you are juggling right now. :-)

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  34. These are three excellent points and a great blog as always. Oh, and by the way I spent all day yesterday glued to my couch reading this awesome book "The Preacher's Bride" :).

    I am going to have to disagree...somewhat. I feel that if you have a goal to become a career author, then you MUST blog. It is just part of the job description for the 21st Century Author. The competition is steep and publishing houses are shifting the greatest percentage of their marketing dollars behind their known brands...at the expense of the midlist author. New authors can expect less and less support as time goes on.

    A new writer now is competing against other new writers who have blogs. A debut author with no blog and no platform and no following is competing against writers like you. You even admitted that there were a lot of us bloggers who have stepped up to get out the word, promote, host blogs, give interviews.

    Now be a debut author who has no platform competing against a writer with your blogging platform. That is planning career suicide in my opinion.

    I feel that blogging will only get more and more important. In the early 90s could you get an office job with no computer skills? Sure. Now? No way. There are too many other people who know how to use Power Point, Excel and e-mail.

    There are many agencies now that will not even consider a new writer unless she can demonstrate a solid platform. But that is the writer who wants a career, :).

    There are a lot of people who write because they love to write, and blogging is of course optional.

    But, marketing is becoming more and more part of our job. I say start blogging early so you have time to build a following. As you said, it will take a heck of a lot of stress of you when that book comes out.

    Thanks for the great posts as always.

    Kristen Lamb

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  35. I've had a lot of new authors ask me for advice on how to get started with their blogs because their editors recommended they have a web presence. When they start late like that I've noticed they start in a rush to promote who they are and what their book is about. They forget to slow down and enjoy all that social media has to offer.

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  36. I have counseled many new writers to start a blog right away. It takes time to get into the swing of it and the information you glean is as good or better than any other resource.

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  37. I'm glad I started blogging when I did. I had more time to devote to blogging then, and I think it takes a lot of time to get a blog started. It's nice to have writing friends who stick with me now even though I've been a lousy blogger lately,

    And YAY for your release day, Jody!!! I will definitely be picking up a copy of THE PREACHERS BRIDE on my next bookstore trip!

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  38. I completely agree that it's important for an aspiring author to blog. I've learned so much from reading others' blogs. I recently started my own but I'm struggling with finding a focus. In the meantime, I'm continuing to make wonderful connections with other writers on their blogs.

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  39. Hi Jody -

    I'm looking forward to reading Preacher's Bride. Somehow I feel like a proud aunt because you've shared every step of your journey. :)

    I've made wonderful friends in the blogging and Facebook community. If I attended every writers conference offered, I wouldn't meet as many people as I have online.

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  40. Jody,
    I started blogging as a way to develop writing skills and, hopefully, bless others in the process. And I find I'm the one who received the blessing - having made such wonderful friends in the blogging community!
    Your points are spot on, as usual :)

    Susan

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  41. A confession.

    Jody you are the reason I started blogging. I stumbled across your blog over a year ago and loved the title reference to A Pilgrim's Progress, one of my favorite books. I said, "God I want to blog with a vision like that."

    You have been a inspiration and blessing. As I hold your book in my hands I'm in awe of how God chooses to work through His children!

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  42. You make some excellent points. I am one of those who got started blogging late. It wasn't that I was waiting for the time when my book would be published, etc. It was because I was uncomfortable. I figured people really wouldn't care what I had to say or worse, what would I say. I began with the idea of promoing because I was told that is what I was supposed to do. It has gone far beyond that. Sure, if someone buys a book, great, but this has become an entirely different world for me. I love reading blogs and commenting - when I can. I want to read the books of the authors who blogs I follow - because you have all become real to me and not a place to promote.

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  43. I wish I had known about the benefits of blogging earlier in my journey as an author. All three of your points are so valid. As they say, however, hing sight is always twenty-twenty, and 'its better late than never'.

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  44. Excellent post. I agree with everything you said.
    Take care and make sure to extend grace to yourself too. :-)

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  45. Drawback: In an attempt to become a name people recognize, you may neglect the manuscript(s) that are sitting on the same computer. What good is you writing blog if you do nothing about your actual writing?

    Positive: I can honestly say that I've learned more about the industry, the happy surprises, and the bitter truths, from blogs. The information is honest, valuable, and endless. And the people I've met, the excitement I feel when they succeed, well...a gift from God!

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  46. Thanks so much for sharing these thoughts on blogging. I just started one myself and am trying to get friends/family to visit the site, which they do but don't seem to understand "signing up" as a follower.

    Any recommendations?

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  47. I embrace every word of this post, Jody. Blogging has been a lifeline to me and my writing in ways I could not have imagined. I would have given up long ago - with a significantly weaker story than I have now - had it not been for the support and encouragement and resources found in our circle of bloggers.

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  48. I love blogging! I'm thrilled I started mine two years ago. I would have missed out on an amazing community of peers and expert advice from professionals had I not started my blog.

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  49. I had a variation on this conversation with a friend just last night. Although I agree with Kristen Lamb that a writer must blog (at least if they want to break out of the mid-list and have a career rather than just a book) I definitely agree with your statement that the time to start is before the book hits the pipeline.

    In addition to all the great points you made about the benefits of blogging early - and I agree with them all - I'd add that blogging helps a writer solidify certain aspects of tone and practice in short-form what novels require at length. Writers should practice the craft daily, and when editing, we often spend days or weeks working over old content instead of generating new. Blogging helps keep the wheels spinning and hones a skill that would otherwise sit unused, and that's as much a benefit as anything else.

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  50. I can't believe you can post 3 days a week on a regular basis. That is discipline my friend. the only thing I'm guaranteed to be able to do 3x a week is shower and have dirty dishes in the sink.

    Many congratulations on the debut novel! Hope you can take a moment to enjoy your achievement amid the chaos.
    smiles,suz

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  51. Lillian Laitman-McAnallay asked: I just started one myself and am trying to get friends/family to visit the site, which they do but don't seem to understand "signing up" as a follower. Any recommendations?

    My Answer: Hi Lillian!I think one of the best things we can do early on in blogging is be very generous with signing up to follow other blogs. Usually that generates a reciprocal follow back. Another thing that helped me early (in addition to liberally following other blogs) was commenting on blogs. Again, that will often generate that person coming over to your blog and meeting you. Now that isn't always the case. But as you get around more, you'll find writers that you relate to better and will grow closer to them. They'll likely become your closest followers and supporters. Hope that helps! :-)

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  52. This was a really great post, and I'm amazed by the relevancy of Item # 2 as I continue to blog and also make connections on Facebook and Twitter.

    Writing can be an isolating existence and having those all-important connections isn't just critical to our success, but our sanity!

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  53. Great post. I think it's good to have a blog and to set it up in advance of pursuing/getting a contract. I'm working on travel memoirs and recently set up my blog/site. With my book 75% finished, it seemed like the right time.

    I think it can benefit you in several ways--especially if you're utilizing all of the social networks to your advantage. For me, personally, I've learned a lot more about my target market than I would have learned without a blog/site. Most of this has come from twitter (via peers) and Facebook (via people within my target market).

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  54. Your list speaks to my situation exactly, as I am in the first steps to getting out the word of my nonfiction project. Thanks for your suggestions.

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  55. What a great post! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this.

    I do wish I'd started my blog earlier - already I am finding it hard to carve out the time to write a proper blog entry, and for me publication is still six months away!

    Good luck with everything!

    SJW

    http://sj-watson.blogspot.com/

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  56. Brilliant! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your wisdom - so many excellent articles here. Yes, the writing community surely is in its best time in history - the Internet allows us to network and learn about each other right at our fingertips.

    Sounds so cliche...

    Well, I don't care! It's TRUE, dammit! And we have marvelous YOU to help us navigate these waters. Thank you, Jody!

    Alice Clearman Fusco
    http://aliceclearman.blogspot.com/

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  57. dear jody,

    this is such good advice. learning how to
    say something as precisely as possible is
    only one of the valuable lessons learned
    in blogging.

    i never imagined that i would make
    FRIENDS here. i would have scoffed at
    that, but i have and have learned how to
    be a better friend, too.

    thank you for the great advice.

    blessings,
    lea

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  58. I have found that writing a blog entry each day helps me be succinct. The number of comments I get is a good grading system.

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  59. Jody, this is such a great post. I felt really good at the writing conference I went to because I'd started a blog and was able to introduce other writers I met to my voice that way. Reason #2 is the world to me right now. Having support from other people in the business is humbling and thrilling and just spectacular. It's so important to have those relationships in life where you'll get honest feedback and encouragement at the same time. Thanks for posting. Off to Retweet!

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  60. I have a question for whoever wants to answer. I hope I do not sound like too much of an idiot, but how do you build a community through a blog. I have not really spent much time reading blogs, but I am just finishing the final edits on my ms and have heard I need to start a blog. Any input would be appreciated.

    Thanks!

    Lisa

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  61. Hi Lisa,
    Oh you don't sound like an idiot! You asked a great question! Building community through blogging happens when you engage in conversations with other like-minded bloggers. That usually happens within the comments which means you have to visit blogs, leave comments, and really start to get to know people. It takes a lot of time and effort. I've also found that Twitter really helps continue those conversations as well. I would encourage you to read through more of my posts about building an online presence, social media, and blogging. Hope you'll find some more thoughts within those posts!

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  62. Hi Jody,

    Thank you so much for your response. I have really enjoyed what I have read on your blog so far. I am anxious to learn all I can about the world of blogging, publishing, etc. I just hope I haven't waited too long to start building my online presence.

    Thanks again and I am looking forward to getting to know all I can.

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  63. Kudos to you Jody!!!

    Thank you so much for this post. Even though I'm a bit behind the times (yikes!), I just found your blog post. It is something that has been plaguing me for some time: whether to build an online community before or after my book is released. I am about to release two of my ebooks, and though I have been posting blogs, I have kept a hidden presence in the writing community. You know, don't want to come off as too presumptious.... After reading your post here, and ALL the comments that have followed, I know that the sooner I get out there, the better!!

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  64. Kknight,

    Glad you found the post! And even better that it's giving you some good ideas for your online presence! I wish you all the best as you release your books!

    Jody

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