tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post7898833720539798040..comments2024-03-28T08:48:51.749-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: Is Blogging a Time-Suck for Writers?Jody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-22447473704079546162019-03-07T04:20:27.312-05:002019-03-07T04:20:27.312-05:00A blog can in like way be an other Information Por...A blog can in like way be an other Information Portal. <b><a href="http://pqpee.us/" rel="nofollow">Blogging </a></b>nickmiddleton010https://www.blogger.com/profile/16701534760902792410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-47130001211582776982012-11-03T04:46:12.577-04:002012-11-03T04:46:12.577-04:00Don't be pressured to share the most important...Don't be pressured to share the most important facts on your first paragraph. Build up the meat of your chosen story first and make your target readers want for more.technical translation serviceshttp://www.technicaltranslationservices.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-31069479832548177932012-10-15T18:38:28.932-04:002012-10-15T18:38:28.932-04:00The benefit, as you say, is in the relationships b...The benefit, as you say, is in the relationships built, and the back and forth learning that goes on between writers. My critique partners came via my blog. Now I am on line reading and learning about querying. I've cut way back on my blogging because I can't do it all, but I do believe there is value, I just don't believe that value will ultimately sell books. I agree with you. That's all in the writing!Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-67664330742614823912012-10-15T18:17:09.488-04:002012-10-15T18:17:09.488-04:00It's been one of those years. Every time I th...It's been one of those years. Every time I think I'm just about to get a break,life hands me yet another once-in-a-lifetime crisis. I'm about crisis-ed out. I haven't had the emotional energy to sustain a long fictional narrative, but I was able to sit down and slam out enough 500+ word blogs to call myself a blogger. I've networked with other bloggers when I didn't have enough time to network with other people in my life. My friends and family love me, but they really don't want to hear from me very early in the morning and very late at night. My blogger buddies don't care when I get around to reading their posts or commenting. They just appreciate the love.<br /><br />What blogging has done for me is to provide an opportunity to be a writer, without the pressure of having to sustain a coherent narrative for 75,000 or so words. Yes, I have to use good grammar, build characters,tell a story and communicate without "that" and to-be verbs dominating what I say, but I don't have to wake up tomorrow and pick up the thread of my story.<br /><br />Thank goodness I chose to blog about something besides writing or I would've really been out of luck, because no one would have wanted to read about my literary frustrations for months on end. However, blogging about travel has afforded me an enjoyable escape and my readership has grown steadily, if slowly.<br /><br />I think (I pray) the crises are past and nothing major will arrive on the horizon. I want to dig in and edit a completed novel, as well as start something new and fresh. I'm glad the emphasis on blogging for fiction writers has abated. I can ease off on the blogging and focus on the business of fiction without losing street creds with my fellow writers.<br /><br />Thanks for underling this trend in your post. I'd sensed this was the way things were going, but it was nice to have it confirmed by a pro like you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-39384718122611230632012-10-14T14:13:28.720-04:002012-10-14T14:13:28.720-04:00Good post! On the plus side, for writers like me w...Good post! On the plus side, for writers like me who are inconsistent in working on their projects, it gives me a short piece to sink my teeth into and grease the writing wheels. However I'm a nonfiction writer so my priorities might be different to those of a fiction writer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-36159018419167014082012-10-13T20:59:47.202-04:002012-10-13T20:59:47.202-04:00I think the broader question that James Scott Bell...I think the broader question that James Scott Bell raises about return on effort is as true for authors as it is for freelance publicists or in-house marketing mavins. It's a question that is asked all too infrequently. But in order to answer you you need to ask some very specific questions about what "returns" you mean and how you'll measure them. What does success look like? Peter Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05919783312967537402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-81431617560753248422012-10-13T15:08:51.316-04:002012-10-13T15:08:51.316-04:00Oh, Julia, I am such a fangirl of your blog. Not a...Oh, Julia, I am such a fangirl of your blog. Not a waste of time. Your ideas are as fresh as your voice. Other writers, I believe do themselves a disservice by pushing out sloppy work...the downside. I love your word nerd quizzes.Lara Britthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074379735801347854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-53052533716219399212012-10-13T14:48:02.141-04:002012-10-13T14:48:02.141-04:00Absolutely agree with Jessica & Cindy. Bloggin...Absolutely agree with Jessica & Cindy. Blogging is helping my writing in so many ways. I think it is vital in helping me make the transition from hobbyist to professional. I believe this is true no matter what brand of writer that you are. Very few of us will fit into neat little boxes especially at the onset of our careers when we are finding our voices, our niches and our audiences. That said, my blog/website is constantly evolving as I grow. I'm a big fan of Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn, and she indicates that her platform for writing services does not necessarily translate into sales for her fiction series. But I'm also thinking that it didn't hurt her in finding an agent. Not all rewards/benefits are easily traced to their causes. SoMe takes a more comprehensive analysis, perhaps.Lara Britthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074379735801347854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-9275013760154974572012-10-13T13:48:49.399-04:002012-10-13T13:48:49.399-04:00Blogging certainly can be a time suck, but that...Blogging certainly can be a time suck, but that's only problematic if it becomes the equivalent of sucking arsenic versus, say, a chocotini. In other words, for me, it is worth it as long as there is joy in it; with my site, writing posts is my way of sharing thoughts I've been having about my craft, and sharing opportunities with other writers that I can take advantage of myself. As a poet, my blog is the "cherry" to my poems' "chocotini." If, however, I started to dread it--if I wasn't able to write or submit poems because I was so busy figuring out my blog--then it becomes a craft killer ... the "arsenic" to my craft's "old lace." <br /><br />Thanks for this food for thought! (Er, no pun intended)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903355774364525437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-81744861062411705922012-10-13T13:24:49.331-04:002012-10-13T13:24:49.331-04:00yes and no; i'm a blogger, and every fiber in ...yes and no; i'm a blogger, and every fiber in my being likes to yak, in contemporary voice, literary voice, ya, ya -I'm working on novel now and cut back. But writing is writing, and I have great fun putting it out there. I've connected with wonderful writers, and I think social media if used to feed one's soul, not promote one's platform, is terrific, but PR is an aspect of writing. Nowadays the writer has to do everything. Sorry Gnathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05314151162104734712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-2247788887455510732012-10-12T07:12:37.951-04:002012-10-12T07:12:37.951-04:00I think that the great thing about blogging is tha...I think that the great thing about blogging is that it can change as we change and grow as writers and authors--that can't be said about many things. It can be what we whatever we want it to be. <br /><br />When our focus changes, our blog content changes. <br /><br />I think it is an invaluable tool for people just starting out, to learn the social media graces, to have a place to meet other writers and bloggers, and to be a landing pad for support for the journey.<br /><br />The question that I guess people are asking in this backlash against blogging, is how to turn it into an effective selling tool. And I'm not sure that it ever will be one--it's not designed to be a website, or twitter. And it doesn't need to be. <br /><br />It is what it is. :) <br /><br />I think you are spot on about making sure that the "output in time equals the returns." That's perfect. <br /><br />Thanks for the great post. :)<br /><br />(I found this post through twitter--which is how I get to most of the blog posts I read these days!) <br /><br />Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-86585992370099408042012-10-11T16:34:10.965-04:002012-10-11T16:34:10.965-04:00Great point, Vero! I love the idea of focusing on ...Great point, Vero! I love the idea of focusing on a couple of things and doing them well rather than spreading out too thin and doing a poor job at everything.Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-7555083408912173652012-10-11T04:43:16.878-04:002012-10-11T04:43:16.878-04:00I guess I blog partly because I wanted to have a w...I guess I blog partly because I wanted to have a web presence, but mailnly because it's fun. I'm not doing it to sell books or grow a huge following, but to network with other people who share the same interests.K M Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09801740095715755112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-64760634007386906832012-10-11T01:39:37.817-04:002012-10-11T01:39:37.817-04:00I just got done reading, "Embracing Obscurity...I just got done reading, "Embracing Obscurity" -- and it completely turned my eyes away from "platform."<br /><br />Blogging should be to build the craft, not build an audience. Period.David Ruperthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765017700988820676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-38437000236463130122012-10-10T17:59:39.082-04:002012-10-10T17:59:39.082-04:00I would certainly agree that blogging can be a tim...I would certainly agree that blogging can be a time suck, if you let it. I was told I needed to blog 3x a week. Well, that's too much for me. So, I now focus on one quality blog per week (two if I get really inspired) with a published author (youngest was 13!). I no longer attempt to write a personal "this is what I know/learned, etc." blog per week. I've only written and published two novels (third in editing). The only thing I'm expert at is being a Newbie Indie. But, it is a wonderful learning tool having guest authors. I'm learning so much and sharing it with my social media followers. There is always a learning moment in everything we do. We just need to see it. Thanks, Jody!! Great thought-provoking post.<br /> Mary Metcalfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05326150705750481111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-89457494747107889312012-10-10T14:44:52.956-04:002012-10-10T14:44:52.956-04:00Jody, thank you as always for starting this very r...Jody, thank you as always for starting this very real, very thoughtful discussion. I'm a new, unpublished writer, but I enjoy blogging twice a week about books and reading. I'm learning and growing because of my blog; I should probably limit the time I spend on posts, and write several at a time to increase efficiency. I probably spend too much time obsessing over individual posts. But it has taught me discipline, voice, and art of writing concisely. Thanks Jody! Julia Tomiakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17999070457191845503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-86973291323578943942012-10-10T11:25:39.219-04:002012-10-10T11:25:39.219-04:00Great discussion. As you know, Jody, I followed a ...Great discussion. As you know, Jody, I followed a similar path on blogging as you did since I think we started around the same time, grew a good following, and got book contracts around the same time too. Blogging was super beneficial to me pre-published. It helped me learn about craft, it created a create network of friends, and it got me used to writing every day. Also, it got me a referral to my agent. And I think it helped my debut because more people knew about me.<br /><br />However, having said all that, I think it is a thing of diminishing returns these days--at least for me. I'm under crazy deadlines (writing 3 novels a year) and I just can't justify spending lots of time blogging when I need to be writing. And nothing boost my sales more than ANOTHER book. As soon as I have a new release, all my books shoot upward again. A good blog post won't do that.<br /><br />I do still blog at least twice a week, but it's a lot more loose than it used to be. And I do it because I enjoy sharing thoughts and having discussions with others. That's why I've stuck with it. But I don't really have any notions that it sells more than a handful of books. I think social media presence as a whole (facebook, twitter, good website) is important. You want to be out there. But I'm not sure I would recommend a new, pre-pubbed writer start blogging these days (and I would've recommended that a year or two ago.)<br /><br />Beyond the time suck of a blog, I think blogging is a harder draw now. There are SO many blogs that it's hard for people to keep up. I know that I haven't kept up with my google reader in years. Now I only get to blog posts by clicking on links I see on Twitter. The conversation has moved. So unless you're an already established blog like yours, it's going to be extremely difficult to gain footing.Roni Lorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719679344024635326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-25366890822862262192012-10-10T10:40:31.789-04:002012-10-10T10:40:31.789-04:00I agree most strongly with the comment above. &quo...I agree most strongly with the comment above. "You can only do what you can do." I blog, I write, I network, and I write some more, and while I admit that the balance isn't perfect, nothing ever is. Thank you for this post and the discussion. Your the perspective helps take the pressure off.Liv Rancourthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-58814041183452273152012-10-10T09:52:40.810-04:002012-10-10T09:52:40.810-04:00First, I love that this topic is discussed openly ...First, I love that this topic is discussed openly by competent people. Thanks Rachelle, Jody & Jim.<br /><br />Second, I believe that the pressures upon NEW, FRESH writers to spread themselves thin between writing good and exciting stories, blogging, tweeting, facebooking, pinteresting, whatever, are <i>very closely</i> related to the poor quality in huge amounts that is found out there. <br /><br />Beginners in any field or activity can't multitask efficiently -- that's only possible <i>after</i> they reach professional level on at least part of those tasks. <br /><br />So, instead of doing 10 things at mediocre or poor quality, it's far better to do 2 at top quality. And then in a couple of years, add some additional tasks while these 2 can be kept at top quality <i>out of momentum and experience</i>.<br />Veronica Sicoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03741318844378921184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-60182602759560502502012-10-10T02:44:28.629-04:002012-10-10T02:44:28.629-04:00I think to one degree Bell is right: a writer shou...I think to one degree Bell is right: a writer shouldn't be so obsessed with their blog or other social media that they don't find time for writing. If we don't have a book to sell, we'll never get published, hence the need to write. I've gone through the different stages for blogging and social media too over the last 3 years and now I've settled into blogging 2 times a week and a perusal of social media each day that allows me time to do the truly important task of writing. I don't always meet my blogging obligations, there's been times things have come up, but I feel I've built an audience that understands if I do have to miss. I would advice writers to take it slow, blog once or twice a week, especially starting out. A blog shouldn't be the most important thing on our mind--our book should. That said, I do worry that agents want too big a platform for writers starting out. You can only do what you can do. I think everyone needs time to stretch their wings out and fly. Traci Kenworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336373871521363649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-15318563239252992532012-10-09T21:20:40.075-04:002012-10-09T21:20:40.075-04:00This is a really interesting discussion, especiall...This is a really interesting discussion, especially since I just read Kristen Lamb's "Are you there Blog? It's me, Writer" this summer. I've put some of her great advice into use on my blog, but I haven't gone the Facebook route yet. I have a feeling that social media is really where you will notice a difference in book sales.<br /><br />I'm also unpublished. I worried too much about my blog at first, but now I try to write four or six posts in one sitting and then scheduled them to post on my two blogging days. This keeps me from thinking about the blog all the time.<br /><br />I've found that those blog entries keep my writing voice fresh and snappy, so it's easier to hear when I'm writing my WIP (fiction, YA fantasy, with a Christian theme).<br /><br />I don't think anyone should feel forced to blog. I started my blog for a nonfiction writing class assignment and I'm glad I did. It got me focused on writing regularly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-20239021078138829442012-10-09T20:52:05.749-04:002012-10-09T20:52:05.749-04:00I'm not published, so I only know what I'v...I'm not published, so I only know what I've done from a reader's standpoint. I plan my blogs in advance, usually 3 per week. They're short and regular, about life as a pre-published writer and faith. I take maybe an hour or a little more to plan the week.<br /><br />As a blog reader, I visit 1 or 2 every other day. But from these, I've been persuaded to purchase probably 20 books in the last 2 years. That's not so much, but considering I'd only purchased 12 over the course of the decade before that, it's considerable. All I know is my own experience, and reading suggestions for books, or visiting author's blogs and getting to know them has made a difference in my reading and purchasing habits. <br /><br />It probably is a time-waster, especially if it isn't enjoyed, and I love the idea of self-pubbing short stories. But I like writing the articles, and I love the interaction with folks, so I'll keep it up.Marji Lainehttp://marjilaine.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-33506466392407998462012-10-09T20:31:08.780-04:002012-10-09T20:31:08.780-04:00Thanks for chiming in, Jim! You have definitely gi...Thanks for chiming in, Jim! You have definitely given us all something to ponder! I always love a good discussion! I think that with the growth of social media the push has become too strong for beginners too. They need to take the pressure off themselves and focus more on learning the craft of writing. The whole idea of building a platform through social media before publication is really tough for fiction writers. And the best use of time truly is to write our books.<br />Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-88052942800099750102012-10-09T18:26:03.912-04:002012-10-09T18:26:03.912-04:00Yes, blogging is a time-sucker out of EVERYTHING. ...Yes, blogging is a time-sucker out of EVERYTHING. I mean everything...reading and commenting on blogs can just take four hours of your day. I enjoy blogging very much and still building up a following. Once I have a great following, I probably will comment less but who knows, what will happen. I love social media and that's the problem.<br /><br />Great post!Livia Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059335917756643684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-81313849919662104482012-10-09T17:39:31.583-04:002012-10-09T17:39:31.583-04:00And the other thing I'll add here is that whil...And the other thing I'll add here is that while you are so right - "we can't make blanket statements that blogging is good or bad for fiction writers" - we writers also have to recognize the ever-changing industry. We have to constantly reevaluate. Blogging might be a great vehicle today, while six months from now we might need to pour more energy into adding another book to our schedule or some other social media venture that doesn't even exist yet.Heather Sunserihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552506888985553471noreply@blogger.com