Should You Blog?

It’s hard enough to find time to work on your novel/poetry/memoir/space opera – do you really need to squeeze in blogging, too?

Lots of writers have already tackled this subject online. P. S. Hoffman’s “Five Ways an Author Blog Could Kill Your Writing” gave me a lot to think about at the planning stage. My conclusion: yes, it’s worth it for me. Is it – or would it be – for you?

https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/author-blog-kill-your-writing-what-to-do-instead

If your agent or publicist says to blog and gives you good reasons, then blog. But if you’re self-published or on the fence about it, write a good old-fashioned “pros/cons” list. Number one for all of us, from the business angle, is web presence. But if that’s your only reason, you might want to think twice – as Hoffman points out, social media really is better for promotion.

So – static author website (perfectly legit option) or blog? Commercial concerns aside, here are my top three reasons for dedicating time to a blog:

1) Teaching materials. Many writers are also teachers. I’ve found blogging super helpful for formulating my thoughts on topics I discuss with students: what draws you to your genre of choice? What is unique to it? What are the benefits or challenges of working in that territory, artistically and professionally? What about other genres -- do they intimidate you? Bore you? Why do you think you can’t write poetry or a screenplay or a memoir or a novel, etc.?

Even if you’re not a teacher, working out important questions in writing can really help your craft and professional decision making. Blogging shouldn’t hinder your writing goals – it should support them. If it doesn’t, then stop.

2) Connecting through guest posts. I love meeting other writers and learning how they approach their work. From the earliest planning stage I knew I’d want regular guest posts. It’s easy to lose touch with people you’ve met at conferences or other writerly venues, so hosting regular guests give you a reason to reach out. If you’re not already networking, you should start.

Former students make great guests as well. I’ve worked with so many talented people over the years in my classes at the University of the Pacific. Inviting students to contribute posts keeps me up on how far they’ve come as writers. Plus, born decades later than me, they bring experiences and perspectives that fellow Boomers and GenXers can definitely learn from (and should probably stop griping about).

3) Instant gratification. Or close to instant, anyway. I Googled “How long does it take to write a novel” and got this hilarious answer: “The average person writing a book for the first time can expect to spend anywhere from 4 months to over a year.” Either I’m the world’s slowest writer, or Google is trying to demoralize me and everyone I’ve ever talked to about their first book. From initial draft to marketable manuscript, at least five years is more like it. I’ve heard up to ten. Or twelve. Unless you’re writing full time (and most of us aren’t), expect the rewards for your labors to take a while.

But a blog post – you can write one in a day, if you’re efficient. There’s a learning curve on getting your site up and running, but once that’s figured out, you’re set. You can have work in print immediately, on your own timeline (although I advise letting a draft sit a week before posting, so that you revise with fresh eyes). One the post’s up, it’s time check compulsively and see how many other people are clicking on your shiny new completed product.

Here are a few habits that have kept blogging fun and sane for me:

· Know thyself. Don’t let Search Engine Optimization drive you. I’m not saying to ignore SEO – but it’s a tool, not a mandate. Each month I post one essay and one guest post (ideally! -- sometimes guests need to prioritize their own blog). Roughly speaking, that’s new content every two weeks. Supposedly the gold standard is new content once a week. I just know I couldn’t keep that up for long – it would indeed become a huge timesuck. Figure out what works for you.

· Have a focus. There’s just so much out there online. Carving out specific territory gives you an identity for readers, beyond “here’s some stuff!” What concept ties with your work and keeps you interested? My first blog focused on my Jane Austen-inspired travel memoir. Along with Austen materials, I posted cute stories about trips with my husband, an Argentinean. Soon I began planning all our travel around wacky concepts. For instance, on a drive from CA to PA we stayed exclusively in Motel 6’s or Super 8’s (some fine, some predictably nasty). I was always on the alert for amusing new-to-U.S. behavior that I could immortalize online. He’s a very patient guy, but that got old fast.

Not every book I write will be about Austen or about travel, so for a new blog I thought hard about what defines me as a writer. Bingo – it’s the very fact that I don’t want to stick with the same topics, or even the same genres. Hence, genre fluid. Some people, on the other hand, are very faithful to their genre. My friend Dorothy Ours writes kick-ass race horse biographies and only kick-ass race horse biographies. https://www.amysmithauthor.com/post/a-passion-for-nonfiction-by-dorothy-ours-guest That’s her thing.

Let’s say your thing is writing cozy mysteries set in France. Use your blog to dig deep. Post material that didn’t make it into your books. Explore French history, French fashion, French cuisine. Or off those very beaten paths, post on French hotel chains (do they exist?), French pets, or French pet peeves. All that reading will make your books richer, too.

· Outsource. Write a list of every cool writer you’ve met from writing classes, workshops, conferences, book fairs, and other venues. Then, as discussed above, invite them to write a guest post. Not only does this keep things fresh on your blog – it cuts your work in half. When you’ve invited all the people you know, ask them about people they know. And so on. You can even invite the same person to contribute twice, if they’re so inclined. Suggest they share their thoughts on your blog’s focus or give them free rein.

Ideally, some guests will ask you to return the favor and do a post for their site. This is fun and helps you tap into their reader base. Since some writers don’t have blogs of their own, you’ll still be ahead of the game on saving time via guest posters.

· Keep a list of blog topics and guests. You may be a pantser rather than a plotter with your books, but a blog is a different animal. Planning topics in advance helps give your blog shape, instead of “here’s what I happened to think of this week.” If you can’t come up with at least a year’s worth of post topics that fit your theme, consider another. You don’t want to run dry. I currently have 24 ideas which should carry me through December 2023 and occasionally pop awake at 2:00am with more. Here’s a tip – line up your topics with your professional activities. Going to a writers conference to improve those French cozies? Taking an online class? Blog about them. Just packed up your French cozies and quit one writers group for another? Ditto. If it fits the focus you’ve chosen for your blog, however tangentially, it’s fair game.

As for the guests – a schedule is a must. “Would you write a guest post for me in April or May this year?” is preferable to, “Would you write a guest post for me sometime in the future?” Deadlines motivate. I keep a full guest lineup for at least six months in advance. If picking a month yourself for guests seems too pushy, ask when they’ve got something they’d like to promote. Somebody with an upcoming book release or conference appearance can add you as a stop on their virtual promotion tour.

Btw, give guests at least eight weeks’ notice on invites. Your blog is not their top priority, even if they’re happy to contribute. Committed writers are busy people.

· Stock up. Some weeks you’re feeling it, some you’re not. Drafting posts when the words are flowing takes the pressure off for those times when they’re not. As for that list of topics – don’t feel compelled to write your posts in the order you’ve proposed. Write what you’re in the mood for, and post it when you’re ready. I’m an anxious sort of person, so I feel a lot more secure if I’ve got at least four posts ready to go at any time. Stocking up also leaves time for reflection between early drafts and final revisions.

Stocking up goes for guest posts as well. I try to keep two or three completed ones on reserve in case someone else misses their deadline. This works best with writers you’re closest to – people flexible about when their work goes live.

I hope I’ve given you some useful ideas here. Happy blogging! Or -- not.

Check back for new posts on editing the works of others, collaborating with a cover artist, and more!