I read a post by Tui Snider on this subject, and left a long comment that refused to appear, so I thought I'd turn it into my own post, instead! You can read Tui's article HERE; alas, she is having ongoing problems with her site but hopes to have them fixed soon
So why do I do it? I started only because people kept telling me that writers ought to. I shoved a few old articles on and remembered to write something once a month. I used to feel pretty chuffed if I got about 50 views per post. Gradually, though, this site became a thing apart from my books. I never intended to have a blog based around writing or self-publishing, realising that would only be of interest to other writers, and I thought the whole point of them was to attract readers. But it isn't. They're there for when there is something you want to write about that is nothing to do with your novels - mine gets used whenever there is something I want to express in more than 140 characters.
It's somewhere where I can moan about stuff, develop ideas, collate various thoughts into one post, obsess about my favourite TV progs, write a bit of background about my books when new ones come out, and share the odd picture of people like Josh Holloway and Norman Reedus....
(Whoops, there I go again...)
After a while, though, I found that I did sometimes want to write about self-publishing. Then, last month, my blogging empire expanded when I decided to start a book review blog, HERE. I did this because I'd been reading some really excellent books and thought they deserved more than just a review on Amazon; also, there were some I want to help promote because they are so good, and it's easier to do so with a blog where I can present the review more attractively.
In answer to one of the questions on Tui's post, I don't have a blogging schedule because the idea that you MUST blog every half hour whether you have something interesting to say or not is, like, so 2012. I never did anyway. Sometimes I'll do six posts
in a month, sometimes one; it depends what else I'm doing. I write stuff simply because I think of things that I hope will be of entertainment/interest to others. Emphasis on the
entertainment/interest. I hope I'm never too self-indulgent. But look, it's my blog and if I want to post pictures of Josh Holloway I will, right?
I must say the book reviewing blog does seem to be taking over, lately. I've discovered why real book bloggers (not people just playing at it like me) do it! I keep reading when I should be writing....
So why do you blog?
For me it's usually because I want to get something off my chest...this generally tends to be something to do with animal rescue/abuse or injustice in some form. I used to blog a lot more but as I looked back and read through some of my blogs I realised they were as dull as ditchwater so I deleted the blog and now just tend to blog when something has got my dander up as it were.
ReplyDeleteI've read lots of blogs and been very envious of peoples' ability to write the way they do. I'm just happy if my blog if free from spelling mistakes and grammatical errors!
Au contraire, Andrea, I've never seen anything you've written that hasn't been articulate and of a good standard grammatically. Yes - your sort of blog is a different kettle of fish, because you want to write about certain issues with which you're so concerned, for those like-minded to read. Hey, we've all done the dull as ditchwater ones!!!!
DeleteOh the embarrassment of a spelling mistake in my last sentence!
DeleteNah, typo, not spelling mistake - we all make typos!! :)
DeleteDo you mind if I ask you a question without answering yours? I'm still at work, and the why I blog thing would just take too long. But I'd really like to know how someone who needs to spend a lot of high quality time writing novels sets aside time for two blogs without it having an impact on that other area of (for her) more important productivity.
ReplyDeleteHi Paula - answer: I don't go out to work or have children, and spend much of my time at home. At the moment I'm 'between novels' as one is about to be published, which means I actually finished it at the end of November - there is much to be done before it is published - so I tend to slacken off a bit in between, though I have written the plan and first 14 pages for the next! What I tend to do is this: I do have other commitments (family wise) so if it's a free day I will work on novels. If it's a day during which I have to be out all morning, I will then use the afternoon to do domestic chores and write blog posts. I like to know I have a nice chunk of at least 3 hours to sit down and write in; shorter amounts of computer time are spent bloggily!
DeleteI could spend every moment on novel writing, yes, but novels aren't all I want to write. The blog post is a more immediate form of communication that I like and enjoy doing. I hope that answers your question! :)
That sounds like a good plan. I have that same feeling about three hour chunks, but most of mine are spent writing grants. But hey. It pays bills. I like being able to pay bills. The alternative, not so much.
DeleteFor me it's now all about sharing books, finding a gem to tell others about, but if I've been asked to review a book it's about getting a little bit more about a book out there for the public in the hope that someone will say "Hey, that's just the type of book for me" and head off to buy a copy.
ReplyDeleteYes! It's lovely when people buy and enjoy a book because of a review on your blog, isn't it? Happened a few times for me with yours. Speaking as someone who buys some books because of people such as you, I say three cheers!!!!
Delete'Word of mouth' is now so much about internet: I see a book on your blog, I buy it, like, review it, others see my own review on my blog, etc.... I love it!
As you know, I love blogging and DO believe that you should blog on a regular basis - to build up a following. I blog because it's a way of writing opinion pieces, little mad chunks of my life, or things that I know will annoy the local council. As a fiction writer, it's a good discipline to write in another genre..and to have to meet a short deadline. And I just love doing it!
ReplyDeleteI do get what you mean re the schedule; I'm always aware when I do my Saturday morning twittering that there will be a new CJH piece!
DeleteI've always written lots of articles and funny things, it's just that they used to get seen by five or ten people instead of two thousand!!! It's all writing, innit, which is just what we DO! At least once a day I start thinking about something and go, hmm, will that make a blog post? I have a scribbled list on the wall - ooh look, there are three up there I might yet do!!!
I began blogging when I began travelling, mainly to tell friends and family where I was. And when I came home I blogged about writing about travelling, and then I went travelling again ...
ReplyDeleteAnd so the circle moves on!!!! When are you home?
DeleteNever mind all the comments about blogging and writing - let's get onto the serious stuff...first Norman Reedus, now Josh Holloway! Definitely a woman after my own heart. Gotta love those handsome bad boys with a touch of vulnerability. Sawyer was the only thing that kept me watching Lost (though I still didn't make it to the end). And now, in response, I'd like to throw Billy Burke at you...views?!?! I love him in Revolution. He certainly fits all of the above criteria. PS I blog - about mental health issues - to try to raise awareness and reduce stigma, but I have fun with it, too, and people often feed back that my posts are funny, as well as informative. I find it very rewarding to help - and entertain - people.
ReplyDeleteI think we talk the same language in many ways, Helen, and I shall go and check out Billy Burke NOW - hang on..... yep, spot on!!!! Not arf, as they say!!!! Oh, and do tweet me the link to your blog! :)
DeleteHello Tyler, I blog to also get things off of my chest or to share what is new in my world. I agree that it can take over and know that in time, I will pull back to work on a book project. But, for now, it is a fun way to keep writing on a regular basis! Lynn
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting.... Dixon! :)
DeleteI love all your blogs Terry but especially the ones with pictures of hotties :D It's funny how blogging sort of takes on a life of its own. I never thought I'd enjoy doing it but I love it. I like the idea of connecting with people via random ramblings.
ReplyDeleteI think you said it all there, EL! It's all just writing, though, isn't it? Just that now I've got them on a site instead of on tatty bits of paper stuffed into a folder!!!
DeleteI blog because of my narcissism.
DeleteNot really, more to do with my near-constant desire to explode out of my own skin and find the world to be different. Or find anything worthwhile at the end of it like I do when I go off on doom-trips.
And to post unnecessary photos of Julia Volkova which is something I haven't done enough of lately.
That comment wasn't supposed to go there. My phone said I was at the bottom of the page...
DeleteLike Rosie, it’s all about sharing books (and the occasional random bit of nothingness) but blogging takes on a life of it’s own, for sure! Please feel free to keep throwing hotties in your posts, Terry :-) please!
ReplyDeleteSure will!!!! Yes, a life of its own, indeed! I love doing my book review blog so much I keep having to remember that I write novels, too.... saying that, I'd better get on with it, instead of sitting here analysing the view figures!!!!
DeleteJosh Holloway, phwooar!
ReplyDeleteBlogging only when you want to seems to keep you fresh and fun - and allows for the tossing in of eye candy without apology.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Anita! :)
DeleteLike I said I that comment that went in the wrong place..! 🍸😂
ReplyDelete