Building a Writing profile – Part 2: Your literary blog
Writers, use your blog in various ways to gain extra coverage, show off individual writing styles and increase your online persona. A blog is an easily accessible tool which helps you to connect with people while demonstrating your writing abilities and interests. Blogs also help publishers and agents to see how marketable you are and how dedicated you are to your craft.
Several books have resulted from blogs, including Twenty Major and Beaut.ie. It may seem surprising that both fiction and non-fiction blogs have led to publishing success, but the common factors are frequent, quality posts with wide appeal. But don’t write a blog expecting it to gain you a publishing deal. You have to have quality content that is trustworthy, fun, interesting, or a combination of the three. You need to know what you´re writing about and convey this in a way that is useful or entertaining to others. Writing a blog just to get published will be quickly noticed for the wrong reasons, and you’ll end up sorely disappointed. There´s a lot of competition and only a few blogs will get publication deals.
As a writer, your blog is important because it reflects you and your craft. This means you should approach your blog with clear intent and purpose. Make sure that the content interests you so you will maintain the posts, but also ensure it reflects the persona you want to convey. Before you start your blog, think it through, like any other writing project. Who is your audience? What do you wish to achieve? What message or story do you want to convey? Always keep your goal in mind.
You don’t have to use your blog to discuss your daily life unless, like Hot Cross Mum, this is specifically what you want. Use your blog to discuss writing tips and tricks like crime writer Sam Blake. Take a look at blogs by Laura Cassidy and Alison Wells to see inspiring examples of how to map your journey to publication. Create an online writing C.V. by linking to published material, interviews or reviews; this will also help with SEO, making you more visible online. Alternatively, find a niche which displays your talents such as Kristi Thomson´s How Did You Get There, the internet’s first “blog-com” – an excellent example of how to take an original angle and add a humourous twist.
Before you get started, take note of these basics:
- Stick to one blog. That way, all your content will be in one place and you’ll build up your profile more quickly.
- Have a clear goal and always keep it in mind. If your blog is unclear, you’re less likely to attract readers (especially return visitors)
- Remember, you are using your blog to display your style, writing ability and voice. Make sure you maintain this at all times
- Update your blog regularly, but keep it manageable. You don’t need to update every day. People will keep looking so long as you continue to write compelling posts.
Hi there, and thanks for the name check! Building an author platform through blogging or setting up a website is ESSENTIAL for new authors. Imagine an editor receives you ms, they like it (YAY!), what do they do next? They go to your blog/site to find out more about you, to see what your public face is like, to see if you have sales potential. More and more these days sales teams are involved in the decision process when it comes to taking on new authors. Having a ready made platform, a series of connections already in place, connections that bring you directly to your reader, customers who are ready and waiting for the product, counts hugely in your favour. And don’t stop at blogging – network your blog into Twitter and Facebook and extend your reach still further.
Great post Elizabeth, looking forward to the rest!
Sam Blake
Thanks, Elizabeth -it’s an honor to be mentioned in your wonderful site, especially amongst these other blogs I so enjoy!
Excellent series on Building a Profile. It’s such a necessary thing nowadays. It seems to have cropped up over night as a Must Do for every writer.
Am I wrong or are the days of writing alone–separated from the rest of the the world, then popping out as a solitary, genius, best selling author–gone forever? Vanished from reality– only to remain alive in print or legend format?
Kristi
Great post, I find that a blog is a great way just to keep my writing skills up to date. I set up my own publishing company and publish children’s books through my company. So, unfortunately I don’t always have enough time to sit down and write everyday. I find that a blog is a good way to keep up to date and of course also to connect with others with similar interests!
Thanks, Olive
Wow, Olive – you really are multi talented. I love your new movie blog, too. Kristi
Thanks for your kind words Kristi:) Right back at ya! Look forward to reading your next post! Olive
Thanks for your comments and support, Olive, Kristi and Sam. Your blogs are all excellent examples of how to display your writing skills and connect with your readers.