It’s been difficult to maintain this blog for many reasons; other commitments, lack of time etc. But, they say, if you want something doing, ask a busy person. In reality, I could have found the time to update the blog if i really wanted to; the truth is, I didn’t have the inclination.

This is the real reason the blog is coming to an end. It was started a long time ago, for a reason that is no longer relevant. The early days mistakes are too plentiful to mention and too awkward to rectify. The purpose got lost along the way and it became a rambling road – one that I rarely venture down these days.

As a result, I am currently building another blog, one that suits the changes in my lifestyle – both as a writer and as a person. I will be taking only the best posts from this blog with me and, although I was originally going to archive the rest, I’ve now decided to kill them off.

The support has been great, but I feel it’s time to do something better. So I hope you’ll support me and follow along. Watch this space.

Dear Derek,

Before I went away on my November trip, I told you about this sparkling new blog that I was going to build – after mastering loads of new technical skills and being generally downright awesome in the blogging department.

But the fact of the matter is – I suck at technical stuff and – I cannot pull myself away from writing about fantasy lands long enough. Without someone in front of me saying – no you idiot, click on that – in the time that it’ll take me to learn the necessary skills and actually create the real life sparkling new blog of my dreams, the internet will be null and void and we’ll all be communicating telepathically.

And so – apologies. I’m a big fat liar This same old blog is sticking around for that bit longer – ’tis hard to teach old dogs new tricks. But this ole dog will get there yet – and there will be more blog posts. Promise. A real promise this time.

If you could find it in your  heart to forgive me and tell Santy he can still pay a visit, it’d be much appreciated.

Best wishes,

Elizabeth ‘sucks at tech stuff’ Murray

###This is a post dedicated to the wonderful derekf03 – a prolific blogger and go-getter who writes like a dream and laughs like a daemon. Check out his awesome music here.

What perfect timing for a talk on books and blogging to have come my way. Now, I’m new to Dublin and new to Ireland and can (I’ve decided) be forgiven for only knowing 40% of the people on the panel beforehand. Whatever I expected, my expectations were met and more. It was like the audience was as cherry picked as the speakers – something beautifully endemic in Irish culture, I’m finding.

What struck me was that the audience led the event and had as much knowledge to share as the panel. The ladies from beaut.ie and a blogger for the Irish Times were as well received by the panel and the audience as the guest speakers themselves. The passion that is such an integral part of both blogging and literature was buzzing around the room, bullshit free.

Some of the major points were:

* Once you’ve got a book deal, the impact of a blog is accumulative. Keeping loyal blog readers breeds loyalty and makes you more marketable, keeping you fresh in people’s minds. An online presence can definitely helps sales. Fiona´s book sales sold 10/20x more than other authors because of her online presence and direct sales opportunities.

* The intention of a blog should be to blog – not to be published. The passion behind a blog comes through. Yes, it can showcase writing, but it shouldn’t be the aim. There should be a distinctive voice. This is especially notable when it comes to the younger generations – they’re more cynical as they’re more tech savvy.

* The link between author and reader is provocation. A blog makes a connection where readers can impact with the author. Writers who are open to marketing and can market themselves are an asset to publishing companies. However this isn’t enough, the writing has to be impressive.

* Comments play an integral role. Creating the community aspect is something that cannot be faked or created by a publisher (if in doubt, look into the Sunday Times vs Twenty Major saga).

* No one knows what impact the recession will have on book deals/blogs. Inevitably, with the rise of tech savvy generations, books themselves will be affected. Maybe blogs will become higher profile? Maybe they’re just phase? The market is not yet saturated but it is young and unpredictable.

* Blog writers need to have a niche. Those that are very successful were doing it first and doing it well. Now there are lots of copycat sites. Is there enough room for the blogging market to expand and provide the same opportunities? Where is the next Twenty Major?

Some particular words I loved: “As a nation we write a lot and we write well.” Correct. And although Irish blogs are behind what’s happening in the US for instance, the passion and rawness and honest make them in many ways more advanced.

As always with any other events I’ve attended in Dublin, there was the feeling of being able to create something very special, as though it was all there waiting to be grabbed. And so I shall. But the evening left me thinking…

1. Does the passion show through on my blog enough? (I’ll ask Twenty Major)

2. What about people living in Ireland who aren’t Irish? Where do they fit in the expanding world of Irish blogging and Irish literature?

Important note to finish on: They provided Wispas.