I was doing my usual surf from site to site while my brain is percolating my story (yes, really, I'm not avoiding it for once — it's really brewing!) when I ran across two different author explanations for blogging. First, here's Tess Gerritsen:
When I began the blog, I wasn’t really sure what I’d write about. As it turned out, I’ve never been at a loss for topics — my only problem has been finding the time to do it. I also wasn’t quite clear about why I should blog. Since then, I’ve realized that this blog isn’t about self-promotion. It’s not about selling more books or getting my name out there or making people like me.
It’s about catharsis.
The ever entertaining and informative JA Konrath has, naturally, a different take on blogging:
Think about why you blog, and what purpose it's serving. Look at your last fifty entries. Will they be of any interest to someone in 2017? If not, why do you think they are of any interest to anyone now?
That's why I don't do memes. That's why I don't blog about personal stuff. That's why I don't push my own books constantly—no one ever seeks out ads. And that's why, except on rare occassions, I don't blog about events, peers, friends, family, or what I watched on TV last night.
Your blog is a tool. But too many people are using hammers to scratch their asses rather than drive nails. If you blog as a form of entertainment, that's no problem–have fun. If you blog to increase your name recognition, you may be doing more harm than good.
Both writers make good points. Both are worth listening to. And yet there's another lesson here too. The ultimate lesson, maybe: no definitive answer exists that is correct in every circumstance.
You can argue that Tess Gerritsen is so successful that it doesn't matter what she blogs about because people will read her anyway. You could also argue that Joe Konrath is so entertaining and controversial (when he wants to be) that people would read him even if he did memes because he would no doubt make the meme entertaining and controversial.
Maybe it's all about Voice. Joe's blog Voice is businesslike and informative. Tess's blog Voice is like your best friend/sister/trusted family doctor who knows a lot of interesting stuff and wants to tell you about it over a nice cup of tea. Same thing, and not the same thing.
If these two posts taught me anything, though, it's not to worry too much about it. Yeah, you shouldn't say things you'll regret later (like dissing fellow writers or agents, editors, etc) or expose all the deep dark details of your personal life, but don't sweat it otherwise. Write your blog in your Voice. Some will be interested, some won't. Just like writing books, really.
Hey Lynn!
Great topic. I blog because … well, I dunno. I just do it. I like communicating with other writers. I like sharing information. I like hopping all over the net to see what others are up to. 🙂 I think whatever the reason for blogging, people should stay true to themselves.
Tanya
Ouch! I doubt anything I write will be relevant or interesting in 10 years. Good thing I’m not trying to promote anything. 🙂
Hi, Tanya! I pretty much feel the way you do about blogging. I like to feel like I’m part of a community of people with similar goals/interests. I like knowing what other writers are working on, or how their process works, or any number of things about them. I also like Joe’s blog for the information he so generously provides. But I don’t think I want to blog in his style (not that I have anything like that yet to blog about).
I agree that people should stay true to themselves. I like reading many different types of blogs. If everyone blogged in one style, I think I’d be bored. 🙂
Terry, are you kidding? I think what you write is very relevant and interesting!! And I think, as a barometer of feminine culture and issues and how it affects an individual, your blog would be very relevant in 10 years to someone doing research on the topic. 🙂 Keep blogging just the way you are!
Thanks, Lynn. 🙂 But I’ve been thinking about this a lot since you posted it. By that criteria, what would be good blogging topics? I believe all writing is on some level personal – essay in particular but also fiction. If we toss out the personal, as well as news, what’s left? Theory, I suppose, but what is theory without experience to back it up?
I totally agree. Viva la difference. Sometimes I do informational stuff. Sometimes I do silly stuff. Sometimes I do stuff that isn’t even related to writing. I’m the same way personally. My interest vary and I jump all over the place. 🙂
Terry, I think you’re right that everything is in some way personal. And I like reading the personal, the journeys and revelations that people go through. I love reading Joe’s blog, but I don’t completely agree with him. He is of course talking as a promotional machine, which is fine for him and works very well for him. But I love reading those aha moments from others too. I don’t want it all about business. And I’m not going to blog that way either.
Yep, Tanya, I think we have to keep it fresh for ourselves by writing what we’re interested in. I want everything I blog about to be like a puzzle piece that gives you an idea of who I am as a person. Otherwise, if I’m consciously just blogging about writing and the business side of it, I risk feeling stale and burned out. I think blogs would be boring if everyone stuck to a single purpose. 🙂 Viva la difference!