Periodically, I go through this on the blog where I ask whether or not it makes sense to keep blogging. It seems as if group blogs, for example, come and go these days. One group of critique partners or contest finalists or friends decides to start a blog. Another group reaches the end of the line and shuts down (the Wet Noodle Posse, for one).
What causes a blog to sputter to a close? Is it a lack of readers? A lack of new topics? A feeling you've trod that ground before?
I think it's probably a combination of all these. There are a lot of blogs out there calling for attention, and readers only have so much time. I know that's the case for me. Some blogs I used to follow religiously, I'm lucky if I get to once every couple of months now.
Sometimes, you feel as if you're recycling the same topics again and again.
With Facebook, Twitter, and even that old dinosaur My Space, time is fragmented. Blogging no longer has the appeal it once had. Oh, I have no intention of shutting this blog down just yet. I've long since stopped updating daily. I try to do so weekly, and I love the immediacy of being able to communicate about my releases or contests or just something on my mind and engage in a conversation with the people who comment.
So now I'm interested in what you think about blogging. Do you read as many as you used to? Do you spend more time on social media sites now? What kinds of things do you want to know when you visit author blogs? Are you interested in the author's process and posts on writing? Or do you want to know what it's like writing for a major publisher? Maybe you want to know how the author creates her stories.
Or maybe you just want to know she's human and has a crazy life just like yours. That she doesn't have breakfast in bed every morning, doesn't climb into her limo to go shopping, and doesn't jet off to fabulous locations at the drop of a hat.
What is it that brings you to this blog? If you blog, what are your feelings about the process?
Hi Lynn,
You bring up some excellent points.
To be perfectly honest with you, I’ve always wondered why authors blog so much and (dare I say) go on lots of blog tours to sites that only cater to writers.
If it’s to increase sales, I’m not sure if it really does that or not. The majority of readers aren’t hanging out at these places. (As a reader, I wasn’t.) Sure, you’ll get other writers perhaps buying your books, but it seems to me that it’d be a rather small percentage. However, if the purpose is to give back to the writing community, then it totally makes sense. I know I wouldn’t have gotten where I am w/o these wonderful blogs/websites etc. They’re incredibly informative and inspiring to me as a writer.
As a reader/fan, I’ve gone to an author’s website and blog, but I don’t stay long. Part of me is afraid that familiarity will breed contempt and that he/she will say something that rubs me the wrong way. I want to keep that magical fictional world alive and well in my mind. What I loved was talking about the books with other fans, so I sought out those avenues. Book club blogs, FB, Shelfari, message boards, chat rooms, etc. And if an author came on as a planned visit, OMG, we went crazy! Yes, I’m a fangirl at heart.
Thanks, Laurie! Those are some great comments, and I’m glad you made them. I wouldn’t have thought of that before, but yes, I guess some readers might be afraid to ‘hang out’ with the author, so to speak. I always haunted author blogs for writing information, and to know that others went through the same things I was going through.
But as a reader, I don’t hunt down an author’s blog even now. I want to see the site and what’s coming next, of course. I think I agree with you that blogging doesn’t translate into lots of sales. I think it’s fun to talk about a book coming out, but I don’t expect that people who stumble on my site will necessarily go order. Those who have read me and come here because they already like my work will do so probably.
Thanks for the great comments!
Do you spend more time on social media sites now? Absolutely. I have 21 tabs on my “home” page. I spend most of my time alternating between Facebook and Twitter. Too much time if I’m honest about it.
Are you interested in the author’s process and posts on writing? Sometimes. It’s something I have in common with most authors — they have usually achieved publication, and I’m (in a very round about way) working to achieve that goal. Other intangibles draw me in as well — something in the background that I have in common, any common interests, common genre.
Or do you want to know what it’s like writing for a major publisher? Maybe you want to know how the author creates her stories. All of the above in well-placed, appropriate moderation IF the author wants to share.
Or maybe you just want to know she’s human and has a crazy life just like yours. That she doesn’t have breakfast in bed every morning, doesn’t climb into her limo to go shopping, and doesn’t jet off to fabulous locations at the drop of a hat. I guess I’m one of the few people with few illusions about the glamor associated with an author’s life. I certainly DO enjoy gaining insight into an author’s day-to-day existence. One of the fascinating things is how different each author is even while having a core that brings them together. The take away an aspiring author should get from reading widely among author blogs is a sense of hope that their particular situation — no matter what it is or how hopeless it may appear to be — should not preclude them from achieving their dream if they really are driven to do so from within.
What is it that brings you to this blog? I clicked over from Twitter. But I would have eventually read it on Bloglines (Twitter is more immediate). That’s how I am able to read widely — I’ve saved the blogs I like to a feed. In my case, Bloglines, but there are lots of options out there. I do miss seeing themes and having a ready ability to comment, but if I’m drawn to comment, it’s easy enough to click and wait for the post to load and comment from the site.
If you blog, what are your feelings about the process? I do blog. I maintain five blogs — one regularly, three sporadically, and one privately. I do believe social networking has cut into the blogging process (about two years ago, Wired magazine cataloged blogging in the Tired category). I sense much lower traffic to my primary blog. Part of that is my fault. I don’t aggressively integrate it with either Twitter or Facebook. Yes, the links are there in my profiles, but I don’t tweet or make wall entries for new blog posts. (I could, but so far, I haven’t chosen to do so.)
I LIKE blogging vice social networking, because it’s an independent platform. I like the challenge of fitting what I have to say into 140 characters or less, but sometimes I don’t want that restriction. Yes, I can post the equivalent of a blog entry to Facebook’s Notes page, but I prefer being able to format it the way I want to. Most times, my WordPress platforms give me that flexibility.
I see value in an integrated approach. My tweets get posted to my FB wall (but not my FB comments to Twitter). For me, that’s a privacy things. In my configuration, Twitter is much more open and a place where I’m willing to interact with strangers who may become friends. On Facebook, I prefer more known entities. As a caveat, if I were published and had or were growing a fanbase, I’d have a FB fan page, and I’d use cross-posting. My personal FB page would remain a “Friends Only” site. FB and Twitter bring readers to the blog, and, to a certain extent, your blog may bring readers to FB or Twitter. The key is to avoid duplication and use automation to present an integrated and consistent face to your audience.
Wow, Jean, everything you said is great! I think you are so right about the integrated approach. I’m a bit scattershot, but I’m trying to get it to all work together. I did start a fan page, but I had the friend page first and I have way more friends than fans. For now, I’m keeping them both and hoping people will migrate eventually. But I have no illusions about my popularity, LOL!
Building a readership takes time, and I’m still relatively new.
Some of my favorite authors don’t have ANY online presence to speak of, other than a really great website. I think about that a lot, but then I really enjoy Twitter for its immediacy. I love communicating with everyone in quick soundbites. I feel like I know people I wouldn’t otherwise know!
It’s true, I didn’t visit author blogs before I started writing. And when I did, I didn’t leave comments usually. I kind of thought of it as talking to celebrities…like maybe I would annoy them. 🙂
But I started my own blog before I got published to help people on their journey and to offer support (it can be a lonely business) and I’ve just kind of kept with it.
I don’t suppose I’ll get a TON more sales because of it, but I’ve met some wonderful people, and I had some pre-orders right when my book was listed, because a lot of the ladies on my blog have become my friends.
Also, cool thing about a blog…I get a lot of people on my site via unrelated google searches. Blogs on varied topics help that. So if anyone random comes to my site NOT to find me, but does and is interested…that’s cool. 😉
I’m a talker anyway…I just like to blog. 😀
Hiya, Maisey! I hear you on thinking that a favorite author was a celebrity and not wanting to bother them!
I do love the paying it forward vibe of author blogs though. I blogged long before I sold, as a way to get my name out there and learn how to have an online presence, and I read a lot of author blogs.
Then when I sold, I wanted to tell others not to give up. I love talking about the process, though I don’t do it too much anymore because I feel like a broken record. I think I’ve said most of it so far!
Yeah, those unrelated Google searches are interesting! Since I was talking about Twitter to Jean, I have to say you are an example of someone I met through Twitter — and when we meet in person, I’ll feel like I already know you. That’s the beauty of Twitter!
Yes, and I *met* both of you through Twitter too. 🙂
I hope I didn’t come across as sour grapes earlier about blogging, because that certainly wasn’t my intention. I was just thinking of it from more of a reader’s perspective after examining my own book-buying habits.
Of course not! I loved what you had to say. 🙂
And we’ve actually met in person before. San Francisco when Becky was a GH finalist. I think we all sat at the same table over lunch one day. Can’t quite remember! So if you don’t remember it, believe me I don’t blame you!
Oh man, now I’m embarrassed. I was such a deer-in-the-headlights that weekend because it was my first-ever writers’ conference. Forgive me!!! I do remember asking Becky if I had met you, but she wasn’t sure. (See, in true sister-fashion, I’m blaming her.) 😆
From an author blog, two things I really like are the Behind the Book Story and What’s Next.
Hi, Marilyn! Thanks for the input. I like to know the story behind the book too (and I just added that to my book pages recently!). And of course I want to know what’s coming next. I have that on my books page as well. 🙂
@Laurie London:
That’s IS the great thing about twitter. I DO feel like I know you. Both of you! And, I have no problem repeating myself. Over and over and over…hahaha…
LOL, don’t worry about it Laurie! I wasn’t quite sure I remembered it right — plus, when I see you again, if you aren’t wearing your name badge, I won’t recognize you. Because I am that bad when this much time has gone by and we only saw each other briefly. 🙂
So that was your first conference? It was only my second — and it was great to be a finalist! Are you going to Orlando?
Nationals this year will be my first conference. 😯 but we’re in the same dinner group on Tuesday (right?) so I’ll remember you.
It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to make it this year, and I’m so disappointed! You’ll have an awesome time, Maisey! Jealous you get to see Lynn!
~Laurie