Reasons Why Writers/Authors Don’t Start A Blog
Perhaps a friend has suggested you should start a blog, and you reply:
- I don’t have time.
- The time I do have, I want to be writing my work in progress.
- I wouldn’t know what to write.
- I don’t know how.
6 Reasons An Author Should Consider Blogging
These are valid reasons. But, perhaps the better question is why should you, as an author, consider blogging?
- Potential agent/publisher. From reading your blog, an agent or publisher can discover everything from your writing style to your dedication and commitment to diligently produce a body of work. These traits show you have the fortitude and follow through to produce a completed book. The blog also shows you are able to complete self-imposed deadlines. Think of a blog as a part of your writing resume.
- Building a platform. When submitting your work for publication, agents and publishers want to know you already have readers in place willing to buy your book. But, what if you don’t have a completed book yet? Start a blog. Get a following. If you haven’t heard the word “Platform” yet, I highly recommend a book of the same name by Michael Hyatt. He shares many ways to build a platform.
- Create content for your readers, even before you publish. What do you write? How do you draw your readers to, well, read? Look at the themes or topics your book shares with your readers. Then write about those themes. If you write romance, share how your grandparents met. If you write about mystery, tell your potential reader about your favorite Agatha Christie novel or how Perry Mason captivated you and why. Creating this content will not only allow your readers to get to know you, but they will get used to your writing style and hopefully want to read more.
- Sales funnel. Once your book is published, you can broadcast your first novel on your blog. Provide a sales page to purchase your novel or add your Amazon link in a blog post. Your blog/website can also share your availability to speak, providing yet another revenue stream.
- Posting a blog on social media lends credibility. When you post your blog on Facebook, the box surrounding the blog title and featured image appears. This not only looks professional but news worthy. You are not a news outlet, but may look like one. This lends credibility to your blog rather than just typing a post with text only.
- You can get discovered. In late 2016, I received an email asking about my son’s lethal form of dwarfism. The email was from the producers at The Learning Channel. They wanted to feature my son on one of their programs. When I asked how they heard about my son, I was told they found me via my blog. The producers, located in England, searched on the internet and found my blog. The SEO, the blog writing and my website combined to peak the interest of TLC. Now my son’s story is broadcast in the U.S. and worldwide. All from someone seeing my blog.
Many authors recommend a blog as a means to gain an audience and future readers of your book.
“…I think blogging is an author’s best marketing tool.” Anne R. Allen, Author of eight comic mysteries.
“The more time you spend blogging, the more value you build for your readers over time and the more they find you. Your efforts snowball.” Jane Friedman, columnist for Publishers Weekly and author of The Business of Being a Writer.
Molly Wizenburg’s popular food blog, Orangette, was a platform that helped her sell her first book, A Homemade Life, to a publisher because she had a large readership.
Are you convinced to start blogging and add this medium to your author platform? If you were like me, you don’t know where to start or what to do after you created compelling and exciting content to share with the world. I had no one to show me the how to master the art of being a blogger.
I remember thinking, “I wish I had someone to take my hand and show me how to blog.” (Twitter Quote)
That is the heart of this column. To take your hand, month by month, and give you tips and tools you can use. If today’s column has inspired you to start your author blogging journey, post your comment below. I read each one.
Evelyn Mann is the author of Miracle In My Living Room: The Story of a Little Mann and the popular blog, www.miraclemann.com/blog. Her son’s story of survival from a lethal form of dwarfism has been featured on The Learning Channel, Christian Television Network, WFLA Channel 8, and has been seen 2.5M times on Special Books by Special Kids. She enjoys giving her son lots of hugs, a hot cup of organic tea, and shrimp sushi.
We love helping your growing in your writing career.
Evelyn, Thank you for the encouragement to keep blogging.
Great article, Evelyn. All valid points. I would also add that over time, blogging improves our writing skills.
Evelyn, when I was querying agents, one agent replied with a rejection and “don’t tell me you’ll have an author website. Have an author website.” I was too insecure to call myself an author at that point, so I decided to start a blog. I was also too insecure to give writing advice at that point, but I had over two decades of “mom” experience and felt maybe I had something to share. Lucky for me, moms would be among my target audience for my book. I started the blog in March and signed with a publisher in June. When I announced it on my blog and on FB, my followers went crazy! They have been my biggest encouragers and best unofficial sales team. I blogged weekly for the first year, but now I blog monthly. I announced the change to my followers, and so far, my views, social media shares, and interactions haven’t declined…but I’m keeping a close eye on that. I just couldn’t keep up creating valuable content at that rate…along with working full-time and trying to write another book. All this to say…I can’t imagine launching my debut without my blog.
A friend advised me that if I want to get hired as a writer to start a blog. Thanks for confirming that advice!