Should Writers Start a Blog?

Well, I’m sure I’ve said it before. Writers are a bit of an odd lot. Sometimes, our minds never turn off. We keep late hours, savor words like candy, and we’d rather spend our free time roaming a book store than vacationing in Hawaii. (Kidding. I think.)

Writers write. We create. We pen tales from snippets of life and from our own imaginations. We search out truth, we seek wisdom, and we value constructive criticism because this sets the bar for future excellence.

We learn to develop thick skins. (For those who think they can skip that part–I’m sorry to say, I believe that’s a fallacy.)

If we’ve written awhile, we understand that we have to pay our dues. There’s no magic pill, no easy way around it, and no shiny wand we can wave to make the process any easier, because at the end of the day, no matter who we know or where we’ve been, it truly is all about the writing.

It may take us a few years or many to hone our skills, learn our craft, and become proficient at what we do. And even when we’ve mastered writing technique, if we’ve matured, we never stop learning.

I grew up writing. I often had pen and paper close at hand, and though my earlier career path took me other places initially, I always had this intrinsic belief that one day I would be a writer. I believed that if I truly wanted to honor God with my writing then He would indeed give me the desire of my heart because that’s what His word assures us.

Now, until about the past year or so, I can’t honestly say that I wanted to blog about the process. The art of writing and plotting is difficult enough without preparing blog posts three days a week. However, I’ve gradually come to realize in light of the social media craze, this is the perfect opportunity to share a little about me and the genre I write about. From time to time, I express some of my own life views. And because I’ve had so many wonderful people to guide me along the way, I want to pay it forward and share some general writing tidbits about what I’ve learned, as well.

There are so many tremendous resources available to help fledgling writers. Twenty years ago, we didn’t have near as much at our disposal. The age of the internet changed all that. Three of the best resources that I’ve found are in my blogroll to your right. There are many others that literally break down the writing process if general mechanics are not your strong suit.

My blog is still in its infancy, but here’s what I’ve learned so far:

• Content reigns supreme. Bring something of value to the table. You may think your blog is all about you. It’s not. If you’re a writer, people want to learn something. Something about you or your views is okay to a point, but eventually, folks are going to want to know more about your genre and the writing process itself.
• Be intentional about your platform. Create a catch phrase or tagline that leaves no doubt about what you write and what direction your blog will take.
• Create a blog that’s uniquely you. I tend to be a bright, cheery kind of gal so that’s what I’ve tried to do with mine. You may want to incorporate your favorite colors and a header that gives a hint as to what it is you write.
• Be yourself but remain professional. If you’re trying to garner attention from agents/editors/fellow authors, as well as make new friends, don’t paint yourself as an amateur right out of the starting gate. Honest mistakes are one thing. Intentional rudeness/crudeness is quite another.
• Place a photo of yourself somewhere on your blog, preferably the sidebar. People like to connect with an actual face. It humanizes us. It doesn’t have to be professionally done, but if you’re trying to establish yourself as a professional in your craft, you’re not going to be taken too seriously if you’re dressed as a circus clown sitting in front of a laptop somewhere.
• Don’t forget your name. If you want to remain nameless, that’s fine. There’s a certain comfort zone in the realm of anonymity. Again, if you’re trying to market your work and be recognized as a professional, be brave enough to use your name somewhere on your blog, perhaps linked to your personal photograph.
• Speaking of photographs…use ’em. Folks are visual people. We respond to creative, colorful, and tastefully used imagery. I use my own photos on my blog. I’m certainly not an expert, but I enjoy snapping pictures so that’s what I use. There are sites that offer use of their photos for free as long as you give due credit.
• Think positive. We all have bad days, sad times, and off seasons, but if your blog is a stream of constant negativity, that’s going to become a turn-off eventually. It’s your choice. Just be aware of it. (Your traffic will probably not increase, and any future career in writing/publishing may be grounded before it leaves the hangar.)

None of us are experts when we initially start a blog. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I’ve asked hundreds since starting and I’m still learning. (A big shout out to Jill Kemerer!) Talk to others in your genre who have a blog. Seek out advice from experts. Get the scoop from people you trust and those you admire.

I think a blog benefits writers for many reasons. It’s automatic networking. It’s inexpensive. It’s a way to improve our craft. There’s never been a better time to jump on board!

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What made you decide to start a blog? What advice might you add to the above list?