I am often asked about blogging for authors. Specifically, why I blog. More specifically, why, as an author, I continue to have a blog when I could be writing other books.
I understand the question because I know how precious words are, how precious time is, and that the combination of time plus words can be SO difficult to come by.
But I always come back to the same answer. My blog is my home on the internet. Yes, I share things on Twitter and Facebook, on Instagram, and even on Pinterest, but this is my home.
Going to Facebook or Twitter or any of the other social media platforms is like visiting a cafe to talk to people and hang out. Blogging is inviting them home.
(As an aside, if you would like to read more about making the most of different social media platforms, see my Social Media For Writers series.)
Anyhoo, it occurs to me that I have been remiss over the past few weeks. I have been out in the world, chatting away and hanging out, and I have ignored the people who are at home. In the interests of good housekeeping then, I have created a round-up of news, information and advice from my adventures.
I went to Booktopia, and they filmed me (eek!) talking about The Mapmaker Chronicles. Anyone who understands my aversion to Instagram (and photographs of myself) will understand what an ordeal this was for me. But here it is:
I also visited (in the textual sense) Alphabet Soup mag. They asked me for my best tips for young writers, and you can read them here.
I loved this review of Prisoner of The Black Hawk by the awesome kid behind the Bookapedia blog.
And freelance writers might be interested in my career ‘game changing moment’, shared in this interview with Lisa Berson.
Today, I’m over at Writer Unboxed asking writers one important question: Are you ignoring your best ideas?
Well, that’s enough about me. Tell me about you, seeing as we’re sitting here in my home all cosy. Are you are a reader? What are you reading right now? Are you a writer? What are you working on?
Thanks for including my interview with you in your post Al, I missed this one earlier. Inviting readers home is a great perspective for me to think about in relation to blogging.
🙂
I love that quote of yours above how “blogging is inviting them home”. As a reader of quite a few blogs that is how I often feel reading blogs, that it’s an intimate conversation with the blogger in their home.
I agree Ingrid!
How did I miss this post? Gee you’re gettin’ about these day Al. So glad you come ‘home’ though. x
Hi there. Am reading, ‘We are all completely beside ourselves’ by Karen Joy Fowler (nearly finished). Am going to try and read the book club book next, even though it doesn’t really seem like my cup of tea, but it’s good to read different things. I am working on pitches and working on being brave enough to send them and have been writing some poems (just for fun).
p.s. I also meant to say that I really enjoyed the interview-not sure why you were worried about it, you came across so natural and articulate.
Thanks Lucia!
The great thing about the bookclub is that it forces you out of your comfort zone. It doesn’t always work, but every once in a while you discover a gem you’d otherwise never have read!
Very true, some of the best books I’ve read, weren’t supposed to be my cup of tea- and some that I thought I would love, as everyone else did-I couldn’t even finish. The book arrived today, funnily enough, so will get stuck into over the weekend. 🙂
Great post, Allison! I’ve just finished reading ‘The fictional woman’ by Tara Moss and next to read is Emily Bitto’s ‘The strays’. I’m about to start taking some creative writing classes at my kids’ primary school so I have some planning to do for that. And now that school holidays have finished, I can start work on the next draft of my children’s novel!
Thanks Karen – good luck with the classes! I really enjoy the writing group I do at my sons’ school. And good luck also with the novel!
I think this is a great post Allison. I’m reading ‘Better than Before’ by Gretchen Rubin. I’m writing a couple of short stories as they are my homework for a creative writing course that I am doing.
Thanks Cathy! Do you follow Gretchen Rubin on Facebook? She’s very good at it!
That was a fantastic interview (nice jacket).
(re) Reading: Last Summer of the Camperdowns because someone wants me to write a review of it…
Writing: A Powerpoint presentation for someone.
You are pretty much taking over my life. x
I thought you might appreciate the jacket – and you are very busy for me, it is true!
Hi Allison
Reading: Loving ‘The Tea Chest’ by Josephine Moon.
Writing: I’ve spent the weekend catching up on AWC podcasts. Now I have notes of websites to look at and things I need to do!
I did note you mentioning in a podcast about creating your own graphics and that is something I need to figure out how to do.
Like Yvette my to-do list is growing!
I use Canva and PicMonkey to do my graphics – they make it so easy! And my To Do list is never-ending, so join the club!
Reading: also not long started “On Writing” by Stephen King. I am a new writer, who is taking really serious her new passion!
Next in Line: I really have a long list!!
Writing: I am seriously getting informed on how to steucture and publish a Blog. I will start with one writing in my daily experiences in writing. I will install scrivener on my computer this week and start to write my first draft!!!!! Wow
Ooh, On Writing is one of my favourites! And good luck with your blog and your book!
Reading: not long started ‘Foreign Fruit’ (Jojo Moyes)
Next in line: ‘Race to the end of the world’ – nothing like a bit of variety. Thanks booktopia 😉
Writing: on the blog & my work in progress – only 1283 words in, but now that I have some medical answers from my ICU nurse friend, I can get a wriggle on again. Onwards!
Onwards indeed!