There’s no doubt that keeping a consistent blog is not an easy task. Even after all this time, I find myself sitting here some days, drumming my fingers, wondering if I’m going to be able to string two words together, let alone two sentences. Look at me, right now…
The ‘what to blog about’ problem can be a big one for many authors. No matter that there are 1000 blog posts out there titled ‘what should authors blog about‘ with lists of topics and subjects and ideas, authors will still come back with my least favourite word: But.
Or even, ‘yes, but’.
When you hear ‘yes, but’, you know that all the hours you’ve put into creating your list of 65 things for authors to blog about (okay, slight exaggeration, 5…) have been for nought. ‘Yes, but’ is usually followed by:
• I don’t want to blog about my personal life
• My life is boring
• I’m not comfortable sharing too much
• I don’t want to give away too much about my work in progress
• [insert reason of choice]
I’m going out on a limb here to say that if you find yourself saying ‘yes, but’ too often, chances are you simply don’t want to blog. And, you know what, that’s okay. It may be that it takes you hours to write a post and you’d rather be writing a novel. I understand that. Blogging consistently isn’t easy, but neither is it supposed to be Herculean in scale.
You don’t have to blog. If it’s difficult for you or uncomfortable for you or you simply don’t understand how it works, you’re better off not doing it.
For me, blogging for authors is about developing your voice and finding an audience for that voice. Your posts don’t need to be 1000 words long, they just need to evoke a reaction, a response, a connection. If you don’t want to blog, find another platform that comes easily to you and evoke your reactions, responses and connections there instead.
I’m a big advocate of blogging for authors, mostly because it gives you room to write. Manuscripts also give you room to write, I agree, but using all the aspects of your writing muscles only makes them stronger. I look at my blog as a nice break from the fiction writing and editing process. It’s also a good counterpoint to freelance writing, where I’m writing for someone else.
A blog also freshens up your website regularly, creates reasons for people to visit you often, and it gives you something to share – and for others to share for you.
When I’m sitting here, wondering what on earth to blog about, I tend to come back to three questions:
• what am I thinking about?
• what am I feeling?
• what can I do that’s useful?
And before I know it, I’ve got a blog post. Just like this one right here.
Like to know more about blogging for authors? My Build Your Author Platform course covers this and a whole lot more! Check it out here.
I find it’s either a feast or famine with blog ideas. I’ve learned to jot down ideas as they come to mind, just like story ideas. That way when I sit down and I’m void of a hot topic, I can jog my memory from my notebook. I do find though, the best posts are often just written on a whim.
That’s a great strategy Jodi!
I just love your blog posts, especially ones such as this that take away all the reasons for not blogging/writing. I have a procrastipup – well Jessie is thirteen now, but she thinks she is still a puppy.
Thanks! I’m glad you have a procrastipup too! Good luck with the blogging/writing. 🙂