Tag Archives: Social Media Networking

May 19, 2011 · 3:56 pm

Why do Writers Blog? or To Blog or not to Blog?

Some people have asked me why I write a blog when I could be concentrating on my current novel and as usual I cannot generalise but can only give my personal points of view. Here are some of my thoughts on the matter:

  1. Promotion The obvious reason, initially, was to promote my debut novel ‘Riduna’ by writing a variety of topics which might interest a target reader, such as pertinent places, people and events. A fun way to link up with like minded people.
  2. Writing Background Information to my novel Secondly it gave me an opportunity to write about my research for ‘Riduna’ giving more background information to my readers not available on my website.
  3. Advertise News of Events It freed my from the constraints of my website which I had no control over, so that between my diary blog and my theme blog I could advertise events etc without continually contacting my Webmaster.  (as he hides in his capsule – Do not Disturb! – I’m busy with more technical stuff – Only Joking Peter if you’re reading this!)
  4. Writing about writing I didn’t want my blog to be just a writer’s blog about writing – excellent though some of the ones I’ve read are –  on why, how and what I write – but I did want to explore the way in which I write and describe, not only how my writing has developed over the last few years, ever honing my skills, but also share my mistakes and frustrations along the way. Writing is like teaching. It is a continuous learning curve and the time you think you’ve got it almost perfect is probably the time to give up.
  5. Topical Posts A blog is an ideal opportunity for a novel writer like myself, to write about a variety topics, in fact whatever’s on my mind at the time. These are my ‘one off’ blogs when I share personal thoughts and experiences.
  6. It is a platform to reach an audience sometimes the unexpected. You never know who is reading your posts.  My highest number of readers on a day is 65. That’s great because the graphs show a steady increase month by month. A few respond, not always by leaving a comment but usually by sharing a tweet on twitter or writing on facebook.
  7.  Social Media Networking I’m excited to follow in the footsteps of some famous authors in discovering the way that Twitter, Facebook and blogs all link up and each seem to generate a different type of audience. My understanding of how it all works has been a little slow off the mark but I’m on a journey and it’s an exciting one.
  8. Two way communication I was talking to a Journalist of a national newspaper and it was interesting to think that his readers are on the whole faceless and voiceless. Almost the moment I have published my blog I can be reached by readers from all over the world. One moment I have made a lady in Canada feel homesick for the island of her birth and on another I’m reached by a lady in Australia whose literature teacher at school was similar to mine. 

So why do I blog? Because I enjoy doing it!

Next post in this theme ‘Is a Blog Writer a Real Writer?’ comments on a postcard please and sent asap

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Filed under Blogs, Marketing your novel, Riduna, Writing

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March 28, 2011 · 12:36 pm

Internet v Bookshops – No competition!

My enthusiastic promotion of real bookshops does not mean that I underestimate the essential role of the internet in book sales, although I must admit in the early days of publication of Riduna I was totally oblivious of its power. In my ignorance I threw myself into book signings, personal contact to bookshops, whose customers I believed would enjoy the novel due to links to myself here in Bedfordshire or in Southampton and The Channel Islands. A friend had advised me that I could not rely on, or even expect my publisher to make contact to everyone. In fact, as a bookshop owner himself, he implied that even if they did, nine times out of ten their leaflets would be ignored, simply because I was an unknown writer.

So it was not until after the book was launched that I had a website up and running and it was not until later, in December 2009, that I joined up to Twitter and began blogging. As my previous posts have explained in more detail. See posts:     

Website Alright                                                                                   Blabbering Blog

                                                       To Meet and Tweet                                                              A Facebook Reflection

I now try to keep up to date with Media Networking, even though at times I find it munches away minutes I desire to focus wholeheartedly on my writing. Nevertheless I have enjoyed connecting with people, including writers though #amwriting on Twitter, and many have become on line friends.

My publisher have of course put the novel for sale on their website and launched it on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. too, and now Riduna is also for sale through Wizzbuzz, The Guernsey Society on line bookshop and the majority of online bookstores including Smiths, Waterstones, LoveReading, Tesco and Asda.

So if I was to give advice to authors it would be:

  • Have your website set up before the launch of your first novel so that it can go on any publicity materials
  • Build up a following on Twitter before the launch of your novel
  • Begin a blog getting your writing out there on the internet as soon as you can. It is a place where everyone can appreciate the style of your writing, from publishers to readers to book sellers
  • Let all your friends and family know via facebook what is happening and have a virtual launch as well as an actual one.
  • Make an author or book page on facebook. I have still not got to grips with this yet although I do have an author page. Some people say they have had difficulty finding it, so it certainly needs me to understand it more. Here is a link to Diana Jackson-Author on facebook.

Having said that, i am far confident that i’m more street wise for the launch of my next novel now, and the experience is a steep learning curve and an adventure. learning is half the fun.

 Finally I would suggest, especially if your writing time precious, that you try to set yourself some rules to avoid frustration, a blog theme I will revisit when i’ve got to grips with it myself.

How do you promote your work on the internet? I’d love to hear from you.

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