"If authors have a strong web presence, whether it's just a website, or better yet, a blog that they regularly post to and update, then they're driving readers who already have an interest in their topic to to their site. If authors can get linked into the communities that comprise their readership, then they're way ahead of the game." Brooke Warner, acquisitions editor at Seal Press, in the June 2007 Writer's Digest
I stumbled upon this article right before my ETCWC presentation. I couldn't wait to share it with other writers. According to the article, Seal Press encourages authors to set up websites before their book comes out. There are a few things I see stand in the way of this: money, skills, and time. Blogs can break down those barriers because they require minimal money and skills. You still have to make time, but you have to spend time marketing your book anyway.
The focus of the article is how much of your content to give away, so Jenna Glatzer covers more than just blogs in the piece. A big take away from the article would be to limit your promotional time, whether through blogs or other means. "If you spend more time on your blog than writing your book, something's off, " she says.
That is something to be aware of, but don't let it deter you from blogging. Barbara Curtis and Susan Albert are two examples of how blog writing and book writing can co-exist in an author's life. Though a lot of their blog content is either directly or indirectly related to their books, that's not a hard and fast rule. For example, Jenna (the article author) takes her "promotional cap off" on her blog and talks more about the non-writing parts of her life. Either way readers become a bit more familiar with the authors through their blogs, which is strengthens the authors' web presence. Can people find you on the web?
Now, go get your blog on.
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