First I want to talk quickly about A-Z. I did survive, barely. It was truly a rewarding experience. I got to meet some new bloggers. I got great advice, learned some history, found out about garden gnomes. It was taxing, but I honestly can't wait to try it all again next April.
IWSG
This post is less about insecurity and more about my observation. I am starting to get this blogging thing down. It isn't so much that I have all the kinks worked out, but more so that I am starting to feel comfortable with the idea of my purpose here.
For a writer, blogs are so important. Think of your favorite author. If you are like me you have scoured the internet looking for interviews or websites anything to do with them. As a reader we get attached to the books, but also ultimately attached to the author.
The version of yourself you put out there in your blog is one of the first impressions a person could get about your writing. You want to have a person/people love to come see what you say and to find you fun or interesting or both. When it comes time for them to put some money down on your writing they might say, "Hey, I like that person. Sure, let's see how the writing is."
I think that the age we live in it is easy to get lost among the masses of other books and entertainment out there. You can do everything right and still never find your audience. One way to start bringing people in is to let them see the person behind the words.
Anyway, this is just my observation. As always, have fun and keep writing.
That's exactly it! My first book reached so many new readers because people followed my blog and ended up buying my book just because they liked me. (And kept reading the series when they decided they liked the book as well.) Blogs are our way of keeping contact and letting people know who we are as a person.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a theme yet for next year's Challenge?
Congrats on making it through the challenge! I agree with your observations about blogging. I haven't even published a book yet, but I wanted to get into blogging to start putting myself out there.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your observations about blogging as well. It's why I started a blog in the first place. Still having published yet, but that's coming.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on surviving the A to Z Challenge!
In my case, people see the different ways I can write by following my blog. They learn about my writing styles, if not the writer himself.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a well-thought out observation. Exposure to such interesting bloggers has challenged me as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Brandon! One way to win over an audience is to let that audience get to know you.
ReplyDeleteSpot-on observation!
ReplyDeleteThe writer him/herself matters as well, not just the books. Blogs are one of the perfect places to network, engage new readers, and keep fans in the loop. And its funny I've been struggling with this actually and trying to figure out if the side of "me" I highlight on my blog is the right one. I'm even working on a "public persona" post . . . so now I'm reading this and I'm like: yes, yes, nod, yes! lol
So true Brandon...and how great it was to get to know you during the AtoZ Challenge. Now that I know you, I am excited to read your book, which I have downloaded to my Kindle. Blogging has been a place of self discovery for me....I doubt if I would have ever began writing if not for my blog.
ReplyDeleteSue at CollectInTexas Gal
You're quite right. It's great when we think of an author as a friend and we know something about how the person's mind works. I'm more likely to buy an indie book when I feel as if I know the author.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I'm still trying to figure out the purpose of my blog and I've been doing it for a couple of years now. I like when an author makes him/herself available to their readers. It makes them more relatable.
ReplyDeleteHow long have you been blogging? And so many like you already. Yes, you're right. People knowing you and liking you helps when you're a writer. Not to mention all the nice friends you get to make.
ReplyDeleteIt's really important to me to like the authors I'm reading. In the past year, I've tried out a good handful of books by authors I got to know through blogging or Goodreads; I bought their books because I already liked their personalities and approachable feel.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Blogging is a great way to let people learn more about you. I've taken a chance on several authors simply because I liked their online personalities, and I've stuck with some authors whose work I didn't really like because they are so nice!
ReplyDeleteFirst, congratulations on completing the A-Z.
ReplyDeleteI went through several "purposes" with my blog before I settled on the one I like best - giving people a laugh, which it strange since I write mostly crime drama. Go figure.
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