So I had a talk with someone smarter than me, which probably doesn’t narrow the list down. This led to some enlightenment and a realization that I need to do something different next year. It also made me realize something:
This blog was meant to be about my writing.
I do need to market myself to some extent, but not to the point where I’m leaving my entire life bare. Maybe this is part of the social media landscape, but I hear a lot of people believing that everything should be out there. Well, I’ve never been comfortable doing that and I shouldn’t force it. My life is my life and this arena is supposed to be the part where I discuss writing and my books. Not where I rant, reveal family events, and do things that really should remain here. I think I wandered away from the true purpose and 2015 will be about changing that. It will be a 2 step event:
- The blog will focus on writing. I will post weekly excerpts, character chats, my thoughts on writing, and maybe even answering questions. I’ll be retaining the MWF posts with reblogs of sales and debuts because I don’t want to leave my fellow authors in the dust. I will also keep the Goal posts in some form on the weekend and that may be the extent of my personal stuff.
- I will be looking into getting an Author Site. Not a blog, but a professional site that will be updated as progress on the books are made. I really don’t know what I’m doing here since all I know is WordPress blogging. This is something I’ll tackle after the New Year unless I stumble onto a fount of information.
So that’s where the blog and me are standing. There might even be a week or two of relative silence here with only reblogging. I don’t know. Well, back to whatever it was I was doing before I decided to write this.
Legends of Windemere 
I started out that way too but it evolved to what it is now. What I know about writing, publishing and marketing you can put in a thimble! I am learning step by step!
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Same here. That’s why I cutting back my posting schedule too. I think I spent too much time trying to please everyone and put my original goal for this blog on the back burner.
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The main takeaway is not to force it. Do what feels natural. It’s sounded like you’ve been under a lot of stress lately, and there’s no point in adding to that. 🙂
As to what the blog should be about, again, whatever you think it should be about. My marketing strategy can be summed up as follows (I’ve already scheduled a post on that, due Dec 30th): if people like what you’re saying, they’ll like what you’re selling. Just my two cents 🙂
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Stress is certainly taking its toll. The cut back on posts will help with that, so I just gotta make it to January.
That’s the confusing part for me. People have told me they want everything, so I think I have to play to the one person who will definitely read every blog post: Me. I have to be comfortable with the material. As for the author site, I’ve been told that I should create something that is more static in form than a blog. The front page of this thing changes so often that the news of an upcoming release fades away after a day.
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Charles – if I’ve learned anything, it’s that dedicated ‘Book Websites’ other than Amazon, Smashwords, etc, Do Not Work – why? – because there is no way to follow or subscribe to them!
That’s where blogging (especially on WordPress) comes into it’s own.
People get to see and know the PERSON behind the BOOKS.
My advice?
Keep blogging – but (as you said above, have THIS blog to be dedicated to YOU (the author person) AND your books…
You’ve already got followers (faithful and otherwise) – show who they are.
Show the world how many followers you have.
Continue to interact with commenters.
Continue to have other authors as your guests.
Pace your blogging to suit your real life, as well as your authors needs to write.
Don’t give up…
😀
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I’m going to keep the blog going. The website is more of a business one that will be updated solely during major book announcements. As someone pointing out, blogs only gain the attention of other bloggers. This is good, but it doesn’t help me branch to other audiences. So having an Author website AND a blog would hit up both areas. The site might even bring more attention to the blog too.
There is the newsletter option, but I already have enough on my plate. Though if I ever get to a bigger level of activity, I could do something like that. I know a few indie authors who have a subscription function on their website.
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You can have your website / blog on subscription through Amazon Charles 😀
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How much creativity would that allow? Also, I’m not sure I want to get that far into bed with Amazon just yet. I’m already KDP Select, but I want to have some autonomy.
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I will follow whatever you decide.I think Chris has some good advice.
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He does. Though I’m not leaving WordPress. Just creating another site to go along with it as the professional hub.
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Sounds like the makings of a resolution. You do what you have to do, I enjoy your posts either way.
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Thanks. It’s definitely going to be a big shift. I might not tackle the website until February.
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You were talking about taking a break. Maybe this is just a different kind of break. One of the other commenters said to do what you feel comfortable with, and I second that. But also, it’s okay to take a break if it gives you space for fresh ideas and to recharge your muse.
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Thanks. The muse is doing fine right now, but I do plan on taking a break soon. I’ll be taking a 2-3 week low activity period after next week. More or less. The next book will be out, so I’ll only have to do daily tweets and FB posts. The son will be on break too, so I’ll get to spend my days playing games with him.
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Hurray, Charles! Great decision without a quibble. You’re on the right track. Now everything will make sense!
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Sense? Not sure I would go that far. 😉
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