If you're a fiction writer, you're told to have a blog.
But you write fiction.
So what do you blog about?
Some people suggest short stories, but some fiction authors need time to savor their characters, and cannot come up with an on the spot short with a steady beginning, middle, and end. Instead they end up with mush.
So what about them? If a blog is really necessary, what do they write about?
Get inside your ideal reader's head. What would they want to know? They probably don't care about what brand of food your cat eats, or that your 6 year old son just headed off for school today. They honestly don't care about you that much.
If your blog is going to connect with readers, it has to be all about them, not you.
So what can you do to help your reader?
Chances are if you put a question out there asking what they want to know - even if you have over a thousand fans on Facebook - you're not going to get an answer. Or you might get one lame question. People don't really even know what it is that they want half the time.
So how do you get them in?
What do you write? If you write Sci-Fi, for example, you can blog about the different worlds your characters go to, or the mechanics of the ships they travel in. Or you could talk about what influences your writing. Even talking with your fans about the latest Sci-Fi movie/tv series will connect you to them on FB and Twitter.
Let's say you write YA - again talking about the latest hot item in the YA market - music, books, movies can connect you to them. Putting in hair and make-up tips might be helpful. There's always quotes of encouragement to help with self-esteem.
Contemporary Women's Lit? If your book centers around baking, consider sharing recipes.
Suspense/Mystery? Challenge your reader with mini who-dun-its or send them on a blog scavenger hunt.
FOR ALL GENRES - don't forget art! We live in a visual society, so using drawings and other artwork to attract readers can give you an edge as well.
If you're having a hard time implementing this advice, you might consider talking to a beta reader about what parts of your book they wanted to know more of? What interested them? No matter what, engage your reader and keep them interested. Remember to make your blog "remarkable" -worth commenting on and wanting more from.
But you write fiction.
So what do you blog about?
Some people suggest short stories, but some fiction authors need time to savor their characters, and cannot come up with an on the spot short with a steady beginning, middle, and end. Instead they end up with mush.
So what about them? If a blog is really necessary, what do they write about?
Get inside your ideal reader's head. What would they want to know? They probably don't care about what brand of food your cat eats, or that your 6 year old son just headed off for school today. They honestly don't care about you that much.
If your blog is going to connect with readers, it has to be all about them, not you.
So what can you do to help your reader?
Chances are if you put a question out there asking what they want to know - even if you have over a thousand fans on Facebook - you're not going to get an answer. Or you might get one lame question. People don't really even know what it is that they want half the time.
So how do you get them in?
What do you write? If you write Sci-Fi, for example, you can blog about the different worlds your characters go to, or the mechanics of the ships they travel in. Or you could talk about what influences your writing. Even talking with your fans about the latest Sci-Fi movie/tv series will connect you to them on FB and Twitter.
Let's say you write YA - again talking about the latest hot item in the YA market - music, books, movies can connect you to them. Putting in hair and make-up tips might be helpful. There's always quotes of encouragement to help with self-esteem.
Contemporary Women's Lit? If your book centers around baking, consider sharing recipes.
Suspense/Mystery? Challenge your reader with mini who-dun-its or send them on a blog scavenger hunt.
FOR ALL GENRES - don't forget art! We live in a visual society, so using drawings and other artwork to attract readers can give you an edge as well.
If you're having a hard time implementing this advice, you might consider talking to a beta reader about what parts of your book they wanted to know more of? What interested them? No matter what, engage your reader and keep them interested. Remember to make your blog "remarkable" -worth commenting on and wanting more from.
What do you think?
What are you doing to keep your blog interesting? How often do you update?