When I decided to move my writing and publishing posts to the new blog on my editing website, that left me wondering, “What am I going to write about here?”
It was the same question I asked myself when I started this blog. I spent some time testing the waters and soon enough gravitated towards writing about writing.
You see, I like writing about writing.
But that’s not what this blog is going to be anymore.
Another thing I’ve learned over the last two years is your website should serve a purpose. My editing website is geared toward aspiring novelists. It will be structured in such a way that I’m actively trying to “grow traffic,” as they say. In other words, extend my reach to aspiring writers.
An author blog is a little different. Some authors use their blogs to try to draw traffic to their site and (therefore) sell more copies of their books. They blog to their market. In this case I could blog about fantasy, books, stuff that interests teens (as if I know), or things that would interest my adult readers. You know, stuff to draw in my market.
I gotta say straight up, I’ve decided that is not what I’m going to try to do with this blog. I do have ways of finding new readers (signings and events are my favorite of those methods), so it’s not that I don’t care about that. Obviously, I like the idea of readers continuing to discover my books.
But over the last two years, any time I’ve written something specifically to build traffic or attract readers or whatever, I’m not crazy about what I wrote. (In fact, I think those few posts have been deleted.)
But every now and then, this blog became a vehicle for me to express myself in a completely unfiltered way.
My posts about Robin William’s death and my dysfunctional loyalty to books are two examples.
I must admit, it’s not always easy for me to write like this. Every now and then these posts come out naturally. Something in me bubbles up enough to overcome the little voice in my head saying, “Don’t write that! And definitely don’t publish it!”
That’s a voice I’d like to pulverize for good and forever.
Seriously.
There are so many things in my head I’m afraid to put out into the world.
‘Tis not good.
I like it when I’ve written something that silences that wicked, little voice.
Those blog posts do nothing for my “career” and don’t necessarily “build my platform.” But they’re honest. And I’ve received enough comments about them that I know they resonate with someone.
Which brings me back to the purpose of this blog.
Some authors use their blog as a window into their lives. Some readers go to an author’s blog because that’s what they’re looking for.
It may be a small number of people who care, but that’s what this blog will be. Just a window into my life. Just a voice. No more and no less.
So for those of you who don’t care (and that’s okey dokey with me) and really care more about the writing and publishing posts I’ve done in the past, bookmark my brand new sparkly editing blog or (better yet) subscribe to posts so you don’t miss out.
For the rest of you, if you care to hang and chat with me, I’ll be here.
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