I just thought it would make a good blog title, but now I've got that damn Dolly Parton song stuck in my head.
I finished yet another crap first draft about midnight last night (see earlier LI post on my embracing my ugly inner artist) which makes two novellas in about a week and a half. Now I have to go back and flesh in the not-so-lovely bones of one of my earlier literary monsterpieces.
I staggered in to view email this mornng -- already disgruntled to find I'm out of V8-Fusion -- and I saw that I have a blog due yet again. And four sets of edits.
I have no idea what to talk about this morning. Other than the fact that I desperately want this year to be over.
Coincidentally this week I received a questionaire from another publisher asking about blogs. What blogs do I read, what blog topics do I enjoy, blah, blah, blog.
I increasingly think that blogs as a whole may be past their prime. I've been saying that for two years, of course, so I could be wrong. Another publisher sent an invitation to a course in learning Twitter...and I can't make up my mind about that one either, although it certainly seems less time consuming.
So I think I'll leave ths post to be answered by readers -- and if no readers respond, well, fellow writers, I think we may have our answer.
Readers...
1 - Do you read publisher blogs?
2 - What blogs, if any, do you read?
3 - What topics interest you?
4 - What topics don't interest you?
5 - How would you like to interact with writers and publishers if not through blogs?
6 - Any other thoughts about blogs?
7 - Any other thoughts not about blogs?
20 comments:
1 - Do you read publisher blogs?
It really depends on the content of the blogs and if I like the books they are publishing. Right now the only publisher blog I follow is Carina Press because they have great content and I <3 their books!
2 - What blogs, if any, do you read? I have 86 blogs that I follow my Google Reader. They are a combination of book review blogs, personal friends and actually most of what I follow are author blogs. I'm more likely to follow author blogs rather than publisher.
3 - What topics interest you?
I enjoy posts about everyday life. I also really enjoy reading about the writing/editing/publishing process from the author's perspective.
4 - What topics don't interest you?
Straight out marketing, for the most part, turns me right off!
5 - How would you like to interact with writers and publishers if not through blogs? The Twitter is actually a good thing dude! I follow most of my favorite author's via Twitter. It gives me small glimpses into their lives and allows me to interact in real time if I want to.
6 - Any other thoughts about blogs?
I like blogs, I like the ones I follow but I'm following them because I was already a fan or because someone I was already following mentioned someone else. I can honestly say that author's blogs I follow - I've purchased every single title they have written or am in the process of getting their back list. Because once I've fallen I want to support my peeps!
7 - Any other thoughts not about blogs? I think that Double Stuffed Oreos are the best cookie ever made. I wish that I could quit my job and read fiction full time just for fun. I would love to be in a M/F/M menage. Oh yeah, I also sadly neglect my blog because I'm too busy reading others!
PS - I also follow this blog, the Loose ID blog, too. Cause I'm a smut slut at heart.
I am so totally with you on that Double Oreos thing! *g*
Thanks for the thoughtful answers, Tina. I actually did sign up for Carina Press's twitter seminar, although I have yet to be convinced that it won't turn out to be the straw that broke the camel's back.
One thing I do really like about the LI blog is its ease of use. It's got to be the simplest of the publisher blogs I participate in. And thank heavens for that.
Josh, I almost think that Twitter is better in today's world. Sadly many people can't seem express themselves in more than 140 characters. Twitter is also much easier to follow and respond to. For instance, I read all my blogs on Google. If I want to actually respond (which I usually don't) I have to click through to the blog, sometimes it wants me to register (which I wont' do) or sign in through Google....whatever. It can be a hassle. But Twitter, I open up my TweetDeck at home and can follow conversations and replies are as easy as a click of a button.
Good luck finding what fits for you.
1 - Do you read publisher blogs?
This is the only publisher blog that I read. LI has some of my favorite authors and I love to hear what they have to say.
2 - What blogs, if any, do you read?
I will follow my favorite authors blogs but that is about it.
3 - What topics interest you?
I am all over the board on what interest me. Depends on the day and time.
4 - What topics don't interest you?
See above. :)
5 - How would you like to interact with writers and publishers if not through blogs?
The only other way I interact is through Yahoo groups.
6 - Any other thoughts about blogs?
I'm fairly new to all of this, so I find all this interesting.
7 - Any other thoughts not about blogs?
Not really.
I must say that I do love your books, so however you write keep it up.
1 - Do you read publisher blogs?
I read this one, but I just started about two weeks ago, and stumbled onto it cause you had posted.
2 - What blogs, if any, do you read?
I subscribe to @ 25 via Google Reader. All but three are M/M author blogs - Loose Ends, JesseWave and my nieces YA book review site.
3 - What topics interest you?
M/M books obviously. I like a variety of topics on Blogs, mostly I just want the posts themselves to be well written.
4 - What topics don't interest you?
I am pretty wide open to what someone wants to speak about - just reference the answer to number 4.
5 - How would you like to interact with writers and publishers if not through blogs?
I do not think I would. I am not about The Twitter. I do not really want to know that much detail. The venue makes it way to easy to post without thinking. Why would I care what you had for breakfast unless you are going to share the recipe.
6 - Any other thoughts about blogs?
If you are going to have one, please update it more then every 18 months. If your coming soon section, okay this is mainly for websites, has work that was published 5 months ago you are not paying attention.
Ditto what Tina said about marketing only posts.
One of my favorite blogs is by Jordan Castillo Price. Yeah she is marketing herself, but she is doing it with style and great content. I have no desire to ever write a book, but I read all her posts and listen to her podcast cause it is great info given in an entertaining manner.
7 - Any other thoughts not about blogs?
I am not sure if this is the norm or not, but when I find an author that is writing great books and has an on-line presence I try and purchase their works in the way that best supports them, directly from their sites when available and from the publisher instead of distribution sites. Some of that is because I want to read things the day they come out, but mostly I am glad to support good work.
As soon as I read the name of your post I began singing that Dolly Parton song - Dolly is AWESOME!
Double Stuff Oreos are ewwww. I am all about all the lard that you can intake, but it puts the cookie to stuff ratio off.
All I want for Christmas is a follow-up story to The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks.
I have been listening to the Fair Game and Dark Tide playlists for the last few weeks. You have stellar taste in music.
I really hate it when we present a problem at work and upper management turns it around and asks us how would we fix it. Is that why they get the big bucks?
You today get to be upper management?
1. yes
2. not on a regular basis - but I activated that auto feed thing when they are available - mostly author blogs, sometimes epub blogs
3. romance, mystery, traveling, gossip
4. horror or just mankind being stupid and mean to others
5. I would like to attend a conference sometime - just never have
6. nope
7. nope
1 - Do you read publisher blogs?
I read Redlines and Deadlines (Ellora's Cave. Sometimes others if I'm interested enough to follow a link.
2 - What blogs, if any, do you read?
A couple of author friends, a couple I'm jointly on as an author.
3 - What topics interest you?
Everything and nothing
4 - What topics don't interest you?
Nothing specific though I don't like reading the same pushy marketing info in blog after blog.
5 - How would you like to interact with writers and publishers if not through blogs?
No idea. I don't tweet and I'm only just getting to grips with facebook but I feel that has the same issues as blogs.
6 - Any other thoughts about blogs?
I think most of those who read are other authors. Not to say they don't have any interest in their fellow authors but I don't think it's a useful vehicle for linking with readers. At least, my blog isn't. I've tried all sorts of things to generate traffic and not succeeded. I've assiduously followed other people's blogs and commented but its rarely reciprocated. The only use I find for mine is that it allows me to post details of upcoming books as I can't easily update my website. (Techno nerd) It's easy to post in blogger.
BUT - it's very hard to think of things to say that are interesting - particularly that haven't been said before. I see the visit counter move up but because people rarely comment, I have no idea whether they even read what I write.
7 - Any other thoughts not about blogs?
Oh yes, lots but the big one today is how to persuade my son's dog to let me clean its teeth.
Tina, those are all good points, and I do think -- given the speed and ease of Twitter -- it makes sense that it's exploded in popularity.
Tiffany, your comment fascinates me because it mirrors almost exactly my former web interactions. It makes me think that there does need to be a combination of things -- but it's more time intensive to blog and to respond to blogs, as Tina points out. And I know I do resent having to sign in everywhere and do the word verification stuff (which half the time doesn't work). It's unwieldy. Good perspective.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. And I'm so glad you enjoy my work!
1 - Do you read publisher blogs?
I read this one, but I just started about two weeks ago, and stumbled onto it cause you had posted.
Hello, Trouble! *g*
2 - What blogs, if any, do you read?
I subscribe to @ 25 via Google Reader.
How do people manage to follow all those blogs and news feeds?!
3 - What topics interest you?
M/M books obviously. I like a variety of topics on Blogs, mostly I just want the posts themselves to be well written.
I'm pretty much the same way. A well-written post will rope me in on a topic I really don't have a lot of stake in.
5 - How would you like to interact with writers and publishers if not through blogs?
I do not think I would. I am not about The Twitter. I do not really want to know that much detail. The venue makes it way to easy to post without thinking. Why would I care what you had for breakfast unless you are going to share the recipe.
Note to self: INCLUDE RECIPES.
6 - Any other thoughts about blogs?
If you are going to have one, please update it more then every 18 months. If your coming soon section, okay this is mainly for websites, has work that was published 5 months ago you are not paying attention.
I know. Mine's not that bad, but I need to get on the webguy to do some updates.
Ditto what Tina said about marketing only posts.
There has to be a balance.
One of my favorite blogs is by Jordan Castillo Price. Yeah she is marketing herself, but she is doing it with style and great content. I have no desire to ever write a book, but I read all her posts and listen to her podcast cause it is great info given in an entertaining manner.
I do consistently hear that about Jordan's podcasts.
7 - Any other thoughts not about blogs?
I am not sure if this is the norm or not, but when I find an author that is writing great books and has an on-line presence I try and purchase their works in the way that best supports them, directly from their sites when available and from the publisher instead of distribution sites. Some of that is because I want to read things the day they come out, but mostly I am glad to support good work.
And I have to say as an author, I do appreciate the readers who make that extra effort. Then again, with ebook piracy so rampant, I'm grateful readers buy at all. I can see the day coming when even the best writers simply can't afford to write as anythign more than an occasional hobby.
As soon as I read the name of your post I began singing that Dolly Parton song - Dolly is AWESOME!
ALL DAY that song was in my head.
Double Stuff Oreos are ewwww. I am all about all the lard that you can intake, but it puts the cookie to stuff ratio off.
Kind of like people who eat the potato chips plain and throw out the dip to chip ratio.
All I want for Christmas is a follow-up story to The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks.
Well, not this Christmas, but possibly 2012.
I have been listening to the Fair Game and Dark Tide playlists for the last few weeks. You have stellar taste in music.
That makes me happy. I'm glad you're enjoying the playlists.
I really hate it when we present a problem at work and upper management turns it around and asks us how would we fix it.
Yes, but when we fix it for you, you tell us we fixed it wrong and we should have let you do it. ;-P
Is that why they get the big bucks?
That was one of the reasons. But the big bucks weren't enough and the chain finally snapped. :-D
You today get to be upper management?
Cue Babwa
1. yes
2. not on a regular basis - but I activated that auto feed thing when they are available - mostly author blogs, sometimes epub blogs
3. romance, mystery, traveling, gossip
4. horror or just mankind being stupid and mean to others
5. I would like to attend a conference sometime - just never have
6. nope
7. nope
Thank you for filling out our automated form. All responses will be treated as confidential.
The Management
;-D
I think most of those who read are other authors. Not to say they don't have any interest in their fellow authors but I don't think it's a useful vehicle for linking with readers. At least, my blog isn't. I've tried all sorts of things to generate traffic and not succeeded. I've assiduously followed other people's blogs and commented but its rarely reciprocated.
Ah. I know I'm guilty of that. I'm delighted when other authors comment on my blog, but I can only rarely reciprocate. Not that I wouldn't like to, but I just don't apparently have those kind of time management skills. But I figure in a way that's okay because I actually do have mostly readers (and a fair number of them) reading and commenting on my blog, and writers who comment there do catch their eye and often get a nice little plug from their own insightful comments. So sometimes that generosity gets repaid in ways you don't even realize.
honestly The only use I find for mine is that it allows me to post details of upcoming books as I can't easily update my website. (Techno nerd) It's easy to post in blogger.
I've been thinking of moving to Blogger. Not leaving LJ necessarily, but LJ is such its own little culture.
BUT - it's very hard to think of things to say that are interesting - particularly that haven't been said before. I see the visit counter move up but because people rarely comment, I have no idea whether they even read what I write.
Only a tiny percentage of readers actually comment. But then again, only a tiny percentage of blogs have more than four loyal readers (I think that's actually a global average).
One of the better blog strategies is to comment regularly on popular general writing interest blogs -- Jessewave's is a prime example. In fact, I'd say Wave currently has the premier m/m site for interaction between readers and writers. IMHO. Or maybe I think so because it's the only one I hang out at. ;-)
7 - Any other thoughts not about blogs?
Oh yes, lots but the big one today is how to persuade my son's dog to let me clean its teeth.
Tug of war rag with toothpaste?
I think most of those who read are other authors. Not to say they don't have any interest in their fellow authors but I don't think it's a useful vehicle for linking with readers. At least, my blog isn't. I've tried all sorts of things to generate traffic and not succeeded. I've assiduously followed other people's blogs and commented but its rarely reciprocated.
This may be true for many of us. But, I was a reader long before I wrote. I still read (blogs and books) *grin*.
Evanne, I think for most of us once we make the jump to writing it simply becomes a matter of time and priorities. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy visiting favorite writers' blogs, it's that I simply don't have time anymore.
The ironic thing about becoming a fulltime writer is it requires you to give up or cut back on a lot of the activities that made you want to become a writer in the first place. ;-P
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