I received the following questions from a writer named Regina:
Hi Cecelia,
Is your latest book project almost done? I think it had a Key West backdrop.
>>>My novel, First Mates, was set in Miami. I’m revising an old project right now and I plan to self-publish that short novel late this year or early next year.
I had to put my book on hold for awhile. I wanted to ask about websites and their prices. Do you think that writers need to have a website just for poetry?
>>>Poetry? I know next to nothing about poetry since I seldom read it. If you’d like to sell your poetry (I’m assuming you have a book of poems) then it’d probably be best to have a website. That way, other poetry lovers can find you and they might purchase your book.
How effective are blogs? What do you think of them?
>>>Blogs are kind of tricky. Meaning, you have to update often, interact with others regularly, in order for them to be effective. How effective are they? It’s hard to say. I’ve heard some writers say that they can get more effective interaction with social media, like Facebook and Twitter, instead of their blogs. I’ve also heard of writers abandoning their blogs entirely, while focusing on social media. You just have to do what’s best for you.
>>>I recently attended the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers conference and blogs were discussed. You might want to start slow, like, maybe, one blog post per week. As you gain more momentum, you might want to increase your blog posts to two or more per week. At the conference, they mentioned it’s best to pick a schedule and STICK TO YOUR SCHEDULE! I’m not very good with sticking to a blogging schedule anymore. My life has gotten so hectic that I just blog whenever I feel like it. That works for me, but, if you’re starting out with a new blog, I’m not sure if that would be effective? It’s hard to say which blogging method would work – it’s all a process of trial and error.
I’ve been trying to put a budget together to see what are very good options that I can venture into to get an audience for my work.
>>>If I were you, I’d try blogging as well as social media. Try to find other blogs that focus on the same demographic as yours, comment and interact with those people, and they might come to your blog and interact with you. Again, it’s hard to say what will work. Thanks for writing to me, Regina! It was good to hear from you!
Thanks Cecelia. As an aspiring author, I thought that all there was to do was write. However, I’ve found that there is a business part of writing that has to be carefully thought through. Creating a website, and or creating a blog. How to find an audience for my work? Questions that have been on my mind but just didn’t know what to do.I’m thankful that you’ve open the conversation up for discussion.
Best wishes to you on your new book project.
Thanks, Regina
You are welcome, Regina! Hopefully, my advice will help you with the path you choose to follow regarding your blog, website, or social media.
I’m a perfectionist when I write and to be honest I love to write but , I hate the fact that I have to put all of me into my writing and allow me to biefly explain exactly what I mean whenever I’m searching to word my sentences build create my characters make my sentences or words flow I find myself always perfecting or trying to perfect my work as a new writer what do you suggest and eventhough I never had my work published I’ve been writing for years everytime I feel as thugh I’m stil a new writer thank you Tom
Hi, Tom
If I were you, I’d just write the first draft of the book without editing. Just write and get the story out of you. Then, after your first draft is done, I’d go back and correct, make changes, check out your logic, etc. This method has always worked best for me.