I do not really believe in writing blogs about writing until one has reached some point of writing success. I don't want to write about something I know nothing about.
But I know a little bit now. I've taken the beatings of writing workshops for the past two years, I have actually gotten partial and manuscript requests, and I'm a paid journalist, free-lancer, and ghost-blogger. That's pretty sweet.
I've heard two trends of thought on prospective authors blogging--one I heard from the esteemed Molly Jaffa at a writing conference, and the other I see reiterated again and again from various writing blogs online. The two ideas do not conflict so much as balance. Per Ms. Jaffa, it does not look good for authors to gripe and whine about the publishing industry, or give advice on things they really know nothing about. If an agent googles you and finds out you have angsty anti-agent anger issues, they want to steer clear. On the other hand, "they say" people need to be able to see you, and prospective agents and publishers like knowing you have a following. I got an e-mail just yesterday from author Mike Duran describing how he met his agent through an online blog--it appears the publishing world's all about networking. Good writing, of course, but also a fair sprinkle of luck and networking.
All that said, I had hoped to somehow make use of my following on The How Not To Blog when it comes to this publicity stuff, but I'm realizing more and more that my readership there revolves more around a transient interest in the sporadic topics than in a dedicated following. In other words, people come there to get the facts from me on their particular topic, not to stick around and read the next blog post. Hopefully some of those folks can transfer over into my fiction-writing-world, but I know the probability of that happening lies somewhere in the 1/8000 margin mark.
So here I am in the Brave New Internet, talking again to an audience of nil. Beginning at the beginning, for that is the very best place to start. Here, I will talk about fiction, and fictional things will happen.
But I know a little bit now. I've taken the beatings of writing workshops for the past two years, I have actually gotten partial and manuscript requests, and I'm a paid journalist, free-lancer, and ghost-blogger. That's pretty sweet.
I've heard two trends of thought on prospective authors blogging--one I heard from the esteemed Molly Jaffa at a writing conference, and the other I see reiterated again and again from various writing blogs online. The two ideas do not conflict so much as balance. Per Ms. Jaffa, it does not look good for authors to gripe and whine about the publishing industry, or give advice on things they really know nothing about. If an agent googles you and finds out you have angsty anti-agent anger issues, they want to steer clear. On the other hand, "they say" people need to be able to see you, and prospective agents and publishers like knowing you have a following. I got an e-mail just yesterday from author Mike Duran describing how he met his agent through an online blog--it appears the publishing world's all about networking. Good writing, of course, but also a fair sprinkle of luck and networking.
All that said, I had hoped to somehow make use of my following on The How Not To Blog when it comes to this publicity stuff, but I'm realizing more and more that my readership there revolves more around a transient interest in the sporadic topics than in a dedicated following. In other words, people come there to get the facts from me on their particular topic, not to stick around and read the next blog post. Hopefully some of those folks can transfer over into my fiction-writing-world, but I know the probability of that happening lies somewhere in the 1/8000 margin mark.
So here I am in the Brave New Internet, talking again to an audience of nil. Beginning at the beginning, for that is the very best place to start. Here, I will talk about fiction, and fictional things will happen.
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