Some Hard Truths About Blogging

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author

When I began blogging, I will admit I had no idea what I was getting into. I just wanted to write.

I discovered a few things along the way:

 

  • Blogging is hard work.
  • It takes time, lots of time.
  • Blogging and writing my novel was a difficult balance.

 has written a great article on this very subject. 5 Ways an Author Blog Could Kill Your Writing (and What to Do Instead). Here are some highlights.

  1. Blogging is a huge investment in time and effort.
  2. It robs you of valuable writing time.
  3. If you want to write a novel, blogging teaches the wrong skills.
  4. Blogging is “information heavy and story light.”
  5. If you want to build your storytelling skills – write stories. Readers want to read your stories.
  6. Author blogs don’t sell books.
  7. To blog well, you must love blogging.

I enjoy sharing with my readers my stories and the tips or resources I come across as I strive to learn the craft of writing. I discovered, however, that to focus on my novel, I had to put my blog on the back burner.

At first, I felt guilty for abandoning my readers, even if for a short while; but, I had to decide – Did I want to be a writer or a blogger? The answer was clear, I wanted to write. I set aside the focus on my blog and for more than three months, turned my attention to my novel. It is now complete and out to beta readers and editors.

For now, I can focus on sharing some of what I learned during the process of completing my novel and what happens as I go through the process from draft to publication.

The question is still an important one to ask? What’s your goal? Writer? Blogger?

Check out  post,  5 Ways an Author Blog Could Kill Your Writing (and What to Do Instead)and let me know what you think.

 

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story. I’m all ears and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood,  Pinterest,  Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, Contently, and Instagram. You can follow my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

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20 thoughts on “Some Hard Truths About Blogging”

  1. Great set if information! Especially the bit about social media platforms. I joined WordPress less that two weeks ago with the intention to write about my processes in planning and writing a novel, inter alia. I haven’t even upgraded my account to a paid plan as yet, but so far I’ve kept my posts relatively light and I’m still up in arms about how much this would benefit the actual story once it is completed and ready for marketing. I guess I’d keep this bit of advice in mind and wait a bot to see where blogging ‘slowly’ takes me. Thanks.

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  2. Pingback: Answers on a Postcard please! | Write Here: Write Now

  5. This is a great blog posting as it resonates with my struggles over the past couple of years as I began writing short stories as a blogger.
    My heart and consciousness is always nagged by my need to read, my desired passion for writing, or my wanting to blog all of this takes place while I’m hike, backpack, or bicycle.
    It is a unique aspect to retirement life but I’m working out the kinks to find a happy medium.

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  6. [ Smiles ] There is more to blogging than what actually meets the eye.

    First, we must love blogging and then learn all we can about it and forget all about overnight success.

    Developing your blog and growing an audience takes time!

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  7. Good information, Sheila. I have read that publishers like it when you already have name recognition and a following of some kind of social media.Seems like blogging is one good way to do that, but I can see how you may need to focus on one or the other, though, in order to get serious about writing a book.

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