Comments - Is Blogging a Waste of Time? - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T00:07:42Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=537324%3ABlogPost%3A188040&xn_auth=noFor some themed blogs, you ca…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-03-16:537324:Comment:1883302009-03-16T13:52:04.684ZKathryn Lilleyhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/KathrynL
For some themed blogs, you can check out <a href="http://www.killerhobbies.blogspot.com/">Killer Hobbies</a> (they all write cozy hobby-oriented series), <a href="http://thelipstickchronicles.typepad.com/the_lipstick_chronicles/">The Lipstick Chronicles</a> <a href="http://www.crimesistahs.blogspot.com/">The Crime Sistahs</a> .
For some themed blogs, you can check out <a href="http://www.killerhobbies.blogspot.com/">Killer Hobbies</a> (they all write cozy hobby-oriented series), <a href="http://thelipstickchronicles.typepad.com/the_lipstick_chronicles/">The Lipstick Chronicles</a> <a href="http://www.crimesistahs.blogspot.com/">The Crime Sistahs</a> . I started the Kill Zone last…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-03-16:537324:Comment:1883182009-03-16T13:20:29.697ZKathryn Lilleyhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/KathrynL
I started the <a href="http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/">Kill Zone</a> last fall with the specific goal in mind of making it a thriller-oriented writing blog. I looked for thriller and mystery authors and invited them to join the blog, and we each picked a day to be our blog day. We decided on a theme and general focus; we each have a lot of latitude for creative discussion on our day, but we generally bring it back to a writing theme. It's been a really great collaborative experience, and…
I started the <a href="http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/">Kill Zone</a> last fall with the specific goal in mind of making it a thriller-oriented writing blog. I looked for thriller and mystery authors and invited them to join the blog, and we each picked a day to be our blog day. We decided on a theme and general focus; we each have a lot of latitude for creative discussion on our day, but we generally bring it back to a writing theme. It's been a really great collaborative experience, and I've really enjoyed "meeting" lots of new people online through the blog. I've actually never yet met any of my co-bloggers. We all live in diferent areas, and hope to meet in person at a conference soon. Could be either. Perhaps it c…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-03-15:537324:Comment:1882292009-03-15T23:42:23.360ZGoldie Alexanderhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/GoldieAlexander
Could be either. Perhaps it could even be interesting to write a collaborative blog between writers who have never actually met. Maybe even in another country. We could swap ideas and experiences.
Could be either. Perhaps it could even be interesting to write a collaborative blog between writers who have never actually met. Maybe even in another country. We could swap ideas and experiences. Thanks for the comments. Woul…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-03-15:537324:Comment:1882272009-03-15T23:38:11.810ZHazel Edwardshttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/HazelEdwards
Thanks for the comments. Would a collaborative blog need to be written by co-authors, or by those in a similar field of writing?
Thanks for the comments. Would a collaborative blog need to be written by co-authors, or by those in a similar field of writing? I tend to agree with Hazel's…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-03-15:537324:Comment:1882252009-03-15T23:35:22.327ZGoldie Alexanderhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/GoldieAlexander
I tend to agree with Hazel's comments about blogging. So far I haven't been seduced into trying it on, but I may change my mind as another means of marketing books. I think collaborative blogs are an excellent idea in that they concentrate on the writing rather than the personal. Who wants to know how often I throw away a good idea because I can't get it to work? Or how often I have to rewrite an ms before it's successful? But what a time sink!!!!
I tend to agree with Hazel's comments about blogging. So far I haven't been seduced into trying it on, but I may change my mind as another means of marketing books. I think collaborative blogs are an excellent idea in that they concentrate on the writing rather than the personal. Who wants to know how often I throw away a good idea because I can't get it to work? Or how often I have to rewrite an ms before it's successful? But what a time sink!!!! Thanks for the collaborative…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-03-15:537324:Comment:1882022009-03-15T21:36:16.269ZHazel Edwardshttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/HazelEdwards
Thanks for the collaborative blogs idea. That makes sense. But also agree that blogging can become a time sink( wonderful term) I tend to place my online articles with tags which lead back to my monthly updated website so visitors can use the notes and links. But when I speak at confernces, i don;t give out notes, just my website and invite them to email me.Then I email them the notes. So I still think that the website, updated regualrly is the most cost effective PR in writing minutes.
Thanks for the collaborative blogs idea. That makes sense. But also agree that blogging can become a time sink( wonderful term) I tend to place my online articles with tags which lead back to my monthly updated website so visitors can use the notes and links. But when I speak at confernces, i don;t give out notes, just my website and invite them to email me.Then I email them the notes. So I still think that the website, updated regualrly is the most cost effective PR in writing minutes. I've discovered new authors b…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-03-15:537324:Comment:1881542009-03-15T17:19:33.165ZKathryn Lilleyhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/KathrynL
I've discovered new authors by visiting their web sites and learning about their writing over time. I think of a blog as a writer's platform, much like a web site. Neither a blog nor a web site guarantees success in terms of selling books, but both helps authors establish presence in today's publishing marketplace. (Especially a web site--a web site is the equivalent of a business card. If you don't have a web site, it's almost like you're invisible in the Google search world).<br />
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Blogs need to…
I've discovered new authors by visiting their web sites and learning about their writing over time. I think of a blog as a writer's platform, much like a web site. Neither a blog nor a web site guarantees success in terms of selling books, but both helps authors establish presence in today's publishing marketplace. (Especially a web site--a web site is the equivalent of a business card. If you don't have a web site, it's almost like you're invisible in the Google search world).<br />
<br />
Blogs need to be updated with fresh content on a regular basis, which is why they're such hard work. For that reason, collaborative blogs work well for many writers. You can take turns writing posts each week. In my experience, as a best practice it's good to start a blog that has a clearly defined theme and daily updates if possible. You do need to make the discussions as interesting and lively as possible so that your readers come back day after day. I think the most successful blogs combine established readers while constantly drawing in new readers. One way to do that is to invite guest bloggers to participate on the blog on a regular basis. I usually come to a writer's…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-03-15:537324:Comment:1881312009-03-15T13:59:32.026ZDana Kinghttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
I usually come to a writer's blog after reading one of their books, but I have also discovered quite a few interesting writers because they either write on collaborative blogs (like The Outfit, Murderati, or The Kill Zone), or because of something I read on another blog. My interest in some writers has been piqued because I liked their attitude, humor, or style in blog entries. Cross-pollination is also good, as over time you may well pick up as many views from others as you give…
I usually come to a writer's blog after reading one of their books, but I have also discovered quite a few interesting writers because they either write on collaborative blogs (like The Outfit, Murderati, or The Kill Zone), or because of something I read on another blog. My interest in some writers has been piqued because I liked their attitude, humor, or style in blog entries. Cross-pollination is also good, as over time you may well pick up as many views from others as you give away.<br />
<br />
Blogging can also become a time sink. It's best to decide what role it will play in your writing day or week, and stick to it.