Comments on: In which I repeat myself

By: Steve Buchheit

Steve Buchheit — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:12:14 +0000

“Do it if you enjoy it.”

And isn’t the same true about any writing? The blogging helps the fiction writing because I can vent and whine and write about all those things that shouldn’t be in the story. It’s also a good place to just try and be goofy.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:28:15 +0000

I’ve been completely enjoying your thoughts on blogging. (And other stuff, too!)

By: Justine

Justine — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:46:07 +0000

I get the feeling some of you are hearing me say that writers shouldn’t blog. Au contraire. Many of my favourite blogs are by writers. I love writers’ blogs! There are all sorts of positive effects of blogging: direct communication with other writers and readers you wouldn’t otherwise meet, becoming part of communities, having fun, talking craft etc etc.

All I’m saying is that it’s rubbish that starting a blog is an excellent way to flog books. The majority of brand new blogs have teeny tiny audiences. It takes ages to build one. And if all you’re doing is flogging your books you will never build an audience.

The Scarlett Tree: Is there any real way of determining a blogs effect on sales??

I don’t know. It’s pretty hard to figure out what effects most sales unless something really obvious happened like going on Oprah etc.

I do know that every time one of my books is mentioned on boingboing I get a jump in my Amazon sales. But how that jump translate into sales figures I don’t know.

By: Melinda Szymanik

Melinda Szymanik — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:08:11 +0000

Its hard to reach across to the other side of the world with your books when you live in New Zealand. At least with my blog, now me and my books get a chance to say hi to folks in other countries. If i hadn’t stumbled across your blog I wouldn’t have known about you or Maureen Johnson or a whole host of writers I previously was unaware of.

By: danielle

danielle — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:06:37 +0000

Completely off topic for this post, but the zombie book’s comments are closed… Have you seen this?

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/ae5e/

I can’t imagine you haven’t, but just in case I had to forward it…

By: Abby

Abby — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:04:40 +0000

I just wanted to let you know that I read your book because I found your blog (I think another auothor linked to it). I started reading your blog and decided that I ought to read one of your books. So I read How to Ditch your Fairy and I absolutely loved it.

By: Annalee Flower Horne

Annalee Flower Horne — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:16:58 +0000

I’ve never gotten the “start a blog to promote your book” kind of thing. To me, that’s just like starting up a viral marketing campaign for your product because that’s what the kids think is cool these days–everyone’s going to smell your intentions from miles away. And even if you’re really good at hiding them, it’s not worth the payoff. You’re not going to be the next John Scalzi or the next I Love Bees. So you better be in it for the fun, because otherwise, it’s just not worth it.

By: The Scarlet Tree

The Scarlet Tree — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:48:10 +0000

Perhaps, but I discovered your book on this blog. Is there any real way of determining a blogs effect on sales??

By: El

El — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:54:38 +0000

When I check out a writer’s blog and see that the posts are entirely promos, I head away REAL fast. Why on earth would anyone want to read such a thing?