Writers write. It’s what we do. These days the easiest way to do that is to write a blog. Most writers have one. Some use it to post news and updates on their work. Others write about their families and lives. Then there are those, like me, who write about writing, which makes sense since writing is my passion. It’s also a great way to give back to the industry and share what I know while meeting other writers and writers in training.
There are many advantages to writing a blog. First off, it’s fun to write for yourself and not a client. Second, it is a good practice to write something regularly and be held to a schedule.
But it’s one thing to have an idea to write a blog and another to actually write one and keep it going.
Here are my top tips for blogging as a writer:
Know what you want to blog about. You need a clear vision for your blog. Figure out what you want to write about every week or every day, depending on your publishing schedule.
Focus on one thing. Don’t dilute your blog. It’s best to pick one subject and stick to it. Your readers will come to expect a certain type of article from you and switching up the topics could alienate your audience. It’s one reason you will never find social commentary or politics on my blog. My focus is writing. That is a broad enough topic without adding in other stuff.
Write about what you love. A good blog should have passion behind it. Blog about something that matters to you and that you can keep writing about for years to come. It’s easy to burn out in this business, but if you pick a topic you love that won’t happen.
Know why you are writing your blog. Be clear on your intention. Some people blog because they want to be famous or earn money through advertising. Others have simpler goals. I write my blog because I want to share what I know and offer tips to other writers. It’s not that I am opposed to earning money from my blog, but it is not the reason I write it.
Know how your blog fits into your overall platform or plan. Is your blog a way to find new clients? Is it a way to reach potential readers? Or is it a way to earn income? Be clear on what you hope to accomplish with it so you can be strategic in your editorial calendar and blog management.
Be consistent. Set a schedule and stick to it. This one was tough for me in the beginning. I would get busy and stop blogging. It wasn’t until I set a schedule and treated it like any other client work that I became consistent. Now you will see a blog every Tuesday morning, except on major holidays when the blog will post the day before or after the holiday. The point is my blog is weekly and will remain that way. Decide how often you want to publish and stick to it. Consistency is essential.
Look for other ways to share your blog. It’s one thing to post to your website and another to reach out for readers. You can do this by posting a link through your social media outlets or by submitting your blogs to another site. If reach is your goal, look for opportunities to share your blogs with the larger world.
Write ahead. Don’t wait until you need to post to think about it. Write a few in advance and have them ready to go for those times you get busy, overwhelmed, sick or find yourself out of ideas. You can either schedule them in advance or have a few finished blogs on hand to post when you need one in a hurry.
Have an editorial calendar to keep the ideas flowing. If structure isn’t your thing, consider keeping an idea folder of potential blogs. In my next blog, I will share how I do this step.
Don’t waste your readers’ time. Offer something of value when you write. Don’t just post a few paragraphs that could have been written by anyone. There’s nothing worse than clicking on an intriguing headline only to find a topic introduced but not developed. It’s aggravating.
Don’t introduce a topic for the sole reason of asking for input on it. Develop the idea. Outline the pertinent details. Show both sides. Do something of value before asking for discussion. You need to provide something to discuss. Just tossing a topic in the ring is not a blog. It’s a tweet. Save that for those types of social media formats.
Know that it’s okay to vary the length of your blogs. Some are naturally longer than others. As long as they have value, the length doesn’t matter.
Add a call to action. I admit I don’t always do this, but I should. It’s part of engagement. Do what feels right to you, but know the more you can interact with your readers, the better.
Write when you come up with the idea. It is easier to write when your ideas a clear and you are excited about the topic.
Be creative. Don’t just do what everyone else is doing because you think that’s the thing. One of my favorite SciFi/Fantasy authors, Kevin Hearne, writes a newsletter from one of his character’s perspectives. The best part is the character is a dog named Oberon who shares funny news and recipes for various meat products. It’s a great way for Kevin Hearne to engage with readers of the Iron Druid series in a clever and fun way.
Make sure your blog suits your purpose. If you are trying to get attention as a writer, make sure your writing is professional and engaging. Use proper grammar and check your spelling. If you want to write for children, don’t use cursing in your blogs. It’s basic. If you are trying to get clients, even the tone you use might affect your sales. Know why you are writing a blog and who you’re writing for before you begin.
Then look to the technical stuff, such as SEO and setting your site for multiple platforms and easy use. I’m not the person to write about that, but it is important and there are great resources out there to do it properly.