Patricia Stoltey

Author

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Contact

Five Things I’ve Learned About Blogging

March 8, 2014 By: Patricia

We’re leading up to the great A to Z April Blog Challenge! If you have no idea what I’m talking about, head over to the A to Z Blog and get the facts. There are 1,085 people signed up so far…and that means you could make at least 1,085 new blogger friends during the month of April. If you already know about the challenge, you can sign up here.

Okay, now back to five things I’ve learned.

1.  If you miss a few days of posting your words of wisdom, the world will not end.

Of course, that doesn’t apply during the month of April if you’re A-to-Z-ing. You need to stick to the schedule or risk falling hopelessly behind.

It’s usually a good idea to warn readers you’ll be gone or check in briefly. Some followers will actually worry about your absence.

2.  Putting the links to your posts out to the world via social media is critical. I use Facebook and Twitter, and I’m busy learning the ins and outs of Goodreads and Google+.

Now that I’m co-editor at the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers blog, I’m doing a lot of that link posting. I figure once a day is enough for Facebook and Google+, but I send out 3-4 tweets per post in an effort to catch folks watching their follow stream go by.

3.  If you don’t visit other blogs and leave comments on a regular basis, they won’t come to your place for a chat either. It’s all about give and take.

When I get busy and neglect my blog-hopping sessions, I can see the results. We engage with the bloggers who connect with us.

4.  Giving back to the writing community by hosting guest authors, especially debut authors, is fun and rewarding. I’ve made a bunch of new friends this way!

This is especially tough for new writers who are just learning about the art of promotion. Search for the authors who interest you, make the first contact, and lend a helping hand.

5.  Making your blog look attractive is almost as important as offering fun and or interesting content. 

Although my website is in a hopeless state, making it high on my priority list for a makeover, I’ve tried to keep my blog tidy, easy on the eyes, and up-to-date. If you’re not sure about your own blog, ask your regular readers to give you a little feedback.

I’ll be talking more about the art of blogging this month as I get ready for the April Challenge. Monday, however, is a guest day.  Mystery author Shannon Baker will be here to talk about the research that led to her new release, Broken Trust.

More from my site

  • Choosing a Location and Settings by Roxe Anne Peacock, Guest BloggerChoosing a Location and Settings by Roxe Anne Peacock, Guest Blogger
  • Beatrice the Batty BuzzardBeatrice the Batty Buzzard
  • Wednesday ScrambleWednesday Scramble
  • A to Z Challenge:  L is for List (and Sophie Littlefield and “Long Live the Suicide King” by Aaron Michael Ritchey)A to Z Challenge: L is for List (and Sophie Littlefield and “Long Live the Suicide King” by Aaron Michael Ritchey)
  • Chiseled in Rock Tuesday: Beep! Beep!Chiseled in Rock Tuesday: Beep! Beep!
  • Chiseled in Rock Tuesday: What’s New from Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers?Chiseled in Rock Tuesday: What’s New from Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers?

Category: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Julie Luek says

    March 10, 2014 at 8:56 am

    It’s a balance, this blogging thing. I try to keep perspective that a blog is, in a way, your visible resume. It’s a way to promote your writing, form a supportive community and play with your writing a bit too. Great tips here.

  2. mooderino says

    March 9, 2014 at 7:03 pm

    Good tips. It can be quite time consuming but as with most things, you get out of it what you put in.

    mood
    Moody Writing

  3. Margot Kinberg says

    March 9, 2014 at 9:14 am

    Pat – I couldn’t agree with you more! Social media is so important. So is connecting with other bloggers. And I give you a lot of credit for doing the A-Z challenge. I look forward to what you’ll be posting.

  4. Mason Canyon says

    March 9, 2014 at 6:33 am

    Patricia, great points. I’m in awe of you bloggers that participate in the A to Z Challenge. It’s always so interesting to follow.

  5. M. K. Theodoratus says

    March 8, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    I always admire those who have the organizational fortitude to blog everyday but Sundays. Creativity also has something to do with it.

    Kudos to all of you guys who persevere.

  6. Alex J. Cavanaugh says

    March 8, 2014 at 8:13 pm

    Excellent points, Patricia! The third is so true. It’s the Golden Rule.
    I have made so many friends the past four years of the Challenge!

Meet Patricia

I read, I write, I blog, and sometimes I do the laundry and cook. My 2014 novel, Dead Wrong, was a finalist in the thriller category of the 2015 Colorado Book Awards. Wishing Caswell Dead (Five Star/Cengage, December 20, 2017) is a historical mystery set in 1830s Illinois in the fictitious Village of Sangamon. The novel was a finalist for the 2018 Colorado Book Awards for General Fiction. My most recent release, In Defense of Delia (Five Star/Cengage, November 2022), is available in hardcover and will soon be available in ebook and trade paperback. Read More…

Search

Categories

In Defense of Delia

In Defense of Delia

Wishing Caswell Dead

Dead Wrong

Copyright © 2023 · Customized with by: Upperdale Designs