Are You Blogging The Best That You Can?

My friend Katie and I were talking just last night about blogging and the challenges it presents.  My main challenge is time, TIME!  I know some other bloggers feel the same way I do.  It just seems like between the daily job, the church responsibilities and writing, there's not much time left.


So today I get this post for Trent Steele's Smart Writer's Newsletter.  If you haven't subscribed to that it gives you some good tips on how to make your writing work for you.  Anyway, I digress.   On there is a guest post by Julie McCormick that I absolutely found informative and interesting.  Not being a great blogger I've found that maybe putting helpful hints about blogging may help someone else.  So I posting Julie's post here.  I hope you find it as helpful as I did.

Become A Blogging Success Story: Part 1

Blogging isn't something that only the nerdy types or teens do anymore, and it most certainly goes beyond posting pictures of your children (or pets) and griping about your job. Blogging is, for some, a business or a source of extra spending money. It's also a source of money, power, and satisfaction. But as it goes in professional sports, there are millions playing in the neighborhood little leagues, but a very small minority will ever make it to the big leagues. So how do you improve your chances of taking your blog from beyond just a hobby into something that you add to your resume and turn into cash? 1. Be prepared to pour in your blood, sweat and tears Very rarely does a blog go from a readership consisting of your family, friends, co-workers, and admirers (or enemies) that have figured out how to stalk you online, to an overnight success. Sure, if you break a big story and CNN picks it up and gives you a shout-out, you might get an instant influx of visitors, but the chances of that happening are slim. So instead of banking on a miracle, be prepared to slave away at it for a bit. Know that you will at times doubt yourself and your ability to go on, that you will have to force yourself to blog when you really don't feel like it. Be prepared, perhaps, not to know what "free time" is anymore. This may not be true in all cases, but for someone like me that runs a news oriented blog, it's a 24/7 operation. A blog focusing on, say, technology might not have to be so vigilant in covering breaking news. 2. Before you start blogging, think about what you will be blogging about My interests are so varied that I couldn't pick just one topic to blog about, and I knew I'd probably get bored writing about the same thing day after day, week after week, year after year. That being said, if you want to establish yourself as an expert in a field or topic area, then a more focused blog will be most suitable. 3. Avoid free blog services Resist the temptation to start with a free blog on Blogger, WordPress or any of the other free, hosted blogging services. You will kick yourself later, trust me. If you're serious about taking your blog beyond a recreational activity, do yourself a favor and buy a domain and web hosting. You can start with something as simple and cheap as GoDaddy, and move as your site grows. I started out with shared hosting, and since then I can't tell you how many times I've been kicked off hosts due to my site's growth and resource usage. These days, we have our own server. 4. If you use a pre-made template, at least customize some parts of it A unique design will make your blog more memorable. If you do use a pre-made template that thousands of other people have also installed on their blog, which I have nothing against, try to customize it at least a little bit. At the very least, pay someone $50 to make you a nice logo. 5. Consider a collaborative effort You'll have to share the profits, but sometimes two (or three or four...) is better than one. It takes some pressure off of you as you're not the sole blogger, and if you need to step away for a few days, there's someone else to cover for you. Just choose your partner or partners wisely, and strongly consider getting your partnership arrangement in writing, just in case things sour one day. 6. Socialize and network with others Join Twitter and Facebook and start a conversation with your readers. Make sure to reply to comments on your blog. By talking with your readers, you'll keep them checking back in and you'll be at the forefront of their minds, making them more likely to become a repeat visitor. Repeat visitors are very important in establishing your blog. Fly-by traffic is still worthwhile, but building a loyal readership base is crucial. Making friends with other bloggers and website owners can also be beneficial as they can help drive traffic your way. But it's not as easy as it looks or sounds. Many have tried and failed. It can be done, and it doesn't take a huge advertising budget, a staff of writers, or luck. However, it does take some degree of talent (if you are a horrible writer, I'd advise against pouring your heart into making a career of blogging) and a whole lot of dedication and drive. Having a plan also helps, although if you don't have one you can still become successful; it just might take you longer as you figure things out along the way. I've been doing this for years now, and I've learned a lot along the way. In Part 2 I'll talk about what NOT to do, and how to avoid some of the pitfalls.

By Julie McCormick

The Doppleganger.

Everyone knows what a doppelganger is, right?  Well maybe not.  It's your look alike, the same you only in a different place and maybe different hemisphere, but still you exactly.  Looks like you.  Talks like you.  Walks like you and most importantly thinks like you.  So is that a bad thing?  I think not.

Think of all you could do if you and your doppelganger got together.  I need at least three. 

Number ONE:  That's me of course, would sit at the computer and write all day long.  Put out three books a year.  Do book signings, meet people and generally (oh no the dreaded ly word) play long and hard.

Number TWO: would take care of working.  Earn money, work day and night, and pay bills.(my least favorite past-time.

Number THREE:  This one would do all the things I hate.  Re-writes for one.  Deadline buggers, (while I sleep of course) and last but not least, take care of all the other interruptions that keep me from doing what I want to be doing at the moment.

Wouldn't that be awesome.  I need to be replicated, many times over.  Maybe not too many times.  Remember the movie Replicated?  I don't want a -- I like pizza Steve-- me.  I could live without someone who makes me look more stupid than I actually am.  I do quite a good job of that all by myself, thank you very much.  Okay, where was I?  Oh yes, replicated.

Just think how much fun I could have with two other mes that get-- well Me?  How awesome would that be.  We could belly laugh at the same jokes, watch all my favorite shows without all the griping.  Oh, and we'd always agree on what to eat for dinner.

Doppelgangers head my way.  I'd take you with open arms.  Forget the trying to take over my life, we'll just share and trade places when we get sick of doing what we're doing.  Sounds good, No?

Well, as long as they remember who number one is.  Crap! They want to take over.  How do you get rid of a doppelganger?  (comment me and let me know)

HELP!

Librarians, more fun than a barrel of Monkey

I know I don't usually write about my life, but here goes.  I was on a panel of Romance Writers at the ULA. If you don't know what that is, it is the Librarians all around the state.  It was a wonderful time.  There were Librarians from all walks of life.

Well, did you know they have their own comic strip?  I'm not one of the crowd, but even I got a kick out of the comics.  You should check them out, it's called unshelved.  I especially loved the homeless guy living in the ceiling.  Never would have guessed that was based on a real story.  They were a wonderful bunch of people.  And who should a writer love more than their own best supporters.  Hand up in High Five to Trish for the invite.

Not only that, but that hard to get booksigning that I've been asking for at the big book store chain (You know who I mean) handed me the signing on a silver platter, along with begging on their hands and knees.  No not really the hands and knees thing, but they did make sure to ask three times to make sure that I would contact them.

Another High Five to Trish.

Next High note, Now a keynote speaker at the School Library Association in 2012, yahoo for that.  Trish's hand is going to get sore with all the slapping.  Maybe a slap on the back would work better.  Then a speaker at a BookExpo.  Can you say hitting the big time?  Well maybe only in this state, but what more could you ask for as a result of one tiny panel thing.  Okay, so check out your local Librarians next time you see them and tell them thanks for all the support they give the local writers.  So now to the comic strip and more fun stuff.

Keep at it, write and have fun.  And I'll see you on the flip side.

Wicked Ways

I know that writing has its ups and downs, and so does doing things on the internet.  I've lately had the desire to kick my computer to the curb.  It is my best friend with an attitude, or it could be the user is inept at best.  Whatever the problem the computer and I fail to see eye to eye on a regular basis.

Am I alone in my frustrations, or does the computer have a vendetta against me.  High CPU usage, failure to save changes in a document, or just random messages that I don't understand are becoming the norm.  Maybe it is time to update my old dinasour into a new and sleeker model, preferably one not powered by hamsters running on a wheel.

Okay, so I got off on a rant.  Back to the wicked ways.  I've gone over the edge with the darker side of writing again.  Am I alone?  Or are there others out there who enjoy the supernatural side of things.  Do you identify with the humans in the paranormal love story, or are you more drawn to the monster side of the equation.  I love the dark side.  Maybe there is something in my that longs to be turned loose and free to kill whomever annoys me. 

Being Human has become my number one TV show, okay so Supernatural still ranks up there, but am I alone in this?  Let me know what you think.

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Murder with a twist.

I'm so ready to kill someone.  No, I'm not mad, but have learned all about bullets, guns, and writing about the death scene.  I have first hand experience watching someone dying, just ask my middle daughter.  She died over and over until she was about sixteen. 

First there was the gut-wrenching scream, followed by the crash to the floor and the writhing about.  No blood in sight though.  I learned early on I could kill her with a few words, or a little swat to the butt.  Not as fun as bullets and guns.  But still successful all the same. 

So I don't really write terrorist novels, or spy thrillers, or mysteries, so why would I want to know how to shoot someone.  Well, I really don't, but I might have to consider shooting someone in one of my books so I can use all that knowledge I've gained.

I rather prefer them being torn apart by a werewolf, conjured into nothingness by a witch, or maybe smoked in the fire from a dragon's mouth.  Much more fitting to the type of books I write.  But the allure of the handgun that fits in my pants pockets took on a surprise interest. 

I'm not so sure I could personally pull the trigger, but I might have one of those voices in my head just crazy enough to do it for me. 

Belonging to a writer's group is one of the things you need to put on the top of your list.  So much to learn and so little time to put all that knowledge into practice.  Contact any of the groups you know of, or if you can't find one, contact me and I'll try to pass some knowledge along to you. 

Well there you have it.  My usually way of killing has gone out the window, replaced by dreams of jacketed bullets flying a 1700 yards in half a second and doing all sorts of damage to the intended victim on the other end of the sites.  Killing just took that unexpected twist.

Happy writing all.

White Noise and the Voices in My Head.

Have you ever heard voices when no one else is in the room?  I have, not only characters from books, but other worldly voices.  Am I psycho?  Maybe and maybe not.  I heard a comment that writers are never alone, and I can vouch for that.  I do have characters yelling at me to get their story told.

That's right yelling at me.  Poor Tavin MacLellan, the keeper in my newest novel yelled for almost three weeks.  I kept telling him he had to wait until Tawny and Timmy got married before his chance to get onto the paper would arrive.  Darn pushy scot anyway.  Well he's better now that he's found someone else to be interesting in, namely Viola.  But I'm drifting off.  Where was I?  Oh yeah.

Voices, not the characters in my head, but a actual voice.  I've watched Ghost Hunters and I can see that I'm not alone.  But hey, is there anyone out there that's heard voices late at night in their house?  I'd love to hear the stories, if you don't mind sharing.  I also like the scary ghost stuff, so share those too. 

I used to live in a haunted house, just ask my kids.  When I got married to a mechanic, there ended up being cars in other places than the driveway.  My ghost, who just happened to be a man, seemed a bit upset about that.  He actually yelled at me about letting someone put cars in the garden.  The nerve of some ghosts.  It was my house after all.  It made me wonder exactly what he was doing, and why he thought he should be able to dictate what happened at the house.  Curious little thoughts.

I'd love to have comments.  Tell me your story.