2024 has been an exciting year for this blog!
I was able to give it a long-overdue overhaul I'm incredibly pleased with. I finally got my newsletter up and running after saying I would for Lord knows how long. I uploaded my 300th post back in September and just a few weeks ago, I celebrated the sixth anniversary of launching the site!
Even though I've occasionally heard people say that blogs are outdated, I've always felt that this platform works better for me (and my schedule) than a YouTube channel or podcast would, at least at this point in time—though the idea of delving into that realm of content has admittedly crossed my mind more in recent months.
But despite the number of times I've had someone tell me that blogs aren't as worth the effort in the modern landscape of video-based content ("antiquated" was the word used on one standout occasion), blogs are still alive and well and are a valuable asset that writers shouldn't discount.
Blogs can be a more personal extension of your writing that lets readers get to know you while offering an inside look at your creative process. The format also lets you go into finer detail than a social media post might allow.
They're also great for authors looking to establish their platform even if they haven't published any of their fiction yet because when that day comes, you'll likely have an audience to share the news with!
Blogging has significantly changed the way I write my fiction and has helped me get more comfortable with putting myself and my writing out there, so it's definitely worth diving into.
Ready to start your own blog? In this post, I'm sharing some things to know and tips that have helped me since 2018.
What Should Your Blog Feature?
When you're mapping out your blog or author website, you may find it helpful to make a list of things you'll want to include.
Here's some of what you can find on my site currently and what I'm planning to add in the future (ie once I'm closer to having published my fiction):
Blog Posts — Self-explanatory. I refer to my blog as being about writing, life, and whatever else comes to mind.
About Me/Bio — This section allows you to introduce yourself to your readers. You might share a little bit about your writing journey, what draws you to your genre, and any hobbies or fun facts that your readers might find interesting.
Newsletter Sign-Up — This is one thing I delayed much longer than I should have, and I'll be the first to own up to my negligence on that front. Having a newsletter gives you another outlet for communication with your readers, whether that's sharing general updates or promoting your work (and if you'd like to sign up for mine now that it is up and running, you'll find it at the bottom of the page).
Contact And Connections — What gets featured here might vary from one author to the next. My current page features my social media accounts, my Etsy and Redbubble pages called PlotBunnyHollow, and the blog itself. This is also the page linked in the bio of my social media profiles. If you have a professional phone number or email you're comfortable listing, you might add those as well.
Your Books — This is a section I don't have up and running quite yet, only because I'm not a published author outside of this blog. However, if you are already published or have an upcoming release in the foreseeable future, it's a good idea to include a page with information about your books (including where you can buy them).
Reviews — This might be its own page or part of the page showcasing your books. Part of an author's website or blog is promotion, so including reviews praising your work can help entice prospective readers. I personally recommend not including every single review you receive, instead selecting only a handful that truly highlight what your stories are about and why readers love your writing.
Events — It's helpful for readers to have a list of your upcoming events in one place, whether that's an upcoming signing or reading, conventions, or a panel you're appearing on, no matter if they're online or in-person. Some writers may also include photos and recaps from recent events alongside these or on a separate page.
The specific things your website features will depend on your style and needs. You may not have all of these, and you may also have some that aren't on my list (feel free to list those in the comments of this post!).
Ease Of User Experience
So much of the fun of building your blog is deciding on how it looks. All of those small touches that make your site feel like it's uniquely yours. Many authors will design it around their genre or WIPs; mine is a mauve-colored damask that feels fitting for my historical romances.
There were many things I loved about the earliest iteration of my blog, but in hindsight, the background of roses was too busy and drew attention from the writing (plus it was also a little pixelated, which I sort of liked at first but grew irritated by). The following iteration was crisper, but the color scheme didn't feel 100% right and didn't last too long.
But your author branding isn't the only thing you'll want to think about when designing your blog. You'll also want to consider your readers' experience.
For instance, it's usually best to avoid pastel yellow text on a neon green background because that color combo doesn't have the contrast necessary to stand out.
One thing I inadvertently neglected early on was making sure my site worked well not only for desktop browsers but mobile devices. I didn't know there was a difference, which resulted in my site looking jumbled when pulled up on a phone. I use Wix for my site, and now whenever I add any new elements or make any changes, I know to switch over to mobile editing and adjust it so it looks good no matter how it's read.
You put a lot of work into your writing, so you want to make sure that readers will be able to actually read it easily.
Don't Skimp On The Visuals!
If you look back on my earliest posts, you'll notice that they're chunky walls of text. Some of that relates to the formatting, but a lot of it comes down to a lack of images.
Visual elements like stock photos and quotes help break up the monotony of your posts, making them more approachable and digestible. Depending on the chosen photo, it may also provide additional context.
Unsplash and Pexels offer quality stock photos that are royalty-free, and your blogging platform of choice might also offer media for its users to include in their posts, as seen with the Wix menu here:
Just make sure you're not overdoing it! Too many images might cause your blog to load slower and look cluttered.
Be Consistent But Reasonable With Your Schedule
There is a bunch that goes into setting up and running a blog, and one of the things you'll want to consider is your upload schedule. It's better to remain consistent, or at least not infrequent. What that looks like is entirely up to you.
I chose to post once weekly—with the occasional mid-week bonus post thrown into the mix—because that's what has been the most feasible for me given my schedule at the day jobs I've had over the years and other obligations.
And remember that it's okay if your schedule changes! This past summer, I switched to a bi-weekly posting schedule to accommodate seasonally extended hours at my current day job, and it took a huge weight off my shoulders during those months.
No matter if you're only able to post once a month or three days a week, figuring out what works best for you will be a game-changer in the long run, preventing burnout on your end while giving your readers something to count on and look forward to.
Getting Ahead And Staying Flexible
This isn't a must-do, per se, but something I've done since the start that has reduced my stress as a blogger. Life finds a way to get in the way and interfere with our best-laid plans. That's why I try and stay at least three weeks ahead on blog posts.
I call these Back-Pocket Posts because they're just something I can keep in my back pocket and pop into the schedule or even move around as needed. This was especially helpful in the fallout of NaNoWriMo's statement regarding the use of AI in writing and my subsequent decision to pull any NaNoWriMo-centric posts I'd prepared to go live throughout October and into November.
Having one or two extra posts on deck is also helpful when life takes an unexpected turn.
Both times I've had Covid, I was down for the count for at least five days and on the mend for a good amount of time after, and I struggled to concentrate on my writing for longer periods of time. My Back-Pocket Posts allowed me to rest and not stress about the blog during those weeks. It's also good for happier occasions like travel!
There's no set rule on how far out a blog post needs to be written or if you even need to have them pre-written at all. But between my work schedule and the dependable unpredictability of life, it's the method that works best for me.
Decide How Much YOU You Want To Share
At the top of this post, I mentioned the way an author's blog can offer their readers an up close and personal look at their writing process. And while that's true, remember that you don't have to share absolutely everything on your blog.
Having grown up alongside social media, I've found that I value my sense of privacy more and more as I get older. My desire to set boundaries between my online public life and my personal life was one of the reasons I chose to write with a pen name, and that carries over into how I write for my blog.
Apart from my About Me page and the occasional anecdote, I don't share all that much about my personal life and keep the focus on writing-related things. Early on, I made the decision to keep certain things off-limits. This includes writing extensively about family members or where in Connecticut I live.
You're in control of what gets shared on your blog. The line you draw between your online presence and your life offline
Nothing Happens Overnight
In this day and age, there's a sense of instant gratification. We can order something on Amazon and have it on our doorstep in two days if not by the next. We can answer any question we could possibly have almost immediately with just a few clicks or watch an entire season of a show in a single day instead of waiting for a new episode to be released every week. And on social media, there's a new viral clip on the hour.
Blogging, like writing a book, is a marathon. Things tend to happen gradually.
Don't get discouraged if it feels arduously slow at first. Blogging asks for patience and trust in the process. It takes time to establish your corner of the internet. One reader a day could become twelve, then two hundred or more. You never know which post will be the one that helps make your mark, so stick with it.
Allow Yourself To Evolve
A common tip for new bloggers is to find your niche and stick with it. Narrowing down your focus can help you establish an audience that consistently returns to your page.
But it can also cause you to dig yourself into a rut.
Blogs are the perfect place to experiment with new content. Maybe you throw in the occasional movie review or update your readers on the goings on in your life outside of your WIPs. I've found that working on one or two writing-adjacent posts keeps my creative spark going because it allows me to shift gears and try something different.
Don't be afraid to experiment every now and again. Who knows? Your readers may love the change in pace!
Remember: this is your blog. Be yourself and have fun doing it.
Starting a blog as a writer can feel overwhelming sometimes. There are an infinite number of moving components behind the scenes and micro considerations to be made throughout the process.
Blogs may not be the new shiny thing everybody's raving about, but they're still valuable in the internet landscape. For writers, they can be a great tool for promoting their work and become a space to connect with their readers in a way that the brevity of social media doesn't allow.
Maybe it makes me old-fashioned, but having a blog has helped me grow so much as a writer, and I cannot wait to see how it continues to influence my journey.
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