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How To Avoid Becoming Another Boring Writer's Blog

Writers serious about publication are urged to blog. But once we start, we often don’t know WHAT TO BLOG ABOUT. We struggle to find our BLOGGING FOCUS. We flounder to discover our BLOGGING VOICE (or identity, as my agent Rachelle Gardner put it so well in a recent post: What's Your Blog Identity?).

Because we’re confused, many of us end up mimicking what the majority of other writer-bloggers are doing. Since most writers blog about “writing” and dish out “writing advice,” new bloggers end up making writing the focus of their blogs too.

After all, if it’s working for others, why not do the same thing? If writing a post about Twitter mistakes or how to land an agent seems to draw readers to a blog, then why not try it too? Why not write about the things that attract readers, even if the subject has already been covered in a dozen ways in a dozen places?

Thus cyberland sees a steady stream of new writing-related blogs that add to the already over-saturated market. Yes, the industry is indeed filled with more writing blogs than a person could ever read.

So, what should a writer do? Should we steer clear of blogging about writing simply because there are already so many other blogs covering the same stuff?

As I’ve struggled to find my blogging focus and identity, I’ve realized that the primary reason I started blogging was to give public voice to the writer inside me. I wanted a place where I could “talk” about writing and the many struggles that accompany it. And I have the feeling many other writers feel the same way.

Because we’re passionate about writing and books, those topics naturally becomes the FOCUS of our blogs. We enjoy, even need, the outlet to discuss this important aspect of our lives. (As a side note, I think non-fiction writers should attempt to center their blogs around the topics of their books.)

But how can we stand out from the thousands of other writing blogs out there? How do we keep our blog posts from being a re-hashed, boring version of what someone else is doing? Here are just a few of my ideas:

1. Find our unique blogging voice.

Letting our uniqueness come through takes time and practice. We can try writing different ways—funny, inspiring, poetic, sassy, mother-like, or serious. When we experiment, over time we begin to see what we like best and what resonates with readers most.

2. Tell our own story.

We’re all so different, in such varying circumstances and situations. None of our writing journeys are the same. We should share about our writing experiences from our completely unique perspective with our gifted story-telling abilities.

3. Be creative.

We writers are creative-types, aren’t we? Does everyone need to have bullet points, numbered outlines, or bold sub-headings like good-old organized me? Or can we take information and display it in a variety of different and creative ways?

4. Let our passion show through.

The posts I enjoy writing the most are usually the ones that get the most comments. I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Readers can sense when we’re invested. As I plan out my posts, I try to think of topics that are burning inside me, things important to me, issues I’d like to discuss with others.

5. Write with the reader in mind.

Write for ourselves from the heart, but write for our readers from the head. We want our readers to “get” something every time they visit our blogs—wisdom, inspiration, encouragement, insight—something.

We can use the above principles to not only make our blogs stand out, but to also make our books stand out. With the millions of books out there, we have to work hard at writing in our unique voices, becoming good story-tellers, being creative, letting our passion fill the page, and writing with the reader in mind.

So, yes, there are thousands of blogs, the same way there are thousands of books competing for reader’s attention. And we just have to do the hard work of learning to stand out—with both our blogs and books.

What do you think? Are there too many writing-related blogs? Do you think it’s possible to have a blog that stands out (no matter the focus)? And if so, what other tips do you have?

72 comments:

  1. First - this title is genius. You're going to get loads of hits.

    Second - this is something I struggle with ALL the time. Still haven't wrapped my mind all the way around it yet, but am working on it.

    Great advice, as usual, Jody. :)

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  2. I am definitely still struggling with this one. Your advice gives me a lot to think about.

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  3. thank you jody for your ideas; a blogger should speak from the heart, i guess. i'm reading 'the loneliness of a longdistance runner' at the moment by alan stillitoe and i think it is brave to believe in yourself, to keep on believing in yourself. this morning i listened to the song by rod steward: 'younghearts,be free tonight; time is on your side.

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  4. Yay for this post!! I think it's some of the best advice you've given (and you've given a LOT of good advice!) A few months ago, you gave me similar advice and it made a HUGE difference in my blogging traffic. For almost a year, I had tried to blog about things that weren't really important to me and by revamping my voice and making it "me", I was able to really focus on my readers.

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  5. Eeek! Not sure if I stand out or not and I have no tips to give except that blogging is relational (unless you have a platform/specialized knowledge of some sort).

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  6. That's such a tough question. I think the biggest blogs are either entertaining or extremely helpful. Just writing about writing tips doesn't usually increase traffic, unless you are agented and published. That helps.

    I post about writing concepts I'm processing because writing it down really helps me or I'm bringing up a topic that bugs me. It's like trying to predict what book will become a best seller. There is no guaranteed formula!

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  7. Good advice. I'm quite pleased with the 'voice' that my blog has, but I'm concerned that it has a lack of focus, subject-wise. Perhaps I'm trying to appeal to too broad an audience.

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  8. I think about this, too. It's nice to remember that your blog can evolve over time. I love your five point list. You want to write what you care about or are interested in but at the same time keep the reader in mind.

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  9. Katie's right - this is a genius title. And the list is very helpful.

    I nearly quit blogging at the end of last year because the stress of daily life was sucking all my creativity out of my brain. This year, though, I've attacked my blog with enthusiasm and am really loving it. My views and comments have gone way up (compared to before), and I think my renewed passion is coming through.

    BTW, I LOVE your 'First sightings' widget. How have you done that?? I don't have a book out (still working toward publication), but that's brilliant and creative.

    @KatrinaLatham

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  10. I think you're absolutely right. I just set up my blog yesterday and was trying to work out what I should blog about. In the end I just had a rant about how hard it is to ignore the demon You-Can't-Do-This that lives inside and got a lovely comment from a completely random person. If it resonates with you, as a person and as a writer, then it will resonate with other people and writers as well.

    Apart from the fact that I am not an expert in any aspect of writing, so there's no point in me giving tips. All I can do is blog about my personal journey and see what happens. At least I know all about that!

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  11. One of the delights of your blog is your gift for images! My brain is regularly seduced by the visual art you insert—with unexpected photos, teasing me into new thinking. Dr. SunWolf who writes and tweets as @WordWhispers

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  12. Great advice as always.
    My blog started more a personal diary. I didn't advertise it or put it out there at all.

    The biggest thought shift for me was blogging is meant to be "social" media. It isn't just some peeking into your life. It is someone getting to know your life.

    At the beginning of the year, I went back to reread my post and realized something. I sounded depressing and, worst of all, whiny! Which is not my personality at all!

    I decided I would blog twice a week and I would be me. That meant writing like I was talking to my friends. Putting my own photographs and responding to the comments like I would to someone speaking to me at a social gathering.

    Now, I am enjoying the process so much more and making tons of new friends!

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  13. I read a lot of different writing blogs, and yours is one I enjoy, because of the warm and encouraging aspects of it. Writing can be disheartening sometimes, so it's nice to have a comforting refuge to visit. :)

    I started my blog almost 2 years ago, and it took a little while to find my stride. I wanted people to hear the voice I use in my books, and I think now they do, because I write about the things that I experience with my manuscripts, and what I've learned. I also try to give encouragement and inspiration, since we can all use more of that!

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  14. All true. I'm still wading my way through this whole blogging thing. Mostly I'm just trying to be myself. I talk about my book a lot, because it's really exciting to me, but I often wonder if people just want me to shut up already! And it's not out yet!! Ha. I've always used my blog as more of a personal outlet, a glimpse into who I am, take it or leave it. I've learned to be careful what I say though. :0) I'm hoping that as I do get readers of my book, it'll be a place where they know they can come and connect with me and share their thoughts on what I have to say. I guess I don't put too much thought into driving traffic to my blog - I mean I post about new blogposts on Twitter and Facebook, but I'm not sure how else to do it. Blogging does take time, but I enjoy the connections.

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  15. It's challenging. I just joined another blog. For those of you who want to help us get grounded in all that Jody has recommended please feel free to help out over at http://justthewritecharisma.blogspot.com/ We will be paying close attention.:)

    And Katie G. is right. You are going to get a ton of well deserved hits. You definetly have a gift for this stuff Jody.

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  16. What a great post - I think we all struggle with this! My blog has been a combination of advice (which is sometimes really directed at myself as I research a topic) and a social outreach program. As a stay at home mom of two toddlers I'm sometimes starved for adult contact. Blogging as much as reading others has been a great experience for me.

    I wanted to let you know about a giveaway I'm offering on my blog http://writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/ Come by if you get a chance!

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  17. Katrina Latham asked: I LOVE your 'First sightings' widget. How have you done that??

    My Answer: Thanks, Katrina! I loved doing it! It's super easy. I simply set up an album on Photobucket. And then it's easy to copy the widget code into your blog. Every time you add a picture on photobucket, it automatically updates on your blog too.

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  18. This post sums up all the reasons why I love blogging.

    I pray about my posts.
    ~ Wendy

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  19. Any writing advice I offer is usually couched in terms of what other people say on the subject, because as you said, there is so many writing blogs, chances are someone has already analyzed a particular writing topic and did a better job of it than I would. That's why I started my Resource Roundup posts to get at all the advice that's already out there and add value by pulling it together. The rest of my posts are more personal in nature, discussing up and downs of my writing process. It's a very individual thing, but when everyone is whining about revisions about agents about writer's block, it does get old!

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  20. The ones that stand out to me are the ones that give me something interesting to think about. And that's also what I try to do on my blog. I think the blogosphere is great for attracting just the kind of people who think like you - as long as you're willing to be "yourself" on your blog! :)

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  21. I do think there are several writing-related blogs, but as you mentioned, I don't think this should be a reason to not blog about our passion. I think the main goal we should have is to bring God glory through what we write, even if he is our only audience. And of course, having a unique voice is very important not only in blogging, but in the books that we write as well. =)


    Thanks for sharing these tips with us. I love this advice:

    "Write for ourselves from the heart, but write for our readers from the head."


    Tessa

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  22. How do you do it, Jody? Slip inside my head and address the very topic I've been wrestling with?

    When I scheduled my post for today, I thought, "Great. I promised my visitors I'd try to be more exciting than belly button lint, but I failed them. This post is boring."

    So, what am I going to do? The things you said--and the things you model. One day I will discover my blogging voice. I'll just keep on experimenting until I do. =)

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  23. Sometimes I think blogging 3x a week is just too much for most readers and authors. On the other hand there's you.:) Like I've said before, Jody, you have a gift. But really, is it REALLY necessary for all of us who need a platform to help sell our books to blog 3x a week? I'm beginning to think, not so much.

    I love the new blog I'm involved in because there are several of us and it takes a lot of the pressure off to think of something to blog about 3 times a week. Once a week on Fridays I send a shout out into the blog-o-sphere about another blog I really enjoyed that week. I like doing that and I like blogging once a week on somehthing I really want to so maybe I'll drop blogging Sundays and devote more time to the worship, family and writing.

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  24. I tend not to talk about family on my writing blog. I interview other bloggers and review books. I used to try and write about writing, but do not have the vast knowledge that others have. I leave it to them to spread the word.

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  25. What a great post - thank you Jody! I'm new to blogging...one of the reasons I began was to share my writing and to find my own voice, my own identity. I will definitely keep your suggestions in mind as I approach future posts!!

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  26. After reading Keli's comment...I got to thinking. Finding our blogging niche is sort of the same struggle we go through when we try to find out writing voice. It takes a bunch of trial and error and wrestling. And it takes time.

    Great conversation on here today, Jody! :)

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  27. There are a lot of writing-oriented blogs, but yours has always stood out for me because of your honesty. You're willing to share the good AND the bad - the triumphs you've experienced AS WELL AS the struggles. You're passionate about what you do and it shows! It's clear that you're devoted to quality and willing to embrace change if necessary. I like that about your blog!


    Have you given any more thought to reaching out to readers by posting some of your previous writings? (I know you're super busy, but I was just wondering!) Excited to let you know that I'll be launching a test group to evaluate my Bible Study as a first step prior to querying! Appreciate your prayers! God bless!

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  28. I just did a blog post recently that was similar. Mine was more on finding your niche, which you definitely have. :O)

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  29. A very timely post for me, Jody! As I prepared my blog entry for today I thought, "Who on earth is going to want to read this?" I had written what popped into my head after a pleasant wildlife encounter, but it wasn't anything of great significance. I almost deleted it, but I glanced at my byline that says my musings are "Mental Meanderings on Life and Writing" and thought, hey, this is a peek at my life. Visitors don't have to read it if it's not their thing.

    That's a selfish attitude and I don't want to disrespect my visitors, and yet it's because I truly like my cyber friends that I want to share such special thoughts and incidents with them. In sharing what's important to me I hope I touch a nerve with those who take the time to read. I'm not an expert on writing so can't offer much advice. The best I can do is share my writing journey and the life experiences that inevitably become a part of it. For some, that's going to be boring and they won't return. That's the part of your post I struggle with... point #5. I'm like you in that the reason I'm blogging is "to give public voice to the writer inside me", but if I don't give something back to the reader I might as well send my voice out into a vacuum, and that's pointless.

    As you can tell, I'm talking to myself here. LOL! You've made me think, as always. Your blog posts are never boring!

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  30. I must admit to getting bored sometimes with writing blogs. I've narrowed them down to a handful of good ones. I personally don't want to have a "writing" blog per se. I have so many interests, so many things I'm enthusiastic about, and sometimes I just want to abuse my blog readers (as I did last night, but it was all in fun, I swear!). It's difficult to know what to focus on.

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  31. I had to laugh when I read this, because this is an exact problem I have been facing lately. Blogging is difficult work, especially when you're trying to be consistent with it. Thanks for this advice :)

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)

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  32. Funny you mention this. In my early blogging days, call it hubris, but every time I learned something new about writing, I blogged about it. Now, I feel like I've run out of writing related things to say, at least until I catapult to a new place in my writing, as you did when you became contracted and now published. It changed the slant of this blog and made it unique because of the level of transparency you provide to aspiring authors.

    Me? Not sure what to say right now. I continue to feature books-- book reviews, blog tours, author interviews--something I've done from the beginning, and my weekly publishing round-up seems to be fairly popular.

    Refuse to go personal/family on my blog. Not fair to them. Thinking about combining my two blogs (more hubris) so I can devote some time to things other than writing.

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  33. Thanks for this Jodi. I am a client of Rachelle's too and am struggling with my "Brand" "Blogging voice" etc. After much thought, I've come to the conclusion that I'm a befuddled schizo who lacks focus.

    I love writing about LOTS of things.

    LOVE your blog by the way.

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  34. Yes, blogs about how to write are quite numerous. Beginners can easily become over whelmed.

    I think my focus will change drastically when I become published. (Notice the positive attitude... when, not if.) But for now, why should I give advice? Who am I to teach others? I just share my journey, and I tell about blogs and books I find helpful. It's more about getting my feet wet.

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  35. Long-term blogging takes a lot of stamina, analyzing, and adjustments. I don't think there are too many blogs about writing. It's good to have variety, and all blogs find their readers eventually.

    Personally, I enjoy reading a recap of a writing technique. It keeps me sharp!

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  36. Jillian Kent said: "But really, is it REALLY necessary for all of us who need a platform to help sell our books to blog 3x a week? I'm beginning to think, not so much."

    My answer: All of us really need to do what works best for our schedules. If once or twice a week works best, then post your schedule on your blog so readers will know what to expect. Consistency is key. And I honestly think anything less than once a week is probably not enough if you're hoping to build a steady readership. There aren't too many of us that need to post more than 3 times a week. If we hope to do quality posts without getting burned out, then I say stick to 3 or less and make them really stellar.

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  37. A great reminder to just be myself when I write. I fall prey to trying to mimic others and it never feels right... Thanks!

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  38. Whew, there ARE a ton of writer blogs out there. Too many?--I don't know. Different styles resonate with different people/followers, so there is plenty to go around.

    I don't usually worry too much about standing out. I just write what I want, and hopefully people who are my bloggy buddies or who identify with what I'm writing will stick around. :) It's all about the connections I'm making in the writerly blogsosphere.

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  39. This is great advice. I love it. And you're avsolutely right. It's so hard to figure out how to do this, although it seems so easy when you think about it. Thanks for the tips!!

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  40. I love coming to your blog. Seems we're on the same wave length when it comes to some topics. Your tips always help. I love your point about letting your passion show on your blog. Great post!

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  41. Hi. I just wanted to tell you that this is a great blog post and very different. And for me, it's also timely, as I just recently started blogging and still looking for my "blogging identity" or "voice". This is helpful!

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  42. Excellent. I haven't seen an article like this one out there yet. Kudos to you!

    I don't think there are too many writing blogs out there. So far the unique voices and originality of each individual has shown through and I've gotten something different out of each blog. It's always exciting for me to discover a great new writing blog. I'm all about connecting with lots of writers, so the more the merrier!

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  43. Thanks for taking the time to write this.

    Christine

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  44. As many people already mentioned, I too struggle with blogging. However, I've come to the realization that I don't have anything profound to teach others about writing. Instead, I just try to share my struggles and questions along the way.

    I have a harder time with the consistency issue...maybe one day I'll get it figured out. =)

    Thanks for this post...lots to think about!

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  45. I'm really glad you posted this as it's something I frequently struggle with - I don't just want to blog about my day, but as I already contribute articles on writing to writing blogs, do I REALLY want to clutter up my blog with more of the same? So it's good for me to have found this post, as it lets me relax a little while I stop and thinking about what I want to write about.

    Thank you!!

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  46. One of the things I appreciate about your blog, Jody, is that it actually does stand out from the crowd - probably for the reasons you listed. It is one of the few author blogs out there that consistently has something of interest. This is evident by the number of followers you have.

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  47. I struggle with this as a new writer. What could I possibly have to say that would be important or worth two cents? All I can do now is offer myself. My voice is my only strength so I use it. I enjoy other blogs that give me a hint of what it would be like to sit and have coffee with that person (or a glass of wine, whatever!). So I try to offer that back.

    Our uniqueness is one of the coolest things about blogging. We could both talk about the same topic but the delivery is what sets us apart.

    Great stuff, Jody! You are always on the money with your posts. I am pretty sure you are clairvoyant! :)

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  48. This blog is informative and takes a load off. It eases my mind because this is all new to me.

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  49. Your first commenter was right- I opened this because of the title (I don't want to be boring!).

    But the nugget I pulled from this, may not have been an intentional one (by you). You said you plan your posts.

    Plan your posts. Well, gee, why didn't I think of that?

    I think that may be my biggest problem right there. I wait for the muse to strike, and on weeks like this-- it's just crickets chirping and there's a lull. But if I planned them...

    :)

    I think I am aware, even if it not in full implementation, of why/how to blog and purpose to keep my writer blog very different than my family blog. But I hadn't gotten so far as actually planning my posts.

    You might have just saved my readers from a boring blog, Jody.

    Thank you, again.

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  50. Interestingly enough, I'm a fiction writer, yet I've done what you advised non-fiction writers to do: focus on topics in their work.

    My novel deals with mental illness, rape, marriage, parent-child relationships, etc., so it feels natural to write about these things. I try to use a personal angle, my own personal experiences and reactions to things.

    Sometimes the tie-in to the themes in my fiction is subtle, sometimes not (as in a recent blog post where I opened up about being bipolar and my fears that being open could cost me a book contract).

    Good post. I found this through a Twitter link, by the way.

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  51. Thanks for stopping by via Twitter, Laura! Love the way we can find so many interesting blog posts through Twitter!

    And, yep! Choosing a catchy title is really important, especially for twitter and google readers. The well-crafted title is just another way to help our blogs stand out among the many others.

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  52. I think there are too many 'do this don;t do that' writing related blogs out there. If you are writing one it has to stand out. You have to have a niche an angle that others aren't already working. I think you do that here because you write about the journey you are on as it relates to the craft of writing. I've loved following your path.

    Yes, my blog has a theme. I have introduced Writer's Wednesday to talk about the 'writer's soul' The demons if you like that dog writers. I will never be a how to writing blog though. It's not me. :)

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  53. Exactly why I decided NOT to focus on writing on my blog. There are so many great writing blogs (like this one), and I had nothing fresh to add. An occasional guest post on someone else's blog - now that I can handle.

    It took over a year, but I've finally found a rhythm that works for me - Mondays are WWII topics (on "brand" for me), Wednesdays I focus on book clubs or feature books my readers might like, and Fridays I post devotions. I have to write a devotion for my Sunday school class each week, so I might as well get double mileage :)

    I don't have big readership, but my main goal when I started my blog was just to have fresh content for website visitors.

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  54. Great post!

    I've noticed the same trends of late, and have blogged about them recently. The overabundance of "gurus" touting the same recycled writing and publishing advice, only many of them aren't writers themselves and have never published. It's so clearly a ploy to drive hits to there site. And I doubt, in the end, if they're helping anyone do anything substantial besides memorizing a list of dos and don'ts.

    I love your suggestions about connecting with your own creativity and voice in your blog. To tell your own story in your posts. That's the core of all good writing and what published authors should be emulating for those who are working hard to find their own way in our business.

    I wish there were more bloggers like you sincerely writing about their experiences and views, rather than rehashing the tips and tidbits and "secrets" they've seen others teach and share.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  55. Heart-felt comments are necessary, but not always the way to bypass the creation of a boring blog post, eh? There's so much repetition in writer blogs - I'm new to the platform-building game, and happy to have found your blog today. Thank you for your post and your site, which feels encouraging -- if that's the tone you're seeking, you've got it not only in your words, but in the look. Congrats.

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  56. Excellent advice (and indeed, a brilliant title). I really struggle with my blogging 'identity'. I don't want to have a 'writing blog', because I can't compete with the great stuff that's already out there. So I rotate different topics that I'm interested in (magic and myth, family, books), but worry that it should be more focused. Oh well ...

    My Blog: Thoughts From the Hearthfire

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  57. Really useful article for a new blogger. Thanks. Wont' stop, off to find my unique blogging voice... I know it's around here somewhere....

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  58. I used to be obsessed with having a "hit" blog, but the hits and comments remained in the single digits. Eventually I stopped caring and just blogged what I felt like, now I hardly blog at all with FB and twitter at my fingertips. BUT I'm getting ready to relaunch my writing blog and eventually my website and personal blog. Am I scared? Yes! Do I have a plan? Sort of! Will I be a hit?...no clue.

    One thing I worry about is because I'm on Wordpress will I attract any Blogger users? It seems that Blogger has a tight community and they seldom venture out. What's your thought on that? It would be an interesting poll to see if it actually makes a difference.

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  59. I believe I have a strong blogging voice, but am still on a journey discovering the focus of my blog as I go. Seems to be all the influences on my writing, which means it's pretty eclectic. Do you think that's interesting or too unfocused?
    And, Gina, I'm on Blogger and didn't follow and Wordpress blogs for ages until someone told me how to copy and paste the URL into my 'Add Blog' bit of the dashboard. Might be worth a (better) description of that in your blog for techno-strugglers like myself.

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  60. Good, good, and very good advice! Thank you, Jody, for summing it all up so clearly! :)

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  61. Good points, Jody! I agree with one of the commenters that writing blogs keep me thinking about craft, even if they repeat topics.

    Personally, I found that I did not have enough shareable insights to blog three times a week. Once is perfect for me. That way I get to pick the gem of my week, for whatever it's worth. :-)

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  62. The first commenter up there made a great point--good titles.

    Then, there are good first sentences.

    Sounds like Writing 101, eh?

    I blog five days a week for two intertwined reasons:

    * I'm promoting myself so folks might be interested in my work.

    * I need to write continually.

    One specific tip--but only because it took me about twenty years to get it into my heart--whether you're writing the galaxy's most amazing book or a blog, you're actually allowed to write a messy first draft :-)

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  63. Gina Conroy asked: "I'm on Wordpress will I attract any Blogger users? It seems that Blogger has a tight community and they seldom venture out. What's your thought on that?"

    My Answer: Gina, I have a LOT of wordpress bloggers who visit my site. In fact, I think more bloggers are going with WordPress. And linking over to my post on Twitter really helps broaden the scope of visitors.

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  64. Lunar Hine asked: "Seems to be all the influences on my writing, which means it's pretty eclectic. Do you think that's interesting or too unfocused?"

    My Answer: No matter what we choose to make the focus of our blogs, it's our job as writers to make it interesting--to use our story-telling abilities. As I mentioned, it's the same principle we apply to our books. A writer *should* be able to take any topic (like traveling across Africa or pregnancy problems) and make those topics interesting and entertaining for readers--whether in a book or blog. That's our job as writers! To take words and spin them in such a way as to connect with our readers. My 2 cents, anyway! :-)

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  65. I have to say that this exact topic is something that's been on my mind A LOT lately. Once this round of revisions is wrapped, I need to give starting up a website serious thought. I know I need to do it and I know it's expected but your point about 'a steady stream of new writing-related blogs that add to the already over-saturated market' is precisely my concern. What do I have to offer that isn't being offered by those that can do it better than I can? I absolutely don't have an answer to that yet, but I'm going to have to very soon. Thanks for giving me a few things to really consider over the next month or two.

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  66. Great post as always, Jody. Something I try to do with my blog, and that you do well, is simply bring value to the reader. It's not surprising writers would do that by offering writing and publishing tips, and I do that too. But I also try to direct readers to other resources (like your blog), and feature interviews and guest posts offering others' wisdom.

    And, occasionally, I'll share a personal story. That's harder for me, because my journalism training tells me to stay out of the story, but on your point about comments, I tend to get the most comments on posts where I open up a bit. Food for thought.

    Patrick

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  67. I remember reading through all your posts one day when I was waiting to hear from editors. From an outsider's perspective, your voice has been really consistent, encouraging, insightful, and inspiring.

    I can't tell you how many times I've jumped back into the hard work knowing you're doing the same. Thanks for being such a lovely role model!

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  68. I found the link to your blog through Hilary Clark's blog. Your post interested me because I am a writer and I've seen so many informational writer blogs - but that's not me.

    Your well thought-out tips make me think it's okay to blog for entertainment.

    Nice blog, by the way!

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  69. Hi JannaTWrites,
    Glad you found the link! Thank you for stopping by! And yes, I think every writer ultimately needs to find a blogging focus that works for them!

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  70. Jody, this is brilliant. And unfortunately, it hits a little too close to home for me. That's not really a bad thing though, since this post is so helpful and gives me some ideas. Thanks a ton.

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  71. i agree with you Jasmin the very very important thing about writing a good and interesting post is involving in that topic and you can involve in that topic if you are passionate about it and sharing our passion.

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  72. Hi Jody,

    I was searching Google for this information and found your blog in number 5 on the first page. Great post! I can see a variety of uses for this information both online and off! Especially in my field – writing booklets!

    With today’s short attention spans, it makes sense to write shorter sentences, shorter paragraphs, and shorter manuscripts!

    Regards
    Sara

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