Recently after writing an 80k novel, I needed to take a break. I took a step away from blogging and social media and have only recently begun to catch up on blog posts, etc. Upon doing so, one post by a blogger asking this particular question caught my attention. It made me question my own blog.
When I began blogging many years ago, it was to stretch myself as a writer both in terms of craft and productivity. As an isolated profession, it was also a great way of meeting other writers and bloggers. Initially my blog was to be about my writing journey and what I have learned along the way and it still is. It has also been about what interests me and my genre/s. After doing some blogging and social media courses with author Kristen Lamb (which I highly recommend), one thing she mentions really sticks out: – talk about the stuff you’d talk about to friends – that makes the blog fun!
As a result my blog may be a bit of a mixed bag, which some people may or may not like, but it represents me as a person as well as a writer. After all, these days in the world of the internet, isn’t that what people want to see? Yes, I’m a writer and I talk about writing, but I don’t want to be the all-writing-all-the-time channel. That can get boring pretty quickly and there are plenty of writing blogs out there already from people with far more experience than me.
Author Anne R Allen believes that blogging can jumpstart your writing career even before you publish, where we need to treat it like a magazine. So in answer to the question my blog is about writing, the paranormal, history, film & television, crime/mystery and anything else that may take my fancy. I think having a blog showing a wide range of interests can be less inhibiting than focusing on one particular niche, although at times it can make one easily distracted. 😉
Blogging, like other forms of social media should be something we enjoy doing, therefore it doesn’t become such a chore and it’s a great way to build a community.
So, what is your blog about? Do you focus on a particular niche or do you have a wide range of interests? How has your blog evolved over time?
Main image courtesy of Pixabay
Hi – my blog is about the struggle of mental illness. I like to share short stories of fiction and nonfiction – on the topic of mental illness. I also share short bits of my day, week, month, year and what I may be tackling at the moment. I am just getting back to it – I have been away from it, for a little while and have missed it.
I hope to put together a short story series – it is constantly dancing in the back of my mind – nudging me to get onto the dance floor and start the darn thing – lol! 🙂
Writing can be a great therapeutic tool and helps us to find our way in the world. This could explain why it is often said that our first pieces of writing are basically autobiographical. I think it’s really brave of you to be so open about your experiences and I hope that through your blog you manage to put together your short stories. Best of luck! 🙂
I have two blogs. One is my writing blog and the other is my “just because” blog. My writing blog is about the craft of writing, interviews with authors, my writing journey, book reviews, plus a bit of personal stuff. The other blog is about whatever pops up that day. It is a free form blog. Anything goes there. I love the freedom of it.
Hi K.J. Having two blogs must keep you pretty busy – I struggle to maintain just the one! 😉 I’m glad they’re working for you. Best wishes.