Are you looking for author blog ideas? Before we talk about that, let’s talk about you.
You’re considering an author blog. Should you or shouldn’t you?
If you do, where do you start? You’ve talked with your editor, publicist, and publisher.
Your editor is all for it because it helps you practice writing and editing.
The publicist thinks it’s great because it can help drive traffic to your website.
Your publisher is kinda “meh” because it can take away from writing time, but isn’t generally against it.
Those three folks are an important part of your team.
If you’re indie, my guess is you are also the publicist and publisher.
But why do you, THE AUTHOR, want to blog? Additionally, what constitutes a good author blog topic?
But, if you plan to start an author blog, I want you to think about a few things.
- It is a fantastic way to start and maintain a writing habit. Your editor is correct.
- It is a fantastic way to drive traffic to your website. So your publicist is also correct.
- It is time-consuming and requires some creative brainstorming for topics after a time. And now your publisher is correct.
- There will be 31.7 million bloggers in the U.S. by 2020 – is this a consideration?
Maybe. Because yes, there are a lot of blogs out there.
That doesn’t mean you can’t make it work for you.
Your fiction content is unique and more than likely, there won’t be too many other fiction writers out there clamoring away to write about your content.
So that opens up a lot of post possibilities.
So think long and hard about WHY you want to blog.
Then think about how much time can you commit to it.
Best practice these days dictate long-form blogs drive the most traffic to your page.
Long form is between 800-1400 words. That’s a lot of words. How long will that take you?
But if you are excited and can make the commitment, you 100% have to plan.
Yes, plan! Otherwise, the novelty will wear off and you’ll quit. Trust me.
Create a content calendar.
It’s a device to help you plan out your blog strategy, which posts to write, and when to post them.
You’ll never be lost on what to blog again.
[bctt tweet=”Create a content calendar. It’s a device to help you plan out your blog strategy, which posts to write and when to post them. You’ll never be lost on what to blog again.” username=”@writernationjen”]
Alright, so you’ve decided. This is what you’re going to do.
Awesome! Go for it! Know where you want to start? No problem.
Here is a list of topics to get you going:
1- Behind-the-scenes.
Talk about how you get your ideas (because you know you’ll be asked).
Where you write, where you do your research.
Take pictures and post them with your blog post.
2- Excerpts of your work.
Do you have a really favorite scene? Share it.
Are you ditching one particular scene? Share that as well.
3- Character Interviews.
These are always fun and can help you flesh out a character as well.
Here is a list of questions to help you get started, and here is another list.
4- Book chronicle.
- Journal your book.
- Describe how you create your characters
- Tell how they respond to you on a given day
- Talk about having writers block and why
- Discuss how you got past the writers block
5- Book covers.
Book covers on author blogs are a bit ubiquitous but still fun for the reader.
Talk about why you like one over the other.
Ask for inputs on how the covers make readers feel.
As a writer, you know if you can get a reader to feel something, you’ve found gold.
6- Research trips.
Write about what you ate, where you stayed, what you discovered, where you discovered it.
Definitely include video clips. Just short ones.
Author blogs can be fantastic places for readers to learn more about something.
7- Location Scout.
Write about your setting and its history.
Similar to research trips, but this is specifically about the setting you are creating.
If it’s fiction, do you have a sketch or photos of something that looks like it?
If it’s a real location, post photos or video.
8- Writers life.
How you became a writer, stay motivated and started your career.
I know you might think your day is pretty boring sitting at a laptop at your dining room table with a cup of coffee and acoustic music playing off YouTube.
BUT how you stay in that chair day after day, and why you do it are compelling to the human experience.
Readers go to author blogs to learn more about them. Help ’em out.
9- Supporters.
Interviews with people who’ve helped you on your journey: librarians, researchers, biggest supporter, funny little guy you met on the train who was super excited to find out you’re a writer!
Think of this like an NPR Storycore type of post.
What does your father or best friend have to say about your writing?
10- Reviews.
Connect something in your work to popular culture and become an expert on it.
For example, Young Adult novelists could review episodes of Riverdale or Stranger Things.
Mystery writers could review CSI or NCIS.
It doesn’t have to relate directly to your fiction either.
Part of your platform or public person can be your own interests.
Pick one or two. Do you like cooking? Review a new recipe.
Are you a woodworker? Review the latest tool.
* * *
For fiction writers, blogging can be a great tool to get the creative juices flowing.
It can establish a writing habit that takes your mind off your fiction and gives your characters time to marinate on their next moves.
From a marketing perspective, it can drive traffic to your website and that’s always good when you’re ready to sell books.