I started this blog a year ago and realized about six months into it that I know nothing about blogging. Not being the type to give up at any form of writing, I dug in deeper to discover the hidden wonders of blogging, bloggers and why we feel compelled to share our writing, our thoughts, ideas and pictures on line.
As a writer, blogging is one of many recommended platform builders. I was under the impression that ‘if I wrote, they woud read it’. But who are ‘they’? And where to they come from?
Lesson #1 – building an audience, a reader-base for a blog, is as essential as bringing a dish-to-pass to a pot luck. That is so simple, but it’s something beginning bloggers overlook. You might have the best essays in the world; you may have written a Newberry Honor-worthy story, but until someone read it, it’s just ink on paper (or pixels on the screen).
As this lesson settled on my mind, I altered my 2012 writing plans to 2012 research plans. I ventured out and found new bloggers, old bloggers, Indie Authors, started a facebook page, opened a Twitter account, poked around on pinterest, Linked up on LinkedIn. Basically, I did a cannonball into the pool that is social networking.
Bringing those 2012 goals into 2013, I hope to compile a list of writing resources, great articles, compelling stories at the end of each month. Enjoy these bloggers as I have! Learn from them, follow them, comment on their posts. Join the circus that is writing and sharing and juggling careers and this art form. Be present!
Ideas for Social Networking:
3 Ways to Find Readers on Twitter
Joining Twitter Chats to Make Connections
Blog Hops and Blog Carnivals:
Author First Look with Vicki Husdon
Indie Author Interivews @ Kimberly Shursen’s blog (click on ‘more’ to view author interviews)
Writing Tutorials:
Heirarchy of Clarity – an excellent website full of resources for writers! I tagged it in my favorites!
20 Frighteningly Good Writing Tips from Stephen King!
Just for Fun!
