Becoming an Author Blogger
Judith Couchman
Today publishers expect authors to write blogs in addition to writing their books. Even if you don’t write a book,
readers are rapidly expecting writers to create blogs.
Why Write a Blog?
1. Develop your writing skills and consistency.
2. Write without the cost of self-publishing.
3. Write without the constraints of traditional publishing.
4. Create a personal journal.
5. Reach an audience with your message.
6. Extend the message of your book or publication.
7. Extend the outreach of your ministry.
8. Develop an interactive readership.
9. Develop a marketing list for your book or publication.
10. Meet publisher expectations.
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The Nature of Good Blogs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Personal
Short
Inverted Pyramid Style
Scannable
Plain, Concise Style
Anecdotal
Useful (Entertainment, Information, Debate, News, Community, Bargains, Inspiration, Topical,
Collaborative)
8. Unique Topic or Approach
9. Original Content
10. Reintroduces Key Ideas
11. Uses Key Words
12. Edited and Proofed
13.Great Headlines
14. Posts Consistently
15. Links
16. Builds Readership
17. Includes Visuals (Photos, Art, Charts, Maps, Lists)
18. Legal and Ethical (Copyrights, Permissions)
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Blog Software
The top five blog software programs:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
WordPress
Typepad
Squarespace
Live Journal
Blogger
http://wordpress.com
http://www.typepad.com
http://www.typepad.com
http://www.livejournal.com
http://www.blogger.com
From the 2012 Best Blog Software Comparisons and Reviews:
http://blog-software-review.toptenreviews.com
The Basics in Blog Software
1. Template
2. Good Design
3. Easy to Navigate
4. Editing and Spellcheck
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5. Preview an Entry
6. Schedule an Entry
7. Archive by Month/Topic
8. Categories
9. Images (Photos, Art)
10.Key Words for Search Engines
11. Links
12. RSS Feeds
13. Dashboard
14. Statistics
15. Widgets
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Simple Blog
http://monapineda.blogspot.com
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Expanded Blog
http://brendaquinnwrites.com/wordpress
Home; About; Books, Quinn Picks; Blog
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Blog with Links
http://judithcouchman.wordpress.com
Links to website home page; books on website; Facebook page; a second blog; twitter; free resources on website.
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Blog in a Website
http://www.judithcouchman.com/the-art-of-faith-blog.html
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Blog about a Person
http://carolkent.org/blog/1
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Blog about a Ministry or Theme
http://prayer.navigators.org/prayer-blogs
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Blog to Promote a Book or Program
Donald Miller’s book and conference
http://storylineblog.com/
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Index
Homepage
Search
The Best Author Blogs
It is no secret that authors write some of the very best blogs. Our editors have compiled a list of author
blogs that they believe are truly outstanding. Although the styles and subject matter of the author
blogs vary widely, they all share two important qualities: they are all frequently updated and interesting
to read.
Author Blogs
Alison Kent blog by Alison Kent
Between the Lines by David Allen
Beyond the Beyond by Bruce Sterling
Blatherings by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Book Tour Virgin by Will Clarke
Buzz, Balls and Hype by M.J. Rose
Cabbages and Kings by PJ Parrish
Carolyn's Blog by Carolyn Jewel
C.J. Barry's Blog by C.J. Barry
Contrary Brin by David Brin
Craphound by Cory Doctorow
Dave Barry's Blog by Dave Barry
Diary of a Mad Romance Author by Kathleen O'Reilly
The Dilbert Blog by Scott Adams
Dispatches from Tanganyika by Poppy Z. Brite
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Greek Tragedy by Stephanie Klein
GreggHurwitzWeblog by Gregg Hurwitz
Gus Openshaw's Whale-Killing Journal by Keith Thomson
J-Walk Blog by John Walkenbach
Krentz Quick & Castle Blog by Jayne Ann Krentz
Lessig Blog by Lawrence Lessig
LKH Blog by Laurell K. Hamilton
Meg's Diary by Meg Cabot
Monica Jackson's blog by Monica Jackson
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Neil Gaiman's Journal by Neil Gaiman
No rules. Just write by Brenda Coulter
Novelesque: House of Sand and Blog by Douglas Clegg
Paperback Writer by Lynn Viehl
Patti O'Shea's blog by Patti O'Shea
PeterDavid.net by Peter David
Pocket Full of Words by Holly Lisle
Pop Culture Magazine by Bill Crider
Searchblog by John Battelle
Seth's Blog by Seth Godin
Slay Your Demons by Julie Kenner
SnarkSpot by Jennifer Weiner
Tess Gerritsen Blog by Tess Gerritsen
Web Petals by Marjorie M. Liu
Wil Wheaton Dot Net by Wil Wheaton
Words For My Enjoyment by Paul Davidson
A Writer's Life by Lee Goldberg
Writing Fiction by Crawford Kilian
Group Blogs
The Lipstick Chronicles, a group blog by four authors
Romancing the Blog, a group blog contributed to by multiple romance novelists
Literary Chicks, a group weblog by Alesia Holliday, Michelle Cunah and Lani Diane Rich
Out of the Blogosphere, a group blog by paranormal authors
Warner Women, a group blog by Warner Books authors
Storytellers Unplugged, a group blog by thirty horror and dark fantasy authors and editors
The Whine Sisters, a group blog by Julia London, Kathleen Givens and Sherri Browning
Author Blog Directories
AuthorBlogs.com, a directory of authors blogging while they write
Romancing the Blog, a directory of blogs by romance authors
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Author Blog Search
The links below have been configured to search for information about authors and blogs using the
keywords "authors" and "blogs" on the search engine indicated. Just click on the source, and it will
bring up the search results.
Blogpulse.com
Bloglines.com
De.licio.us
Google
MSN Search
Technorati
Yahoo
General Blogging Resources
The following resources provide general information about blogging.
Article: The Author's Dilemma: To Blog or Not to Blog
BloggersBlog.com
WritersWrite.com Blogging
Wikipedia Entry on Blogging
www.internetwritingjournal.com
Writers Write® | The Write NewsTM | Readers ReadTM
Advertising | Archives | Classifieds | Jobs | RSS Feeds | Subscribe
Copyright © 1997-2012 by Writers Write, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Blog Widgets
1. Author Information
2. Author Photo
3. RSS Feed
4. Feedblitz Signup
5. Archive by Month
6. Archive by Categories
7. Top Posts
8. Search Box
9. Links to Other Sites
10. Blog Followers
11. Links to Facebook and Twitter
12. Text Information
13. Reading List
14. Facebook Posts
15. Facebook Friends
16. Twitter Posts
17. Your Books
18. Videos
19. Audio
20. Logos and Badges
21. Good Reads
22. Blogs You Follow
23. Blog Stats
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24.
25.
26.
27.
Surveys
Contests or Giveaway
Coupons
Slideshows
This handout’s text written by Judith Couchman, copyright 2012 Judy (Judith) C. Couchman. Do not copy without
permission from the author.
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