I feel like I’ve spent the past year reading articles on blogging that are all about driving up the traffic to your site, in the hopes they’ll click on your ads, or buy your e-book, or shop at your swag shop. While those things are nice, one thing stands out in every single article, and yet manages to be buried in all the money-raising talk.
The way to attract readers is to have interesting content. It’s best if the content is sincere, from the heart. It’s become my experience that readers really seem to like that. They like to feel like they’re being allowed to peek in on a conversation. They like to feel like their looking in through a window at someone who both has something to say and is willing to give it a personal touch.
You can flood your page with less than subtle ways for your blog to make money, or you can provide a useful experience for your visitors. If you’re truly clever, you can even find a way to blend the two into a non-obnoxious experience people are willing to return to over and over for your new content and your retakes on old topics.
You want the traffic? Talk about what you love, and just be yourself!
Posted by Ceara as Uncategorized at 7:44 AM EST
1 Comment »
I’ve been bragging around the site all week about how I use EverNote in my work around here. It’s become my catch-all for just about everything textual. I manage my to-do lists, random notes, Niche-specific notes, etc. The list really does go on!
My set of folders for WritingNiche might actually be the largest. I keep everything from my writing schedule (which completely broke this month for various reasons) to notes for various writing projects to my idea files, broken up by genre. It’s great. I routinely thumb through it for ideas to add to pieces I’m working on.
The ever-neglected manga script has a very poor folder that ought to be nurtured so I have something to work with when I get back to work next week.
Ceara also uses it to keep track of her novels and fan fiction. I think each novel has its own folder, and then the fan fictions have their own folder by fandom. It’s really neat.
That may be too organized for any of you out there, but it’s how we both work. (Of course, Ashlyn is the rebel. She just writes, occassionally making random notes in random places. Ceara and I have no idea how she copes!) Ideally, any writer should have an ideas folder tailored to thier own work. EverNote really does it nicely, even allowing you to lock items you don’t want publily viewable!
Posted by Rebecca as Resources at 8:10 AM EST
No Comments »
First, I must thoroughly embarrass Rebecca by pointing out that she was invited to enroll in the Long Ridge Writing Group’s writing program this spring! We’re both still digging for information on the program to make sure it’s completely on the up and up, but I’m not sure it will be enough to help her decide whether or not she’s going to take the opportunity.
Second, there has been some interesting writing advice floating around the blogosphere lately. There’s Elmore Leonard’s top ten list for staying invisible. I can’t say I agree with everything in it, but I might look through it again and see if there’s anything worth adopting.
I was then introduced to Will Write for Chocolate, a cute web comic and advice on the writing world. I particularly enjoyed this post on finding writing inspiration, If you write, this is a good example of why you should always have a note catcher of some sort on hand. I use a notebook. Rebecca uses the notes section of her planner. Ashlyn…yeah, we won’t go there. Ashlyn is forever Ashlyn.
Finally, Wil Wheaton (who I had a closet crush on as a teenager) offers some useful writing links. The eclectic librarian offered not only a link to the same article, but also a link to a response. Both are very interesting reads!
Posted by Ceara as Uncategorized at 7:59 AM EST
No Comments »
I need more time to investigate them, but it would appear there is a template-based self-publishing site making the rounds.
The comments on this post have some suggestions I haven’t checked out yet, either.
One would hope that I’m actually going to put this self-publishing information to good use before the end of the year.
Posted by Rebecca as Resources at 8:13 AM EST
No Comments »
I recently shared an idea I’m exploring for writing prompts. Some thirty episodes later, I’ve come to realize that I really only need the last scene to accomplish my main goal.
It occurs to me that one could pull a scene randomly out of just about anything and turn it into a writing prompt. Here’s a scene. Write either what led up to it, or what followed it.
Maybe I’ve just become desperate for a good stash of writing prompts…
Posted by Ceara as Writing Prompts at 8:16 AM EST
No Comments »
I like to follow Writer’s Weekly and Organized Writer. I honestly can’t remember if it’s that I found Writer’s Weekly first, or Organized Writer first, but one of them pointed me to the other. I love the articles, and was even starting to pursue some of the job listings on Writer’s Weekly because the editor has many posted assurances that the listings are posted in good faith, that they never post bad listings.
While I do have my first freelance job found in the listings coming up this February, I have to say that board is no more reliable than any other web board on the Internet. Last summer, they posted a link to a writing contest that seemed legit, but I can tell you from personal experience that they were not. Over the fall, they posted information on a publication house that I took a look at, but neve contacted. Their website was too sketchy. Last week, the company showed up in their list of warnings.
Makes you wonder if they’re really doing their homework before sharing this compiled list…
Posted by Rebecca as Uncategorized at 8:35 AM EST
No Comments »
I’ve been coming across a lot of writing advice lately. It’s wonderful because I also am finding myself being asked for it a lot. I’m actually developing a blogging primer that i can share with people when they asked. I know I could just hand off someon else’s, but I think if someone is going to search out my own opinion on the matter, then I should have it ready. I’m developing advice from my own experience.
But for now, more writing advice, these gems from the Free Range Librarian.
Also, for your consideration (and for the del.icio.us collection), how to use shorts to break in to markets.
Posted by Rebecca as Resources at 7:04 PM EST
No Comments »
