Is Blogging Important to Your Writing?

I've heard both sides of this question very thoroughly debated, and I have come to the conclusion that...well, it depends.

When I first decided I would try this novel thing out, I hadn't the first clue about blogging or websites...or writing anything for that matter. All I knew is I wanted to write. And I did.

As I wrote, I read. And as I read, I began to become more and more interested in the author behind the story, since I wanted to be one myself. I headed to the Internet to learn more, and low and behold, author blogs were born to me.

My eyes were suddenly opened to a whole new world of writing 'dos and don'ts', as well as the camaraderie I so desperately craved from other like-minded people.

So I began a blog of my own.

Did it make me famous? No.

Do I expect agents to come knocking down my door because they love my blog? Umm, no.

Do I expect my massive following of 468 (of which I may be lucky to get 30 or so of them to check out my blog daily) to push my sales through the roof when I finally do get a book deal (I'm an optimist, what can I say:)? That would be a big fat no as well.

BUT

Has it done those things for other authors? Well, sure.

Has it taught me oodles of information on the craft, the writing market, finding a critique group, what a beta is, finding an agent, getting published, not giving up, querying...and the list goes on? Heck yes!

So is blogging important to your writing? I can't answer that for you. But, for me, I would have to say a big resounding, YES! I have learned so much through the outlet it provides, I don't know what I would do without the blogs I browse to teach me. I wasn't lucky enough to get a degree in Creative Writing...or even finish college for that matter (though I hope to one day). So I consider what I learn through blogs, sites and helpful links, my schooling. Of course the occasional writers conference doesn't hurt either. And when I go there and meet people, I go home and check out their blogs if they have one.

I love blogging.

I know it isn't for everyone. And even if it is for you, there is a fine line between blogging to help you write and blogging taking away your time to write. We all have to learn our limits.

What about you? Is blogging important to your writing? And if so, how?

On the Horizon

Now that my 2012 goals are in place, I thought I would use my blog as way to help me achieve them. So I've got a few new things I'm going to be doing that I'd like to share with you.

Writer's Butt Updates:
You may remember a post back in September about how sitting in my computer chair day-in and day-out has done a number on my tail? I called the dilemma, Writer's Butt. Well, this year, I am bound and determined to remedy this issue. To help, I will be doing a monthly post on the last Friday of every month, about what's working, what's not, and my progress (or lack thereof), to keep me accountable. Feel free to join me on these Fridays. Together, we can rid the world of Writer's Butt! Or at least have fun trying:)

Friday Free-For-All:
On Friday's I'm going to give myself permission to have a free day. I'll talk about my life, my writing updates, how my cat (Totally flubbed that up. It's my dog. That is what I get for writing this post at midnight:) wears booties in the snow because she doesn't like her feet to get cold. No joke. Anything and everything will be up for grabs on Fridays.

Agent Spotlight:
My other blogging day is Tuesday, and I am going to try to keep that centered around writing. I'm talking, the craft, getting published, marketing, the ups and downs of the journey, you name it. And since I'm going to be querying soon, I thought it might also be nice to add in some spotlights for new agents, or ones I've come across in my research that I think are super cool.

Are any of you bloggers out there changing things up in your neck of the woods? I'd love to hear all about it.

Firsts Fridays: Emily Rittel-King

I feel a special kinship toward today’s Firsts Fridays guest because I not only consider her a great blogging buddy she is also my friend. Emily Rittel-King is doing many things in her life, like writing, blogging and querying. None of them are firsts for her but I love her insight and I think you will too so let’s get to know her shall we…
This is what she says about herself:

I'm a mom busting out of my daily grind by immersing myself in the pages of a book, preferably my own. I dabble in suspense and paranormal fiction for young adults and adults, but my first love is romance.

You've probably guessed my real name isn't E.R. King, and you may be asking, what's with the pen name? I'm very attached to my maiden name, Rittel, enough so that I considered sticking with it, but the only people who know how to pronounce it correctly live in my hometown. My father was my high school principal (can you imagine?) so everyone knows me: kids, teachers, gas station clerks—it's a small town. To avoid mispronunciation (Rit-elle, not Ri-tell or Ri-dell), I've honored my family name by making it an initial. Hence the name E (Emily) R (Rittel) King.

Randomness about me: If my house was set on fire and I had time to rescue three things I would choose my hard drive, Violet my cat, and my wedding photo. In case you're wondering, my husband and our three munchkins got out okay, but sadly, my box of Lindor Truffles was consumed in the flames. The cat had an edge over the chocolates, but only by a hair.

DB: Hey Emily! I’m thrilled to have you visiting todayJ

When I first checked out your blog you had three followers and now you have over 200, not to mention the tons of comment love. Can you tell us your secret?

ERK: I don’t know if I have a secret so much as a thirst for blogging. I follow a lot of blogs, read them, and comment on them. I found the blogs I follow through blogfests, reading other blogger’s comments, and going to the links people post when they receive blogging awards. My Blogging Mentor Monday’s guest spot has helped me gain followers and taught me a lot about Blogging. Receiving blogging awards and tags also helps.

As for my own blog, I try to post about issues on my mind. A fellow blogger taught me how to receive comments by e-mail, so those who have a working e-mail address I respond to directly. It’s saved me time and helped me form personal relationships with my followers. I also like to post only 2-3 times a week. This gives time for those who don’t check their blogs every day to comment.

DB: It really is cool how we develop these great friendships with our blogging friends.

Sticking with blogging questions for a moment, it seems you are all over the blogosphere. Every blog I visit you have been there and left a lovely comment. How do you time manage your blogging, visiting blogs, writing and personal life and still stay sane?

ERK: I’ve really pushed myself to get out there and find blogs. My hunt has slowed a bit, as I’m following plenty now, but then I find another great blog and I HAVE to follow and comment. It can be tough fitting in blogging while writing, but the balance of work and play keeps me sane. I really don’t spend that much time blogging. I’ve discovered that the two busiest blogging days are on Monday and Tuesday (sometimes Wednesdays), so I spend a couple of hours on those days. The weekends are usually pretty quiet in the blog-o-sphere.

DB: I think you’ve found the key by figuring out the busy days and taking it easy the others.

You have recently been querying agents and are doing pretty well as far as requests for partials or fulls. Can you give us some query advice?

ERK: I wish there were a magic formula for querying, but alas, it’s all about perseverance and finding an agent who falls in love with your writing. First and foremost, be prepared. Don’t go into it hoping you’ll find an agent, KNOW you’ll find one. Then be patient, believe in yourself, and realize a rejection is no more than a “no thank you.” You don’t want an agent who feels lukewarm about your book. You want total and complete adoration. Don’t settle for anything less!

DB: Great advice!

What are you working on now and where do you see yourself in the future of writing?

ERK: I’m still plugging away on my 5-book series, which I see myself finishing sometime in the next decade. : ) It’s fun, but a lot of work. Building a world that spans five books makes me careful of every plot twist and subplot because it all adds up. I know the ending, which helps a lot. Still, writing is hard work. Querying is hard. Believing in yourself in the face of rejection is hard. The future depends on what I do today, so I’m busting my butt to get what I want.

DB: You nailed it on the believing in yourself being hard. I think we can sometimes be our own worst enemyJ

You are co-hosting a fun blogfest with me called the Killer Characters Blogfest in a couple of weeks. Can you tell us a little about that?

ERK: YES! The blogfest

DB: If anyone is interested in signing up you can go HERE to do so. We will be offering three prizes!

Tell us anything. It can be about you, your writing, something fun. Whatever. The floor is yoursJ

ERK: Life is good! Be thankful for what you have, work for what you want, and believe you can achieve your dreams!

DB: Perfect way to end it Emily! Thanks for being here; you’re a doll for doing thisJ

ERK: I appreciate the opportunity, Deana. This was fun!

DB: If Emily sounds as awesome to you as she is to me you can find her blogging it up at Lets Get Busy Writing.

Until next time…

Keep writing. Keep learning.

Changing It Up

I don't like change.

Sure, I'd like to say I'm all laid back and go with the flow. I used to be...when I was a teenager; even in my early twenties. New things would fly in my face and I'd embrace them with a smile and a hug. Now they do and I swat them away like they're pesky bugs ready to strike.

Coming to this conclusion of who I am hasn't been easy because, well, that is change too.

So you will understand when I realized that I had to change things up in order to finish my first draft, it was done with some major dragging of feet on my part.

Here is the funny thing about my loathing change. Once I have my tantrum about it, I embrace it like it's my new best friend. Weird huh? So really the only thing different about me since my youth is that I have to fight change before accepting it.

Well, after my kicking and screaming episode ended about my writing, I decided to trim down blogging to two days a week and switch those days to Tuesday and Friday.

Now I'm sure this makes no difference to you. Bloggers blog when they blog. If you like them you read. If you don't, you don't. Still it was HARD to come to this decision because I really...no I REALLY love to blog!

Facing the facts stinks, but hopefully I can get my first draft and some editing done and still connect with my writer buddies. Just in a slightly different way.

What about you? Do you like change? Do you fight it only to love it in the end?

I'll see you on Friday with a Firsts Fridays interview with Liz Schulte, author of Dark Corners. Then next week my Tuesday/Friday gig will begin. I hope to see you there.

Until next time...
Keep writing. Keep learning.

Firsts Fridays: Jen Daiker

This is no kidding, my guest today for Firsts Fridays is AMAZING. She truly inspires me by her blogging and writing. Read on and I think you will agree.

Let us get to know the too cool for school….JEN DAIKER! You may know her from her very popular blog UNEDITED.

Tell me she isn’t funny. Just read what she has to say about herself:

I love to lie. Wait a minute, I love to tell stories, yup that's my calling. I spend my days day dreaming of distant lands, fairies, witches and that one handsome prince who will whisk each and everyone of my characters off their feet and into a more beautiful place. Why write of reality and live in reality when there are so many possibilities through imagination. They call me crazy, but I call myself a writer. This is my life on paper.

DB: Jen, you are so awesome for letting me pick your brain. Thanks!

Let’s talk about platform…

You have a great platform through your blog—a slew of followers—and word on the street is this happened in a matter of months. Could you share with us your wisdom on how you did such an amazing feat and how you keep it up?

JD: *Blushes* I can’t get past the fact people talk about me on the streets, how cool is that? I am lucky enough to have been blogging for a year and have all wonderful people following me. I have to say I have so much fun with it I couldn’t imagine giving it up. I started it as inspiration to find myself. Now it’s a part of me. If you love to blog, then blog, if you don’t, then don’t. People know when you aren’t in to it. They’re like vampires, instead of feeding off blood; they’ll feed off the negativity.

DB: So it sounds to me like your love for blogging has people feeling the happy vibes. I really couldn’t agree more. I have visited blogs where you get this weird vibe. Strange, but true.

What is your take on a fiction writer having a platform? Do you think this will help you when you get your dream agent (which no doubt it right around the cornerJ)

JD: I think it’s a great way for the agent to get to know your personality and work ethic, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Many agents ask you not to force it. Like I said before, if you don’t feel it, don’t do it. Blogging is like a job, it’s a lot to keep up, if you’re not willing to put in the effort, it won’t make it. Focus on what you love, if that’s writing, the agent will love you no matter what. After all, they’re looking for a book to sell, not a blog. HOWEVER, it doesn’t hurt to have one J

DB: Very good advice!

How do you time manage your writing with your blog, Twitter and any other platform avenues you use?

JD: Saturdays I write all my posts. I’m a M-F blog poster, so everything is pre-scheduled. Sometimes I’ll even have a month of posts set up. Twitter happens while I’m sitting on the couch with my hubby. Writing happens every morning, thirty minutes before work, and every fifteen minute break I can get. When I’m inspired I can write 10K in one sitting at home (hubby cooks dinner those nights). I use facebook, but more to lurk, and it’s for family. It’s all about knowing your limits. I wish I could comment around the blogging world but if I want time to write I have to let go of it. It’s the hardest thing to let go of too. I still struggle daily.

DB: It sounds like you are winning the battle though. So dang organized!

Getting to know the writer in you…

What is your writing style? Do you write every day, are you a plotter or a pantster, etc?

I write when I feel it, and when I feel it, days of silence set in until it’s finished. I used to be a panster, but recently a plotter. Every book is different for me. No matter what, I write fast. My slowest book written was 14 days, my shortest was 5 days. Ranging from 60K – 120K (and no, the 14 days was not for novel sitting at 120K).

DB: Holy smokes girl 14 days?! That is IMPRESSIVE!

You are shopping agents for chick lit right now, how is the querying going?

JD: Right now I’m learning about the agents and who best suits me. I decided to go through another round of revisions before sending it off into the world. I believe everyone is different and my first experience with querying showed just how new I was. My idea was too unique for agents to take on, however, the newest novel is getting a lot of attention from readers about how relatable it is, and I already have an agent lined up who is interested. Sometimes the world of blogging and tweeting pays off!

DB: Oh YAY! I’m sure we will be hearing about you landing an agent on your blog soon no doubtJ

Just for fun…

Can you tell us something we just have to know about Jen Daiker?

JD: I’ll share three odd things about myself: I don’t eat condiments, nope, not even on French fries. I have a friend who designs shoes for me based on the characters and stories I write (all are ridiculously awesome and one day I think they’ll sell, she’s brilliant). Licking fingers grosses me out, if I eat pizza or Cheetos I’ll wash my hands directly after – take me to a wings place? Forget about it… not a chance!

DB: Wow, all these are interesting, but I think you’ve got every girls attention on the shoes! I want a friend like thatJ

Thanks so much for doing this interview Jen! You are one of kindJ

JD: You’ve been a fabulous host! Thank you so much for having me!!

If you are like me and want to stalk Jen...I kid, I kid:) But seriously...here is her Blog one more time and her Twitter

Until next time...
Keep writing. Keep learning.

Oh, and guess what? I'll have internet again Monday!  YES!!!

I Feel Famous!

If you haven't signed up for the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest, now's your time!

I'm not one to gush or anything but...ok, I'm going to!  I had my first interview and my first guest post all in the span of a few days.  I feel so special!

If you want to check either of them out or the blogs of the lovely ladies who are the cause of all this giddiness on my part, then by all means do.

Emily Rittel-King has been a writer for awhile now and has recently restarted her blog, Get Busy Writing, after a small hiatus.  With this new beginning she is doing Blogger Mentor Mondays and I am her first interview!  If you want to read what I have to say or go over and check out the awesomeness that is my pal, go here.

Debbie Maxwell Allen from Writing While the Rice Boils saw some specialness in my post about adverbs and decided to guest post me.  Pretty cool!  You can check it out here.  On any given day Debbie posts the most helpful advice for writers.  I kid you not!

I frequent both of these blogs and you should too...not just because they noticed me, though that is outstanding in an of itself:)


So happy Monday everyone, happy writing and editing and any other writing goals you have too.  Oh and guess what???  It's almost July...Blogfest time!  Are you getting those queries and novels prepped?  If you don't know what in the world I'm talking about just click on the link at the top of this post, or the Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest button on the right sidebar.  The numbers keep on growing, it is going to be a blast!