I’ve seen a lot of advice in the self-publishing circles about blogs. Most of it’s contradictory. Start a blog, don’t start a blog. Market the shit out of your work, don’t market until you have at least three books for sale, don’t market at all because that’s lame, etc. Twitter promote your books like crazy, or not.
This is where I make a (not so) teary-eyed confession: I started this blog solely for promotion’s sake. Yep. To build that ever-elusive “author platform”, or whatever it’s supposed to be. But quite frankly, and this could be young adult rebellion kicking in, screw that.
Want to know what I found out whilst blogging? You guys are really awesome. You’re nice, you’re honest, and you’re supportive (or blunt in all the right ways). You’re not my author platform, you’re the people I diligently post for — not because I’m amazing and wonderful but because I just love hearing from (and about) you. I really appreciate how many of y’all crossed over from my old blog to this one, and I respect all the kind words y’all give when I post short stories.
As a writer, and a wanna-be geologist (since I’m leaning towards that field more and more), and a wanna-be music enthusiast, and a movie freak, and a book absorber, it’s nice to know others share my quirks, or at least like the often random stuff I put up here. You’re not necessarily a writer, though a good number of you are, but you’re also readers, music lovers, movie freaks (yay), and admirers of lulz and pointless information about stuff. Oh, and cute puppy pictures.
How can you not love that guy anyway?
So I need to thank y’all. Because I never did back when I figured this out for the first time (it takes a few realizations to really sink into my skull). Seriously, thanks. You made me leave the mold of what others say works and helped me figure out what works for me. I’m quirky, moody, random, and lulzy. Perfect fit.
Why do you blog?
