I have talked over the last few weeks about the different stages of writing. The actual writing,https://cathybrockman.com/2015/05/06/put-your-writing-hat-on/ Research https://cathybrockman.com/2015/05/13/lets-go-digging/ Alpha readershttps://cathybrockman.com/2015/05/20/5850/ editing https://cathybrockman.com/2015/06/03/5908/
Now the fun really begins. Let’s put on our carpenter hat start building a platform.
When I first started writing, social media was so daunting and a few groups I was in encouraged you to get social media coaches. In which I did. A good social media coach teaches you the steps of building a strong platform. Just like any other platforms if the foundation isn’t strong it will collapse and you will fall on your… well, you get the idea. Of course, with this as most other things in my life, I went overboard. Where my coach said choose three or four social media sites and only work them a few hours a week, I chose as many as I could find and worked hem a few hours a day. Soon I was overwhelmed, burned out, and still not too many people knew who I was or cared( good thing since I didn’t have time to finish any books). After lots of trial and error, I finally caught on and downsized. I found a few that are easy enough for me to use and just stick with that as a base and occasionally reach out in other new areas. Usually, I find the best bet if one of those work replace one that doesn’t work with this one so you don’t get back into the habit of too many social media sites.
When should you actually begin this platform? All the sites you read and coaches encourage you to begin as soon as you start writing. I will have to agree but don’t go overboard. Recently I got overwhelmed again and began at square one.
From my experience, I suggest you do build a good website first. Choose if you will blog on it daily, weekly biweekly or what and be consistent. I also suggest you pick a day a week to do the bulk of this and pre-schedule as much as you can. I found this gives me much more writing time during the week.
Creating a good schedule is key. Put your writing first then give yourself an hour a day and do your social media then and maybe an hour to work on your blog as well. Set a timer and when it goes off walk away. My timer is my best friend( when I actually use it).
Do posts that encourage your audience to seek your writing out. Don’t just post about your book constantly. What are your books about? Do they focus on one thing? Do they center around food or Myths? Here are five of my favorites.
Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme ehttp://www.sharonarthurmoore.blogspot.com/ by Sharon Moore s one of my favorites She shares all sorts of cooking tips, recipes and guest posts.She also occasionally talks about her books and I will say the cute titles and fabulous food pictures on her covers along with the bits she gives on her blog has sold me her book.
VL Locey http://thoughtsfromayodelinggoatherder.blogspot.com/ Is one of my favorite authors both M/F and M/M. Her books re a bit on the sexy side so enter this one with caution. I think I have and have read every one of her books. She has fewer posts than some of the others. She has some guest posts and news of her releases and a personal post or two about her life on her hobby farm. Also some cute duck, goose and puppy pictures from time to time!
Cassidy Frazee https://wideawakebutdreaming.wordpress.com/ is a science fiction and fantasy writer and her posts are a bit longer. She shows us her timeline on scrivener and gives some insight on the characters and how the story is progressing. I also love seeing how she uses the Scrivener Writing program.
Flossie Benton Rogers http://flossiebentonrogers.com/ I love how she has Mythic Monday. Her books center around myths and magic so she posts about the topic ( yes I am about to break down and buy the Witch Fae series! I want Demoness Dreams badly and will need to read the others first.I also love the way she does her reviews it is very interesting and unique.
and Christina Cole http://christinacoleromance.com/ Though Christina hasn’t posted in a while I loved his blog. She had a day or so a week with a favorite recipe and I loved seeing the different ways people cook some of the same meals I cook.
As you see, each one is extremely different.
You can see here how each of these authors target a specific audience.
These are a few of my favorites, I had to limit the number of blogs I actually read each day as that was another thing that was consuming too much of my writing time, but there are so many awesome blogs out there!
I decided under good advice to do a little work on my previous blog. In the past, my blog was full of blog tours, other author’s books, cover releases, reviews and the like. It was 99 percent other author’s and not much about my writing or myself. So the first of the year I hired someone to redesign my website for me and got a domain name and here ya go. Cathy writes Romance at cathybrockman.com was born! I cut back on my posting of other authors and keep that to mostly one day a week. If I read and review a book I think was great and want to share I post that as well, otherwise the website is now more oriented to you the reader, myself and my work.
I love to cook and organize things, garden, craft and do trash to treasure. With the way, the economy is I find that a lot of you like to find new ways to stretch the budget. So I do a food and craft post on the weekends. I hope as my actual writing progresses to get back to a free story or at least some teasers for you as well.
But a good website, schedule, and a plan is only the bottom of the platform. Then you gotta get social!
9 responses to “Put on your hard hat! Why do I love V.L Locey, Sharon Moore, Christina Cole, Flossie Benton Rogers, and Cassidy Frazee’s blogs.”
Great post! I’m humbled to be mentioned and included with so many wonderful bloggers and authors. I think that balance in all things really is key to being as productive as possible. It sounds like you`ve found a nice balance between social media and writing! I can`t wait to see read all the wonderful stories you have planned for us!
*hugs*
V.L.
Thanks I am hoping to get back at it soon.
You are so thoughtful to include my blog in with the those of the other authors you mentioned. You’re the one who should receive the Most Amazing Blogger award. I don’t know how you do it everyday, or almost everyday. I enjoy reading your blog. Your posts are interesting and informative. I think people can get to know each other on a different level that adds to the “enjoying the author’s books” level.
How sweet I am glad someone actually reads it and enjoys it that makes it worth the trouble. Believe it or not I don’t really like blogging. I like the weekend posts and the tours are easy the rest i really struggle to make interesting Thanks again for the kind words I think it is important for us authors to encourage each other since what we do is quite difficult yet fun.
Thanks so much for the kind words. I’ve been off-line recently dealing with a lot of real-life family concerns, so I haven’t been able to keep up with the blog. I will soon be back to posting on a regular schedule. I love blogging, and I’ve missed it. Your comments mean a lot to me.
I can relate I haven’t got much writing done all spring due to real life stuff. I hope you get things worked out soon! I do miss you!
YAY Vickie & Flossie!! Two of my favorite authors and Tuesday Tales participants.
You’re right in including them both in this, they are both AWESOME authors!!!
Thanks for stopping by they are awesome I enjoy their Tuesday Tales too
Cathy, you are so sweet and always so supportive! Thank you so much for the shout out, and even more importantly, for your friendship! Hugs and kisses from afar!