tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post3515916463168565206..comments2023-09-25T02:24:22.087-07:00Comments on Anne R. Allen's Blog: Dueling Agent Advice on Blogging. Who the $!%# Do You Believe?Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-60360787889412205142012-01-09T17:54:26.181-08:002012-01-09T17:54:26.181-08:00This has been a great discussion - even three mont...This has been a great discussion - even three months later. I, too, have been wondering whether blogging on its way out. But I started blogging to keep fresh interesting content on my website and even if I don't have many followers, my reason for starting is still reason enough to continue.Kate Dolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09286095357993261335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-27037376349563869992011-10-18T20:02:10.713-07:002011-10-18T20:02:10.713-07:00Tell it, girl!
Thanks for coming by the blog! An...Tell it, girl!<br /><br />Thanks for coming by the blog! And your comment makes absolute sense - you have a ton of followers and comments! lol Small fries like me still have the time to visit every commenter (though the surprising popularity of my last post has me still slowly playing catch-up.)Sophia Changhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10946233873722107937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-22760421272305942802011-10-17T09:18:08.145-07:002011-10-17T09:18:08.145-07:00This is the most comprehensive post I've seen ...This is the most comprehensive post I've seen concerning the value of blogging and what to blog about. I'd never read those opinions about blogging being dead. Personally, as another unknown trying to get my foot in the door, I'm overloaded. I'm not getting any manuscript writing done for all the blogging, and I'm not getting any younger. I waited far too long to make the jump from reading to writing.<br /><br />I had blogged occasionally since January when I sent my first batch of queries to big agents. The rejections came within hours, so fast I was convinced they laughed their heads off at my measly 6 followers. Then I received a blog award from a member of an organization of women writers with common beliefs. From one of them, I found Rachael Harrie's campaign and finally made it over 100 followers due to that and joining twitter. 100 blog followers was my goal to start querying again, and 2 weeks later I'm still blogging instead of querying.<br /><br />I have to admit there's a definite attraction, plus immediate gratification in reading the comments. And in the process, I got great query critiques from my followers in a critique contest. After I rewrite, maybe the next batch of query rejections won't shoot me down so fast. If they do, I have a few more shoulders to cry on because I don't get support at home. I'm going to have to ration my time, cut back on blogging and twitter. I rarely use FB and just started on Google+, but my tweets post to FB and I know some of my blog followers came from there. Now I'd better get started revising my query.Sher A. Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03067955594103356768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-39112990886472217822011-10-16T10:20:11.277-07:002011-10-16T10:20:11.277-07:00Pat--I agree it's OK to pop in a plug for your...Pat--I agree it's OK to pop in a plug for your book now and then--stupid not to--as long as your content is mostly aimed at giving information or entertaining. People who say you should never self-promote on a blog are as unrealistic as those who say you should blog "buy my book" 24/7.<br /><br />PK--Blog fatigue is very real, and it's the reason most blogs only last three years. The solution is to blog less often and network more. Slow Blogging rules!<br /><br />Sandy--you're one of those super-bloggers who can maintain multiple sites. If I did that, I'd go nuts, but you've been doing it a loooong time (Wow--in 1998 I was only using my first Mac for word processing. Don't think I was even on the 'Net) Another example of how different approaches work for different writers. But I think psychological burnout is a dangerous threat to all creative people and we need to work hard to resist pressure and take care of ourselves first.<br /><br />D.C--That's a brilliant piece. "The tyranny of the Like button" is so true. It's why I've backed off Facebook a lot in recent months. Not only is it harder to use, but it's meaningless. (Esp if they're eliminating your groups for no reason!) Your blog is a much more important sales tool than FB, IMO. It's about YOU, not making more money for Facebook <br /><br />Too many options is also a major source of fatigue. There are so many great blogs, and no matter how many I visit, I'm always missing somebody. I think that's why, even though my Alexa rating is better than ever, I'm getting fewer daily hits. Everybody's stats go down when we're forced to spread ourselves so thin,Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-7110609615435676722011-10-16T00:28:38.360-07:002011-10-16T00:28:38.360-07:00P.s. I also forgot to mention that Facebook at any...P.s. I also forgot to mention that Facebook at any time can change groups and content.<br />For example, I had loads of videos of readers talking about my book on my group and when they 'archived' the groups these simply simply vanished from the site. So yes, let's keep blogging in a relaxed and fun way on sites where we OWN the content. I know this is a whole new can of worms, but I'm convinced that blog fatigue stems from too many options and possibilities.DC Gallinhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/177975009706/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-28707114668780431792011-10-16T00:12:05.556-07:002011-10-16T00:12:05.556-07:00What causes blog fatigue amongst other things?
Her...What causes blog fatigue amongst other things?<br />Here I would like to give another example of how authors and creatives are being put under pressure by numbers: I call it the tyranny of the like button!<br />When the like button came up, I felt nothing but irritation… So now you can superficially like someone's page without even having to have a look at it? Although it may indicate where consumers tastes lie, what does it really mean for us creatives, writers, musicians, painters…?<br /><br />It means, we have to spend precious time to make people like our fan page, and drive traffic to Facebook instead of our own site or blog. After all, how can you possibly be any good if you haven't accumulated a few thousand likes by now? <br /><br />Who are we trying to impress, especially as the like button doesn't mean people have actually looked at our content?<br /><br />I reckon Facebook is on its way to turning itself into the 'perfect marketing tool'. It wants to monetise itself through advertising: You can determine your demographic very precisely. Age group, location, you name it. Facebook knows it all. We've given them all the information already, for free.<br /> <br />This is the whole drive behind the like button and nobody seems to realise that we are being used so Facebook can start making money with selling advertising space to its users. The same users who are not allowed to advertise, or blow their own trumpets on their homepage (for free). People with 5000 followers trying to plug their stuff have been closed down. With that in mind we, creatives and consumers alike, should really not pay too much attention to all the pressures and numbers and remember that it is all a big distraction from our real work and aspirations… and that can it cause paralysis through analysis of all the different (marketing) options...D.C.Gallinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15792631712630091428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-77744241798538161602011-10-15T13:23:41.395-07:002011-10-15T13:23:41.395-07:00Once again, a supremely well thought out and prese...Once again, a supremely well thought out and presented blog article. Here's my experience. I currently run two web sites and four blogs. <br /><br />I started "blogging" in 1998 when we set up a website for our horse ranch. Blogging didn't exist then, but I carved out a niche for myself, Spurs Magazine, and wrote about stuff that interested me. Topics ran from recipes to Little India in Artesia, CA. I also presented our sale horses and wrote about horses and ranching and my feelings about both. <br /><br />Every horse sale we've made since then has come through that blog/web connection. (And now with videos on YouTube.) These are big ticket items. We even had someone come all the way from Australia as a result of my writing. He bought three horses. So, there's no doubt you can sell over the net with blog-type writing.<br /><br />My personal web site came when a consultant told me I needed one to sell books. It's a nice hub now, a place for people to go to learn about me and my books.<br /><br />My personal blog is where I rant. Not really. I'm too polite for that. But I talk about things that matter to me, like the film Inside Job, which everyone who wonders how we got in the economic mess we're in should see. <br /><br />My writers' blog is aimed at writers/authors attaining success and sanity. When I entered the literary world, I went, "Whoa. Not good." The psychological system in which writers/authors find themselves is one of the most toxic I've seen. (My husband's waving his hands, saying I should write about this. Yeah. I will very soon on Your Shelf Life.) My writer's blog offers remedies and other stuff. <br /><br />Then I've got two blogs for my two book series. The idea was that they'd function as billboards for the series. <br /><br />How does all this work for me? Pretty well. I write about what I care about when the feelings are present. I've learned to use Twitter to get articles out to readers and recirculate older writing. I've met really cool people and I'm having fun.<br /><br />Sales? That isn't what I'm aiming for, except obliquely. I AM SO SICK of being bombarded by emails that go: "I just got another 5 star review!" "Read an excerpt from …" "My new contest!" <br /><br />This is a total turn off and getting more irritating all the time. I can see review once in a while, but … On-line, I want to get to know people and have them react to my articles, whether about economic collapse or dog rescue. I don't want my life to be an obsession with book sales. <br /><br />So thank you, Anne, for providing such a wonderful forum.Sandy Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00278726452044155395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-23330119578285679362011-10-14T13:48:52.276-07:002011-10-14T13:48:52.276-07:00This is something I've been considering for aw...This is something I've been considering for awhile. As Nathan said, it's about blog fatigue and choosing to spend your time on other more important things like fam or friends in the real world. However, with that being said, I'd never give up my blogging completely. It has helped connect me with so many other writers, some of which have become great friends. And these are peeps I'd never connect with otherwise. So yeah, it may help sell a few books that you wouldn't otherwise, but it also opens so many doors and windows too. And blogging is so much like anything else... if you love who your doing it for, then it's worth while.PK HREZOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650153097981426833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-63615899519027198422011-10-14T11:28:28.454-07:002011-10-14T11:28:28.454-07:00Wow wonderful info, and yeah it really is a two wa...Wow wonderful info, and yeah it really is a two way street. I think the blog helps, but you can't just go and say buy this now because. You have to build up an audience on other things, relevant stuff or insane stuff and then just pop one in there every now and again.Pat Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745293224202430152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-35896325054845599272011-10-14T10:01:03.749-07:002011-10-14T10:01:03.749-07:00Sharon--I've had the same experience as you--I...Sharon--I've had the same experience as you--I expected very little from blogging but ended up getting so much. Also--I'm a big advocate of once-a week posting. Quality over quantity. <br /><br />Thanks for the heads-up about Susan. I'll head on over right now.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-18611711508819292342011-10-14T09:50:57.641-07:002011-10-14T09:50:57.641-07:00I started blogging because if you wanted to be a w...I started blogging because if you wanted to be a writer you were supposed too. I had no idea how much it would affect my life. I've met so many supportive writers and non writers through blogging. My critique partners have quadrupled. I occasionally blog about my writing. I post about traveling, my pets, life management, books, and people. I usually post once a week now. When I started I was doing it three or four days a week, but as my followers grew I needed more time to respond to them. So I post less and am able to read more blogs. :) I hope blogging is not dead...I'd miss it terribly. :(<br /><br />I popped over from Susan Quinn's blog. She spotlighted you as a great blogger. :)Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-418528038530395502011-10-13T10:55:32.700-07:002011-10-13T10:55:32.700-07:00Lena—For me it’s all about those names—our communi...Lena—For me it’s all about those names—our community. I love to see familiar ones, and I love to see the new ones. We’re all helping each other. <br /><br />Sonia—When I started a blog, I really didn’t expect more than a few people to read it. I had no expectations—that’s why meeting this warm, supportive community really blew me away. Suddenly the blog had a purpose. And it wasn't direct sales.<br /><br />Wayne—Thanks for the enlightening comment. Most of us haven’t had your experience in the marketing trenches. It’s interesting to hear that everything is sold through human connections, not just books. (But of course that’s what Arthur Miller said in Death of a Salesman, isn’t it—you have to be “well-liked.”)<br /><br />And most people would rather do business with Zaphod Beeblebrox than any number of Vogons. :-)Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-79848073862974439312011-10-13T10:30:18.754-07:002011-10-13T10:30:18.754-07:00Before my body fell apart I used to be a Major Acc...Before my body fell apart I used to be a Major Accounts Sales Representative. I was the guy who busted in the doors of the accounts that looked impossible.<br /><br />The thing is that with sales, you aren't selling your product, as much as the company things you are. You are selling yourself. If you can get the customer to believe in you, they will buy from you.<br /><br />This is true whether you are selling books, forklifts, barbecues, racing cars, or computers.<br /><br />Your blog is your sales platform. It is where you sell yourself. What sort of a person are you? Do you have a good sense of humor? Do you do the Don Quixote de la Mancha routine and make people laugh?<br /><br />Or do you come across like a Vogon?<br /><br />That is why blogs are important. Relative numbers mean nothing. If a reader once touched my blog, thought, "I really like him," but didn't come back, and the reader later remember me and bought my book, my blog did its job.<br /><br />Wayne<br />http://madhatter.caAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18354974465136846413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-78205961023846049442011-10-13T09:19:10.709-07:002011-10-13T09:19:10.709-07:00Wonderful, encouraging post! It can be so scary to...Wonderful, encouraging post! It can be so scary to hear that we don't have a chance of getting published or of selling our books if we don't meet some seemingly impossible criteria. I'm still working on my first book. I started my blog because I thought it might be kinda fun to chronicle my journey as a writer seeking to be published. Very soon, I came across Kristen Lamb's ideas about building a community and discovered that there is an amazing community in the blogosphere. I've encountered so many generous, supportive people and learned so much more about the craft of writing. Even if my blog doesn't directly translate into my being a NYT bestseller, I've gained so much more than that in relationships and education.Sonia G Medeiroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11769867586033748973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-34583883624328157062011-10-12T16:14:59.695-07:002011-10-12T16:14:59.695-07:00Another wonderful post, Anne! Like so many who hav...Another wonderful post, Anne! Like so many who have commented (and it warms my heart to see the number of people above that I've gotten to know and consider to be friends of mine), I began blogging in order to find a community of like-minded people who would support and cheer on my endeavors. I'm nowhere close to having a book finished, but the encouragement that I've received from people, both writers and readers, has given me the confidence to push forward.Lena Corazonhttp://lenacorazon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-82632595046313297932011-10-12T10:33:59.292-07:002011-10-12T10:33:59.292-07:00J. A.—Using your blog to post bits of your novel r...J. A.—Using your blog to post bits of your novel research is a fantastic idea. I recommended that over a year ago, then forgot my own advice. It’s a two-bird stone. And so much more interesting than one more blog on novel structure.<br /><br />Jeffery—Interviews are always good content. I’m thinking of doing some here, actually. And you’re so right about giving away free fiction content—especially serialized novels: don’t do this, people! If your book is worth writing, it’s worth publishing as a real book, for real money.<br /><br />D.C.—I think you’re on to something with the industry’s “attempt to control authors.” They seem to want a master/slave relationship. <br /><br />Christy—I agree: It’s about community. (And I’m so glad you like my tweets.)<br /><br />Stacy—Very true about how blogging helps us set deadlines.<br /><br />Jamie—Yes. A blog is like a home where you invite friends in—not a shop where you put big advertisements in the window.<br /><br />Kristen—What a fabulous comment. It’s a blogpost in itself. I hope everybody will read it. You make a lot of great points—including some I forgot—like how blogging helps you become a professional. We learn the self-discipline that’s absolutely essential to becoming a professional writer. (I was just over commenting on your blog when this came in. I couldn’t figure out how you’d written such a great comment so fast.) :-)Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-61327708311828398232011-10-12T09:43:07.756-07:002011-10-12T09:43:07.756-07:00I love Mark Williams' comment and I totally ag...I love Mark Williams' comment and I totally agree. I think the problem with a lot of agents and publishers is that they are thinking in terms of the old marketing paradigm. Everything is linear and resembles direct marketing. <br /><br />This is why I need 20,000 Twitter followers to have an impact. There is only roughly a 1% rate of return. What these guys don't understand is social media--done properly--is a TEAM. We are part of a collective and this is how word of mouth epidemics start.<br /><br />Word of mouth epidemics never started with direct mailings or e-mail spam...they started with people. People connecting in community.<br /><br />I love how blogging is supposedly ineffective. How about crappy blogs are ineffective. Too many writers are blogging about narrative structure and their journey to find an agent and then can't figure out why they aren't connecting to readers. Well, good grief, try TALKING to them.<br /><br />If every writer out there has a writing blog and we are all selling to the same pool of people and sounding alike, then of course the blog's power will be limited. <br /><br />Blogging is not a linear process, like you said. And, what many writers fail to see is the real purpose for the blog. I recommend blogging because it makes us professional. Writers write. Blogging makes faster, cleaner writers who can adhere to self-imposed deadlines. <br /><br />No "Blogging Police" will haul me away for failing to blog. But blogging teaches me to be good at meeting deadlines. <br /><br />Blogging creates self-discipline and that is a quality all writers need. There are a lot of talented writers who will never be published simply because they lack the ability to knuckle down and work.<br /><br />There are so many benefits to blogging beyond pushing books.<br /><br />And the stats they gave are just retarded. My second book hit #1 on Amazon's best-selling list less than 18 hours after release. I don't have a fan page. My web site is...okay. I had 900 FB friends. I had less than 4000 Twitter followers and at the time, my blog had only 1,200 hits a day (far less than what these folk are asking for). <br /><br />The difference is that I had an amazing and wonderful COMMUNITY of people who rallied to support me. I don't sit and "friend" thousands of people. I work hard to invest in relationships.<br /><br />Blogging is wonderful at creating a 3-D person who happens to be an author. Our blog is the "fireside chat" where we connect as humans. We are living in a Reality TV generation. Our blog is our reality show. It opens us up as people and connects us as humans.<br /><br />If reality TV can make us care about Ice Road Truckers or tattoo artists, then the blog can make a larger audience care about us (and our books) too.Kristen Lambnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-38788353053141999652011-10-12T08:34:10.763-07:002011-10-12T08:34:10.763-07:00I love this post! And I love your list of everyth...I love this post! And I love your list of everything blogging did for you. I think you've got it right. Blogging isn't about creating a storefront for direct sales. It's about having a homebase for making connections. Thanks, Anne! :)Jami Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00957122956518765455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-19702743190351045182011-10-12T08:33:42.187-07:002011-10-12T08:33:42.187-07:00Another wonderful entry. I'm an unpublished au...Another wonderful entry. I'm an unpublished author who started blogging as part of my platform but quickly realized that unless I was big name, it would be a long time before I saw big numbers. So I try to approach it as a way to network and write about things I enjoy. It does help with setting deadlines and keeping me writing.<br /><br />By picking topics that interests me and work with my genre, I'm enjoying blogging. It's good to hear so many other authors/writers out there agree that blogging isn't going to sell books and that we can't get so caught up in the numbers.<br /><br />Thank you!Stacy Greenhttp://stacygreeauthor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-73742633423158965352011-10-12T08:33:30.229-07:002011-10-12T08:33:30.229-07:00Hi Anne, this post is fabulous. For me blogging is...Hi Anne, this post is fabulous. For me blogging is about community and a wonderful community it is. This is a great post and just wanted to add that I also enjoy reading your tweets. You are doing a great service to the writing community. I blog because I love it.Christy Farmerhttp://christyfarmer.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-15424898536094565312011-10-12T02:17:29.020-07:002011-10-12T02:17:29.020-07:00Fantastic entry, thank you so much! Just to show h...Fantastic entry, thank you so much! Just to show how out of touch the publishing industry really is! Let them demand "500 followers and 15000 visitors". These numbers are pulled out of thin air and totally unrelated to quality writing. The publishing industry is going under for one main reason: Except for the few money makers, it never really nurtured talented authors. The average author in the UK was only getting a 3000 pounds advance anyway. An art industry that doesn't support, nurture and pay their artists properly has no real right to exist. As authors we have to concentrate on our writing. By all means blog, do the social media, have fun, but keep the real goal firmly in mind. Then with a bit of luck and perseverance, we can get there all by ourselves. Meanwhile let them demand whatever they want. These ridiculous numbers are just the last attempts to control authors, while not really offering anything viable in return. Let's go outside and get some exercise for a balanced existence, see our friends and enjoy life when not writing. Sorry for the rant :)D.C.Gallinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15792631712630091428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-57263574450000360662011-10-11T14:21:46.017-07:002011-10-11T14:21:46.017-07:00My recently liberated philosophy on blogging is th...My recently liberated philosophy on blogging is this: I blog because it allows me a platform to present my work – some facet of my work, a few carefully selected bits and tastes of my work. I have no expectation of bringing ten thousand ready and willing book buyers to a publisher’s table by virtue of the fact that I blog. Nor do I feel obligated to post the equivalent of a novel-length book of content free to the blogosphere each year. <br /><br />It's completely freeing to remind ourselves, as writers, that the internet is a platform for us to use as we choose. The only 'must' is to write.<br /><br />http://blog.jeffreyhannan.com/?p=2349jeffrey hannanhttp://hugosf.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-76712639982938642212011-10-11T13:28:57.570-07:002011-10-11T13:28:57.570-07:00I started blogging at first because everyone said ...I started blogging at first because everyone said you had to have a "presence". I struggled to write content because I just didn't really feel my particular insights about writing or even writing samples were enough to draw people in.<br /><br />I shifted the content of my blog. I started connecting a lot more with other writers, doing interviews, et cetera. Then I started writing specialty entries of topics of personal interest (mostly history) that are tangentially related to my future work. These end up being fun. I do tons of research anyway, so it isn't even extra work really.<br /><br />Now, I'm actually having fun blogging, more people are stopping by, and I feel like I'm offering something that is interesting in of itself and, at the minimum, at least establishes I can string a few sentences together.<br /><br />Also, with my interviews and what not, I'm helping other people out with, really, a bare minimum of effort. So that's fun, too.J.A. Beardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866515198865656164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-8166015778299360742011-10-11T10:22:08.472-07:002011-10-11T10:22:08.472-07:00Meghan—Right—how can we not blog about writing, wh...Meghan—Right—how can we not blog about writing, when it’s what we DO? I guess that advice was meant mostly for beginning writers who write “how to” posts about stuff they don’t really know much about, but still, it sounds too dogmatic to me.<br /><br />Jaye—Connect, don’t sell; focus on the readers’ needs and not your own. Exactly—those are the only real rules of blogging.<br /><br />Julia—I think the support and connection with other writers we get from blogging is the #1 reason to do it. Glad to hear it’s worked so well for you.<br /><br />Caitlin—Having a good time is an awfully good reason, too.<br /><br />Susan—Business types have the opposite attitude from good bloggers—they want to make everything into “hard work”. Good bloggers are having fun. <br /><br />Laura—Very nicely put. There’s no one “right answer.” People who need to follow rigid rules will be very disappointed with social media.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-29876911015246931442011-10-11T06:45:07.344-07:002011-10-11T06:45:07.344-07:00I came to the conclusion that blogging truly is ab...I came to the conclusion that blogging truly is about connecting with friends, and in the future - fans/readers. I see writers with big book deals and a small blog. I see writers with a big blog but they don't make the best seller list. I truly believe a book's success is about the book and how readers respond to it. I think social media gets the ball rolling but can not make a book successful.<br /><br />The conflicting advice out there just proves that there is no right answer that fits every writer. :) Great post!Laura Paulinghttp://www.laurapauling.comnoreply@blogger.com