On June 12th, I was asked to make a presentation at the California Writers Club on, “Gutsy Blogging for Writers.” Most of the audience were eager to start a blog, and my goal was to help them develop their author platform via blogging.
First five minutes of my presentation at the CWC-OC Branch
You can view the entire presentation on my videos page of my blog.
One of the books I find very helpful for writers who wish to learn more about promoting their book is:
Get Known Before the Book Deal, by Christina Katz. She offers ideas, through examples, on how to build an audience for your book. Yes, this also applies to novelists.
Angela Ackerman, author of The Bookshelf Muse, writes a blog loaded with helpful tips for writers.Her guest post titled, “Blogs: A Writer’s best Friend” hosted on The Sharp Angle, is geared towards writers and blogging. (An excerpt below.)
“So how does a writer build a platform and go from unknown to known? Blogging is one of the most effective pathways, allowing others to get a good feel for who you are. By posting regularly and providing good content, you encourage people to visit and word will spread about your blog and you.”
Also check out this article mentioned by Angela.
FYI: The Bookshelf Muse offers many “goodies” for writers I haven’t seen elsewhere. An emotional thesaurus. Say you’re writing a scene where someone feels guilty, but you don’t really know how to show it. I counted 43 ways to show it through action or expressions.
I want to see the rest of your presentation!!!! :{ Please let us see the whole thing!!
Ok Sonia, that is just downright mean to put that up and not give us the whole talk!! LOL.. I was hanging on the edge of my seat and it was over…I want to know how to start a blog! How to start!! Can you at least put it on your blog in an outline or notes?? I would love to hear the rest of course!!! You truly motivate me to try new things..Maybe thats your gift? 🙂
Why doesnt my google account work?? Oh well…Margot
Sonia this is great. Congratulations.
Sonia, good job. Is this a teaser? and the rest will come later? I think your readers want it all.
@All
Please check the CWC website later to listen to the presentation. I'm still working on sending it. Link to website is on blog post. Thanks.
I think the key to ridding yourself of nerves during public speaking is to be prepared as you've said and to get lots of practice. I've improved a lot since I told myself I would read in public every chance I can get.
Argh.. my broadband connection is slow. Will have to listen to you later. That Bookshelf Muse sounds like a great place full of tips! Thanks for sharing.
Whoops, just saw your commment here! I'll check back. I'd really like to see it in full. 🙂
Sounds like an entertaining, informative presentation. Would have liked to see more. Even the little I heard drew me in and it was interesting to hear about the blogger in Paris who gained such a big following. Gave me some ideas for my blog – in just 5 minutes – so give us more!
This is such good advice, Sonia. If I could go back and do one thing (writing-related) differently, I would start my blog while I was still writing that first mystery. I'm now getting lots of new readers for the book that was first published in 2007 and is now out of print. Thank goodness for ebooks, because now I have a whole new market to take advantage of.
Great presentation! If I ever start writing a book, I will definitely promote it on my blog – what a great boost that would be.
Very good job. Congratulations and all the best in your future plans.
You are so wonderful to do that! Great job. 🙂
@Anonymous
I have the whole video on My Videos, if you want to see it.
Thanks.
@Margot
Not sure.I took the Google friend account away as I wanted to simplify my blog. You can still follow me though.
@Cora,
Thanks. Hope you can make a podcast for CWC from the video.
@Lauri
I'm sure you're good at it with all your practice and getting many books published. is hall have to come over and see if your office is completed.
@LadyFi
Yes, Angela's blog is fabulous.
@Penelope
Thanks. You can find Catherine Sanderson's blog at petiteanglaise.com
@Patricia
Glad to hear your blog is helping you get new readers. I enjoy it myself and you are right. They recommend starting a blog, 3 years before your book is published.
@Cheryl
Perhaps your blog will push you to write a book.
@Phivos
Thanks. Very busy right now, for many different reasons.
@Michelle
Thanks. I know you have fantastic book trailers. I've seen two of them.
@Anonymous
I have the whole video on My Videos, if you want to see it.
Thanks.
@Margot
Not sure.I took the Google friend account away as I wanted to simplify my blog. You can still follow me though.
@Cora,
Thanks. Hope you can make a podcast for CWC from the video.
@Lauri
I'm sure you're good at it with all your practice and getting many books published. is hall have to come over and see if your office is completed.
@LadyFi
Yes, Angela's blog is fabulous.
@Penelope
Thanks. You can find Catherine Sanderson's blog at petiteanglaise.com
@Patricia
Glad to hear your blog is helping you get new readers. I enjoy it myself and you are right. They recommend starting a blog, 3 years before your book is published.
@Cheryl
Perhaps your blog will push you to write a book.
@Phivos
Thanks. Very busy right now, for many different reasons.
@Michelle
Thanks. I know you have fantastic book trailers. I've seen two of them.
Wow! Talk about a major makeover of a blog. Fab-you-luss!
Your presentation (the bit I saw) was really natural. You weren't giving a speech to an audience; you were talking with friends. That's the overwhelming feeling I got. You're a natural teacher. Well done!!
Loving your blog, I love the way you write, especially about your travel adventures!!
Cheers
I couldn't get the video up the first time I tried, but I got to see it just now and I'm glad I did. You sounded really great and very knowledgeable. I am with those who want to see the whole thing.
You hit on the most important point – if you're into what you're talking about, you'll be fine.
I just found your blog and really liked the title. I think that you
have to be gutsy to start down the writer's road. I've certianly found that I needed guts to scale the hurdles, but I think I've done okay.
I've written a YA fantasy novel called 'Lethal Inheritance’. You might like to take a preview peek at ch 1 at http://publishersearch.wordpress.com/lethal-inheritance/
The blog part of the site on the home page is about my journey to publication, including posts on aspects of writing, publishing and being a writer. You might enjoy it.
This is great, Sonia. Keep going with video/presentation/blogging.
You are activating your audience.
Congrats!
@Rob-bear,
How kind of you. You mentioned updating your blog. Have you tried looking at the new blogger designs?
@Trish
Thanks. Yes where you live, is a place I'd like to visit. have you been to California?
@Jeanie.
Thanks. I did upload the entire video on the "My Videos" page.
@Tahlia,
Sorry I've been slow at responding My revisions are taking up time. I shall be over to look at your website and the advice you give. Thanks for coming over.
@Shirley,
I'd love to keep up with the video and presentation stuff and writing.