Speaking of schedules, as we sort of were for the last few days, what is your blogging schedule?
Do you have a blog through which you promote your writing business or your book? Do you visit other blog sites in your quest to continue learning about writing, publishing and/or book promotion? How do you manage your time when it comes to these activities?
For many people—maybe most—a regular schedule works best. When you land on your computer each early morning, for example—after checking your email and before you start your editing/writing work or book promotion project for the day—sit down and write your blog or check out other blog sites.
Or maybe you’re one of the many who has a day job. Bummer. So, when you sit down in the late afternoon or evening to check your email or work on your book or short story, for example, this might be a good time to also add to your blog and/or pursue the information in other blogs.
It should take you 15 to 45 minutes to write your thoughtful blog, depending on the scope and length of it and the amount of research you need to do.
As for visiting other blog sites, if you don’t have the time to read all of the great blog posts you want to read during your time allotment, print out those within your realm of interest and read them when you are relaxing in front of the TV with the family, waiting for a child to finish his soccer game or on your lunch hour at work, for example.
Some people file good blog posts according to topic so they can refer back to them when they need that particular information. Your file labels might read, “Publishers,” “Book Promotion Ideas,” “Writing Tips/Self-Editing,” “Distributors,” and so forth. When you have a question or need a resource within that topic realm, you’ll have the information at your fingertips.
How do you know which blog posts you want to read? Most of us have favorite blog sites where we find consistently excellent information of the type we crave. Visit these favorites daily or weekly.
An “alerts” service will find other blogs for you on the topics of your interest. I subscribe to Google Alerts http://www.google.com/alerts
There’s also Alerts.com at http://www.alerts.com. And you’ll find alert programs in specific areas of interest, travel, recall, weather and others.
Once a day, once a week or as it happens (depending on my choice), Google sends me links to articles, press releases and, of course, blog sites where the topics of my interest are being featured. This is also a good way to keep tabs on who is talking about you on the Internet and what they’re saying. Just use your name as the Google Alert “Topic.”
As we all know, the Internet offers an overwhelming amount and array of information and resources. When you locate the information sources you trust, it’s good practice to glom onto them. And let the source know, from time to time, that he or she is being read, that their material and efforts are appreciated. If you do this, the blogs you enjoy and learn from will just keep getting better.
How do you let them know? Chime in on their “comments” feature appearing at the end of the blog.
If you want additional information on this topic and hundreds and hundreds of other topics related to writing, publishing and book promotion, order my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http:/www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
And if you want to know more about writing articles for magazines or writing a book proposal, we’re discounting my online courses on these topics through SPAWN. Learn more about this opportunity by contacting me: PLFry620@yahoo.com
I just found your website! What a valuable resource for self-published writers– it’s amazing that I never came across it before! It looks like you post to your blog religiously. Thanks for all the useful information.