Planning a blog
It’s not difficult to start a blog. Millions of people already have one. There are websites and hosting companies out there that will do all the tricky, technical stuff for you. There are other websites, like Blogging Basics 101, which give a comprehensive overview of the topic.
What I wanted to talk about today is the pre-blog issue which is perhaps more significant for a lot of writers: planning your blog’s content.
What are you going to blog about?
When deciding what your blog’s going to be about, it may be worth revisiting your reasons for blogging in the first place.
If you’re looking for somewhere to express yourself or an alternative to a paper journal, your blog may become simply a record of your day-to-day life, recording your highs and lows, holidays and what you’re making for dinner.
However, you may want to narrow your focus to one particular area of your life, such as your writing and the books you’re reading. If you’ve decided to self-publish a novel, you may want to post chapters as you write them. This type of blog has advantages in that your readers will know what to expect from your entries. It’s also a way to limit how much information about yourself you put online. However, when you limit your range of topics, it can become more difficult to come up with new ideas for entries.
Who’s going to read it?
If you’re planning a public blog, then the potential readership is endless. It includes fans of your writing, new readers, other writers and offline friends. However, it also includes groups of people such as your parents, ex-partners, blishers and literary agents. In other words, there’s a possibility that anyone can read it.
With this in mind, you might want to consider what sort of content you’re going to include in your blog entries. My rule of thumb has always been to keep it to the things I’m happy for my parents to read. Some things are appropriate for publication online. Some things may be more appropriate for that paper journal you keep in your sock drawer.
Similarly, you might not want to talk about the negatives of writing (such as writer’s block or rejection letters) in your blog if you’re currently in the market for an agent or publisher.
Making changes
While I think it does help to have a plan before you begin, the great thing about blogs is that they can evolve over time. A public blog can acquire a password if necessary. Posts can be edited, or deleted. A limited-focus blog can become more general. Make a start, and see what happens.
Your thoughts
If you have a blog at the moment, is the focus similar to what you thought it’d be when you started? What are your favourite topics to write about? What topics do you find it difficult to write about (or avoid writing about altogether)?
Since my blog domain is my name, I try to keep my blog on a personal level. It took me awhile to figure out my topic though, so I’ve left a string of broken links in the wake. But I’m on track now, evidenced by the response and comments I’ve been getting. For me, the key was the books I’m reading, my work toward my Master’s degree, and I’m going to start including posts about my writing and the processes involved.
You’re right, a blog will (and should be allowed to) evolve in time.
Hi Terry,
Thanks for your comment, and welcome to the blog. I’ve got a few broken links and abandoned websites in my wake as well, but hopefully I’ll be able to keep this one going!
My internet connection has been down for the last couple of days, but I just clicked over to your blog now, and it seems you’ve really focused it recently - right down to a new title, a new domain and set of tags you’re focusing on. Looks great!