How to Write Your Book by Writing Your Blog
I’ve always felt like bloggers get a bad rap. There is this notion that bloggers aren’t “real” writers, but what does that even mean? Anyone who spends their time writing is a writer, but for some reason, published authors seem to be the only writers who are taken seriously. However, writing blog posts can ultimately lead you to that published title by helping you flesh out details and see what followers enjoy. Read on to learn about how to write a book by writing a blog.
Blogger Basics
Writing a blog is basically taking your ideas, writing them down, and posting them online. Blog posts can be about literally anything you can think of. Some people use them as “journal” entries while others use their blogs to showcase their talents or convey important information. No matter what you choose to write about, posting your ideas online in blog format can help you work towards your goal of becoming a published author. This starts with finding a place to showcase your work.
To house your blogs, you can use a blogging website, such as WordPress or Wix, you can post your blogs on a personal website by using a platform such as Weebly or Squarespace, or you can post them on your business website to share information, explain protocol/procedure, and attract potential clients. No matter where you choose to write your blog posts or what you choose to write about, the act of daily writing can help you hone your craft and draw an active audience. This audience can be a huge selling point when it comes to publishing a larger body of work. But first, let’s talk purpose.
Writing with Purpose
When I teach writing classes, I always ask my students to write the story that needs to be told. What inside of you needs to come out? Which story or stories are you looking to get published? Once you have that purpose, you can start writing blog posts to help you flesh out the details to your overall narrative. Not only will your blog posts help you find purpose, but you will begin to cultivate a writing practice that hones your craft and ultimately makes you a better writer.
Think of frequent blogging as exercise. You don’t just walk into the gym and deadlift 250lbs unless you’re Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Most of us need to start small and work our way up to a higher weight. We can use the same principle when becoming a published writer. Start small with one blog post a month and work your way up to more content and better writing. Each day that you sit down to write, you are actively working toward that goal of writing a book; the analogous goal of deadlifting your goal weight.
Start small and work on one piece per month. Focus on your sentence structure, your voice, and your overall message. From there, build your writing stamina and start creating more content. If you have an interactive website or your blog space is connected to a social media account, look for interactions and see what your followers enjoy. Who are your followers, and what are they looking for? These questions will come into play when you are writing and selling a book, as well.
Be true to your heart, but remember that if your ultimate goal is publication, you need a market of consumers that will purchase your product. The more followers you bring to a publisher, the more likely you are to get a deal, especially as a first-time author.
From Blogger to Published Author
When it comes to writing blog posts, especially if the end goal is to publish a book, you can use a blog space to sample chapters, try out new techniques, and ultimately practice. Take some online or in-person writing classes, try some new styles or techniques, and use this blog space to play around. You can try writing the same post in a different voice, format, or tense to see which one works best and or which posting gets the most views. Maybe your followers love when you’re witty or sarcastic. Maybe they love when you get deep or emotional. Don’t limit yourself. This is why blogging can be such an important part of the book writing process!
Not only can your blog post attract readers, but you can use your platform to showcase your work to potential publishers and writing prospects. Think of your blog as a portfolio. And if you can round up followers to engage, you are many steps ahead of the publishing game.
Like any skillset, practice makes perfect and using your blog to practice your writing is not only a great way to hone your writing skills, but it gets your work out into the world. Blogging can help you create a brand, gather feedback on what your potential readers like/dislike, and show a potential publisher that consumers crave your content. What are you waiting for? Start writing, and let the blogging process help you make your publishing dream become a reality.
Everyone has a good story, and part of telling that story is learning how to tell it. The Storyteller Agency can help you create and maintain blog posts that can lead you to the publishing world. Reach out for tips, advice, classes, and more!
