Forgive me, dear readers, I have lost my way. I kept telling myself that I was too busy to blog, other things were more important, like writing my next book. In fact, writing that book took over my life. For the past two weeks, I have neglected not only you but almost everything else. I did not exercise, do chores, take a walk, or spend time on what matters most to me.
Yesterday, I realized I needed to refocus. Writing is an important part of my life—I will always make time for it—but I cannot let it take over my life. Nor can I become so focused on one form of writing that I neglect other significantly meaningful ways of communicating with my readers, such as my blog, commentary, and personal messaging. It is all a matter of setting priorities.
Whether you write as a primary occupation or not, it is vital that you create time to blog. Blogging is more than a means of honing your skills or contacting your muse. It is a way of communicating with your readers and building a following. It is a lot of work, but it is time well spent. For me, blogging is a lot of fun and I hope you too can find enjoyment in this aspect of writing.
If blogging for the joy of it is not enough of an enticement, consider the following reasons why it is important for you to parcel out your precious time for blogging.
Personal reasons for blogging
- Finding your voice: For many writers, expressing feelings and developing an engagement with the reader is difficult. Let your blog a tool for developing confidence in your ideas and ways to express them; make it a means for finding your voice. The more you blog, the easier it gets.
- Connecting with like-minded people: As you develop your following, you have discussions with others in your field. These discussions can lead to opportunities to build your community, your tribe, and your faithful readers.
- Tickling your creativity: As I write a blog, I often see potentials for other blogs. These develop into series, and, perhaps, a book. Opening the door to creativity can lead you to surprising outcomes.
- Honing your writing skills: Obviously, the more you practice, the better you get.
- Giving back to your community: Share your expertise with others by offer advice and guidance.
Professional reasons for blogging
- Increasing readership: Writing engaging posts and responding to comments helps build a following. Guest posting on other blogs helps build your creditability among blog readers; having other bloggers write for you increases visibility of their readers to your site.
- Showcase your abilities: As a non-fiction writer, your blog can set you up as a subject matter expert. As a fiction writer, you can talk about the book and its development while exemplifying your creative writing skills and style.
- Improve sales: Make your blog an outlet for your books and services.
- Proven platform: As part of your writer’s platform, having a blog with a following can demonstrate to agents and publishers that there is interest in your book.
Writing a blog is so important that it deserves to be one of your top writing priorities. I encourage you all to carve out a few hours on a consistent basis for writing your blog.
Resources
- 6 Reasons Why Writers Should Blog by Lorna Sixsmith
- 7 Tips for Busy Bloggers on Finding Time to Blog Tamara Watson
- 3 Reasons to Blog by Joanna Penn
How do you fit blogging into your busy schedule? Let us know your secrets.
