The Highs and Lows of a Group Blog
Posted By 1st Turning Point Guest Columnist on August 10, 2009
by Carrie Lofty
1st Turning Point Guest Columnist
Copyright © 2009 Carrie Lofty
After receiving a few rejections for my first manuscript, SERENADE, set in Napoleonic Austria, I did what my market researcher husband would do: I took a good hard look at the market. When I realized how few romance novels set outside the British Isles have been published in recent years, I decided to start a multi-author blog devoted to historical romances. So in November 2006, Unusual Historicals was born. Part networking tool, part industry watercooler, and part to-be-read pile fattener, Unusual Historicals remains a labor of love.
Because, let me tell you, managing a group blog is not easy!
However the benefits can be tremendous. While some argue that the age of the blog has passed, replaced by more instantaneous social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, I disagree. It’s just a matter of knowing your particular blog’s strengths, and then following a few key suggestions.
Know Your Niche. There are so many blogs to choose from, many of which simply feature groups of friends who’ve decided to get together and share the responsibilities of regular posting. If you don’t have a clear purpose, or if your format or theme mimics more successful blogs of a similar type, you won’t get the readership you desire. Unusual Historicals remains the only blog dedicated to its particular theme, which helps keep us unique and interesting.
Vary Your Line-up. At present we feature 25 contributors on Unusual Historicals. These authors write in time periods ranging from ancient Rome to World War II, from China to Chicago, from Mongolia to Madagascar. Our authors write sweet stories, erotic stories, and even M/M romances. Not all of our contributors are published, and our publishers range from e-presses to the largest New York houses. My point is this: make sure contributors to your group blog have a breadth of experiences and specialties. This will make sure that readers discover something new every time they visit.
Stay Consistent. Without consistency, your readers don’t know what to expect. And without new content, your readers will grow bored and disappear. After months of trial and error, we at Unusual Historicals decided on a regular schedule that combines new posting material, excerpts, announcements, and guest promotional opportunities. We also decided on monthly themes to give our posts some cohesion.
This month, for example, our topic is one near and dear to every romance writer’s heart: MEN! We’ve already had posts on The Macaronis of “Yankee Doodle” fame, Muhammad XII of Granada, and forms of address among men during World War II. All men, all unusual, and all very different!
Reap the Benefits. Managing a multi-author blog, or even participating as a contributor, can be demanding. We live very busy lives and exist under multiple deadlines. But this past July at the RWA national conference, I met over a dozen women who’d contributed to this blog. We have a shared camaraderie because of our interest in unusual historicals, and thus a shared desire to see one another succeed in this challenging business. I credit our hard work for developing these friendships and valuable industry connections.
So think hard about what niche you can fill, and then devote yourself to make it the best blog it can be. Have fun! Meet like-minded people! And network like crazy to make sure your potential readership knows where to find you. Good luck!
| What a Scoundrel Wants by Carrie Lofty Publisher: Kensington ISBN: 0420104752 Find it at Amazon In Sherwood Forest, outcast warrior Robin Hood’s outcast nephew, Will Scarlet, rescues a blind woman who dreams of fire. Now, to defeat the new Sheriff of Nottingham, Will needs to become a hero for the ages. It’s amazing what a scoundrel will do for love… “Lofty writes adventure romance like a born bard of old.” “Readers will delight in this inventive foray into a legendary place.” And look for the sequel, coming January 2010. In SCOUNDREL’S KISS, a hunted warrior monk must cure an English translator of her craving for opium addiction. But she’s prepared seduce her way to freedom–jeopardizing his vows of obedience, nonviolence, and chastity. About the Author: Born in California and raised in the Midwest, Carrie found the love of her life in England. Find Carrie on her website (http://www.carrielofty.com), personal blog (http://lovelysalome.blogspot.com), and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/carrielofty). |
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Great article with good points. Thanks for sharing it.
Hi Carrie:
Wonderful article, and helpful. Much of what you said can be applied to the two networking sites I moderate.
Thank you.
I run “Alien Romances” a group blog of Craft and Opinion… now in its 4th year, I think. Seven is a logical number, one day each, which is great for visitors who like to know when to expect their favorite author.
Our members are: Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Linnea Sinclair, Margaret L Carter (her vampires are alien invaders), Cindy Holby, Susan Kearney, Susan Sizemore, and myself. We occasionally have guest bloggers, which is great, and our blogging activity varies depending on writing commitments.
http://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com
For those who enjoy group –and individual– blogs, be sure to Follow and Favorite. And authors who run blogs, be sure to add the functionality of Favorite, Add This, or Share. Also, remember to add a visitor counter. (You don’t have to start counting at zero… it’s not an odometer!)
Rowena