Confession: when I wrote my first novel I became fastidious about my scheduling, making sure to keep things in a line so that I could produce quality work on a deadline. My blog? Not so much. For those of you suffering from the same difficulties, I’d like to cover the potential reasons why it can be difficult to remain consistent in your updates, as well as ways to combat these same problems.
The week before last I adhered to the schedule I had set out for myself, which was an update on Sunday and Wednesday. Last week, however, all of that went out the window. Truthfully, this was in part due to a surprise visit from a close friend of mine who lives in Japan. When someone graces your door after traveling halfway around the world, you let them in, especially if they have the latest news on a country you love. Still, I could have probably salvaged an entry on Monday morning and then put together something for Wednesday, for which I have no excuse, other than life continues to come at us all from so many directions.
After analyzing the situation, I’ve come to realize that when I was writing my novel, I had a set universe to work in with limited pieces, and that there was a specific end point that I could move towards. When you are delivering weekly content, especially if you’re doing your best to make it relevant to your audience, then that is something with no real end in sight. Just coming up with topics presents a real challenge, and so I’ve had to consider how best to approach this side of my aspirations of a writing career.
Just like writing a novel, blog entries require research and consideration. If I want to write a topic on AI, I could rattle off what I know from experience, but then I’d be limiting myself and not presenting a full viewpoint on the subject. There also would be no prior work to back up whatever conclusions I may be drawing. Much as I don’t care to admit it, writing for my kind of blog is very much akin to writing the research papers I put together in college. Realizing that is both comforting and horrifying. Research takes time. Unlike time spent on a novel, this research can’t be counted towards your blog time. It has to be done ahead of time so that the article can be put together and ready to be posted on the day you planned. In effect, the blog entry should be ready to go before the due date rolls around. And I’m back in college again.
The other angle to consider is the limitlessness of a formal blog. This isn’t someone’s poetry laced Live Journal (those still exist, right?). This is a resource for aspiring writers and readers of my novels. It’s a place to go for knowledge and entertainment, not something I leverage as my own creative outlet. It’s designed to benefit others. So how do you stay motivated on a project that really has no end?
Inspiration struck me as I was considering this point. In my study of the martial arts, there was a goal: to earn my black belt. However, once I had achieved that goal, I realized my learning had only just started, and that the level of black belt was really just the foundation for a platform that would allow me to continue a lifetime of learning in the martial arts. In this way, then, a blog must be viewed. Writing through school and then writing my own novel was a good start. Now I face the task of taking what I have gained and transforming it into something even greater.
I love my novels, make no mistake. I love writing them and I can…appreciate…editing them. My blog, though is a chance for me to explore new topics that I don’t get to cover in my novels, to branch off into side streets, to explore, to learn, and to grow. Each novel makes me a better writer, but learning how to write a convincing blog entry twice a week or more? That really pushes a writer to stay on top of their game, to realize they have deadlines, to work within their schedule, and to become better not just at composition, but at research as well.
I can’t promise I still won’t have missed days. I could wind up sick, a cousin could visit from Europe, or my web server could even be down, but as long as I’m adhering to my principles and running things so that they are well scheduled and organized, there’s no reason I can’t produce quality content for many to enjoy. These discovered truths, found through trial and error, are applied fixes any other aspiring writer or blogger can take to heart and work with. If you are a novelist, try taking up a blog. If you’re a blogger with aspirations of writing a novel, perhaps this will let you see that you’ve actually been doing the harder job this whole time. So, I will most certainly be seeing you all on Wednesday.
A.C. Harrison
Like what you see here? Spread the word and support indie authors! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter. Find me on Smashwords and Kindlemojo.
The week before last I adhered to the schedule I had set out for myself, which was an update on Sunday and Wednesday. Last week, however, all of that went out the window. Truthfully, this was in part due to a surprise visit from a close friend of mine who lives in Japan. When someone graces your door after traveling halfway around the world, you let them in, especially if they have the latest news on a country you love. Still, I could have probably salvaged an entry on Monday morning and then put together something for Wednesday, for which I have no excuse, other than life continues to come at us all from so many directions.
After analyzing the situation, I’ve come to realize that when I was writing my novel, I had a set universe to work in with limited pieces, and that there was a specific end point that I could move towards. When you are delivering weekly content, especially if you’re doing your best to make it relevant to your audience, then that is something with no real end in sight. Just coming up with topics presents a real challenge, and so I’ve had to consider how best to approach this side of my aspirations of a writing career.
Just like writing a novel, blog entries require research and consideration. If I want to write a topic on AI, I could rattle off what I know from experience, but then I’d be limiting myself and not presenting a full viewpoint on the subject. There also would be no prior work to back up whatever conclusions I may be drawing. Much as I don’t care to admit it, writing for my kind of blog is very much akin to writing the research papers I put together in college. Realizing that is both comforting and horrifying. Research takes time. Unlike time spent on a novel, this research can’t be counted towards your blog time. It has to be done ahead of time so that the article can be put together and ready to be posted on the day you planned. In effect, the blog entry should be ready to go before the due date rolls around. And I’m back in college again.
The other angle to consider is the limitlessness of a formal blog. This isn’t someone’s poetry laced Live Journal (those still exist, right?). This is a resource for aspiring writers and readers of my novels. It’s a place to go for knowledge and entertainment, not something I leverage as my own creative outlet. It’s designed to benefit others. So how do you stay motivated on a project that really has no end?
Inspiration struck me as I was considering this point. In my study of the martial arts, there was a goal: to earn my black belt. However, once I had achieved that goal, I realized my learning had only just started, and that the level of black belt was really just the foundation for a platform that would allow me to continue a lifetime of learning in the martial arts. In this way, then, a blog must be viewed. Writing through school and then writing my own novel was a good start. Now I face the task of taking what I have gained and transforming it into something even greater.
I love my novels, make no mistake. I love writing them and I can…appreciate…editing them. My blog, though is a chance for me to explore new topics that I don’t get to cover in my novels, to branch off into side streets, to explore, to learn, and to grow. Each novel makes me a better writer, but learning how to write a convincing blog entry twice a week or more? That really pushes a writer to stay on top of their game, to realize they have deadlines, to work within their schedule, and to become better not just at composition, but at research as well.
I can’t promise I still won’t have missed days. I could wind up sick, a cousin could visit from Europe, or my web server could even be down, but as long as I’m adhering to my principles and running things so that they are well scheduled and organized, there’s no reason I can’t produce quality content for many to enjoy. These discovered truths, found through trial and error, are applied fixes any other aspiring writer or blogger can take to heart and work with. If you are a novelist, try taking up a blog. If you’re a blogger with aspirations of writing a novel, perhaps this will let you see that you’ve actually been doing the harder job this whole time. So, I will most certainly be seeing you all on Wednesday.
A.C. Harrison
Like what you see here? Spread the word and support indie authors! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter. Find me on Smashwords and Kindlemojo.
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