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| Athena, Eastern Screech Owl a permanent resident at CLAWS |
Here's the first of three posts about this:
Like a lot of writers I've read that in today's Internet Age publishers expect an author to have some sort of online presence, including some sort of platform from which the author can publicize and, better yet, sell copies of his/her book. This is essential for non-fiction writers. And while it's less essential for fiction writers, it is becoming increasingly important and expected.
I do a lot of things wrong with this blog -- at least according to all of the Best Blogging Practices lists that I've read online (for example, here, here, and, most recently, here) and in books. For instance, I intentionally don't use a catchy, vaguely-related stock photo to accompany my entries. As I've written before, I find those images grating, distracting, and disingenuous. (Your milage, of course, may vary.) I'm a photographer and prefer to use my own images that show some aspect of my life and personality. They may not relate to the text at all (like the one I used with this entry, for instance) but at least they don't have all the sincerity of a Hallmark card.
The other big rule I've been breaking has to do with posting regularly. This has not been intentional. It's been the result of a combination of factors: a general lack of direction in terms of what I want to do with this blog, my taking a hiatus from The Book while I tried to decide what I wanted to do with it, and general writing angst. (And if there's one thing no one wants to read about, it's a flailing, depressing amount of writer's angst.)
The photographs will stay as is. The posting, however, will change. Twice a week is the current goal, with all posts being something I think is worth sharing. Hopefully, you'll feel the same.
Do you adhere to a regular blogging schedule? Do you feel your blog "works"? And what does that mean to you?
-- Tom
