I totally spaced today’s post. It’s that whole second-week-of-the-month timing that catches me. Whoops. I’ve been hard at work trying to get my POVs rewritten, and it’s pretty mind-consuming. I struggled and struggled with introducing a detail to one POV. Eventually, I decided I’d skip trying to put this detail in its own chapter and just add it to the scene where a side character is introduced. I don’t know if it works yet. I won’t find out until next week. I’m making progress, though. I’ve got three chapters left on my rearrange-events task list, then I’ll start tightening the individual chapters. (Hopefully, anyway. I might find more I need to rearrange.) Regardless, the end is in sight!
IWSG Question of the Month – What turns you off when visiting an author’s website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author’s books? Constant mention of books?
I visit authors to get a glimpse inside their lives, maybe through them telling me about about an experience, where they are at with their struggles, or something they find fascinating or something they learned. I love the tidbits they discover through research or tricks they think are useful. I’ll read stories posted, though I might not comment, but I enjoy following along.
I don’t often visit people who just relay advice, how-tos, or otherwise tell me what to do. I, occasionally, seek them out if I’m looking to learn something, but to keep me coming back, I need a relationship that doesn’t feel like the other person is trying to help me all the time as if I need help. (That might be my conceit talking.)
It’s the people (all you people) that keep me coming back.
How are you coming along with your personal goals? What do you like about other author’s websites/blog? What don’t you like?
About Insecure Writer’s Support Group
You can find the sign up for the IWSG here. We owe Alex J Cavanaugh a huge thank you for thinking this blog hop up.
I’m only helping you to make wise movie choices!
But see, you give me your opinion, your insights into how you feel about the movies. That’s what I find valuable.
I struggle with being personable in my posts. I think it’s just this line… was that too much? Delete, , delete. Then it’s just the basics. 🙂
Oo, I came back to tell you that one change I made in the book based on what you said messed with you a little was changing one of the terms to “regents”. That should clear up any possible confusion going forward. ?
Woot woot! Can’t wait to read the final version!
I think you do a great job giving readers a glimpse into your life. Your personality comes across well in your site!
<3
That’s great you’re making writing progress. I’ve finally gotten into a more regular writing routine.
You’re right: we need a relationship with the authors we follow in the digital world, however this relationship is structured.
After all I’ve read, I think my site needs a makeover. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
Love that last line, Loni, and I agree – it’s the people. 🙂
Hooray for making progress! It’s so fantastic that the end is in sight!
It is the people that make me visit the site. Their personalities come through so clearly, and when I connect with someone, I return to find out what else is going on in their lives. When it’s book/writing related that’s a double bonus.
I’m with you. I can’t believe January is already over.
I do enjoy a good craft tip post, but I like a mixture.
I enjoy some of the advice/craft blogs because I learn a lot from them, but I tend to either find them in a Google search on a particular topic or see a link to a post on social media. Like you, I visit certain blogs regularly to connect and catch up. Some folks I’ve been following long enough, they feel like friends.
Happy IWSG Day?
Oops – there was not supposed to be a question mark at the end of that last sentence. Sorry.
Hah, I wish I could say I’ve never been caught off guard by the beginning of a new month but I swear it happens almost every IWSG post. Thank goodness for the fact that I can pre-write my posts and then schedule them, is all I’m saying!
Some people just write “how-tos” hoping to get clicks. I don’t have to worry about that, because no one visits my site, anyway!
(Except for people looking for “Daniel Radcliffe f*cks a horse* and *Why am I afraid of millipedes?”)
I had a good January. I had to rewrite the opening to a story as I decided to remove a plot element and make the story a simple love story.
Haha, Alex is so funny. But it’s true, he helps me find great movies. Loni, I’d probably be one of those “old” folks who’d want to teach you something. Sadly, the older I get the less I know. I’ve learned a few things from you though. Best to you!
Trying to help you as if you needed help – LOL!
I think people who want to be writers go elsewhere for writing advice. Not so much to author websites. Those are to find out about their books. But some probably don’t know what else to write about. I think authors could get some really good tips just by doing the blog hop this month.
That octopus was quite the project. I’m impressed.
I love your response… I feel bad that my post this month is a little down, but that’s how I’ve been feeling lately. I know that might be a turn off, but I also know I have faithful writer friends who give me that boost I need.
I like your thoughts on how we should offer tidbits on our writing progress.
and very glad you’re making progress on your POV! nice!
I think you are on the right track for authors to be reaching out to readersthrough their blog posts. It’s all about building a relationship with a reader these days. It used to be gathering as many subscribers or followers as possible, quantity isn’t as important as being real and writing about yourself and your writing life, etc.
Yeah, I can give lots of advice but at this point, I only blog twice a month for IWSG and for my guest author series. I have begun writing on Substack and drilling into my writing life and thoughts there. Learning the ropes at the moment.
I come back for the personal touches as well. Sometimes, I can’t think of anything to write that would make me sound smart and writerly. So, it’s good to know you don’t mind me yacking on about my personal life and half-baked philosophies.
Man, I’ve got no right to talk because I forgot the post last month until the night of the post, and I felt it was too late to post then, so just skipped the month. And I’d had stuff planned to talk about and everything! So it wasn’t that I didn’t know what I wanted to say, just that I got caught up in other stuff.
Also, what you said about author websites is really helpful. I’m really listening to everyone this month as I’m planning to restructure my website, but also trying to decide where I want to be with posting since I rolled back to once per month and just put everything into my IWSG post.