Choose Your Blog’s Focus

The first step to creating your blog is to choose a specific focus. If you’re an author attempting to use your blog to gain an audience for your work, perhaps your focus will be a literary blog which tackles book reviews and interactive lists (favorite romance books, favorite book friendships, etc). This can be an excellent way to build up followers who will be there to support you when you release your own book. On the other hand, your blog could have any number of focuses. It could be a car related blog, a parenting blog, or a movie review blog…just make sure you hone in on a specific focus. A blog that’s just your overall thoughts is likely too broad unless you’ve already built a following in another manner.

Choose Your Blog Name

The next step is to choose your blog name. The title of your blog should be something that is easy to remember, fun, and also gives the reader an idea of what your blog is about. For example, one of the more well-known book blogs is titled Epic Reads, which very quickly alerts the viewer that it’s a book blog while also using the word ‘epic’ to let them know that it’s a fun space. During this process, be sure to do your research to make sure your name is unique. The last thing you want is to create a blog and then find out your name is already taken by a blog that has already built up a huge following.

Customize Your Page

This involves not only decorating your page with captivating images and design elements, but also writing your bio and a summary of what your blog will entail. When it comes to constructing these pieces, make sure you’re writing them so they both show your credentials in whatever area you’re writing in as well as present yourself as friendly and relatable. For example, if you’re building a book blog, it may be helpful to list that you have your bachelor’s degree in writing or editing, any job experience you have in these areas, or an average of how many books you read per year. In addition, to make yourself seem friendly and approachable–you could list your top three favorite books/authors and why.

Research and/or Invent Segments

When people follow your blog they want to see consistency in terms of writing and the segments your blog has. So, to get yourself started, do some research on topics or segments that relate to your specific subject matter. Look into what similar blogs are writing about and tailor the material to work for you. In addition, among the blogging community, there are certain segments that are hashtagged and encourage participation among everyone in the community. For example, among the book blog community, there’s a segment called Top Ten Tuesday which was started by the blog That Artsy Reader Girl. This segment essentially involves creating a top ten list based on specific subject matter chosen by this blog weekly. The topics are released in advance and, once you post your list, you can tag it on her main list. Participatory segments similar to this will allow you to not only gain more followers, but make friends with similar bloggers.

Be Relatable

Ultimately, this is the key rule to blog writing overall. Though you should have some expertise on the subject matter you’re writing, people don’t read blogs to be talked down to or for simply informative pieces. They want your writing to feel relatable and fun and they also want to get to know you through it. Don’t be afraid to be silly, to make jokes, and just be yourself- whatever that may mean. Because of how oversaturated the blogging community is currently, there is likely someone already out there writing a similar blog to yours. You are what makes your blog unique.

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1) Set a Reading Goal

One of the most important parts of writing is reading. It’s one of the best ways to learn about technique, style, and the ins and outs of your specific book genre. So, this year, set yourself a reading goal! Make it official by setting up a Goodreads account (if you don’t already have one). Goodreads allows you to set a reading goal and track your progress. It even gives you suggestions based on your previous reads and books you’ve marked as ‘read’. Make sure you plan ahead too. You don’t want to finish a book and sit around for a few days twiddling your thumbs over what to read next. Try to plan your reads two or three books ahead of yourself so that you’re never left idle.

2) Make time for writing/Finishing your book

Just as important as setting a reading goal, you’ll also need set a writing goal. Whether you’re currently writing a novel, between books, or even an active blog writer, you need to stay active with your craft. Start by setting yourself a goal for the year. For example, your goal could be to finish your book by the end of the year. Or your goal could be to write a certain number of short stories or blog posts. Next, make yourself a calendar. Set aside specific nights to write and jot down your goal for each session. Make yourself weekly plans and monthly plans. What do you want to have finished by the end of week one? By the end of the first month? Ultimately, if you stay strict to your plan, you’ll have your yearly writing goal accomplished.

3) Find an agent/publisher

If you’re someone who has already finished your book and is starting to look for an agent or publisher, make that your New Year’s Resolution. Keep writing, but also set aside time each week to devote to searching for a literary agent or a publisher. Make a weekly or monthly goal of how many agents you’d like to contact in that period.

4) Improve weak spot(s)

We all have our weaknesses as writers. Some of us are bad at dialogue, others struggle to set a scene. This is the year to work on your writing problem-area. For part of your writing time, do some exercises that target those problem areas. And when you’re reading, notice what other writers do that you don’t. If you’re mindful of your problem-area throughout the year and actively doing research and exercises to improve, by the end of the year you’ll have improved drastically.

5) Meet other Authors/Join a Writing Workshop

This is the year to push yourself out of your comfort zone, so set a goal of joining a workshop class. They’re easy to find in your local area with a little Google magic, and it’s a fantastic way to meet people with similar interests, get some fresh insight on your writing, and learn new techniques.

6) Start a blog

Even if you’re not necessarily a blogger, starting a blog is such a helpful tool for up-and-coming writers. Write about your day, things you’re passionate about, or even books you’re reading. Create social media platforms and link it to your blog to build a following. The combination of these tools shows potential publishers that you’re a marketable client.

7) Learn on the daily

Writing is partly about knowledge. The more you know, the more you can write about. You never know when the opportunity will come to sprinkle in a juicy factoid. So set yourself a goal to learn something new every single day. Not only will it make you a better writer, but it will also make you a better person.

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