This Just In: Flogging vs Blogging

Holtzbrinck is starting a blog initiative

The program will launch in October, and they are now looking for ten authors from each of the trade companies (Holt, SMP, FSG, Tor, and Picador) to be part of the launch of the pilot program this autumn.

The company’s email to potential blogging authors who they have invited to be part of the beta launch says:

“And of course the blog will act as promotion for them and their books (in addition to any kind of press we get when we unveil the program).”

With over 50 million blogs in existence, this should be a widely noticed effort. But sarcasm aside.

While I really do admire every publisher who is looking for new ways to market books, I don’t believe that putting yet more pressure  on the author is the right way.

Nor do I believe that blogs sell books for the average blogger in any way that justifies the time it takes to keep the blog going.

First – and I quote from that email invitation again:

“In terms of effort on the author's part, a successful blog needs to have at least three posts a week, and it only takes a few minutes post a new message, so it won't take them much time.”

I don’t know any successful blogger in the world who takes a few minutes a post.  And it’s not just simply a “post” anyway.

For a blog to be successful it has to have passion, voice, commitment, creativity. It takes a lot for  the writer to bring fresh ideas to a blog on a continuing basis.

2.The blogs written by writers tend to be read by other writers because most writers wind up blogging about process, craft and the industry.

And we do not need to market ourselves to other writers but rather to readers.

3. And readers – even our own passionate fans – can be turned off to our books if our blogs don’t measure up. Blogs don’t sell books when that is their intent.  They sell books as a by-product when we engage the reader and the reader gets to know us. Eventually, in time, over months, we build a relationship.

Readers are savvy. They see the difference between a blog and a flog – my word for blogs that exist to flog a product/book.

3. The very last thing every author should be doing is starting a blog.

Not just because the very act of writing the blog draws on the creativity energy that it takes to write our books but because only a small percentage of us have something to write about three or four times a week, week after week, that readers crave – other than our books.

A handful of fiction authors have made it work.

Jennifer Weiner has. But her style of fiction and her diary style blog go hand in hand. Plus she was a journalist and knows how to that kind of reportage style even when its about her own life.

4. Even group blogs – or glogs as I call them – which should work better then to still focus on industry and craft and process and not to attract the general reading population.

A blog like Backstory does. (Some news on Backstory will appear later today so check back.) That glog is for readers and that’s working.

Non-fiction authors have a better shot at making this “blogs sell books” idea work. Because the can blog about the non-fiction issues as reporters/commentators on an ongoing basis without it appearing to be hard sell.

Seth Godin is a great example of a writer whose blog works and does promote his work to his reader base. He writes books on marketing/business and his blog covers those areas on a daily basis.

Like I said, I’m all for great initiative on the part of publishers, but not when that initiative falls, yet again, in our laps. We tour, we blog, we have myspace pages, we have Amazon plogs, we have websites… and somewhere in there we’re supposed to also crank out great writing.

(This post took 55 minutes to write, 5 minutes to proof and I’m still sure there are typos in it, 5 minutes to find the  links and 5 minutes to post  - total time 70 minutes and I’d bet not a single reader of it will hop over to Amazon or stop in their favorite indy  - just to hightlight one of my favorites - today to buy my latest novel because of what I’ve written here.)

Comments

[Dan Zarrella]

seems like http://www.negeek.com/2006-02-08-phlog-defined-whats-a-phlog.html
this guy had a similar idea, but he used "phlog".

[ann michael]

Non-fiction writers - especially in business or science might have something to write about several times a week, but you are dead on!

It takes hours per week to write content for a blog. It also takes hours of reading other blogs and connecting with them to make a blog interesting. Then there's monitoring and sometimes moderating comments on a blog - which also takes time. There's fact checking and linking and all those aspects as well.

This looks like a case of the publisher not understanding this process (just as they often don't understand the writing process) - and minimizing the effort it requires to do it well.

[Eric]

So let me get this straight...

This is a writer's blog post about how writer blogs are pointless.

Hmm. Maybe you're right.

[joe Miller]

I'm one of the writers who has been invited to take part in this venture. I'm super excited about. But then, I've already been blogging for a couple of years.

I agree with some of your points, expecially the blog v. flog part. I've raised some of these points to the publicist I'm working with. Specifically, I've urged them to work with the blog I already have -- name and all -- as opposed to having me start a writer-specific one. My argument is that folks will be able to tell riight away that this is just a marketing ploy and not a sincere effort to build community.

But I disagree about the "writers shouldn't blog" part.

I started blogging to overcome writer's block, and it worked. In the process I've cultivated a small audience of loyal readers -- new friends, really -- who are probably all going to buy my book. I didn't expect this to happen, but when it did, I got the sense that a blog could be an effective companion to a book-writing career. Even if the blog were to have just a thousand or so loyal readers that would be a strong base, a community of people eagerly awaiting a book's release.

I also don't agree that writers necessarily only write about process. My sense is that the most effective blog would be an honest-to-god blog, where you just write about whatever the hell you feel like writing about. If folks like it, they'll stick around. If they stick around, they'll buy your book and tell their friends about it, and the blog, and so on.

[Lewis Green]

If the intent of the blog is to sell books, and that intent comes across clearly, count me out as a potential reader. And if the blog's purpose is a "how-to" on writing, count me out again. I have been a writer (among other things) most of my life, and use that skill daily as a business consultant. I will go to Amazon.com, if I want to buy a book, and I do not believe that non-writers can learn how to write by reading about writing. Nor do I believe that writer's get better by reading about writing. Writers write, wannabes read about how to write.

[sanctimonious]

For the most part, I think you are correct in your belief that blogging is of limited value in selling books. I have no formal blog but I do get my thoughts out to the writing community.

Most blogging in general--not just by authors--is an exercise in ego-enhancement and self-expression. There is some value in that, but that has nothing to do with selling books.

When everyone with a computer and internet access can share his/her thoughts in cyber-space, creating an account that lasts forever on servers, you're gonna end up with a tremendous amount of senseless blabbering. And that is exactly what we have--not much different than what we do on cell phones.

At least we now have the lovely and powerful blogosphere to belch out our thoughts and feelings with the delusion that the world is listening and cares about what we have to say. And not only that, but we can now leave a digital cyber-trace of our existence that lasts forever. What a legacy! What a way to achieve cyber-immortality!

[Robin]

I can say that I've gone out in search of books because of finding an author's blog and reading their posts. Barry Eisler is one that comes immediately to mind. I had been curious about his books, but had never read one. I found his blog accidentally while looking for other things, and it led me to finally go back and start his series. Just my 2 cents.

Same thing with Jennifer Weiner, now that I think about it. Her blog is so witty that I decided to try one of her books, when I'd really had no desire to before.

[MJ]

Exactly Robin, when it works its terrific. Barry's blog is a perfect example. I have blogged about it several times and don't want anyone to think I only use Barry as an example:)

But some blogs wrok great.

That's why I didn't say no writers should have blogs. I'm saying that the way this publisher is pushing it is wrong.

And if you are a blogger and with this publihser the effort is a no brainer.

And Eric, this blog is not about me or my fiction. It's a marketing blog, while I do have my books up on the page, I know this is an industry blog and its intent is not to sell my fiction. That's the big difference.

[Ali]

Good Post MJ -

Your points on Time so bang-on / apart from Blogs, the few dedicated Thriller Sites such as Jan Mag Blog, Crimespree, Deadly Pleasures, Sarah Weinman, Crime Fiction Dossier and Shots et al - we spend vast amnouts of time putting up reviews, transcribing interviews, writing articles - so when someone says it takes a few minutes each day, they're talking wiffle.

Good post, keep fighting the good fight

Ali

[David J. Montgomery]

Blogging is a colossal waste of time for 90% of authors. Publishers should be spending their time thinking of the NEXT way for authors to get publicity, not piling on the last way that hardly worked for anyone anyway. (And they should try to find ways that don't require the author spending several hours a week doing it!) Any author who launches Yet Another Blog at this point without some unique, exciting and valuable angle is just spinning their wheels.

[John Dodds]

I agree - both with your points and that you probably have typoes (you repeat point 3).

Blogs rise because they are of interest to their readers - to blog in order to promote a book implies you are trying to attract readers to ablog inorder that they then go and buy the book seems incredibly byzantine.

Moreover, this seems to suggest blogging after the book is written, whereas the one way you could potentially build momentum would be to blog throughout the writing of a book and include samples of the writing.

Even then, I'm not convinced this would work since I was rapt with attention to the King Kong production video blog for over ten months yet didn't go to see the movie.

[Bryan Fleming]

I agree. Too many people are hopping on the blogging bandwagon without ever knowing what it really is.

- Bryan
http://www.BryanCFleming.com

[Michael]

Dead on and then some.

I have been keeping a journal for 35 years and never thought of myself as a writer, however one day I just wrote down the title of a book that came with the wind, while smoking outside a cafe and 8 weeks later I had finished a 200,000 word novel.

Then about a month after that I got another idea and I finished a second novel in 10 weeks.

Then it all happened; I was writing novels one after the other and have even registered 10 of them with ISBN numbers even though I am not published.

And this is my point. I AM NOT PUBLISHED BECAUSE I DISCOVERED EMAIL AND THE INTERNET.

I got distracted and went on to join social groups et al and even posted two blogs and in the process left behind my books.

I just came home and read Seth as I do everyday, and came here to read and it was as if you were looking over my shoulder this morning while I was writing how miserable I am and all. I even asked God for a sign to tell me how to find my way back to my old self again; then, I never felt all this frustration and nervous energy that flows through my veins even as I write this.

I also had a message on my answering machine. It was from a girl who translates from English to French. I met her 5 months ago at the market; guess she thought I might have been trying to pick her up. Gave her my number and told her I wanted to publish my first novel in French. I told her a publisher of a French Newspaper said he would put the story of the book on the front page with the lead,"English guy publishes first novel in French. Why?"

This translator and others have all said to me that the viral marketing from this front page story will make people curious to find out why I wanted to do this. And my answer is not a maketing ploy; it's the truth.

Would I say I am a writer; of course.

Would I say I love writing; of course.

So why the H_LL am I wasting my time on the net when I have 46 more story ideas to write?

Yes you can kick my ass here; I know! But sometimes it takes a story like this one here and the comments here to wake a man from his self imposed misery.

So here's to clunking the time wasting, mother gut wrenching, stress inducing, reality of the Internet and here's to love of living again as a humble writer.

Wish me luck; imagine the translator and this story here I'm commenting on. All before 1pm after a gut wrenching morning of Misery Plus.

Thanks Seth and thanks M.J. Rose.

[Allison Brennan]

If I did everything that people say I should do in promotion, I would have no time to write three books a year. Having a tight production schedule and the ability to write fast is far better for my career than blogging.

I have a blog and post only on Mondays. My hits to the blog are exponentially higher on Mondays and Tuesdays because people who visit know I only post once a week (and I occasionally remind people in my post). I have a group blog I post on Thursdays. Each post takes me about 30-60 minutes. I'm a columnist for Romancing The Blog and post once a month. This has the highest readership of all because it has a better defined purpose and audience.

[kevin p]

Becuase I have been reading Chris Anderson's Long Tail blog (http://www.longtail.com/the_long_tail/) I am planning on buying his book to see what the "final edit" looks like. Yet I agree with the main points of your argument. Perhaps blogs sell books for non-fiction but don't for fiction?

[Alexandra Levit]

I look at my blog, like my nonfiction books, as an extension of my platform as a twentysomething career expert. I don't know that it affects sales directly, nor do I expect it to. Writing the blog keeps me observant, it keeps me sharp, it keeps me involved and paying attention to the business world niche I'm asked about in media interviews and by readers every week. My concern about this initiative is that publishers seem to be forcing authors to jump on the blogging bandwagon, whether it makes sense or not. Authors have enough pressure to sell their own books as it is. Doing a blog the right way requires an enormous amount of time and energy (as many have already stated) - it's not simply another trendy promotional exercise that can be thrust upon the author for instantaneous results.

[MJ]

I am not saying no writers should blog or that all blogs that help sell books are bad.

I'm simply trying to point out that its not as simple as you are a writer - get a blog - it will sell your books.

[Marti]

Gee, here I am trying to sell my book from my blog. And it's REALLY from my blog, since it's a collection of humorous essays, and some of them were former blog posts.

Should I just go drink the Koolaid now? LOL

[Eric]

MJ said:

"I'm simply trying to point out that its not as simple as you are a writer - get a blog - it will sell your books."

The same could be said for getting a publisher. There are a lot of actions & routes that, by themselves, don't necessarily imply you will sell books.

We could apply this critical thinking to the gamut of promotional activities. But it reveals the obvious question, what WILL sell my books?

NOT blogging doesn't seem like a solution. You may conserve effort/energy which could be spent on writing more books. But then you've got to sell those books too, and the core problem remains unsolved.

What could I do instead of blogging, then? Besides Not Blogging. Not Blogging isn't much of a strategy.

[The Zero Boss]

100% agreed. A blog needs to be treated as another avenue for your writing. It is, essentially, a daily magazine with you as its sole author.

The best bloggers work on their blogs daily. For most, their blogs ARE their medium. If you can attack a blog with the same kind of dedication and fervor you do all your other writing, then go for it. If it's just going to be a bulletin board on which you tack short little "updates" and promo info about your next speaking gig, don't even bother.

[MJ]

Eric, I'm not saying that. Come on. I'm saying if you think that by blogging you are going to sell books and that is the reason you are going to do it - be prepared that it's not that easy especially with fiction becuase:

A. Flogging is transparent.
B. There are over 50 million blogs and its hard to break through
C. Readers - ie people who buy books are not necessarily interested in the writer but rather the story/characters/ideas and so
D. A blog that will engage readers can be very difficult to come up with and difficult to maintain and may not be worth the effort.

What can you do to sell books? About 100 things. Many of whch I write about at this blog. But if you want to talk about blogs specifically here are two:

Find the blogs already in existance that you think speak to the kind of people who might be interested in your book. Write the bloggers, tell them about your book and ask them if they'd be interesed in having you guest blog, or would they be interested in reviewing the blog, or would they be interested in mentioning the book and giving away a few copies to their readers.

Some savvy authors do with on a regular basis and others have set up companies that host what we call virtual blog tours. The benefit it the author of the book can go on one of these tours during the critical 12 weeks that the book is about to some out and when it comes out and then spend the rest of the time writing the next book.

And that's just two minutes worth.

But no one thing sells books. Many things do.

All I'm saying is that blogging is neither easy nor a foolproof way to self-promote unless the author really has a great idea of how to creatively use a blog and that the letter from the publihser made it sound simple - which I don't think it is.

[Jeff Nordstedt]

Correction: there is "one thing" that sells books. Its name is Oprah.

[Trudy W. Schuett]

Blogs are but one part of a total marketing effort. I'm a firm believer in the concept that once the book is written, the author is only half done. Finding (or creating) a community of readers is the next step.

There are major differences between fiction and non-fiction when it comes to marketing. Readers of non-fiction know what they're looking for, so the search structure of the online world works well.

Fiction readers don't always know what book or author they want, so browse is a better function.

It is a fractious, difficult relationship we have with hard-copy and online products, but I think any author intending success needs to have a foot in both worlds.

[RisingSunofNihon]

I realize that I'm getting to this party late, so I apologize for that. I also apologize if the content of this comment has been covered already (as I didn't go through all the previously posted comments). Anyway, I agree with you on two points: first of all, I don't know many fiction writers who would have the time, energy, or inclination to keep up a blog for the sole purpose of peddling their books. Second, as a reader, I would definitely be turned off if I went to an author's blog only to find that it's little more than a sales pitch for his/her latest work.

[Robert Nagle]

Maybe you've already made this point elsewhere, but the real challenge is coming up with literary projects that use the blog/serialization form successfully. I quote an essay I wrote a few months ago http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=3905 :

"Ignore for the moment the difficulty of producing on a daily basis. The journal/blerialization format offers the opportunity to remind an audience on a daily basis that you (or your story) still exist. Like a literary heartbeat. The blook/blogstory is clearly a case where the technical constraints of the software have imposed a form..a chronological/autobiographical one. The much derided “haircut blog” (”…Today I had a haircut and then walked the dog and then called my girlfriend“…) actually is an easy narrative to follow, especially if the character is interesting and the story occurs in “real time” ( a time frame identical to the person reading it). Lacking in structure perhaps, and lacking dramatic incident (telling and never showing), blogstories nonetheless create a first person protagonist with emotional nuances and significant backstory for those willing to delve into the archives. Web guru Eric Meyer once compared reading a weblog to watching the film Memento. You read the latest entry first, and then go backwards. Like a TV show you catch in syndication and later watch the earlier episodes, weblog-based literary forms either have a backward focus or an obsession with the eternal present. The pleasure comes not from anticipating the future but comparing the present with past.

"Long novels have forward momentum and a single starting point. Few who start actually complete the journey, but those who do feel the pride of accomplishment (that is true both for creators and consumers). For blognovels, there is no single station to begin your journey; that train is constantly picking up passengers at various stops, and nobody has stayed on the train the whole time.