I heard an interesting comment in a writer’s seminar yesterday from a very reputable source: Apparently, in the last year or so, the tide has turned against author’s blogs and websites – and some publishers are even encouraging writers to take down their blogs or websites.
The reasoning, we were told, is that it ’scratches the itch’ for information, i.e. it’s free so people might not buy your books. I can see why this might impact on non-fiction authors, but would it affect fiction writers?
Would publishers really be reluctant to work with blogging, web-savvy writers? And isn’t a blog or website the perfect place for published writers to market themselves and their work – and keep their readers engaged until their next novel comes out?
I’ve heard many unpublished writers have blogs to create a readership, which they then use as a selling point to publishers. Some just want to share the pleasure and pain of the writing process…
So… to blog or not to blog? That is the question. I’d be interested to hear thoughts from those of you who are published or unpublished – and who publish.
cheers
Elle
