Start A Blog: Why Authors Need To Start A Blog

Have you ever wanted to start a blog? Maybe you’ve pondered it but being a writer of books you’ve questioned yourself if it is necessary in order to boost your brand, your profile or business as an author. Besides you are already writing a ton of words everyday, why do you need to write more.

To start a blog takes commitment. I started this blog off to help other authors sell more books. I have had good success as an author with nine #1 Amazon in category in three years, so I figured I had some skills that maybe useful to other writers in helping them become more successful.

While a lot of people start a blog as a hobby writing about their daily activities, travels or even fitness workouts, I had a specific end goal in mind. Help others and they in turn would help me.

I figured out right from the ‘get-go’ that I would never be the next James Patterson. I would always be a ‘working author’ – enough writing skills to entertain readers but I would need a side gig to boost my income.

But that’s my plans as to why I would want to start a blog. Yours maybe different. Perhaps your reasons may include:

1. To Have Fun

   I like writing and I like connecting with people. I read a lot of varied blogs and I’m fascinated by the stories bloggers write about. To me it’s fun and the reason why I’ve been blogging since 2007.

2. Blogging For Authors

   No matter what type of blog you have, you are helping others. Someone may be motivated by your blog posts, they may learn something new, they may find enjoyment from reading your writing, and so on.

   I like to talk about book writing and publishing so that I can help others. For me, I have learned a lot (and I’m still learning) about blogging, extra income, book marketing and everything else – all from other bloggers.

   Hopefully, my blog posts help and motivate others to be awesome with their book business as well. For example, I hope that all of my extra marketing posts help motivate others to create multiple streams of income. I hope that others will want to become full time authors and earn a healthy living . I hope that others want to become more in control of their lives and leave their corporate gigs for a life of freedom.

3. Connect To A Community

   I’ve made a lot of good friends through my blog. And, I love receiving emails from readers and blog friends that I’ve made. Being able to connect and learn from others is one of the biggest positives of blogging.

4. Developing As An Author

   A blog can help you grow in so many ways. You will most likely become even more passionate in the topics that you love, you will constantly learn new things, you will meet many new people, and more. Naturally you are strengthening your ‘writing muscle’ – and that’s got to be a good thing.

5. Building Your Author Business

   Of course, I have to include this as a reason to start a blog. Blogging can be a great way to improve the business you already have, or to create a business all on its own.

   I know several successful bloggers and they all say the same thing, that blogging is the best thing that has ever happened to them. I agree!

Whatever your reason, as an author you should definitely start a blog.

How I Wrote 25 Mystery Books In 30 Months

Have you ever wanted to write mystery books but procrastinated for so long you never got started? You’re not alone. Millions of people around the world want to write a book but through a number of obstacles never get started. I understand their pain. I was a ‘fully paid up, card carrying member’ of the ‘one day’ club. But one day, things changed. I decided to write my mystery books. Here’s my step by step approach on how I wrote 25 mystery eBooks in just 30 months AROUND a full time job.

I wanted to be a writer

Actually more than that. I wanted to be a published author. See my books on Amazon; maybe even in book stores. That would be cool I thought. I had seen plenty of famous authors living in country estates and driving flashy European cars. That was the life for me. BUT

I had doubts

Thirty years of procrastination can do that to you. I doubted if I could actually write a book. At best I was a B+ English student at school. My vocabulary existed of either one syllable or possibly two syllable words. My A grade mates knew words as long as my arm – and they could spell them. Pretty damn scary to me.

I also doubted that once I did actually write the book, who would publish it. I was a nobody and no big name publisher would take a chance on me.

But assuming I could overcome these hurdles, who the heck would read my book. And would they think it was any good or at least ok. I don’t know about you but these fears were very real to me. I didn’t want to put a ton of time into something and end up failing – again. I had started many only ventures before and they were all disastrous.

However I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing either. I needed to bite the bullet, face up to my fears and give this a crack. I had been a fan of crime writers for years, so mystery books would be my genre. It is a big genre with very successful authors in it such as James Patterson, Lee Child and Peter James to name just a few. Why should these guys have all the market. I thought “It’s not fair that they hog all the market.  I need to get my books out as well”

I needed support – a guide – somebody who was publishing books successfully

I did some research. I found an online writing club who’s founder understood my problems. He knew my fears about writing a book and publishing it were very real. He had coached hundreds of would-be-authors before. Some had got onto the dizzy heights in the book world; while others were happy just to get a book out; something that could sit on the coffee table and perhaps a few friends may buy.

I liked his approach but I definitely wanted to be in the ‘James Patterson graduation school’

He gave me some great advice and we worked out a plan

1. Write often
   This would ensure my book got finished. Sounds basic but it’s actually……true. Also flexing the writing muscle also steers an author toward a path of improvement – hopefully.
2. Write to your strengths
   Having a full time job, I could not see myself knocking out a ‘1000 page mystery book monster’ nor had I the experience to do that. So I decided to play to my strengths. I could write 1000 words a day, before work and after dinner. In ten days I would have a mystery eBook done. In a month two or three mystery eBooks. Not bad, but as it turned out not a reality. Over 20 months I averaged to pen 20 books and get them published.
3. Self publish
   Trying to get a traditional publishing contract would take time. Publishers make authors jump through a lot of hoops. The can be very demanding and my patience wouldn’t wear their pompous attitudes. Amazon had changed the game some years back. You could now write a book in quick time, outsource the book cover design, book formatting and editing, and upload the finished product yourself. Amazon can take up to twelve hours to approve your work but you are then a published author. This was my best option. Another box ticked.

Now it was action time

Every morning I woke at five and wrote to seven. I googled, editors, book cover designers, formatters and a whole lot of other stuff. I found courses, read marketing material and hung out in the my online writing group on their Facebook page and asked a ton of ridiculously stupid questions.

But people were kind. They gave away their tips for free. I listened to those who were actually doing what I wanted to do and applied their advice. I engaged others to do my covers. Sure not everybody was brilliant. I did lose some money but eventually I’ve found two exceptional designers for all my mystery books. Through trial and error, I honed my online team. It’s an evolving group of professionals that will continue to grow and expand with me. I love them!

Life 25 books on = SUCCESS

IT’s pretty dam good. I’ve had nine books hit #1 Amazon US & UK within the mystery thriller and suspense genre. Over that time my social media following has exceeded 40,000 people. I have the best reader list of 10,000+ I chat with every single week. My author brand is moving forward.

In April 2017 Austin Macauly UK signed me and are producing Murder Secret into a paperback for me which will hopefully see it in book stores throughout the UK from early 2018.

Juggernaut India love mystery eBooks and has given me a 25 + book publishing contract which will expose me to a very exciting market from November 2017.

But

none of this would have happened if I had remained stuck. I never would have authored any books if I allowed my self doubt and fears rule my life. I’m glad I found a writing group, listened to their advice and actually got started. Without acting upon my dream I would now be sitting around saying “what if”. Twenty five mystery books in twenty months is just the beginning. I hope you act upon your dreams too.