Blogging is an SEO game

Once upon a time, when the internet was new, writers from around the world took advantage of this new platform to get their writing out there. Bloggers were born, each of them with their own opinions about the way the world works.

If you were a frequent blogger back in the day (and we're talking in the order of 20 to 30 years ago now), you could amass a decent size following within a matter of months, just like any newspaper columnist could. They had the right angle, they were using the right distribution channels, and they hit the new technology medium at the right time. However, today, the internet is a completely different beast.

Gone are the days of having a fresh take that would capture the imagination right from the starting gate. Today, bloggers are competing against others with the same views (or opposing views), trying to be heard in the sea of noise. For bloggers just starting out today, your audience consists of you and you alone. For some bloggers, even their mothers won't read their blogs.

So, why do content marketers keep pushing this idea that writers need to have blogs? Well, it has to do with the impact that blogging can have on SEO rankings.

Let me explain.

Editing software can never replace an editor

Editing software will never replace the trained eye of an editor.

I'm an editor, so of course I'm going to say that. But I'm not saying it because I want to keep my job. Sure, there is a desire to always have money coming in, but it's more than that. I make this statement because I honestly believe it—as a writer.

When talking about editing software, I'm talking about the different apps like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Hemingway, AutoCrit, and one I recently discovered, Fictionary.

I will be the first to admit that these programs have their uses. For a writer who is floundering in the dark, they might add a little direction. But for the writer who really doesn't know their craft, these programs can do more harm than good.

For any writer wanting to learn their craft and take their writing to the next level, nothing will replace the eye of another human being.

It's time to talk about all those automated programs that are floating around and point out the flaws—and why they can't replace a human editor.

The Camera of Point of View

It's not surprising that a conversation about writing eventually turns to a conversation about point-of-view (POV). Exactly how the narrative shapes the perspective of the story will have a direct impact on the reader's experience.

The POV is not just about understanding which character will act as the narrator. Yes, that's part of it, but the POV also has a depth of perception that defines how much the reader knows about what is going on.

Classifying the POV isn't as straightforward as saying that a passage uses first, second, or third person. It's much more than that.

Today, let's look at an overview of the different narrative POVs that you might find within fiction, include a few examples, and possibly provide some insights into what effect the different POVs might have.

The difference between romance and women’s fiction (Guest Blog from Carron Stevenson)

9 Questions to Examine Your Writing Habits

Becoming a writer is simple: Start writing. There is nothing more elaborate to it than that. So, it's not surprising how events like NaNoWriMo attract so many participants. It's all about getting your butt in the chair—and writing.

I'm a fan of NaNoWriMo myself, taking part every year since 2014, becoming a municipal liaison (NaNoWriMo's representative for my region) in 2015. In that time, I've noticed a few habits that writers have during this season.

It's common for writers to decide that the best approach to getting more writing done is by ignoring everything else that might be going on in their lives—including the family. I've been there. I've done it. And let me tell you that it's not sustainable.

Whatever schedule writers come up for the NaNoWriMo season works in the beginning, but as life carries on—interrupting us—things start to fall apart, and we start to fall behind in our daily goals.

"I'll just make it up tomorrow."

Yeah, I've said this to myself too, countless times. But again, I've noticed that when we struggle to meet our daily goals as it is, adding yesterday's goal to today's goal only makes things worse, adding unnecessary pressure—and making us cranky and a nightmare to live with.

So much for working our writing life into our family life.

Writing using Dragon Dictation (Guest Blog)

Writing using Dragon Dictation

by Ann Bell Feinstein

A few months ago, I decided to invest in dictation software. A brief search led me, of course, to Dragon Dictation. After agonizing over the cost of the purchase, I finally added Dragon to my list of writing tools.

Whether it’s due to my accent or style of speaking, Dragon worked for me right out of the box. I did have a few issues that with audio settings; however, that was mostly due to the complicated audio set up I have on my computer.

I decided to share with you some things I’ve learned about using Dragon. And yes, I’m actually using Dragon to dictate this blog post.

9 Questions to Focus on Your Hopes and Dreams

The last month was a whirlwind dose in reality for me. There are parts of my psyche still wishing I could wake up from the nightmare. No matter how I look at it, life in my little corner of the world changed forever. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

When life-changing events happen, we often step back and review our lives and priorities, realigning our paths with what really matters. Are we on the path we originally set out on? If so, is it still the right path? If not, is this new path the right path, or have we deviated so far from the dream that we need to shift our focus?

That's what the last month turned out to be for me. That's really what the last few months have been about for me. And this is what I want my readers to do today.

Sit back and examine the path you're on. Are you still working towards your hopes and dreams? Or did life take an unexpected turn? Do you need to adjust things to get yourself back on track? Or do you prefer this new path better? Be honest with yourself.

It's time to assess how far from the dream your current path has taken you.

For NaNoWriMo, word counts or daily habits?

I took part in my first NaNoWriMo challenge in 2014. I was still finding my feet as a fiction writer, even though I had been writing fiction since 2008. But that first NaNoWriMo, I was determined to develop my daily writing routine. Challenging myself to produce a decent word count every day seemed like a good idea.

During NaNoWriMo 2014, I hit the required 50,000 words by day 11. I had finished drafting that novel by day 16, and it clocked in at over 65,000 words—still missing all the action scenes. By the end of that month, I had written in the order of 95,000 words, scenes that formed the guts to three different novels in my high fantasy series (which is still sitting in the metaphorical drawer).

Since then, I have taken part in every single NaNoWriMo and CampNaNoWriMo event, and I am now the municipal liaison for both the Christchurch, New Zealand and the New Zealand Elsewhere regions.

Yes, I am a fan of NaNoWriMo.

But as I've become more comfortable with my writing habits, I've noticed an ethos that seems to accompany many NaNoWriMo participants that can actually be damaging to a long-term writing career.

There are some writers who take the 50,000-word-count challenge to extremes, trying to write 50,000 words in one night. No joke. In my home region of Christchurch, New Zealand, there is always at least one who forgoes sleep to achieve such a crazy feat.

In my opinion, the writers who do this are not simply crazy, but are missing the point.

The focus of NaNoWriMo has become so wrapped up in word counts that many participants seem to have lost sight of the original intention behind NaNoWriMo—to write the first draft of a novel.

It's time to shake up the word-count mindset and give renewed life to the original idea by changing the measurable goal.

Are you with me?

Recommended Facebook Privacy Settings for Profiles (October 2020)

Facebook is one of those sites that is constantly updating their system. This IS a good thing, because they recognize that their system is not perfect.

I will be the first to admit that some changes they have brought in are things that really are odd and make things worse, not better, but with every change comes another instance when Facebook users should take the time to go through the settings to see what has been added and what has disappeared.

Facebook introduced a new interface for the web-based system a few months ago, and as of last month, the option to use the old interface disappeared. And last week, Facebook rolled out a new update to their mobile apps too. So, if you haven't already reviewed your privacy and security settings on the site, NOW is the time to do it.

James Scott Bell paints a true picture of publishing!

I would hope by now that my readers know that I'm a big fan of knowing exactly what you're getting yourself into. If you can understand all the pros and cons—and the hidden traps—of a particular path, then you are prepared for whatever might come your way.

The book How to Make a Living as a Writer by James Scott Bell is one of those books that lays it all out for the world to see. It's the harsh realities of the mindset that you need to develop when it comes to your writing practices. It's a discussion about the pros and cons of BOTH traditional and self-publications roads. And there is even a discussion about working with editors and book cover designers.

It doesn't matter which path you're taking in your writing career. I would suggest that you get your hands on a copy of this book and keep it on hand for when you are moving in to various stages of your careers for that little dose of reality.