On-line | Betsy Lerner

Well You Can Dream On Me

Posted on September 13, 2010 by betsylerner

Betsy,

I started a blog in April, it’s about my son. I post weekly. What do you tell your clients about blogs? Do you ever try to convince writers to start one? Or two? Are writers ever “discovered” that way? Can blogs lead to books or is it a totally different (disposable) medium? Are they only interesting to publishers in terms of the numbers or is the content the thing? Is blogging real writing? Do you cover blogs in your new edition of Forest for the Trees?

Thanks!

Dear Fellow Blogger:

In answer to your questions. First, if you want to build an audience, you need to blog every day, at least this is my understanding. I tell my clients to think about a blog if it makes sense and can augment their book, build an audience as they write, find the niche markets that would be interested in their work. A lot of authors make the mistake of starting a blog when they finish the book or as the book is about come out. Even though the web makes it possible to launch a blog in seven seconds, it actually takes serious time and devotion to build an on-line presence if you are starting from scratch. Yes, Virginia, some writers have been discovered through their blogs. Most notably, perhaps, is Julie Powell of Julie & Julia fame. And these blogs have led to books. Another great example is Stuff White People Like. Is blogging real writing? Well, it ain’t Proust. But lots of bloggers (ahem) pride themselves in what they write. Yes, I cover blogs in my new edition of Forest for the Trees. I also talk about Twatter, MyFace, etc. I’m kinda with Betty White here; it’s all a big waste of time. On the other hand, in just one year and a half, this blog has brought me more laughs, fun, a great community of writers, potential clients, invitations, people out of the woodwork etc. than I could have ever imagined. I think it’s probably a good idea to figure out what it is you want from a blog and then design one to help you fulfill those goals. Or, WTF, just open an on-line vein and let it bleed.

What do you say? What blogs do you read? What makes a blog great? Do they help or hinder your writing?

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You either gonna be rich or famous fuckin wit me, probably both.

Posted on March 23, 2010 by betsylerner

Hi Betsy:

First of all, Jesus I love your blog. I love your book, I love your twitter and I love your taste in music. Had there been a jdate for agents and authors, I feel certain we would’ve been together now and forever [Doubtful, like many self hating Jews, I never date tribe members.](I adore my agent, btw, but she lacks most of your endearing neuroses). [Then what does she have to offer??]

Here’s the deal: my narrative nonfiction book is coming out in the fall. [far-fucking-out-that’s great.] I am giddy, excited, nervous, schpilkes–[I am against random y-dropping] the whole thing. It’s great. Obviously I would like for it to do well. [I trust “well” means off the charts successful] I need for it to do well. So what am I doing to help make that happen? I blog, I tweet, I give lectures when asked and sometimes when not asked. I plan on hiring a publicist. I’m not on facebook yet but my resistance is weakening. The thing is, Twitter often feels to me like an icepick in the forehead (your feed is a notable exception). [No argument there.]There’s so much stuff whizzing by; I always feel bombarded and overwhelmed. When I’m not checking it I worry that I’m missing stuff. When I am checking it, I worry because the Important Lit Blogger has ignored my personal tweets, so and so thinks I’m wrong about the existence of God or the price of fish, and all the Super Important Shit I Need to Say requires, like, at least 147 characters. And even when it doesn’t, it feels like I’m pissing in the ocean. I fear that when I finally succumb, Facebook will be even worse. [Did you leave your Ritalin at my house last week? I thought it was you.]

And I don’t have an author website. Do I need one? Can’t I just append my Amazon link to my blog? Hand out flyers on the street? [How about a sandwich board?]I am reluctant to drop $5000 on yet one more thing that requires frantic major screen-time and curation but whose future seems uncertain.

Please understand: this is not about shyness. I am self-hating, sure, but I’m also a narcissist and a shameless self-promoter. [Yeah, yeah.]I really do want the book to succeed. I just wonder if an author has to avail herself of every single social networking tool available to her. Does she have to be ubiquitous? What say you? [As I say in MY FORTHCOMING revision of Forest for the Trees, you don’t need to slap pasties on your tits and dance around a pole to get attention, BUT publishers are expecting authors to be building an audience one way or another. It takes time to build an on-line community just as it does any sort of following such as popular classes, a newspaper readership, radio listenership, etc. If your non-fiction book has a niche market, I would figure out as many ways to reach that market as possible whether it’s through the internet, universities, clubs, religious organizations, etc. Most publishers will cover you on the general publicity push, but you need to reach your niche. As for all the frenzy around websites, blogs, facebook and twitter — if you do one really well, you’re ahead of the game. You also don’t need to spend 5k on a website. If people can reach you through your blog, then you’re covered. Figure out what you’re trying to accomplish and use the best social networking tool to reach the widest audience. And that is my advice. Love, Betsy]

Sincerely,

In Tweetment [Ha ha, I get it.]

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