I like blogging for several reasons, the first of which is that it strengthens my writing. It’s often hard for fiction writers to commit to blogging on a regular basis.
Much of our resistance comes from our dedication to crafting and refining our stories and novel. It takes time, a lot, to draft and revise our works.
And yet I have found that consistently writing blog posts for my website have strengthened and refined my skill at writing fiction.
The relationship between writing my blog posts and my short stories and novel reminds me of when I entered the MFA Program for Creative Writing at Goddard College.
After welcoming those of us who were members of that semester’s incoming class, the program director then explained the academic structure of the program that is based on writing annotations.
These annotations are 2-3 pages long and address 1 or 2 aspects of literary craft, skill or perhaps a literary tool that the author of the work utilized in the work.
A student of any genre–fiction, poetry, screen writing, play writing–had to read 45-60 individual works of her or his genre. After reading each work, we would then write an annotation on that work.
We also had to complete a creative work–a novel, screen play, play or poetry collection–that we would submit to our advisor, and that a 2nd reader would also evaluate.
While most of us who entered the program came quite eager to craft, and refine our creative work, the director warned that attention to our didactic writing was equally important, in fact it formed the very basis of what we would learn in the area of improving our writing skills while matriculating through the program.
Likewise the fiction writer who crafts various forms of non-fiction works finds that doing refines and hones her or his skills at writing entertaining fiction and structuring her or his stories in a way that engages and holds the attention of readers.
On a more practical note, the consistency of posting blogs teaches the writer how to write on schedule. Fiction writers must also honor publishing deadlines.
Anjuelle- I publish a magazine, Ujima Magazine and I have started to blog again. My issue is figuring out what to write about outside the magazine. I have made a list of topics of interest, but I would like to establish myself in a particular subject area. Any ideas of how I can do this?
Thanks for your assistance.
Great question.
Thanks for asking.
I will answer you by asking “What is your passion?”
You want to begin identifying that which most interests your heart and soul.
Blogging well requires that you consistently make posts on your subject–write and put up new essays on your subject.
I love writing and mothering. I feel passionate about those subjects. In this same vein family attracts my interest.
Visit my Squidoo page @ http:www.squidoo.com/anjuelle_floyd and see what I’ve recently been writing on in the area of family.
I hope this helps, if not let me know.
Again, thanks so much for reading the blog and taking the time to ask this really good question.