Blogging for writers -- should you blog?

YES! Here are some of the benefits:

* If you're a new writer, a blog gives you the confidence and ability to write for an audience. Please notice that I put confidence ahead of ability. As a new writer, you need the confidence to START. Some writers are born with the confidence to send their work off to editors, but they’re in the minority. I've even heard of professional writers admitting to collapsing into tears when they send off work that means a lot to them, so it's not surprising that aspiring writers feel that the process of writing for public consumption is overwhelming.

* Your blog helps you to get comfortable with words. Inexperienced writers "write". Experienced writers just say what they're got to say --- you can hear the writer's "voice" behind the words. Developing this voice takes a lot of writing. A blog lets you do that writing in a low-risk, comfortable arena.

* Your blog enhances your creativity. Writing begets writing. The more you write, the more you'll have to write about. If you commit to blogging, the knowledge that you need to collect material for your blog stimulates your creativity. You'll come up with ideas for your blog, and for other writing too.

* You can use your blog as a writing sample. When you're a new writer, you don’t have any credits. This means that editors are hesitant to assign commissions to you. Your blog proves that you can write, and gives a commissioning editor an idea of what your style is like. Add your blog URL to query letters and proposals that you send to editors, and invite editors to visit your blog. The fact that you have a blog lets editors know that you're serious about writing.

Our Pro Write workshop "Blog Your Writing' gets you started blogging.

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