Expanding Blogging Horizons
I've been expanding my "blog's horizons" for a few years. A few years ago I started to formally offering marketing and publicity services to authors. I have planned a number of tours and book blasts, as well as providing assistance in recruiting reviewers and helping set up an author's online presence. I offer consulting for those that just need a little direction. I have also content edited a few books and would like to do more of that. I love helping the author refine their stories and characters.
Last summer I published my first ebook - Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour. It is a quick read for authors, bloggers, and publicists that are organizing tours. As I mentioned in my introduction post, the idea for the book came out of an Armchair BEA daily topic a couple of years ago. I'm hoping to get another book out this summer, but I have to find the time.
One of the comments on my intro post was how I went from 1 post a week to posting 7 days a week. And this is where I have really focused on blog expansion this year. I have always been open for guest posts and interviews, which was a huge help in increasing the number of post I have each week. But I was getting overwhelmed with the review requests and felt like I couldn't read fast enough. This had a negative impact as I just wasn't enjoying books as much. So I advertised for a reviewer.
Claire began back in March and has been wonderful. I had planned for her to do a couple of reviews a month, but she is such a quick reader that she sends me a couple of reviews a week. Taking on a reviewer was a great help and I'm still reviewing a book a week myself, but I don't feel so pressured now.
As I said, I've always accepted guest posts, but I never knew how many I would get in a month. One of the ladies from my blogging group had expressed an interest in doing a monthly column somewhere so I offered her a spot at Girl Who Reads. Alison started this month and will have a new article every month on the 2nd Wednesday.
Besides reviews, interviews is a big request. However, I think I'm lousy at asking questions. Plus it takes time to craft good questions. Starting in June, Heather joins Girl Who Reads as the staff interviewer. And just like Claire, she is exceeding my expectation of 1 interview a month. She has 3 lined up for June alone.
Having this extra help has reduced my workload. Now I can focus more on my Tips on Thursdays series and work on my next book. I know longer have to come up with 5 posts each week. And this month with the start of Two Cents Discussions on Sunday, there was been a new post every day.
Novellas and Short Stories
I'm not big on short stories, but I have read several this year (and last year). I've read a couple of collections that were good. But the ones that I really like are the novellas that are off shoots of series that I'm already reading.
I'm so glad that J. B. Lynn has started to write a some novellas as part of her Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series. A new one just came out and it is HILARIOUS. If you haven't tried this series, The Mutt and the Matchmaker would be a great introduction. It has a minor character from the series so there isn't a lot of background you will need to catch up on. Seriously it will make an excellent afternoon read.
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It's wonderful that you've come so far! You're very lucky to have your co-bloggers/interviewers helping you out, and I'm sure as hell going to be checking out your ebook.
ReplyDeleteSometimes getting help is essential to sanity!
ReplyDelete--Brenda @DailyMayo
Congratulations on your book and other successes! I've thought about doing something similar, but I always have a lot of thoughts and then take on way too much - I get so busy doing "things" that I end up leaving a lot behind, a lot of goals unaccomplished. I think expanding blog horizons is a great thing to do, though. Most of us start relatively small - some stay there, and that's fine, and some become huge without really knowing how it happened, or expecting it. It's a pretty cool world. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna for the mention but the blog has helped me a lot too. I'm looking forward to reading your next book, congratulations
ReplyDeletecongratulations on all you branched too, you are a real inspiration
ReplyDeleteHi, looks like you've done an awesome job expanding your blog horizons.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the release of your book. You've come a long way.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way I could put out the amount of posts we do if I didn't have my fabulous team. Glad to see you've added to yours :)
ReplyDeleteI love being part of this team
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my post yesterday! I love how active you've been beyond your blog! That's so great! You've been so successful!
ReplyDeleteSandy @ Somewhere Only We Know