I think for me the main goal was to get writing, and it has certainly achieved that. I hoped being part of a group would stimulate and encourage me, and this has proved to be the case. There was/is also always the slightly self-conscious aim to develop a readership. But so far, with 6 followers on Twitter and 3 subscribers to the blog, I would say that aim has been less well achieved.
But what has been an unlooked for bonus of the course so far has been all of the links to information and material and forums (fora?) that, given enough hours in a day, will prove invaluable once I start to take this whole thing seriously and devote to it the time I need to.
I do two 2-hour writing classes a week, and with travelling time, that amounts to about 6 hours a week. Then the homework adds on another couple of hours. That's equivalent to a proper working day each week. So when this course is over, apart from hoping there might be a follow on course, I will no longer feel guilty because I am writing nor regard it as a waste of time. From now on I will devote a day or so a week to researching and scribbling and do so with a clear conscience.
So, more of the same please, tuesdaywritingclass.
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Yes, the whole class is putting in a fantastic amount of time into this. But armed with the basics and some knowledge of where to look for more information, many of you can (and hopefully will) go far.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is a good and honest reflection of where you were and where you are going.
You too, Mary, write very clearly and concisely.....with an undercurrent of humour.
When you feel ready for it, you'd do well to develop a readership. It
's great for feedback...and if you join a forum (or fora - but I note many people just pluralise forum to forums...must look it up) there is a sense of comradery and support.
Though you have hung up your party line, maybe you could re consider Twitter. The great thing about Twitter is you can use it to invite people to look at your blog - and in doing so increase the numbers of visitors to your site. Take a look on your Twitter site at the people who follow you. Look at their followers and you might find people who have interests in common. Invite them to link to your Twitter site.
They too will be drawn to your blog site should you put up a blog post and mention it via Twitter. Also, if you 'invite comments' in your blog post - ie actually ask your readers what they think...that too is a way of building your readership. It becomes a two-way conversation. But you have to keep blogging as your readers will expect one blogging episode after another (usually at least two a week) and will feel let down (and will stray!!) if you fail to provide them with new blogs.
Some writers/authors are harnessing blogs to help them develop new books. They are putting up examples of new plots and chapters on their blogs and inviting readers to comment. The blog reader will no doubt feel part of the book's development and thereby remain loyal to the author...while the author also gets to test the waters for his new ideas and can show a publisher that he has already a following of x-many hundred potential readers....
Enough of all that Twitter stuff... keep writing. You have an excellent writing style. Sally