Fictional Blogs

[Tadhg Kelly]

Hi there,

I've recently started doing a fictional blog, a bit like a novel using a blog, and I'm wondering whether I've gone about it all wrong (this is the one by the way). I've done some digging around and it seems that while there have been some isolated moves by various writers to get these going, they've basically foundered. Factual and/or diary blogs seem to rule the roost. Perhaps they're just easier to maintain, so people get discouraged less easily.

Anyway, I would appreciate some advice on the topic. Am I barking up the wrong tree? My goal overall would be to make the project a sort of continuing source of second income etc, and I realise that it's very early days yet, and therefore hard to judge. Do I just need a little faith?

Thanks,
Tadhg

[ahimel]

This is the first time I've heard of a "fictional blog", so I'm guessing that a lot of people aren't familiar with the concept. That will make it more difficult to succeed. It's always easier to sell people something when you can say, "It's just like _______, only better." When you have to explain what it is you're selling, and THEN explain why they should want it, it's a pain for you and them, and it's much harder to find readers. It's just a fact of life. When you have a brand-new field, early adopters are going to have a tough time of it.

That being said, I'd argue that for the most part, your audience isn't going to be blog readers. I think the market you're after is novel readers -- you're basically publishing a new form of serial novel. I think it's a totally awesome idea, but the marketing for it will be different.

You have to remember that most online writing sucks The reason the publishing industry is still thriving, even though it's the work of 10 minutes to get writing directly from the author to the audience, is that the vast majority of writers are terrible. This means that in a small field - like fictional blogs - it will seem like nobody succeeds, because there are very few people doing it, and most of them are terrible. It's true in non-fiction blogs also -- I would estimate that 99% of them are garbage -- but there are SO MANY people doing it, that the 1% that are worth reading seems like a huge number. Fictional blogs just don't have the volume yet, so it looks discouraging to you.

The good news is that your writing is already better than almost all of the stuff out there. The bad news is that people who come to your site have their cursor poised over the back button, waiting for the first sign that your writing isn't worth it. So, especially at first, you have to concentrate on writing as well as you possibly can, and improving your writing at every chance. I would have one or two dedicated editors, who will read your posts before they go up and ensure there are no grammatical errors (excepting those necessary for the story's flavor) and that the writing is clear. I would go to classes on fiction and non-fiction writing, to improve yourself. Unlike traditionally published work, where your readers can have some confidence that you're worthwhile because you made it into print, online readers will cut you very little slack.

You have to remember that the majority of people won't like it Even with non-fiction blogs, a large percentage of the people on the web don't subscribe. I'm subscribed to 3 blogs right now. That's thousands of blogs (even "good" blogs in the top 1%) that I'm not subscribed to. I don't subscribe to political blogs because I don't care that much. I don't subscribe to financial blogs because I've passed the need for their advice.

You're in the same boat. Even if everyone who likes it subscribes, you'll still only have a tiny portion of websurfers - those interested in a British perspective of the US, and those interested in realistic fiction who like your story. I like your writing and think your story's good, but I won't subscribe, because I don't care for realistic fiction.

You have to remember that it takes a long time to build up a blog following Certainly don't give up faith before the first year is up!

The only other thought I have for you is to consider starting several blogs (or one blog, but with multiple feeds) with different stories. Most writers have more than one story in them, and doubling your blog would double your chances to impress readers.

[Tadhg Kelly]

Thanks ahimel!

[Polonius Funk]

My response is in now way as thorough as ahimel's, , but I just wanted to say that it sounds like you've already found a unique angle AND it sounds like you know where others have failed - so I'd say you're doing well

I'll check out your blog when I'm at home tonight, but the idea sounds like reminds me of serialized fiction, which might be a neat promotion angle...

[trekr5]

A lady, who became homeless and ended up living in her car, started a blog chronicling her daily struggles to survive. In under a year it ended up becoming so popular that it was picked by BBC News and the NYT. It has now become a book and the lady has a huge publishing deal. She no longer lives in her car and is writing the next book. Unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the blog but if you do a search for "blog for homeless person living in car", something might come up.

BTW she is an excellent writer and her writing style was so evocative that a lot of the people that posted comments expressed how her writing had so moved them emotionally.

[TheBull]

While I don't have any advise, I would like to offer encouragement. My wife has been wanting to write for quite some time but doesn't know how to get started. I keep telling her to just blog about it. While she might not get a lot of readers, it would give her practice and maybe a few readers along the way.

Something you might check into though is any blog carnivals for writers. That might help get some traffic and therefore readers.

[Tadhg Kelly]

Indeed, it was the prospect of blogging as means to actually get things done that prompted me to try. I am a terrible procrastinator and champion self-doubter when it comes to anything creative, so I figured words on a page that people could see would therefore be a good thing.

I'll look into the blog carnivals, thanks.

[TheBull]

My pleasure. Between my wife and I, I am the procrastinator and she is the self-doubter. The good thing though is that we tend to push each other just the right amount to get some things done.

Good luck with your blog.

[topher1181]

This is my first post here, but I wanted to chime in here because I think it's a good idea. A fictional blog is something I was actually considering doing; I didn't think there were any out there.

Anyway, I think it's a great idea and I wish you the best. I don't really have any advice.

Chris

[Tadhg Kelly]

Just updated it, if you're interested.

[KarlN]

Very nice blog, you have a new subscriber

[Tadhg Kelly]

Welcome aboard

[Andrew Michaels]

I'm actually attempting to do the same thing, which I just started a thread about.

Funny how forum readers respond differently to the same type of threads....

The link to my blog is in the sig. It still needs work, but I'm making progress.

I've just started reading your blog and I enjoy it. I'm going to go ahead and add a link to your page on my blog.

I'm interested to hear how you go about using Gliffy and Mayomi in your planning stages.

Also, how has adsense been working out for you? it's been an utter failure for me. I just happen to love writing and so find the idea that a few hundred people have actually come and read my stuff to be amazing.

I hope we can keep in communication about our respective endeavors.

Best,
Andrew

[Tadhg Kelly]

Hey Andrew

I'm using both just to map out some basic relational diagrams, just to keep a sense of organisation about things. I'm mostly using google docs and notebook for the main work.

My adsense is amusing so far. I have earned the princely sum of 1 dollar and 31 cents from it I figure it's very early days yet though, and I'm trying to get the project up and running properly still, so it doesn't phase me at all.

I'd be very interested to see how things keep going for yours too.