(writing) The reasoning behind the polls

[vg_ford]

Thank you to everyone who participated (and if you haven't, I'm leaving them open) - I was looking (rather unscientifically, considering how small a pool I have to go with) to test a theory.

I was in FM Chat yesterday, and the subject of author blogs came up. Specifically, WHY authors blog. The theory put forth was that pro authors blog to sell books, so they should only write things about the books and the subject matter of the books, not things like how to work with editors, how to write, stuff about their life, etc. This got me to thinking (always a dangerous thing) and I realized that while I was a pro author, I don't blog just to sell books. In fact, it's not even the main thrust of my blog.

(Not that I don't WANT to sell books, obviously. The cats still have to eat.)

I blog because I want people to read. I want people to write. I want to know about the people around me. And sometimes, I just want to whine or rant or rage.

So I wanted to see why others blogged. Not to disprove the theory - just for my own curiousity. I'm still looking for the black swan, you know.* I did skew it towards the author side, since that was the theory put forward. And of the 7 published authors that participated, not one put "promoting my books" as the primary reason why they blog.

Which I find interesting.

So now I throw another question out to the masses. No poll this time, just a question.

Why do you read author blogs?

*Looking for the black swan was an image my chem teacher in high school used to draw us in. He was always saying that science was the act of looking for the fabled black swan - even though all around you was white swans, the myth of the black one kept you looking for it, always exploring beyond your line of sight. I've always loved that image, and it describes my life pretty perfectly.

Comments

[pickledherring.livejournal.com]

I, for one, dislike author blogs that read as pure promo. It's annoying and a turn off. I do like author blogs that give me a little window into their quirks and daily life, their ideas about writing, and so forth. I've bought several books after following authors on LJ and every last one had personality in their blog, including bad days and good days.

[vg-ford.livejournal.com]

It's annoying to me too - like reading nothing but a never-ending commercial.

[shade53.livejournal.com]

Two things:

I read blogs because I either have interest in the people writing them or they make me laugh (like Cake Wrecks). I read agent blogs when I want info on the business but I don't 'follow' writers I'm a fan of (except gibson I suppose but he's just interesting). I will read editor's blogs when I'm either interested in their publications or find they have neat stuff to say (or are just neat like Cat Rambo). But I'm also not normal (or so everyone keeps saying).

Second: I find the black swan reference kind of interesting as, when I was a little girl in Spokane, there were a pair of black swans in the park and I was obsessed with them. When we went to feed the swans, I always tried to make sure the black ones got my offering of week old bread. Every once in a while, when I'm in a funk or trying to decide something, I'll see one - either a picture or in real life. So, I had to respond to this post.

[gerriwritinglog.livejournal.com]

Meh. Authors who only blog to pimp out their writing bore me to tears. I don't need that from an author blog, and I don't follow those blogs. When I look up an author, I'm interested in their process, in what they have to say about writing, and in what they're thinking. They're human, and that's important.

*snort* Blog only to pimp their wares. *snort* *eyeroll* No, that's what the website is for, tyvm. Blog what you want. Life is important, too.

[time-testudinem.livejournal.com]

Most blogs I read are those of writers (either professional, amateur, or somewhere over under or in between those things). Why? Because they know how to WRITE. Blogs are, after all, a written form of communication. Whether discussing their books, their cats, or their annoying coworkers, people who can write are just more interesting on-line. Just like people who can speak well are more fun at parties.

This seemed self evident to me. It is also why I blog little. My posts are more like memos to my friends, than actual writing.

[utilitygeek.livejournal.com]

I read author blogs for the same reason I read any blog -- I find the author/topic/etc interesting. While I did start reading your blog because of the contents of one of your upcoming books (*wink*), I keep reading because I find your musings and such interesting. This is also why I read about old friends from college and Wil Wheaton.

As for blogs that are just about promoting the books -- if I can read the inside of the book, surely I can read the back cover.

[ladyariadne.livejournal.com]

I dont really read authors blogs because they are authors... I happen to read peoples lj's who just happen TO be authors.

someday I will be one of those people i hope.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Ditto!

I remember how bowled over I was when I realized that sartorias, whom I had friended for her interesting journal entries and comments, was a successful author! Wow!

I've never friended anyone just because they were an author.

[suelder.livejournal.com]

The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Swan-Impact-Highly-Improbable/dp/1400063515/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233868287&sr=1-1

It's out as a hardcover, not as a paperback yet, in this country. It's along the lines of Malcolm Gladwell's book The Tipping Point. And it's also been described as how we put meaning on random events.

Your library probably has it. :grin:

Sue

[joncwriter.livejournal.com]

I posted some pictures for you...they were at the SF zoo! :p

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I read blogs because they're interesting. Some are people who have interesting discussions; some write in an amusing or thoughtful way about their lives; some post fiction and poetry (which I like reading); some have great photos or recipes; some point to other interesting things on the Internet--these are the sorts of blogs I like to read :-)

[aishabintjamil.livejournal.com]

Actually I'm going to suggest that you're promoting your books even if you're not actually talking about them. If I find what you have to say about life in general, or what about writing, interesting, then I'll probably check out what you've written.

Case in point, I came across Elizabeth Bear's name here because Val posted a link to something on her LJ page on writing. I agreed with quite a bit of it. Then her name came up again when someone sent me a list of nominees featuring books with positive portrayals of GLBT characters.

Result? Next time I was at Barnes and Noble I looked to see what she had written. I bought two interesting looking books (her Promethean series). They're fantastic. I've since special ordered two more. And I'm waiting impatiently for some others to come out in mass market editions. All without her ever saying "Look, here's my great book. Please buy it."

[dragonmyst.livejournal.com]

I read author blogs/journals to sorta remind myself that authors who are published are still people. It gives me courage to read of someone eles struggles and know I am not the only one. And beccause I like the tales of other people's lives, their ideals, what geeks them out so to speak.

I have to say though.... I hate the word blog. I prefer online journals. The word blog brings to mind a mysterious dish that my mother once baked. It was neither good nor yummy and if I remember correctly after prodding it with his fork a couple times my father advised mom to grab her purse we were going out for dinner.

**ahem**

[zombiegoat.livejournal.com]

I read them to see if there's some way of approaching things that I might benefit from or things that I should avoid doing. I also like seeing the quirks and habits; ones that are purely done for promo purposes are a giant snore.

All right, as long as we're being honest, there is also something oddly cheery about going through a period of blockage and reading an update from somebody screaming about the same sorts of things that I am. I sometimes really like knowing I am not sailing the S.S. Swiss Cheese Bottom all by myself.