Fiction writers often struggle with what to write about when sending email to their email list. That’s what they told me on Thursday when I hosted a free webinar for authors on “How to Use Email to Create to Attract Fans, Create SuperFans & Sell More Books.” If you missed it, listen to the replay here before midnight Monday night Pacific Time.
Here are 19 ideas, most of which work just as well for non-fiction writers and for blog topics. Print this list and tack it to your bulletin board, so you’ll never be lacking for something to email.
- What’s the most unusual thing in your office that inspires, entertains or humors you? Mine is a miniature replica of my first car: a 1962 white Chevy Nova we affectionately nicknamed “The White Tornado.” If you have an old photo of your car, include it.
- What writing problems do you struggle with, and how do you solve them? This shows your human side.
- Share fun facts about the locale where your romance novels or fiction takes place.
- Pay attention to questions people are emailing you. Often, these are also great fodder for a blog.
- What sparks your creativity?
- Who is your hero? And why?
- What one event in your childhood had the greatest effect on your writing career?
- If you weren’t doing what you do today, what other job would you have?
- Who is your best friend, and what do you like best about him or her? List your best friend’s favorite books. How do they compare to yours?
- What “lesson from mom” do you still live by today?
- What’s the one thing you want to accomplish, or write about, before you die?
- If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be? Would you write or read there, or do something else?
- Do you have a pet that keeps you company when you write? If so, write about your pet. Has it taught you anything about writing? If so, what?
- What’s the worst writing mistake you ever made that taught you a valuable lesson?
- What’s the most unusual place you have visited?
- What’s the most unusual book you’ve read that’s made a lasting impression?
- If you could have a quiet dinner with just one author, who would you choose? What would you want to discuss? What questions would you ask?
- Create a survey that’s related to the topic of your book and share it with readers. Report the results.
- Create a fun quiz about one of your books and award a cool prize.
Authors, what do you blog about? Which posts elicit the greatest number of comments from your readers? What other questions do you have about sending emails to your fans?
If you want in-depth training on how to build an email list from scratch, or you want to boost sales for a book that’s been on the market for awhile, consider my Author Email Boot Camp which starts on Wednesday, March 2.
Jennifer, how could I NOT love “Bark of Love”?
Just what I needed to hear, uh,read. I’m about to take the plunge into blogworld and wanted to know how to keep it interesting and fresh, and how to get and keep readers involved.
Publicity Hound, you’re always tracking the fresh scent and leading the pack.
Oh yeah, my first two are Bark Of Love and Body By Burlesque on blogspot.com.
Found out about your site after reading “entrepreneur to infopreneur”..
I am an amateur blogger/writer always looking for ways to stay motivated and on point.. and these are some of the best questions I’ve heard to get those juices flowing
Thanks!
Jimmy
Go to it Jimmy! Pick what you think is the most fun topic, and have at it.
When you’re done, come back here and give us the link to the blog post so we can see how you’ve approached it.
Dear Joan,
I’ve absent from lurking here lately, but just when I was getting motivated to finally do it and get a blog, I found this post! You are truly timely, informative, helpful, motivating, and a bunch of other adjectives that mean you’re awesome.
Thanks! When I get it designed/posted I will let you know.
You’re the best,
Heather
This is a wonderful list of things fiction writers could blog about. With so much material out there, it is hard to stand out especially for a newbie like me.
Joan, thanks for the post. This list gave me lots of ideas – 19 in fact! : )
EDIT: Found it 🙂
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/marketing-self-promotion/what-should-fiction-writers-blog-about
Please update your link to reflect the address above. WD has just undergone a site upgrade and in terms of their database, there’s been a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on. 😉
Thank you.
I love this post! Thank you for endless topics to blog about. Sometimes I have so much on my mind I cannot think of anything.
Great inspiraton.
You rock!
Darlene
Thanks for the article. The thing I enjoy reading about the most in a writer’s blog is where they get their inspiration from: the people, stories or events from which they draw their creativity and keep their writing juices flowing. It’s a great way to get encouragement and keep motivated as a writer and learn to see your world as a source of creative inspiration to promote your own writing.
My friend, who writes, said that the worst ever writing mistake as a creative author she made was to write entirely in the style of an author she really admired, because she loved reading his work – but this actually ended up restricting her own creative development and she was unable to find her own “voice” until she explored a number of *different* styles.
I’m not surprised. That makes sense. I’ll bet her own voice is far better than the imitation.