I
know people on both sides of the spectrum - those who wrote their book
before ever starting a blog, and those whose blog eventually led to
their book. Either way, I believe the two go hand-in-hand.
I
had tried to write a book years ago. I had made several attempts, in
fact, and the furthest I ever got was ten chapters. But truthfully, the
story wasn’t compelling. There was no tension in the plot. There was no
plot! So I gave it all up and decided I wasn’t a writer.
When
I actually did start my book - the one that I saw through to completion
- I stored the beginning manuscript in a file labeled “Final Attempt.”
If this one didn’t work, I was really going to give it up for good. But
the difference between my latest attempt that was successful, and my
initial attempt that was not, was three years of blogging.
Blogging
flexes your writing muscles. It keeps you writing. When you don’t have
time or inclination to sink into one tiny part of a huge story, you’re
still weaving words. You’re still observing what’s around you and
deciding how you’re going to present it to your readership. With humor?
Light sarcasm? Poetically? You stretch and push your limits when you
blog, and you start to see what kind of writing fits your style - what
kind of writing makes you proud.
Blogging
serves another purpose. Every writer has to be a business person to
some extent. You may have an agent and get picked up by a major
publishing house, but to a degree the marketing work falls on you. When
you blog, you are creating a following of people who care about your
work. You are supporting other bloggers and writers, who will understand
your passion, and who will in turn support you. You may not blog with
that purpose in mind. (In fact, I hope you don’t, because it will show).
But you are building friendships that you will need when the time comes
to launch your book.
Blogging
teaches you about social media in a way that non-bloggers have trouble
understanding. You learn about twitter, and how important is the use of
hashtags. You learn about Facebook likes, and how to boost posts, and
how to join groups that are focused on the same interest areas you are.
You even learn the power of Pinterest on the weekend - anything that can
keep you connected to what’s happening around you - anything that can
eventually help promote your book.
Blogging
can be a writing distraction because you focus on supporting others on
social media, and you write a little blog post rather than chipping away
at your manuscript, but I think it adds more to the life of a writer
than it takes away.
At
seventeen, Jennie Goutet has a dream that she will one day marry a
French man and sets off to Avignon in search of him. Though her dream
eludes her, she lives boldly—teaching in Asia, studying in Paris,
working and traveling for an advertising firm in New York.
When
God calls her, she answers reluctantly, and must first come to grips
with depression, crippling loss, and addiction before being restored.
Serendipity takes her by the hand as she marries her French husband,
works with him in a humanitarian effort in East Africa, before settling
down in France and building a family.
Told
with honesty and strength, A Lady in France is a brave, heart- stopping
story of love, grief, faith, depression, sunshine piercing the gray
clouds—and hope that stays in your heart long after it’s finished.
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre – Memoir
Rating – PG-13
More details about the author
Website http://aladyinfrance.com
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