Blog

Reaching a Broader Audience

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Do you fix something that isn’t technically broken? How about tweaking it to make it more effective?

Over the last week, I’ve read best-selling author Kristen Lamb’s two books on social media. We Are Not Alone: A Writer’s Guide to Social Media and Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer.

Her books have encouraged me, because there are things I’m doing right. Things I enjoy. Like connecting with others and building relationships. I like doing that stuff. I like that I get to spend time on Facebook and Twitter and call it work.

Her books have also challenged me, because there’s always room for improvement.

One of the things I wrestle with is blog content.

I blog about writing. And a lot of times, I feel like I’m repeating what’s already been said a hundred times before. In craft books. In workshops. In articles. On other blogs.

I’m writing to an audience of writers when I’m trying to reach an audience of readers. 

Granted, some of you (hopefully), will read my book when it releases in May. But I’m also alienating a whole population of readers who could care less about writing.

Here’s the thing.

Remember that post I wrote about creating a social media plan? The one where I encouraged everyone to ask important questions? Questions like why are we blogging, or Twittering, or Facebooking?

I had to take my own advice. I had to ask myself those same questions.

Why am I blogging?

My answer isn’t: To help writers grow (as awesome as that is).

I started blogging and continue to blog because I want to build a relationship with readers.

The majority of my readers are going to be Christian women who love romance. They aren’t going to care about Motivation Reaction units. And those who do can pick up a book by Dwight Swain.

So what am I doing?

I think I’ve gotten so comfortable blogging about writing that I haven’t stopped to think why I’m doing it. And really, it’s sort of been working. My blog has steadily grown in its readership and I’ve formed some really cool friendships because of it.

So if it’s not broken, why mess with it?

It’s a question I battled with all last week. And here’s what I decided:

Even though it’s working doesn’t mean it’s working as well as it could. I don’t want to miss out on connecting with a wider audience because I’m afraid to try something new.

Which means…..

I’m going to try something new. Especially after reading Kristen’s post on blog content.

After a few months, I’ll assess. If it’s a flop, I can always go back to what I’ve been doing. But if it works? I will kiss Kristen Lamb’s feet and enjoy building a relationship with readers before my book hits the shelves.

So here it goes. My new content and schedule:

Writing related posts on Monday. Because writing is my passion and I want to continue serving the audience I already have (writers). Plus, I enjoy sharing my journey as a newly contracted novelist in a rapidly-changing industry.

Faith related posts on Wednesdays. Because the Christian faith plays a big role in each and every one of my novels and an even bigger role in each and every day of my life.

On Fridays? Romance. Family. Books. Life. I was thinking of limiting it to romance, since that’s what I write, but then I thought. What if I want to write about books? Or parenthood? Maybe it would be best not to make this too limiting.

So there you go. My new schedule. If any of these topics interest you, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!

Let’s Talk: Why do you blog? Why do you read blogs? Do you read blogs that don’t focus on writing? Do you wrestle with content? Do you think non-writing readers are looking to connect with authors via blogs?removetweetmeme

I Write

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

I spent much of my childhood laying in bed, scratching unfinished stories into notepads. I’d read them to my parents. They’d listen and smile.

People would ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

I’d hold my pencil to my chest and say, “A writer.”

But then I got older. And I read a short story written by one of my high school classmates. It was good. Really really good. It was the first time I remember thinking, “I can’t do that. I can’t write like her.”

People would ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

I’d hide my pencil behind my back and say, “I’m not sure.”

I graduated and went to college. A place where being a published author was a cute kid’s dream, but not realistic as an adult.

People would ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

I’d stare at the pencil on my desk and say, “Maybe a teacher.”

Then I went to Africa and words piled high in my chest. A great flood of words. A story that needed telling. So I picked up the pencil and let them spill onto the page. And afterward, I felt good. I felt like that little girl laying in her bed. A little girl with stories to find.

People would ask, “What will you do when you graduate?”

I’d blink at the pencil in my hand and say, “Oh. Right. I’m going to teach.”

But the stories wouldn’t leave. I had to get them out. So I did. I wrote them. I wrote them and wrote them and wrote them. When I told people what I was doing, I’d occasionally run into a curious look.

That’s….nice, their looks would say.

Those looks reminded me of that girl’s short story in high school. The one I wasn’t talented enough to write.

But the stories still came. Despite my fears. Despite my doubts. They came. And somewhere in the middle of all that writing, I stopped caring that I wasn’t the best. That this might not be realistic or practical. The joy of putting words on paper drowned all that other stuff out.

So now, when people ask, “What do you do now that you’re all grown up?”

I clutch my pencil to my chest and say, “I write.”

Let’s Talk: What stops you from chasing your dreams? What do you want to be when you grow up?removetweetmeme

A Social Media Plan

Posted on by Katie Ganshert



I don’t mind when you’re working on your writing. But when you’re Twittering or emailing, sometimes that bothers me.

These words came from my husband a couple months ago. A husband who is ridiculously supportive and excited about my writing career. A husband who would do the laundry, shop for groceries, and cook dinner all so I could have some extra time to write.

But when he came upstairs and I was busy getting my Tweet on, that bothered him.

You see, two months ago, writing to him, meant…..well, writing. Pounding out the words on my latest manuscript or marking up the pages in red pen.

Writing did not mean replying to people’s status updates.

And if I’m being honest, spending the precious little time I did have on social media always left me feeling guilty.

Until I met Kristen Lamb. Well….I didn’t actually meet her. I read her stuff. And she said, “If we are just goofing off and sending people farm animals, then yes, we are goofing off. But if we are blogging and spending time on Twitter and FB networking with other writers, published authors and people in the publishing industry, that is called marketing.”

Marketing.
 
But wait a minute. Marketing intimidates me. I don’t know how to market. But chatting on Twitter and connecting with others on Facebook? That’s fun. I like doing that stuff.
So is it really marketing?
 
Kristen would say yes. As long as we’re being intentional about it.
 
So here’s my question for you: How intentional are you when it comes to social media? Do you have a plan? Or are you just winging it?
 
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for winging the less important things in life. But let’s not wing social media.
 
Because love it or hate it, social media is an integral part of being a successful author. It’s the way we connect with others, establish our brand, and learn more about the industry. Used intelligently, social media can be a huge ally.
 
This is what I explained to my husband. This is what I explained to my guilty conscience.  
 
Once I got that out of the way, I made a plan. Maybe you would like to make one too. In that case….
 
First things first. Repeat after me.
“This is part of being an author…..this is part of being an author….this is part of being an author….” Repeat until you start to believe it.

Second, carve out time.
We carve out time to write, right? Why not do the same for social media? It doesn’t have to be a huge time block, or even a medium-sized time block. But we should make purposeful time for it. We should make it a habit. And maybe, by giving social media its own slot, we will be less inclined to let it bleed into our writing time.

Third, write goals.
Twitter goals, blogging goals, FB goals, and any other type of social media goals. What do you hope to accomplish through each of these? How will you measure success? There’s not a right or a wrong answer to these, but how you answer them should affect how you use social media.

Fourth, strategize. 
What steps can you take each day to accomplish these goals?

Fifth, observe, copy, but be yourself.
Look at authors who use social media effectively. See what they do that works and copy them. Only make sure you’re being you. Copy their methods, not their personality.

Sixth, read Kristen Lamb’s book
Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer. Truly, if you want to laugh out loud while learning how to take full advantage of social media and create a killer plan for yourself, then there is no substitute for reading Kristen’s book. I finished it in two days and I can’t even tell you how much I learned.

Let’s Talk: How intentional are you when it comes to social media? Any tips you want to share? Do your loved ones have a hard time understanding why you need to spend time Tweeting? removetweetmeme