Why do writers write? Some might answer, “Because they must.” I believe writers write because they want someone to read what they’ve written.
They write because they want to touch someone with their words. They write because they want to reach out through their work and make others cry or laugh, learn something or be transformed, feel inspired or in some way relate to their own experiences. They write to take readers on a journey, transport them into another world or show them a slice of life.
However, with a traditionally published book, an author might wait a year and a half or two years (or longer) after receiving a book contract for their published book to actually hit the book store shelves. They must then wait for readers to actually find that book and purchase it. Of course, the book also will appear in on-line bookstores, but unless the book is well promoted by you—publishers don’t do much promoting, readerships will remain low. Remember, these days, BookScan reports that the average U.S. book currently sells less than 250 copies per year and less than 3,000 copies over its lifetime.
If you independently publish your book, you can get it into your hands and into on-line book stores in four to six weeks—if you hurry. Without good promotion efforts, though, you’ll still lack readers.
In both cases, great promotional efforts (and a great book worth reading) draw readers. This means the author will, indeed, have his or her writing read. It’s possible to sell well over 250 copies per year and to reach larger numbers than the average over the book’s lifetime.
A blogged book works just like a book. The more you write and the more you promote that writing (on the Internet and elsewhere), the more readers you will attract. Just like a “real” book, if you have a good idea that adds value to readers’ lives, they will want to read your book. Therefore, they will “purchase” it; they will subscribe to your blog or come by each day to read what you have written.
At first you might have no readers. This is not unlike having no buyers for your book. If you keep writing and promoting, though, you’ll have one…two…three. (You can track this with your blog’s statistics program.) Before you know it, you’ll have 20 readers a day. Then, you’ll have 50 readers a day. That equals 350 readers in one week. That’s more readers in one week than the average traditionally published author has in a year.
So, why blog a book? Because your writing gets read.
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