If your blog isn’tincreasing much in readership and traffic, then to blog or not to blog onbecomes a nagging question. In other words, is it really worth the time andenergy to do so? Certainly authors want to create an expanding audience fortheir blogs and books. But how does one do that?
The early advice Iread on this topic was, “Just write what you want to write on a regular basis,and your audience with grow.” And that’s exactly what I have been doing, but Idon’t think that I have been very effective.
So, I read “50 Ways ToOptimize Your Blog” by Jeff Bullas. Among other things, he says “Blogging is ajourney and as technology develops there will be more ways to optimize yourblog. You will also find other keys to keep the blog pumping and energized asyou mix with other bloggers both online and offline and hear their stories andhints.”
And he offers 50suggestions to increase your blog readership and traffic. We’ll take thisOptimization Journey in baby steps. Here are the first twi things that ablogger might consider sharing or doing:
1. Industry News– what’s happening this week, this month?
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WAITING TO SEE THE PRINCIPAL AND OTHER POEMS
On Tuesday of this week I had the honor of recording three of my poems at the WXXI Radio Station. Poems and stories by various authors in the Rochester Area Children's Writers and Illustrators group (RACWI) are being used to promote the November 7th's book festival at MCC. It was fun and exciting to record poetry in front of a big microphone, eight stories up in downtown Rochester. The view behind me was amazing--highways, bridges, skyscrappers, and distant walkways.
So how did my little photo shoot turn out. Well, you can be the judge of the above one. Give it a caption in the comment section. It's okay to be funny, silly, serious, sarcastic, or whatever. I have one that I thought was a riot, but I don't want to influence you. Go ahead, take a shot at it! Thanks ahead of time!
Paul O. Zelinsky also presented to RACWI Thursday night. Can you say "Caldecott"?
Always fantastic to hear someone speak who has a received such an honor, has studying under Maurice Sendak and has had a career that has spanned 30 years. Not too many of those floating around. A humorous tail he shared was about the mouse he got to study anatomy while doing Ralph S. Mouse...how would you get a real mouse to ride a toy motorcycle...not so easy. He also shared with us school photos that Beverly Cleary sent with the Ralph S. Mouse manuscript that were photos fans had sent to her. These faces were the inspiration for certain characters.
Here are some other points I jotted down:
~Copying existing art, is a good exercise to "see what is there"
~Action is the page turner
~illustrate the words that aren't there
~Jumping the shark...a Happy Days reference, to when we have gone to far.
Yesterday the family and I went to the launch party for my friend author/illustrator Sheila Jarkins new book Marco Flamingo. The kids had so much fun. Above is one of the fuzzy little birds that made their way home with us.
One activity that I thought was particularly clever was the "Flamingos on Ice". Sheila had frozen dozens of flamingos in an ice block and the kids poured hot water over the block to free the birds. Bookmarks, pink shaving cream, lots of tasty goodies, display of original art and live music, all made for a great event. The turnout was impressive. The afternoon culminated in Sheila reading to the kiddies. I can't wait till Marco's next adventure.
Summer fading, winter comes-
This is the first line of the poem Picture-books in Winter, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Our illustration group will be doing a panel discussion for Octobers RACWI (Rochester Area Children's Writers and Illustrators) meeting, and this the text we selected to work with. Seven illustrators will present how they would deal with the text as though we were handed the assignment from an art director.
As I approach the text the view out my window, is grey and rainy, with leaves shedding, fading, wanting to reveal the bones that have held them threw the heat. Tired they will wither, their last burst of energy is yet to be revealed in a vibrant show we call autumn, or fall. It is palpable.
So I thought that I would share, this first image. It will be p.3 (or the real p. 1 where the story begins). It is incomplete. I am wondering what the boy is holding in the other hand, what says summer that he doesn't want to let go, baseball, bug jar, butterfly net.... I have yet to decide. I think I have to spend sometime getting to know my main character.
I have heard writers say they know things about their characters that they keep to themselves, things they don't reveal to the reader, they are intimate with these characters, and keep their secrets. I'm guessing with picture books that have both author and illustrator, the characters have multiple identities, that which the writer holds, and that which the illustrator holds. Fascinating stuff!
More to come.
Cute... love Jack to Hit the World Stage.... very cool
this is so very sweet, the tree is beautiful.
ICE CREAM in the other!
It's a lovely, delicate illustration. There's a certain melancholy to it, and I can relate to it. Fall can be quite beautiful with all the colors, but there's something about the end of summer that makes me feel kind of blue...