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Hard time getting readers...

Posted by ryansnake • 12/15/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: blog, blogging, comment, comments, fiction, Help

I've been doing this for about two months. Writing a fictional blog that's a prelude to the novel I'm writing...you can find this information all over the place The thing is, I have some readers, but not alot. I find myself struggling the most when it comes to getting feedback. Only way I can improve myself is by getting comments and feedback on my blog.

I've done a variety of things. I've registered on like five social networks and I update info. about my blog everytime I post an update. I offer an RSS feed via any program +e-mail. I'm on this website! lol I frequently comment back anyone who comments me, although I've been falling behind on randomly commenting on other people's blogs... but what I'm getting at is, how do I get consistant readers?

I know my content isn't boring, while it is a little long, it is certainly a little more than...

"I walked down the street. A dog bit me. It hurt."

User Comments

12/15/08

fastasleep

You have a bit of a niche blog there...

Maybe you need to find some writers groups? With it being fiction, you'll need to bring in people who enjoy and are actively looking for fiction to read. Easier said than done!

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12/15/08

ryansnake

Hmm... well, I made a group on this website for fiction, but no one ever joined lol So it got deleted. You'd think if people are on the internet all the time reading blogs about politics or how someone's day went, they might be interested in reading a little fiction every once in a while.

I don't really see the difference between a non-fiction blog about Politics and a fictional blog about the end of the world. Both of them are to be read, just different subjects, am I wrong? :/

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1. 12/15/08
  
  MadameX
  
  I think that a lot of people go to the web for more news-oriented reading, which takes in things like political blogs...but not fiction. I know that I'm an avid reader of fiction (usually 2-3 novels/week) and I also write fiction, but I don't read fiction online. Fiction is for sitting curled up by the fire (figuratively--I don't actually have a fireplace), on the couch in my fuzzy slippers after the kids are in bed, in the bathtub, lying on the beach--when I want to read for "fun" I'm not going to sit at the computer to do it.
12/15/08

SwedishSkier

I don't know about other people, but I don't want to read stories online. I like quick reads when I'm online. If I want to read fiction, I want to sit down and hold the pages. I'm no expert on this, but if I were giving feedback on something for a novel, I'd need more than a quick blog snippet. I'd want a hunk of something to respond to.

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1. 12/15/08
  
  Amanda3140
  
  Hi Ryan,
  
  It can be tough to get readers, but you have a niche blog. There are people out there that really enjoy literature, I am an avid reader myself. Maybe you should do what the previous poster mentioned, look for a group of people who enjoy reading fiction. I know it sucks, but don't let it worry you. Keep working and do your research, and you will find your readers. Good luck hun.
2. 12/15/08
  
  Financialnut
  
  I'm the same. I'm not looking for what you're offering online, but that doesn't mean there aren't people out there that are looking for similar things. Find some writing groups, forums, portals, etc... Interact with THAT specific group and you'll find readers.
  
  I don't come to BC to find readers for my blog. I go to a financial site to find readers.
  
  Same thing.
  
  Good lucK!
12/15/08

MadMadMargo

I liked it and I'll be back to read more.

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12/15/08

ryansnake

Thanks for the input guys. I guess I just have to find people that enjoy reading fiction on their computer screens. Although the updates I make aren't much longer than the average blog, so...

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1. 12/15/08
  
  timethief
  
  Hi there,
  I'm a speed reader. I zoomed through the most recent post and I subscribed. Right now work is very busy but when it settles down I'll read very carefully and give you some feedback.
12/15/08

ryansnake

Awesome Thank you very much

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12/15/08

happyfoodgirl

You have to consistently promote your blog and actively update it for six months to a year before you get readers. It took me about six or seven months before I got a couple of readers. I still struggle to get readers, but I have so much competion that it makes this project even more difficult for me.

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12/15/08

Anok

What she said...it takes time.

You've made a lot of good moves, now it's kind of a hurry up and wait thing.

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12/15/08

kiwigal

I think keywords are very important, never knew how much until I got a great research tool. It brings traffic in (check out 30 day challenge).

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12/15/08

ryansnake

Well, I suppose waiting is something I'm able to do. You guys think self promotion outside of the internet is a good/bad idea?

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1. 12/15/08
  
  jafabrit
  
  I don't think it could hurt, could it. What about leaving snippets of your fiction on business size cards (includes your blog addy) and leave them in cafe's and around the place. I have put little images of my art on the backs of rubber cockroaches, the blog addy on the underside and left them in museums, outside, cafes. They are like calling cards but with a wee twist, and it has worked, people laugh, take them home, visit my blog Here is a pic of one.
  bp1.blogger.com/_wIIEWL-8LrE/Rl8Iy2lpMoI/AAAAAAAAAgg/PX2sconLZZc/s1600-h/DS...
12/15/08

ryansnake

Haha, that's genius. I thought of something along the lines of writing on a piece of paper "The end is coming" along with my blog address and then just tossing these photocopied papers in random places. The business card idea is a good one too though.

I know I could definetly make some questionable snippets from parts of my blog or even my novel, which has yet to be seen by anyone outside of my family/close friends (the novel that is).

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1. 12/16/08
  
  MadameX
  
  Ryansnake, the problem with what you suggest here is that people will visit your website looking for something other than what they find--which probably means it won't stick. Jafa's idea is great because when people show up, they'll have come on purpose to find more of what you left as "bait".
12/15/08

gamecherry

jafabrit is a genius.

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12/15/08

jafabrit

oh gosh I wouldn't say genius, but thanks. ryan think in terms of leaving found art, or use elements (peas, fruit, coins etc) to create a sentence or word then photograph it and leave that around. Also maybe use images on your blog entries that relate to the story (when people google search images they can find you)
all the best, and don't be so hard on yourself, you have only had your blog a couple of months. It can take quite a few months to really get established.

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12/15/08

robinj

lol I am sure the cafe you left the cockroaches in would be super impressed with customers running screaming from their tables
@ryansnake try article sites like ezine articles you can write about your craft and learn a few things from their tips as well

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1. 12/16/08
  
  jafabrit
  
  lol, no robinj they are too cute to scare people.
12/15/08

dratiffarid

Commenting on other's blogs gets you more traffic. And if they like your blog, they'll surely stay.

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12/15/08

cooper

The blogs I read that are fiction based are blogs I have been reading awhile. It is hard for most people to find the time to read blogs which are preludes to novels. I think the best way to do that is to have a following already - which is why I read the blogs of the writers I do - it's because I was following them already and felt some personal connection with them on some level or another.

There are a lot of online writing groups though. Gather has a writing group, there is novel storm, (www.novelstorm.com/), there's www.writing.com/main/tools/action/myspot.

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12/16/08

ryansnake

Thanks for the advice, I'll surely check out those links. And yea, the whole "following" thing. Since I'm just starting out, I've been brainstorming ways to get myself some type of following before I try to get a novel published, that way it'll look better when I present my manuscript to an agent/publisher. My actual last resort is to write a few short stories and send them to literary magazines.

Originally it was suggested that I just write my novel, then write a few short stories for magazines... but that seemed too...how do I put it, eh... I wanna cover all my bases, I want to do every possible thing that I can do to establish myself. There have been people that've put me down or told me that I can't do any of this, yet here I am, doing it. And I strive on.

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1. 12/16/08
  
  jafabrit
  
  "There have been people that've put me down or told me that I can't do any of this"
  
  A pox on that. You can do whatever you want
12/16/08

ThriftShopRomantic

Two months really isn't very long to be blogging. Getting folks who really want to READ just takes a little more time than folks who like to skim. I'd say hang in there.

When I first started my humor blog, I was wondering whether anyone would enjoy posts with a bit more storytelling meat to them. And it's actually worked out fine. Continue to let people know what it is you're working on, and you'll build up your readership.

I think the tendency is to think because the online world moves so quickly, that readership builds equally quickly.

Unfortunately, it isn't. But it IS a lot faster than getting work turned around in journals.

I hope you find the balance and readership you're looking for.

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12/16/08

XIII

Two months is nothing, just keep at it and spread the word. I actually read what you've posted thus far, nice.

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12/16/08

furniture27

2 months is not that much time. You need to evaluate this at the end of 9-12 months. Blogs come and go on the internet every day. I think there is a temporary hurdle that bloggers must overcome before they are recognized. It is the equivalent of being a temporary employee.

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12/16/08

curlydesigh

I agree with the bulk of the comments. Keep at it. Post comments of book reviews blogs and related blogs. Maybe instead of writiting chapters, you could write character sketches and share you process of getting your book published. That may have more appeal than actually writing the book on-line. Also maybe consider having audio posts= books on tape and Itunes are picking up popularity.

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1. 12/16/08
  
  jafabrit
  
  you just reminded me of a great blog I visit now and again who includes images, and podcasts of his writing.
  skywaterjournal.blogspot.com/
  
  He did have a book published, ryan you might want to connect with him.
12/16/08

reborn4papua

me too... but i keep writing and believe it useful for someone out there

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12/16/08

ryansnake

As for audio goes, my Dad's a professional voice actor so I got ahold of him and asked for something along the lines of doing possibly a snippet from my latest update, should be interesting As far as images go, how could I post images related to my story? Just google weird stuff? Again, thanks for the nice comments

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1. 12/16/08
  
  jafabrit
  
  just check out the skywater journal, he has some great pics. You can either go to a website link that has free pics, or cruise flickr and if you see something that works as the photographer permission (tell them they will credit them and link back to their website or flickr page).
  www.freefoto.com/index.jsp
12/16/08

ryansnake

Looking at Skywater now, I see what you mean. So many awesome things I could do here, Yes, I see it now...

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12/16/08

hydrogenballoon

ya might like writing for TheSpoof.com! Ya can link your blog to your account over there. TheSpoof.com is also linked to Google, a lot of my stories there get over 1000 views

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1. 12/16/08
  
  ryansnake
  
  Are you sure fiction would fit in there? At first glance I'm seeing alot of political stuff.
12/16/08

360wellnessguy

You see there are always two angles to things - one is to push info about your blog to the market place by registering in social networks - the other is the pull or getting the market to demand your info. In marketing there are different techniques for getting the interest of your market. Maybe the social networks are not the right place for you to get that interest - what about checking Yahoo Groups and checking out groups specifically interested in fictional writing. There is no point wasting a good message at a place where no one is interested in it. it is like talking to the deaf. Good luck

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12/16/08

360wellnessguy

You see there are always two angles to things - one is to push info about your blog to the market place by registering in social networks - the other is the pull or getting the market to demand your info. In marketing there are different techniques for getting the interest of your market. Maybe the social networks are not the right place for you to get that interest - what about checking Yahoo Groups and checking out groups specifically interested in fictional writing. There is no point wasting a good message at a place where no one is interested in it. it is like talking to the deaf. Good luck

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1. 12/16/08
  
  ryansnake
  
  Yea, I definetly know what you mean. I've got a myspace that I advertise on every single time I make an update. Feels like I'm talking to people with no ears/eyes.
12/18/08

ryansnake

Don't know if anyone is interested, but I took the idea of using audio for my blog as well, got ahold of my Dad the voice actor and came up with what is now the newest update on my blog "Dante's Chronicles".

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1. 12/19/08
  
  jafabrit
  
  Ryan, that is fantastic. Visually it grabbed my attention and I enjoyed listening (I am not a big reader), to your story. I really think it is going to enhance your blog and efforts.
  all the best with it
  jafabrit
12/19/08

buyersweb

it is a hard one to gather them to begin with... join many social networks and be active, provide free services and create traffic... basically that sounds easy but it takes time... having over a thousand posts on your blog related to your niche helps heaps too...

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12/19/08

Mootq

Short posts maybe better, bloggers seem to have very short attention span

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12/19/08

macmanx1

post on forums related to your blog.. also make youtube videos related to your blog.. you should start getting traffic then.

legitinternetwork.blogspot.com/

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12/19/08

dede

consider of reading this post, maybe useful

www.eblogtalk.com/2008/09/should-you-write-in-long-paragraph-and.html

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10/05/09

Zpoet

comment removed by the community.

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10/05/09

DAVI

There's free online ads. One network is called 'Spot.' They were started by Adbrite. Other sites will have ads for your blog; in exchange you'll do the same.

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10/05/09

Zpoet

From everything I read, I understand the process is slow. They suggest you update frequently, and post quality blogs. Quality is the most important aspect of all! I write a literary blog, and it seems to me those are less likely to attract viewers than others, but I'm building them slowly but surely. If you want an amazing amount of traffic, advertise on stumbleupon. You can choose a small budget, and that will draw many people to your site.

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