If you want to write a book and blog, what should you do? It’s a book versus blogging debate. Too many writers starting out try to do both and end up doing neither one well. Or they try to write a book before they’re ready.
Then they end up with something not suitable for publication, waste a lot of time, and cause much frustration. That’s assuming they finish the book, but more likely is that they’ll give up before they finish—because they’re not yet ready to write a book.
Unless you’ve done a lot of writing—say about one million words and invested about 10,000 hours honing your skill—I recommend you start with blogging or writing short articles, essays, or flash fiction.
Blogging and short pieces offer several advantages:
- Blog posts are short and easy to write.
- Blogging is a great way to hone our writing skills and find our voice.
- Feedback is quick.
- Errors are easy to fix.
- Bloggers develop a habit of writing regularly, even when they don’t feel like it.
- Blogging according to a schedule—which is what all bloggers should do—helps prepare us to meet deadlines.
- Blogging prepares us to write longer pieces, up to the length of a book.
There are many other benefits associated with blogging, but these are some of the key ones, which is why I recommend that you start with blogging or writing other short pieces. Save the book for later.
Learn more about writing and publishing in Peter’s book: Successful Author FAQs: Discover the Art of Writing, the Business of Publishing, and the Joy of Wielding Words. Get your copy today.
Peter Lyle DeHaan is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book Successful Author FAQs for insider tips and insights.
