Eight Reasons Why Every Writer Should Blog

I feel strongly about the importance of blogging, and the title of this post confirms that. However, I admit to tapping hyperbole to make a point. A more accurate title might be “Eight reasons why every writer should consider blogging.”

Blogging may not be right for everyone; surely there are exceptions. But before you claim an exemption, consider my eight reasons why you should blog:

Blogging Hones Our Skills

To master any skill, we must practice. Blogging is a great way writers can practice, and it’s most effective because we do it in public.

Blogging Increases Our Speed

As we blog, our proficiency increases. Sometimes this is out of necessity when we have a limited time to write and publish a post. But mostly it’s because of the ongoing rhythm of blogging. The more we blog, the faster we become.

Blogging Improves Our Quality

At first, my writing quality dropped. In my haste to publish posts, I’d rush through the piece, not proofread carefully enough, and include errors. But desiring to avoid reader notifications about typos, oversights, and omissions, I discovered ways to improve quality along with increasing my speed. This isn’t to imply every post is error-free, but I know my posts today have a higher quality than when I started or even last year.

Blogging Offers Quick Feedback

When we write a book, it may be months before anyone sees anything we wrote and years before the public can read the finished product. With blogging, feedback happens quickly. We immediately know when we resonate with our audience and when we bomb. Plus, if we need to fix something, we can do so just as quickly.

Blogging Establishes Good Habits

Blogging is a regular and reoccurring action, which reinforces the habit of writing every day or at least writing frequently and not just when we feel like it.

Blogging Prepares Us to Meet Deadlines

Aside from writing great content, perhaps the second most important skill of a writer is the ability to meet deadlines. Between my blogs, I have four posts to write every week (and usually more), so I must meet four mini-deadlines every seven days throughout the year. Then, when big deadlines loom, I’m prepared, practiced, and ready to meet them.

Blogging Builds a Platform

Blogging is my number one platform-building tool. If you have a more effective way, great, but if not, look to blogging.

Blogging Connects With Readers

How often have you finished reading a book and wished you could talk to the author about it? It happens to me but usually, I don’t have that luxury. With blogging we do. And isn’t connecting with readers why we write in the first place?

If you’re not blogging, I invite you to start. Check out my new series on how to set up a WordPress blog.

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.