What should authors blog about?

I give workshops on book marketing, and a common question I get from attendees is, “What should I blog about?“

Good question.

Blogging is an art, not a science, so there’s no exact formula for doing it right. However, if you’re an author, I think it’s best to blog about things that have to do with your book in one way or another.

Here are some suggestions:

• If your book is nonfiction, your marketing goal is to position yourself as an expert about a specific topic. A blog can help you do that, whether it’s reporting on industry news, sharing your experience at a specific industry event, or just offering your opinion on something related to the field. You can also blog about the experience of becoming an author, especially if you’re venturing down the path of self-publishing. There are a lot of people out there wondering if indie publishing is for them, and they love to read about the firsthand experiences of others.

• If your book is a novel or a memoir, your options are a bit more limited because positioning yourself as an “expert” might not necessarily be part of your marketing plan. However, you too can blog about your experience of becoming an author, which is always interesting. Or you can do what I do, which is blog about the process of writing and marketing books. You could also blog about subjects related to your book. For example, if your book is a political thriller that takes place in DC, you could blog about the aftermath of the presidential election.

You don’t have to blog every day. The key is to provide interesting content over time that makes you seem interesting. Then, eventually, your blog readers may just buy your book. I will never understand why people blog about what they ate for breakfast, but maybe that’s just me.

Palo Alto native Maria Murnane is the author of the best-selling romantic comedies Perfect on Paper, It's a Waverly Life, Honey on Your Mind, and Chocolate for Two. She also provides consulting services on book publishing and marketing. Learn more at www.mariamurnane.com.

This blog post originally appeared on CreateSpace.com. Reprinted with permission. © 2013 CreateSpace, a DBA of On-Demand Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.