Writer Platform or People Interacting?

Who are we aiming our blog posts at?

I read a lot of writers blogs particularly since I decided to start writing my own stuff and taking it seriously. There are some great blogs out there, full of resources and information, all of which can be sucked into my head and hopefully retained somewhere useful for later recollection.

These blogs are themed. That is, they are writing blogs. Discussions on the how to's and best working practices. They often present the idea that each writer must start and maintain their own platform before even attempting to get an agent. I have even read somewhere - I can't remember where so cant link to it - that New York publishers aren't supporting new authors anymore. They are saying that authors need to build their own brand and web presence. A brand which is you!

Now I read all this and I soak it all in like a big empty sponge, but then I start to stumble around a bit.

The whole point of having a platform is that you are putting yourself out there. People start to read your blog, connect with you on twitter and facebook and your platform is up and running right?

Well is it really if all you're doing is talking to fellow writers on writers blogs? Fellow writers aren't necessarily going to go out and buy your first book, but real people from real connections you've made online and not just because you've been told its a good idea to create a "writing" platform, may do.

Readers- the people you want to buy your books, the people who matter don't necessarily write. I read lots, but only started writing last year. You won't reach real people reading real books if you are only targeting writers. Maybe I've got this all wrong but it just seems like common sense to me.

Be yourself with people. People like that. Build up a genuine community of blog followers and maybe one day when that book is published, the friends you met along the way will give you a huge hand of encouragement.

And for my non writery blog followers. This blog was here before I decided to write and as you can see I blog about anything that affects me or I find interesting. This is me and my journey in various directions. At this point in time though, writing this novel is a major part of my life and I blog to have a reminder of where I have travelled and to interact with people.

Why do you blog?

New Look Blog

For a while now I have been looking at my blog and thinking that it doesn't have enough of a "feel" about it, but I didn't really know where to start changing things.

Yesterday I made enquiries on a Facebook group I use, asking where I could obtain a new header, one that I could have the blog name and my name within the header, without it looking as it currently did, the blogger system simply doing some writing over the image I chose.

Very kindly Tessa from Tessa's Blurb created me a header from a couple of parameters I gave her.

I asked for simplicity, blog name and my name and something red in it as I'm writing a crime novel and I want the blog to be a part of my process with that. The blog being a focus being on my writing, books, authors and including my life ramblings as I go through everything.

The above is what Tessa came up with. I love it. I like the cleanness of  the white background blending with the blog. I like the dash of colour. I like the corner indication of what it is I do. I personally love it. What I want to know though, is how you, the readers feel about it? You're the ones that come here and read what I write. What are your thoughts on the new look and colour theme?