Happy Friday! The Marketing for Romance Writers bunch is back with a brand new topic. Are you ready? What is my inspiration to blog? Well, your guess is as good as mine. That’s what I thought when I began writing about this week’s topic.
Week 41: My Blogging Inspiration (Or not.)
I’m afraid I will fail miserably with this week’s topic. I can’t put a finger on what or who is my inspiration to blog, other than my readers. Of course, I want to be available and have a place to communicate with readers and my blog followers.
Sometimes “inspiration” comes because I have something to say. Other times I have news about my books like cover reveals, a new release, or a snippet/excerpt. On occasion I’ll mention a contest. Other times you’ll meet a guest. And last but not least, I’m inspired by others when I follow along in a blog hop like #MFRWauthor.
I’m not good at sticking to a set day to blog. This becomes apparent when I’m beginning or ending a book, and then when I prepare to launch a new release, like recently. This time, I’m preparing for two launches. Last year, I came up with topics to help me blog more often:
- Short Snippet Saturday
- Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse
- Meet Our Heroines (This is more like a mini-series since I can’t post a new heroine each week or month.)
This year the Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop came into being. You know I don’t write a post for #MFRWauthor each week. I’m okay if I don’t write a post.
Well… Some of you are laughing because I skip days weeks in blogging. “Where is my inspiration then?” you might ask. Well, my muses aren’t feeling the inspiration. Instead, they’re heads are filled with novel writing ideas, and they’re pounding it into my head until it releases through my fingers on the keyboard. My lady muse has a split personality with a male who takes her place at times. Is this why I enjoy writing hero-focused romance? They’re both bossy, but their lariats don’t scare me.
While writing this, I learned something… In truth, my blogging inspiration comes from YOU. I see you post on a regular basis. It inspires me when you blog consistency. I look forward to your posts. I look forward to your blogs. And, I look forward to your comments and Likes on my barely-breathing blog. There you go. I found my inspiration for blogging. Maybe I didn’t fail miserably. Hah!
I’m curious to see what inspires the other participating authors to blog. Blog hop with me to THEIR PAGES.
Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them. ~John Shirley
Enjoy your weekend.
I’ll be a little busy today, but I’ll hop over to your blogs later. Thanks for visiting.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
28 thoughts on “#AmWriting Where’s the Inspiration?”
Megan @ Ginger Mom
I loved this post 🙂 It was very honest.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thank you, Megan. That’s very kind of you to say. 🙂
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D. Wallace Peach
Cute muse! Lassoing up some inspiration. Two launches! That will be exciting as well as a lot of work! I think we all need more hours in the day. Happy Writing!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Diana. Yes, a lot of work that has me drained, but my cover designer put in most of the work on this second project. I’ll leave it at that for now. 🙂 You’re pretty busy yourself.
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D. Wallace Peach
That’s why I took the summer off. It is a lot of concentrated focus. It sounds like you’re getting close. 🙂
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Yep, I’m getting close but ran into a delay on the new project. I’d be happy to take a full weekend off. I’m the boss. I probably wouldn’t fire myself. ☺️
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D. Wallace Peach
Ha ha. That’s one nice thing about being the boss. 🙂
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maureenbonatch
Love the pic of your ‘muse’ 🙂
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
🙂 Thanks, Maureen.
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Ed Hoornaert
Thanks for the thorough exploration of what leads you to sit down at the computer. I’m glad we have a role, though tiny.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
You guys all have a big role, Ed. 🙂 Other authors have been my inspiration from the beginning and still are.
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RaineBalkera
To be fair, you ARE inspired to write stories that become novels. Blogging about the process and inspiration for those stories is something I gravitate towards, too. I like your snippet ideas as well, so thanks for sharing!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Raine. I started out doing Short Snippet Saturday posts weekly, but I changed it to monthly. Admittedly, I have skipped a lot of Saturdays. I’ve posted more snippets lately because of a new book coming out. If I’m having a promo on a book, I will use that book for a Saturday post. Monday I have a GC giveaway at The Kindle Book Review. I’ll post about that with a snippet.
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Cathy Brockman
Great post Mary. I love your little picture! Good luck on both your writing and blogging.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thank you, Cathy. Right back at you.
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RobinMichaela
You’re right – it’s tough to find a balance between your presence and your writing. I love the snippets idea!
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Helen Henderson
Love the images.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Helen. Thank you.
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Sherry Lewis
I think it’s hard to strike a balance. We need to have a presence to attract readers, but it’s so easy to get caught up doing all the stuff to maintain a presence and make yourself too busy to write anything new–but if we don’t write something new, we don’t need readers, so what’s the point? 🙂
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Oh, Sherry you’re so right. Striking that balance is the hard part for sure. Happy Writing! Thanks for commenting.
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Teagan R. Geneviene
It can be hard Mary. You’re busy writing books — more important than blogging. Although I admit it’s good to see you! 😀 The image of your cowgirl muse is adorable. TGIF Hugs!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Teagan. I love the image of my muse. Hehe. I used a different one in the past, but since my muse helps me to create cowboys and cowgirls, she liked this one better. I should’ve posted her other personality. 🙂 Maybe another day. This might end up to be my second tattoo.
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Teagan R. Geneviene
Oh-oh — second!? Do tell… 😉
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
LOL.
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Meka James
Your list for release posts is a good idea. I didn’t do much marketing of my first book, but I’m trying to get better this time. I’ve kept my focus on Twitter mostly, but planning out blog posts that relate to your upcoming releases without being pushy “buy me buy me” is a great idea!
And I’m sure your followers enjoy getting more quality over quantity posts.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Meka, I always do cover reveals and new release announcements, but I show short snippets to help introduce the book before it is released. I’ve written two or three short posts about the new release recently, but haven’t said a lot about what the book is about yet. On my Works in Progress and Series page, I give a small amount of info, too. When it comes out, I do post the release announcement with buy links for those interested. I promote on Facebook and Twitter, too.
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apuginthekitchen
Hi I Mary, it doesn’t matter how often you post or whether it’s done using a schedule or timeline it’s the content and quality that matters. You bring happiness and romance to us, your readers. When I see something from you in my inbox I always know that it will be something to read that I will enjoy and thank you for that.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Suzanne, that’s so sweet of you to say. ❤ What you said is one more reason to be inspired to blog. Thanks so much. Happy Fiesta Friday to you!
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