If a Blog Fell in the Forest…
“Just as long as we have we!†– Dr. Seuss and Albert Hague
In OCC lurks great power, but we do not harness it, nor do we wield it.
We have 175 members, 110 published authors, and myriad experts on everything from computer technostuff to cover design to contracts to self-publishing. And what makes the whole of OCC so much stronger than the sum of these amazing parts? Our interconnectedness, our willingness to share and communicate. So…our A Slice of Orange Blog should rock much more than it does.
We have the power to make A Slice of Orange grow into a cornucopia of talent, resource, tidbits, and discussion that romance readers and writers will consume voraciously. But when many of our published authors have a book coming out, they guest blog somewhere else. And many of our experts have their own blogs, and they ask OCC members to go there to read a good blog. Can we bring some of this love home to OCC? I think we can, and when we do, A Slice of Orange will be so much mightier than the sum of its parts.
-If you have your own blog, perhaps you can pick a blog day on A Slice of Orange (Marianne Donley has the master list of available blog dates mariannedonley@gmail.com). Then, on that day, on your own blog, instead of blogging, you can have a link to A Slice of Orange where your blog will appear that day.
-If you are a published author, you can blog about your upcoming book and add charming stories. Check out Jina Bacarr’s recent Titanic blogs.
-You can feature your upcoming book and add tidbits from your personal life. Check out Janet Cornelow’s latest blog. That is the kind of stuff reader’s LOVE! To feel they KNOW an author!
-Linda O. Johnston and Monica Stoner provide insight into the life of a writer – pure gold to fledgling writers tying to get to know the biz.
-Rebecca Forster’s recent blog on characters and Barb DeLong’s conversations with Jann Audiss offer such fodder for readers and writers alike to talk about the things readers and writers love to discuss!
-Louisa Bacio’s and Kitty Bucholtz’s blogs are always choc full of info info info about everything that a writer would want to know about. Calls for Submissions, details about self publishing, reading recommendations and more and more and more…
We need more participation to make A Slice of Orange as strong as it has the potential to be. And not just writing the blogs. Do you read the blogs? Comment! Check those boxes at the bottom if you found it interesting or funny or cool or great! Do you write blogs? Comment back – get discussions going. I think it would be great if the commenters even got into discussions with each other. For instance, today Laura Drake posted a link to a great blog by Larry Brooks, Storyfix. I looked 10 minutes ago, and he had 44 comments – I want that kind of interaction on A Slice of Orange!
Are you too busy to blog? You can pitch in by reading the blogs, checking the boxes, and commenting! We can all share and build our collective strength.
Why would this be such a great thing?
-A popular blog home base where you can publicize an upcoming release could be very useful – so the bigger our readership, the better.
-If you are self published and you blog about your book on our widely read blog, the more books you will sell.
-If you are not yet published, you can fortify your profile as a potential author who can sell her or his name by showing that you are a regular blogger on a popular blog.
-If you write your own blog, having it linked to such a strong hub can only increase your readership.
-If you are writer who feels unconnected, isolated or clueless, you can tune in to read about and chat with writers who love to share.
-If you are a reader, you can peek inside the world you love so much and get a heads up about what books are coming soon from some of your favorite authors. Or you might discover new favorites.
-Anyone in OCC can blog. Send Marianne Donley a request.
-Everyone in OCC and beyond can read and comment and discuss. But it has to start with us.
We need more OCC members writing, reading, commenting, commenting back, commenting back and forth, and telling others about our blogs in order to drive A Slice of Orange to its fierce destiny!
And even though many blogs are up for only a day before the next blog goes up, remember, the blogs don’t go anywhere! You just have to scroll down and you can keep the conversation going. For my Davy Jones blog, I was commenting back and forth for 4 days, even though Kitty’s blog posted above mine on day 2. And yes, I shamelessly asked some of you to read my blog and please comment so I could light a fire under my blog, and this flurry of comments brought in 8 unsolicited comments – but I want us all to have more than 8 every time! If we check in on the blogs and scroll through and comment and keep checking and commenting back, we can really get something going.
In OCC beats the power of its incredible membership. We need to harness and wield this power for the good of our careers. Unleashing such power will also enhance the vivacity and might of the romance community of readers and writers. And gleaning power from love and from loving what we do is good for everyone.
Mmmrh!
Please, let’s discuss. Let’s make this happen. All comments, pros and cons, will be welcomed, considered and discussed! And I hope we all discuss: commenters with me and commenters with other commenters.
Where better to discuss blogging than in a blog?
Author Details
Author Details
A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers.
The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.
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A Slice of Orange started in 2004 as a group of authors from Orange County, California. We have expanded to include authors from around the globe–from the UK, all across the US to New Zealand. Our authors include the multi-published and writers at the beginning of their publishing career. In addition to authors, we feature blog posts from editors, PR professionals, and cover designers.
The bright segments of the writing and reading community that make up one perfect entity—A Slice of Orange.
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Dear Make Money,
What nice, encouraging things to say – thank you! Indeed, I often feel the OCC blogs are falling in a forest with no one around. But I will keep trucking along – writing, writing, writing. Thanks again!
-Ger
I just wanted to add a comment here to mention thanks for you very nice ideas. Blogs are troublesome to run and time consuming thus I appreciate when I see well written material. Your time isn’t going to waste with your posts. Thanks so much and stick with it No doubt you will definitely reach your goals! have a great day!
Thanks, Marianne!
-Ger
Charla,
I have the automatic calendar set up on The Morning Juice. It announces weekly who will be blogging on A Slice of Orange in the next seven days, so it isn't always necessary for the author to do it herself.
However, I don't think anyone would care if you wanted to pop on and announce your blog topic –even if it wasn't a Tuesday.
Charlotte! Thank you! This is EXACTLY the kind of stuff I want to know! I know that some friends of mine, OCC and nonOCC have had awful trouble commenting. My blind friend, whose computer reads to her, was foiled by those funky words you have to copy down in order to publish a comment – her computer could not decipher the words. That is discriminatory and must be remedied. And the issues you brought up must be addressed as well.
I am so happy to have you weigh in on this blog. Hope to see you peeking in on and commenting on some more OCC blogs-what a treat!
How is your son?
-Ger
I was blogging for a short time until my son fell ill and my time became too tight. One thing I found very frustrating was the blogger format. Granted I'm, no techie, but I'd save edits only to go back and discover they had disappeared! I wasted hours trying to remedy the problem because I didn't want to bother Marianne.
On a another note: I could tweet and loop my OCC blog almost everywhere BUT OCC. Why? Because unless it posted on a Tues I couldn't let fellow members know about it. That glitch sort of defeated the purpose of the blog as they should serve the membership. I suggested once that we have a social loop, for promotions, chit chat and blog promo but that went no where. So I don't know what the answer is. Charla
Cool, Lex. That is so awesome. Thanks!
-Ger
I could do a blog post on cover art. Not a problem. Just give me a weekend date so I'm around to answer comments…
Lex, I, for one, want to hear about these awesome covers of yours that you are always doing. How do you do it? What do you charge? Is this just for online? Who all do you do covers for?
I am definitely interested in what you have to say!
-Ger
Great idea, Lex! Thanks for the input. That is just the kind of feedback we need so we can act on it. I really appreciate it!
-Ger
I'd like to see the unpubbed writers in the chapter put forth some suggestions for topics they actively want to read. I'm happy to blog but I'd much rather have a list of topics to choose from that I know others in the chapter want to know about. That way I know someone's going to be interested in what I have to say.
Lyndi,
YOU make some really good points! I gave up blogging for over a year, and part of it was because it felt like there was no point. And that's just it – with all the power of OCC, we should have a MUCH stronger blog. But we all need to pitch in.
As for stressing about writing a blog – on one hand, do not stress, blogging should be all good. But then on the other hand, forcing yourself to stick to a blogging deadline and produce good writing is a good thing, too.
And making A Slice of Orange strong is not just about writing blogs, but about reading and commenting and discussing, too.
With A Slice of Orange, it's as if we have the power to pull the sword out of the stone, but we just don't quite realize what a big deal that is.
Thanks for pitching in!
-Ger
All good points, Geralyn. I'll admit I gave up on blogging here, partly because there just didn't seem to be much point to it, but mostly because I didn't have much to say. I'll try to be better. I signed up to Follow the blog so I will get an email whenever a new blog is posted. Otherwise I'll forget to check.
Jina, You said it! That's what it's all about. OCC is a give a take – that's what makes us awesome.
-Ger
Marianne,
THANKS for the link to the Daily. I did not even know it existed. See? The more we can all learn about the great networking we can harness at OCC, the stronger we will become!
-Ger
Barb,
That's exactly what I want to change – make better – about a Slice of Orange. You guys bring up some great topics and it is just the perfect springboard to launch discussions among romance readers and writers. Let's get this party started!
-Ger
Couldn't agree more – thanks for leaving a comment on Jann and my blog. Our very first comment, I believe!
Two things OCC members should know about blogging for A Slice of Orange:
1. I can upload your post for you.
2. Your blog will be picked up by our Twitter newspaper A Slice of Orange Daily AND the Daily is likely to pick up other social media you have out there.
Sunday's edition had articles by Ger, Jacqueline Diamond, Laura Drake, Jenny Hansen, Elizabeth Boyle, Louisa Bacio, Kara Lennox and Jina Bacarr.
Here's the link: http://paper.li/A_SliceofOrange/a-slice-of-orange
Wow, what a nice compliment, Geralyn! OCC has always been there for me; I try to do the same by blogging for the group.
Thank YOU, Jina! Your blogs are a big part of the power of a Slice of Orange. ?We just need to get even more people reading, commenting, discussing, sharing.
I remember years ago when I blogged, I was so proud because I had the most consistent blogs on the sight…after you!!
Now I'm back, but you have always been here, the keeper of the flame. Thanks!!
-Ger
Thanks for the mention, Geralyn, about my Titanic blogs–I enjoy sharing my stories about the ship and my other projects and OCC Slice of Orange is a great place do just that.
You're doing a super job getting out the word about the OCC blog. Thank you!
Thanks, Jann! I really enjoy your blogs with Barb, as well! I look forward to keeping your "Coversations" going and going next time you and Barb get us started!
-Ger
Great blog Geralyn.
Marianne,
I hope so, too! Even from across the country, you are such a tower of srtength, a rock, a beacon!
-Ger