So, you’re thinking about starting a writer’s blog about writing as a writer or author?

Choosing between writer’s block or a writer’s blog is an easy enough choice.

In fact, starting a blog about writing may be the single best decision for you as a writer or author and here’s why.

Why Start a Blog About Writing as a Writer or Author

First off, a blog is like an online journal. It’s where you can shout out to the world about what’s buzzing in your head.

Got a crazy thought at 3 AM? Blog it. Found a way to beat writer’s block? Share it.

A blog is also a corner of the internet that’s all yours! It’s where you can teach or share your writing journey, and maybe even inspire someone else to start writing.

But what a blog isn’t, is a one-way street. I’ve mentioned this in several of my own posts but a blog is a medium of communication, like a YouTube channel .

It’s where readers pop by to say “Hey, I get you!” and where other writers drop in for a virtual coffee chat.

But ultimately, a blog is your playground. Want to try out a new style? Curious if vampires would be cooler on Mars? Go for all that and more.

Plus, you get instant feedback from your readers, which is a great bonus!

How to Start a Blog About Writing – Guide For Writers & Authors

This guide’s going to walk you through all the basics of setting up a blog about writing — in a way that’s fun and completely you.

Let’s get your blog rolling!

What is the Purpose of a Writer’s Blog?

What’s the purpose of your blog?

There can be one or several.

Are you looking to share your writing journey, share writing tips, or create a space for writers to meet virtually?

Maybe you want to review books, or you’re all about helping folks bust through writer’s block.

OR it can be as simple as just…online journalling.

Whatever it is, nailing down your purpose is key. It’ll guide your blog’s vibe, topics, and how you connect with your readers.

So grab a coffee and start thinking about the big “why”. Here are some potential answers:

• To share your journey as a writer or author
• To build a community and connect with writers and readers alike.
• To position yourself as a writing authority in a specific genre. (And no, this doesn’t mean you have to have a degree in writing or be a writing guru. Anything you’ve learned in your journey is valuable to those who are only starting out!)
• To teach, share your tips, advice and resources.
• To inspire others with your words.
• To document your own writing journey.
• To explore ideas and test out new ideas for feedback.
• To review books and write essays about interesting topics encountered in them.
• To improve your writing and beat writer’s block.
• To promote your work or to create a writing portfolio.
• To earn from writing! You can monetize your blog with ads, sponsorship or by selling digital products like a course or eBook!

The list just goes on…

Choosing a Niche to Blog About Writing

A niche in blogging is like your own little corner of the internet where you talk about a specific topic.

It’s the theme or subject you choose to focus on, and it’s super important because it helps you attract a certain group of readers who share your interests.

Think of it as your blog’s personality. It’s what makes your blog unique and helps you stand out from the millions of other blogs out there.

By picking a niche, you become the go-to person for that particular subject, whether it’s writing tips for sci-fi authors or how to write heartfelt poetry.

Think about what kind of blog you want. Since you’re writing about writing, you already have a niche. You can narrow it down further based on the purpose of your blog.

Next, consider your expertise. You want to be the go-to person for something specific. Maybe it’s fantasy world-building, crafting killer dialogues, or sharing advice for self-publishing.

Don’t forget to scope out the competition. You’ll want to find a sweet spot where you can stand out.

And here’s a pro tip: mix in what you love with what others are looking for. Use any keyword research tool to see what topics people are searching for.

Lastly, keep it real and relatable. Share your own writing journey, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Your readers will love you for it.

Blogging 101: The Technical Bits

So how to actually start a blog about writing?

Here’s a break down and a brief guide, if you will, of the process of starting a blog about writing.

For a more in-depth explanation of the technical process of starting a blog, go check out this 15-step checklist of things to do before launching your blog.

Select a domain name. A domain name is your web address (Example – myblog.com).

This will be the name of your website as well, so think in terms of branding and what you’d call your brand. As a writer or author, often this is your name or pseudonym if you use one.

1 – Select a blogging platform. There are many. WordPress.org is the most popular one but there are others like Blogger and Medium as well.

2 – Select and buy web hosting. Web hosting is the process of renting a space on the internet i.e. a place where your blog will live digitally.

There are tons of web hosting providers. Select a popular one like Bluehost or HostGator or SiteGround. Research the right provider and plan for you and purchase your hosting.

3 – Register your domain name. Once you buy hosting, you can register your domain name through your hosting provider or a domain registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy.

4 – Install your blogging platform. So to create your blog site, you need to install WordPress or whichever platform you’re using. Many web hosting providers offer a one-click installation when you’re setting up your hosting.

5 – Select a theme. Once you’ve set up your blog site, select a theme. This is the basic design and layout of the blog. You can change and customize layouts, colors and widgets later.

6 – Install necessary plugins. Plugins are little applications that make working on your site easier.

For example, get Yoast SEO for in-built SEO checker while you’re writing your blog.

There are tons of plugins for all kinds of things like creating backups, using forms on your site, creating table of contents on your posts, and so on.

7 – Configure website settings. Give your website a meta title, a meta description, a tagline, set a permalink structure, configure visibility settings, etc.

8 – Create important pages first. Create your About Me, Contact Me and Privacy Policy pages first.

9 – Write your first post. That’s it. Once you’ve set up your blog, configured its basic settings, installed necessary plugins and customized your site, you’re ready to write and publish your first post.

Content Strategy for Writers & Authors

If you want to make blogging a success and reach a wide readership or even a niche readership, you’ll need a content strategy.

Content strategy involves simple things like keyword research, mapping your topics, outlining your articles, and optimizing your content for SEO.

You don’t have to get too carried away. Choose a few things to focus on that matters to you. Do you want to cover a topic area in depth? Create a topic map!

• Identify a few topics or keywords around which you want to write.
• For each topic, create a few sub topics that you’ll turn into blog articles about writing. You now have a basic topic map!
• Target a keyword in each blog article.
• Outline your article using an AI outline tool like Copy.ai
• Keep your audience in mind. Include frequently asked questions as topics!
• Creare a content calendar and plan out a few posts in advance. Example – ‘Motivation Mondays’ for writing prompts, ‘Workshop Wednesdays’ for tips on craft, and ‘Feature Fridays’ where you review books or interview authors.
• Optimize your content for SEO! Use keywords that writers or readers might search for. Example – self-publishing guide, how to write a great villain, etc.
• Optimize your content for SGE. Address popular concerns and questions to rank in Google’s search generative experience for your expertise.
• Promote your content. At least a little bit! Share on social media and writing forums.
• Track your progress with Google Analytics. See which posts are hits!

Track Your Progress: Keep an eye on which posts are hits and which are misses. Use that info to refine your strategy moving forward.

SEO Basics for Writers & Authors

SEO or search engine optimization is how you put your blog in Google’s radar (or any other search engine).

Search engines use crawlers (bots) to crawl the web and each and every page on the web including those on your site.

The information obtained by these crawlers are used to index pages.

The search engine analyses the content of your page like images, videos, links, and the written content to understand what your page is about.

When someone searches for something, the search engine digs through its index to provide the best results.

So it’s important to optimize your site in order to be chosen! This is search engine optimization.

Let’s break down the SEO basics into some easy guidelines.

• Find Your Keywords – Start by figuring out what your potential readers are typing into Google. These are your keywords. Use keyword research tools or just Google to find new keywords and topics.
• Know the Searcher’s Intent – Search intent is the purpose of a search, whether someone is searching for quick answers, detailed guides or looking to buy something. Use intent keywords in your content.

• Write Killer Titles and Meta Descriptions – These are the first things people see in the search results, so make them catchy and add your target keyword!

• Structure Your Post Right! – Break up your content with headings and subheadings (known as H2 and H3 headings. So what’s H1? That’s your blog post title).
• Link It Up – Internal links to other posts on your blog are like secret passages that keep readers exploring. Plus, they help search engines crawl your site better.
• Know What You’re Talking About – Google loves content that screams expertise and trustworthiness. So, back up your claims with data and sources and cover a topic extensively with a topical map!
• Update Regularly – Writing a blog post isn’t where it ends but where it begins! Keep updating your content, update your keywords to cover latest trends, and always do on-page SEO!
• Get Google Analytics – To keep an eye on what’s working and what’s not, tools like Google Analytics is your BFF.

Promote Your Blog, Grow Your Audience

There’s a lot more you can do besides SEO to get discovered!

• Social Media – Don’t just throw your blog posts into the social media void. Find out where your readers hang out online and join the convo. Whether it’s Twitter threads, Instagram stories, or Facebook groups, make sure your content is where the eyeballs are.
• Engage! – When someone takes the time to comment on your blog or share your post, show them some love!
• Email Lists are Gold – Start building an email list from day one. It’s like a backstage pass for your most dedicated fans. Give them exclusive content, sneak peeks, and personal updates.
• Network – Guest posts, collaborations, and shoutouts can introduce your blog to a whole new crowd.
• Content is King – Write about what you love but also help your readers out! Solve your readers’ problems and answer their questions.

Network in the Writing Community

Blogging doesn’t end with writing down your thoughts and hoping someone stumbles upon them.

So let’s not underestimate the power of networking, especially as a writer or author who eventually wants to be read!

Platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest are goldmines for finding fellow writers and avid readers.

Join groups, participate in discussions, and share your work. You never know who might notice!

There’s a lot of other ways to meet your writer or author blog’s target audience:

Collaborations – Definitely look for opportunities to collaborate with other writers! It’s a win-win—you get to share audiences and ideas.

Hit Up Writing Forums – Sites like Reddit’s r/writing or Absolute Write Water Cooler are bustling with writers of all levels. Ask questions, offer advice, and share insights.

Go to Literary Events (Even Virtually) – Book fairs, readings, and workshops have gone digital. Attend these events to learn new things and meet people.

Help others out! – Support other writer/author bloggers because why not?!

Be genuine in your interactions. Networking isn’t just about what you can get, but also what you can give.

One Last thing!

Now for the business side of things, you must already know that a blog about writing is a great way to market your books and build a writer’s platform. It might even be the sole purpose of your blog.

You can use your writer’s blog to tease chapters, reveal character secrets, and run giveaways too.

Remember – blogging is fun! It’s your space to unwind, get creative, and maybe even rant a little.

Check out this article where I list 15 ways to brainstorm popular blog topics in your niche.

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