Authors, looking for ideas for blog posts? We've got you covered!

Maintaining a web presence can be daunting, especially if you, like many authors, would much rather be writing your next book! Consistent blog posts are a great way to connect with readers, and the same content from your blog posts can be rewritten and used with your other social media outlets. If you're feeling stuck on what to write next, here are some ideas for blog posts that can help.

Tell a Personal Story

This can be something that happened to you that week or something that happened long ago that you find interesting or funny. In general, if a story does not have a positive aspect or ending, do not make it the main part of your blog post.

Here are some ideas:

1. Talk about something great that happened to you recently.
2. Relate something funny or cute one of your children (or nieces/nephews) did.
3. Tell about a time when you tried something new and how you liked it.
4. Share your bucket list. What do you still need to cross off?
5. What is your favorite vacation and why was it the best?
6. What was the most recent movie you saw, and what did you think of it?
7. What traditions does your family have for [insert upcoming holiday name]?
8. How and when did you decide to become an author?
9. How do you come up with new book ideas?
10. What does a typical day look like for you?
11. What is your writing process?

Create Lists that Readers Will Find Interesting

Readers and, well, people, like lists. Lists are an effective way to communicate a longer message. Here are some lists that your readers may be interested in:

1. Great [insert genre here] books of 2016.
2. Sites where you can find discounted books.
3. Favorite places to read a book.
4. Tips and tricks to keep your life (and your books) organized.
5. Amazing reading nooks and book spaces.
6. Bookish gifts.
7. Facts about [a race or group of people that appear in one of your books].
8. Things that make you happy.

Share Something You Are Interested In

What are your interests? Share them with your readers!

Some ideas for blog posts:

1. Share something interesting that you discovered in your research for one of your books.
2. What is your favorite sport, and why?
3. How do you cook your favorite food or dessert? (Especially great if that food appears in one of your books!)
4. List quotes from favorite authors or books. Ask readers for their favorites as well.

Report on Your Writing Progress and Your Appearances

Readers check out your website because they are interested in your books, so, while you shouldn't constantly be selling to them, you should update them on the progress of your books.

1. Keep readers updated on what book(s) you are currently working on, and in what stage of the process it is in.
2. Let readers know when your next book will be released.
3. Tell readers about future books you'll be writing.
4. Post a small sample of your upcoming book for fans to enjoy.
5. Let readers know when your new book is available for pre-order, especially if the pre-order price is a sale price.
6. Let readers know when you will be doing book signings and where.
7. Keep readers informed about speaking engagements you are doing.

Answer Questions about Your Books

Readers come to your site because they love your books, so naturally, they'll love hearing some more backstory!

1. Answer interview questions about one of your books.
2. Give more background information on a character in one of your books.
3. Talk about the history of the world your book is set in.
4. Write a short story about one of the characters in your book and share it with readers.

Post about an Upcoming Giveaway

We all love free stuff, and readers love free book or book-related items! If you have a giveaway coming up, let readers know about it with a blog post.

Write a Help Post for Your Blog Readers

As an author, you are an expert in the world of writing—and reading! What knowledge do you have that your readers would be interested in having as well?

Here are some things that readers of your blog may be interested in learning more about:

1. Book-related crafts and how to do them.
2. Your method of determining what book to read next.
3. How to write an informative and helpful book review.
4. What it takes to write and publish a book.
5. Advice to aspiring authors.
6. How to create an infographic.
7. How to [insert writing technique or step in the writing process].

Conduct a Survey

People love making their opinions known, and surveys are a great way to do it. When doing a survey, give readers some background information and then ask their opinion. This survey can be about general book-related things, or it can be specifically about your books.

Here are some survey ideas:

1. What was your favorite book growing up?
2. What character in my book [name the book] is most like you? Why?
3. What name do you like best for the next book in my series? (Give them some options.)
4. What new cover do you like best for my next book? (Make sure to give background information on what the book is about.)

Post Images

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and you can definitely use images for a blog post.

Here are some ideas for blog posts that use images:

1. Funny book-related memes or images.
2. Book-related items and accessories.
3. Things you find inspiring.
4. A book-related event you attended.

Share Statistics You Find Interesting

You can share book-related statistics with your readers, and even create an infographic using them:

1. What genres are read the most?
2. What retailer sells the most print and/or ebooks, and how many?
3. How much money does an author make from one book sale?

Have a Guest Post

Guests posts are great because you don't have to worry about writing anything! You can either give the guest author a topic, or you can ask them to write about something that interests them. A guest post can also be an interview of the guest.

We hope these ideas for blog posts will help as you write your next post. If you have any additional ideas, we'd love to hear them in the comments below. If you'd like to learn more about Book Cave author promotions, please enter your email below and click the "Learn More" button.

Do you have a blog idea or topic you know our readers or authors would love? Contact sarah@mybookcave.com to learn how you could get your blog featured.