Monday, January 6, 2014

By the Numbers

Last week on my blog, Susan Says, I mentioned some numbers about how many Twitter followers, blog views and newsletter subscribers you have that could title you as notable all the way up to impressive. I mentioned them as entertainment and the fun of comparing our numbers to others. I don't know why by I've been thinking about numbers a lot lately.

I read another article about how important titles of blog posts or magazine articles are in attracting attention and getting readers interested. In my quest to always improve my writing and share that with my wonderfully insecure fellows here, I researched some good articles that give us advice by the numbers.

Writer's Digest always has some great free articles to read on their site. You can sign up for their free newsletter on their site and get the free download of the 101 Best Websites for Writers. That's a deal.

This article, also in Writer's Digest, by Brian Klem, gives his opinion of the 5 Biggest Fiction Writing Mistakes (And How to Fix Them) is interesting reading. I like his first one about happy people in a happy land mistake.

Writing-World.Com has pages and pages of interesting reading for writers, but in keeping with their numbers I highlight this article by Sally Sigmond, The Top Ten Mistakes New Fiction Writers Make. It has a general list of things to watch for in your fiction.

Over at Holt Uncensored, Pat Holt, not only list ten mistakes, he give excellent examples on how to fix them. He writes about Ten Mistakes Writers Don't See. Two of his examples are my personal demons. Check it out and pick your own.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is all about helping and encouraging each other. There is so much help out there from people you meet here and from advice you can find online. The numbers may be infinite.

Do you use numbers in blog titles or in articles? Does it attract attention? Any of the mistakes above sound like you?

Don't forget the first IWSG blog hop for 2014 is this Wednesday, January 8th. I'm looking forward to another year of learning from all of you. Are you ready?

Susan Gourley is published in epic fantasy as well as science fiction and romance which she writes as Susan Kelley.
Susan Says Blog
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17 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Hopefully I don't make all ten of those mistakes...

J.L. Campbell said...

Going to have a look at the articles I haven't come across before. I sometimes use numbers in my title, especially when talking about what I've learned via blogging.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

The 101 Best Websites is a great list. Hopefully this site will be there one day.

Pat Hatt said...

I find many of them contradict themselves, do your own thing, but do these ten things or don`t do these ten things lol

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Alex, that's how I scored myself. I don't make ALL the mistakes.
JL, I use numbers sometimes too. I've heard many times it attracts readers.
That would be great if this site was there, L.Diane.
Great point, Pat.

Jen said...

I've read many times how putting numbers in your titles grabs the attention of would be readers. I never have subject matter that requires numbers...unless I write "5 cheeses to eat when hungry" or "the top 10 teas to drink while the wind outside your door doth wail".

Hmmm, not such bad ideas!

I did go back and change both blog post titles today after reading this. I find myself resorting to boring titles. No wonder people roll right past me! New goal!

Cheers! And thanks :)
Jen

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Hey, Jen, I would read about the top ten teas. I have two current favorites but I'm going shopping today so I could have used some recommendations.

Anonymous said...

One of my goals for my blog this year is to use numbers in my post titles more, as I do think they attract more attention. Personally, I like info that's short and sweet, and when it's a list of 3, 5, 7, 10 things I should do, then I'm more likely to click on the link and read :-) Great post!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Great links! I've got a lot of reading to do now ;)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Jamie, I'm going to try it too.
You and me both, Lynda.

Christine Rains said...

Thanks for the lists! And the IWSG is definitely one of my favorites. :)

sjp said...

Some really awesome links here thanks :)

M. Reka said...

Great links x
Happy New Year
warmly
marinela
Short Poems

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the links. Read some as subscribe to those blogs, but others to check out. Thinking how to get a number into tomorrow's blog title.

Michelle Wallace said...

Some things to think about... and lots of extra reading to do. Thanks for those links Susan.

dolorah said...

Thanks for the links Susan.

......dhole

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

These lists are so important. Even at this stage in my career, I need to stay focussed on creating strong scenes and not become complacent. Too easy to slip into bad habits. Especially when I'm not feeling well. Thanks, Susan.