• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Self-Publishing
  • Author Blogging
  • Sitemap
  • Fonts/Typography

The Book Designer

Practical advice to help build better books

by selfpublishing.com

COACHING


PUBLISHING


WRITING


PRODUCTION


FREELANCE


WRITING JOBS

  • Home
  • About
  • Articles
  • Contact
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Author Blogging 101 / Why You Should Be Blogging Your Origin Story

Why You Should Be Blogging Your Origin Story

by Joel Friedlander on September 30, 2013 32 Comments

Table of Contents

  • Some Blogging Essentials
  • Your Origin Story—Where Are You Coming From?
  • My Publishing Journey

As an author, you know how important it is to maintain a blog, how critical it can be in helping you meet your publishing goals. Particularly for nonfiction authors, I for one consider an author blog to be absolutely essential.

Just to review, here are some of the reasons it’s essential:

  • It allows you to explain and promote your ideas at length and over time.
  • It encourages an active engagement with readers.
  • It shows you over time how to find the readers interested in your topic.
  • It makes it easy to start building an email list, essential if you hope to create sustainable business from your publishing.
  • It promotes your own authority in your field.
  • It provides you with a media platform from which to publish.
  • It attracts people who will want to partner with you in various ways.
  • It gives you a place to host products and services you offer to readers.

The list goes on and on, but I think you get the idea. There’s just no way to replace the ability of your blog to help you publish and promote your work.

Some Blogging Essentials

Many of you may be thinking about starting a blog, or refreshing a blog you used in the past but which has been abandoned for a time. Or maybe you’ve got a blog but you’re looking for ways to make it work better, attract more readers, do more of those good things for you.

Particularly for new bloggers, you’ll find guidance in my archives on:

  • what you need to to have on your blog before you head out to let the world know about it (Top 10 Tasks to Get Your Blog Ready for Prime Time)
  • a new way of looking at the all-important About Page (Why Your Blog’s About Page Is Completely Wrong), and
  • ideas for how to start to fill your blog with content that engages readers (How to Create Foundation Posts for Your Blog)

In the last of these articles I mentioned that a great series of foundation posts might include:

Your trade biography—A great way to also build authority and trust with your audience to explain your history in the specific field about which you are blogging.

However, very few bloggers seem to take this advice, so I think it’s worth repeating.

Your Origin Story—Where Are You Coming From?

Readers naturally engage with bloggers when the blogger reveals something of herself in her writing. It just makes sense, as humans we’re wired to respond most of all to other people.

And if you’re hoping to establish authority or trust with your readers, the more they know about “where you are coming from,” the easier it will be.

I’m not referring to where you grew up and went to school, that kind of thing is of interest to a pretty narrow range of readers.

What I am talking about is the specific background behind what you’re writing about on your blog.

For instance, if your publications deal with gardening, and your blog offers gardening advice and tips, don’t you think your readers would be interested in:

  • where you got the experience that you are sharing
  • how you came to be in this field
  • what’s behind your personal approach to your topic
  • who influenced you on your journey

Yes, you bet they are interested.

And that’s why you should consider telling your “origin story” in a series of posts, especially if you are creating foundation posts for your blog.

My Publishing Journey

I came across this idea in the training course I took on blogging when I first got started. One of the exercises in the course was to create this narrative. Being a good student, I spent quite a bit of time creating a series of 7 articles tracing my own history in graphic arts, printing, publishing, and design.

I called it my Publishing Timeline.

While writing it, I mentioned some of the life changes that were happening as the story progressed, but almost everything in these articles relates to how I came to have the experience that’s behind what I publish here on my blog.

Rather than talk about the various dogs I’ve lived with, or which relationships flamed out and which survived, I kept the focus on my professional life almost exclusively.

That was almost four years ago, and this series of posts continues to help me almost every day.

  • It has given readers the opportunity to learn more about me and my qualifications.
  • It has provided a series of posts to link to when talking about specific events or changes in my industry.
  • It has given background to the bloggers, writers, events planners, potential partners, and other people who want to know more about me.
  • And it has established a foundation that goes back decades for the space I occupy within my niche.

To be honest, it was also great fun writing these posts.

If you’ve never considered this before, give it some thought. Creating an origin story can provide great foundation content for your blog and work to your advantage in many ways.

Think of it as a gift to your readers, the ones who are most attracted by your writing, and who really want to know more about the person “behind the keyboard.”

Make it part of the foundation of your blog, it will pay off more and more each year.

Do you have questions about posting your origin story? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

Photo credit: glasseyes view via photopin cc

Filed Under: Author Blogging 101, Marketing Tagged With: Author Blogging 101, author platform, blogging, book marketing, indie author

journal marketing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ce Ce Ferrari says

    May 10, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    Hello,

    I want to thank you for such an informative website and blog! I found out about you through Book Shepherd, Sharon Goldinger. You both have given me information that will help my soon to be published book, “Buy Your Own Damn Cocktail” more outstanding.

    Thanks again!

    Ce Ce

    Reply
  2. tam francis says

    October 4, 2013 at 2:49 pm

    Thanks! Woo hoo, good to know I’ve done a couple of these things, but can still do more. Thanks for the kick in the butt! Time to go assess the blog and make sure I’ve hit all your suggestions. Thank you. You’re advice is wonderful!

    Reply
  3. Louise Findlay says

    October 3, 2013 at 11:19 am

    What experience would you put for a fantasy author? P.S Do you have a share button for buffer?

    Reply
    • Joel Friedlander says

      October 3, 2013 at 1:04 pm

      I would talk about your experience becoming a writer and how you got interested in writing fantasy, who your influencers have been, etc.

      There’s a floating palette of share buttons on the left side of the blog that includes a Buffer button.

      Reply
  4. Kevin Booth says

    October 3, 2013 at 5:40 am

    This is a great idea, and very true. If I think about experts for whom I have respect, knowing where they come from professionally is a valuable reference, which helps to corroborate their expertise.

    The challenge for me – as someone who loves talking about himself (lol) – will be to avoid turning it into a 200,000-word autobiography!

    Reply
    • Joel Friedlander says

      October 3, 2013 at 1:05 pm

      LOL that’s true, Kevin. I think mine ended up around 9,000 words, but I just wrote and posted one episode at a time, so it really wasn’t any trouble, and I quite enjoyed writing it.

      Reply
  5. Lynne Cantwell says

    September 30, 2013 at 10:19 am

    Joel, thanks very much for giving me a topic for my next blog post! :)

    Reply
    • Joel Friedlander says

      September 30, 2013 at 11:52 am

      Go for it, Lynne.

      Reply
  6. Linton Robinson says

    September 30, 2013 at 8:40 am

    Maybe this works for any given writer, maybe it doesn’t. Maybe having a blog is a great idea, maybe it’s not.
    All these “should” and “have to” things people tell writers are almost never as concrete as they are presented.

    [Deleted]

    What, I’m saying… there are different ways to skin the cat, and one person’s whizbang is another person’s waste of time.

    Reply
    • Joel Friedlander says

      September 30, 2013 at 11:52 am

      Linton, for the second time I want to remind you that you are welcome to comment here, but you are not welcome to disparage other people with whom you disagree. Three strikes and you’re out.

      Reply
  7. Jason Matthews says

    September 30, 2013 at 7:13 am

    Marcy, change my schedule today to double-check all those damn website and blog About pages. Drop everything else and send Joel F a dozen roses and a thank-you card.

    Reply
    • Joel Friedlander says

      September 30, 2013 at 11:51 am

      LOL, well, I suppose you could work it into your schedule, Jason, I know how busy you are.

      Reply
  8. Katie Cross says

    September 30, 2013 at 7:04 am

    I never thought much about it as an ‘origin story’ but I know that connecting with readers on a personal level is key to any success, at least in literature.

    At the end of the day, people sell books, not twitter. Not blogger. So showing how you got where you are in a good way is an obvious way to form a good connection! Thanks for the thoughts, Joel.

    Reply
  9. Carol Fragale Brill says

    September 30, 2013 at 5:13 am

    Joel, thanks for this great post. Even before I got to the end of it, the idea of writing my original story started percolating and I had to stop reading to start my next blog post.
    Don’t worry, I came back to finish, but I’d say a blog post that plants a seed that immediately starts growing into a new piece of writing is a very powerful post.

    Reply
    • Joel Friedlander says

      September 30, 2013 at 11:50 am

      Thanks so much Carol. I’ve been wanting to write this post for a while, glad I finally got to it.

      Reply
  10. Debra L. Butterfield says

    September 30, 2013 at 4:57 am

    I’ve avoided this to a certain extent because I’ve got the mistaken belief that a college degree in English or journalism is essential in the writing field. I know that’s not true, but it still holds me back. If I wrote my origin story, I might be surprised at just how much training and experience I do have.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Carol Fragale Brill says

      September 30, 2013 at 5:19 am

      Debra, I’ve spent most of my career in Human Resources and I can tell you that people get to the same place in careers/life on many different routes–some have natural talent, some get degrees, some go to the school of hard knocks to gain invaluable life experience. All have something of value to offer. carol http://4broadminds.blogspot.com/search/label/Carol

      Reply
      • Debra Butterfield says

        September 30, 2013 at 5:24 am

        Carol, so true. I don’t know why I let my lack of a bachelor’s degree trip me up. I can see the seeds of a blog post in that struggle.

        Reply
      • Joel Friedlander says

        September 30, 2013 at 11:49 am

        Carol, thanks for your reassuring comment. Because your blog is linked in your name, it’s not really necessary to put an explicit link into your comment, readers know how to find you.

        Reply
    • Joel Friedlander says

      September 30, 2013 at 11:48 am

      Debra, I’m betting you will be amazed when you finish it. And you’ll see that there are good reasons your readers have a lot to learn from you, degree or no. Blogging is about the most democratic form I know of, and if you can be helpful, reliable, and engaging, you’ll gather a great bunch of readers.

      Reply
      • Debra Butterfield says

        September 30, 2013 at 3:25 pm

        Thanks, Joel. A much-needed word of encouragement. Your website has saved me hours of work and frustration. Keep up the great work.

        Reply
  11. Rinelle Grey says

    September 30, 2013 at 4:24 am

    I like this idea. Not that my journey is going to be filled with much in the way of industry experience, but I do think people relate more on a blog if they know you a little more. I think I might go do a bit of this today even.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Your Origin Story: Why The Icky Parts are Essential – JScott Marketing says:
    November 16, 2017 at 1:15 pm

    […] In other words, your origin story is an opportunity to connect and build trust. Being human goes a long way to building that trust. Blogger Joel Friedlande of The Book Designer says it well: […]

    Reply
  2. Your Origin Story: Why The Icky Parts are Essential | ICM says:
    November 5, 2017 at 8:41 am

    […] In other words, your origin story is an opportunity to connect and build trust. Being human goes a long way to building that trust. Blogger Joel Friedlande of The Book Designer says it well: […]

    Reply
  3. Your Startup’s Unique Origin Story Can Be Your Most Marketable Asset says:
    October 18, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    […] forget to blog about your origin story.  A company blog is a great way to spread the word about your origin story.  Tweet links to a […]

    Reply
  4. The Writer's Weekly Wrap-Up (Issue #18) - Your Writer Platform says:
    March 7, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    […] Why You Should be Blogging Your Origin Story from Joel Friedlander at The Book Designer […]

    Reply
  5. A Hodgepodge of Useful Bits & Pieces – Mid-October 2013 | KD DID IT Takes on Books says:
    October 11, 2014 at 10:32 am

    […] Friedlander from The Book Designer has a useful post, “Why You Should Be Blogging Your Origin Story“, with relevant suggestions on why and how you could use an author blog to promote your work […]

    Reply
  6. The Authentic Guide to Epic Origin Stories | Creatro says:
    April 22, 2014 at 2:15 am

    […] Publish a full series of foundation posts, as Joel Friedlander found useful for building his “book designer” brand. His Publishing Timeline covers the arch of his background in graphic arts, printing, publishing, and design. Over the years he’s found this story helpful in connecting to his readers, introducing himself to potential partners, and assisting in establishing his credibility in his niche. […]

    Reply
  7. AME Blog Carnival: tips and tricks for writers and authors – November 4, 2013 | Author Marketing Experts, Inc. says:
    November 3, 2013 at 7:27 pm

    […] Friedlander presents Why You Should Be Blogging Your Origin Story posted at The Book Designer, saying, “This article discusses why creating articles for your […]

    Reply
  8. What Do Your Readers Want to Know About You? | Healing by Writing says:
    October 8, 2013 at 8:27 am

    […] first incident was while reading a post by Joel Friedlander in which he talks about the importance of an author maintaining a blog. After he has provided a […]

    Reply
  9. What Do Your Readers Need to Know About You? | Healing by Writing says:
    October 8, 2013 at 12:06 am

    […] first incident was while reading a post by Joel Friedlander in which he talks about the importance of an author maintaining a blog. After he has provided a […]

    Reply
  10. Why You Should Be Blogging Your Origin Story — The Book Designer - says:
    September 30, 2013 at 7:08 am

    […] Why You Should Be Blogging Your Origin Story — The Book Designer. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Get the Advanced Publishing Kit

Topics

  • Audiobooks
  • Author Blogging 101
  • Book Construction Blueprint
  • Book Design
  • Book Printing
  • Book Production
  • Book Reviews
  • Cameras
  • Contributing Writers
  • Cover Design
  • E-Books & Readers
  • Editorial
  • Guest Posts
  • Interior Design
  • Interviews
  • Journey of a Book
  • Legal Issues
  • Marketing
  • Podcasts
  • Project Focus
  • Reports
  • Reviews
  • Samples
  • Self Publishing Basics
  • Self-Publishing
  • Social Media
  • Training
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • Writing
Self Publishing Platform
Self Publishing School

COACHING

Self Publishing

PUBLISHING

The Write Life

WRITING

The Book Designer

PRODUCTION

Make a Living Writing

FREELANCE

Freelance Writers Den

WRITING JOBS

Footer

  • Home
  • About
  • Articles
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Self-Publishing
  • Author Blogging
  • Sitemap
  • Fonts/Typography
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
Comment Policy
Guest Author Guidelines
Why?
"Writers change the world one reader at a time. But you can't change the world with a book that's still on your hard drive or in a box under your bed. This blog exists to help you get that book into people's hands."
—Joel Friedlander

Copyright Self Publishing School All Rights Reserved. © 2022