I calculate What’s Trending on my blog by which posts are popular a particular ninety-day period. Here’s this period’s run-down:
- Descriptions of settings, people, and more
- 57 Ways to Describe Talking in a Novel
- How to Describe an American–if You Aren’t
- How to Show (Not Tell) Emotion–E to O
- 24 Ways to Describe Pain
- 29 Ways to Describe a Headache
- How to Describe Your Character’s Home II
- How to Describe a Landscape
- How to Describe a Fight
- 70 Collections to Infuse Your Writing
- 51 Great Similes to Spark Imagination
- 35 Weird Traits Your Characters May Have
- 65 Ways to Describe Sight and Eyes in Your Writing
- Welcome Diana Peach and her new Fantasy, Liars and Thieves
- 2 GREAT Sci Fi Novels
- #IWSG–Marketing My Latest Book
- What I learned from the characters in Against All Odds
- 7 Tips for Literary Fiction Writers
- How You-all Market Your Books
- #AtoZChallenge: Genres–Satire
- How to Talk to a Geek
- 3 More Wonderful Indie Novels
Interesting, isn’t it? My series on descriptions still draws about ten times more visitors than any other category, as it has every year. Look at today’s figures–
Aside from the most recent blog post, every one of the top click throughs is focused on descriptors!
Book review are also popular. In fact Diana’s latest fantasy, Liars and Thieves, drew more comments than any other post in the last 100 days (maybe forever). Part of that is Diana–she is a wonderful guest, taking time to answer questions and interact with visitors. If you have the chance, invite her to your blog!
Reviews were also appealing to visitors and to a lesser amount, writing tips–marketing, genres, how-tos. That actually fits my image of my community–serious writers be it full- or parttime, in love with writing, and enjoy engaging with kindred souls.
What do you like best on writer’s blogs?
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman
Quickly racing through blogs as I am way behind in reading so wasn’t planning on commenting, but I have to admit I use a lot of description sites because sometimes my brain just can’t think of a new way to describe something!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what started my first list and it’s grown to 70! I am way behind, too. I took a week off to visit my sister and apparently, never came back!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you have a fun week “off”! Especially with the bees and honey!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t believe how much fun sister and I had. It’s like we hadn’t talked for 30 years.
LikeLike
I went back and refamiliarized myself with eyes/sight and pain. Thankee:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Clever writers came up with those!
LikeLike
These are all great, but I especially liked How To Talk To A Geek:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are funny folk, aren’t we? I think it’s a good reminder that everyone is different.
LikeLike
Interesting, Jacqui. I wonder if the popularity of descriptions signals that you have a lot of writers following your blog, or readers with a specific interest in this topic. I always find it insightful to learn how other authors handle various aspects of writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had one post that included dangerous animals in the wild. One of those was a woman with a nasty looking spider bite. When I removed that picture (for a bunch of reasons), I no longer got visitors to that page. I learned a lot about the power of pictures and attracting the right audience from that one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great informative blog
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting!
LikeLike
You’ve got a lot of irons in the fire, Jacqui. I finished Survival of the Fittest this week and left you a review. Outstanding job with book 1 of the trilogy. Well done in tieing it all together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for the review, Pete. We both know how much that means! I’m taking your book on my trip next week. I’m exciting to read a teacher memoir. Besides writing, I’ve loved teaching more than any other job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Safe and happy travels. We’re not in any grave danger, but the smoke from all of California’s wildfires is having a cumulative effect on air quality.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oddly, I checked air quality in Indiana, where I’m going, and it was worse than here. Maybe from the Colorado fires? Don’t know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so on the ball, Jacqui, analyzing what’s trending and keeping track of your website’s traffic/comments/stats. Based on all that, your main audience appears to be fellow writers. I haven’t read most of your “descriptions” posts – they must have published before I started following you and they seem to be a great resource for fiction writers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are more geared for fiction writers. I use them for inspiration. Thanks for visiting, Liesbet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, that was total funness, Jacqui. I like interacting with bloggers, and I know you’re great at that, so we make a good team. Thank you so much for making that possible, for supporting my tour and for your wonderful review.
And I love your description posts – they’re inspiring and I always learn from them. Great trends!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could not believe the engagement on your post. I know, a lot of it is you and your authentic nature, but it blew me away. I can’t wait for the next blog tour!
LikeLike
I am always interested to know what interests other people, Jacqui. I enjoy all sorts of different posts including book reviews, author interviews and novel advice and progress posts. I generally find people and their lives and writing processes very interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like to hear how other writers do it. That’s the root of my monthly update on my writing. Those do get lots of hits but not like the meat and potatoes of writing. Quite intriguing to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You post a lot of popular topics for writing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Alex. I appreciate that.
LikeLike
I’ll have to bookmark this page so I can take my time and go through the many links. They look good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Anneli. I’ve been at this way too long! But I do think if I ran the data for ‘all time’ compared to ‘last 90 days’, it would be pretty similar.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like posts that I can make witty comments on. In fact I’ve been thinking of not blogging anymore and just spend my time writing comments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s pretty fun. But how would you market your book?
LikeLiked by 1 person
with difficulty …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great analysis, transparency and information.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It continues to surprise me (about the descriptors) but reminds me to stay in touch with my readers!
LikeLike
I always enjoy book reviews, and have found numerous new books and authors that way. I also enjoy posts where bloggers discuss their writing progress and their process. It’s interesting to see what has been trending on your blog, Jacqui. And Diana is always a big draw! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I too love book reviews. I’ve bought more than I should from reading trusted reviewers thoughts. Diana puts the proof to being involved in her marketing. She visits posts, interacts with readers, answers questions. I learn how to be a good guest from her.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And I forgot to mention how I learned about virtual tours from you!!!!! (not enough exclamation points in the world). Lol. I love how we learn from each other and cheer each other on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Mae. I’m smiling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting set of data! On other wrtiters’ blogs, I tend to like descriptions of their creative process and samples of their work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do write about the creative process but those don’t resonate with readers as well (though they are some of my favorites). Samples of work–hmmm… I’ll have to think about that. I can think of at least one author who pulled me in with a sample. Or maybe a dozen.
LikeLike
I think the fact that you are a great teacher and writer in your own works, gives the reader confidence in your reviews.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh, that sounds nice. Thank you, GP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting to see what is doing good and what’s not on your blog. I look at that too, though I’m still struggling to see which authors and books are the most popular.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It never fits what I think it should! Go figure, hunh?
LikeLike
This is an interesting list, Jacqui. I’m not surprised in the least about our friend Diana being a trend setter…she rocks! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hugs, Jill ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can’t remember how I found her but hoo boy that was a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is an interesting slice of data. Is it based on views or likes? What would be interesting is to see how many folks clicked one descriptive writing post and then clicked into another. I know it’s what I do when I read an interesting post – I follow the “more in” posts that show at the end of the post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is on views. I haven’t really looked at likes. Great idea. You are my favorite type of reader! I only occasionally read the ‘more’ but I adore those people who do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good analysis of what gets read more on your blogs, Jacqui. I find reviews do really well too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good feedback. Thanks, Denise
LikeLike
For me, it always is a post that surprises by something I didn’t know, well presented, original in thought and design.
Joanna
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m that person too, Joanna. Somehow, it feeds my writing.
LikeLike