On Social Women this past Tuesday, Pat Paolino Cruz, Bronwyn Dannenfelser and Amy Diaz asked great questions about blogging and book writing. In response, I shared some of the synergies that happen when you blog and how your blog can help your book.

Here’s the video, with lots more information on book writing, publishing and 3 of my favorite tips for getting started–and I even provide some homework at the end. If you take on the assignment, please come back to the blog and share your insights this exercise is sure to create for you.

Here are 9 ways blogging can support your book writing (some I share on the video, plus a few extras):

1. You find out what your audience is really interested in.

2. You discover what questions your readers have about your subject.

3. You develop a community of people who love what you have to offer and will lovingly spread the word when the book comes out (and buy your book for themselves and their friends,  as well.

4. You get feedback from your readers about what works and what doesn’t.

5. Your following grows.

6. You may get some great stories from your blog readers as comments–and can ask them if you can share them in the book, possibly getting more details for the book, as well.

7. You find your voice as a writer.

8. You learn what bores your blog readers, or what they don’t respond to.

9. You can use some of your posts as jumping off points.

Can you blog your book? Sometimes. Your posts will need to have a certain coherency and make sense in a book–you can’t just slap them all together and call it a book. If you really want to blog your book, outline it in detail first. Then figure out which parts you can blog.

Comments? Questions? Share away…