Blogging has gone mainstream.
You'd think that writers, above all, would swoop onto blogging, because it's an easy way to get published instantly.
There are many reasons writers should blog, and in 2007, blogging is a necessity for writers.
Everybody and his grandmother is blogging.
If you're a writer (or aspire to write) then blogging is a complete no-brainer.
A blog is especially valuable for a writer in terms of market research.
Let's see how this works.
You decide to write an historical novel.
You blog about your characters, plot lines, and the time period you've chosen.
Unfortunately the response is - well, there's no response.
So you decide that maybe 2007 is not the time to pursue this project.
On the other hand, if you're enveloped with enthusiasm from your blog's readers, or better yet, are contacted by an agent, then this is a flashing GO sign for the project.
In terms of market research, a few short blog entries have won you intelligence you could have gathered in no other way - or perhaps you could, if you were willing to spend thousands of dollars on it.
Let's look at another scenario.
If you write articles for magazines your blog is a superb research tool.
Just put out a call on your blog for readers to help you with your research - it's much easier to have people bring you the information you need than to go hunting for it.
Of course, when you've been blogging for a while, people won't have to be prompted to bring you stories in which you may be interested.
You'll get stories that no other journalist could get, because your blog's readers feel that they know you - and they trust you.
Newspapers are beginning to encourage their reporters to blog, because it makes the reporters visible online, and they become magnets for big stories.
There are a million and one reasons writers should blog.
If you haven't discovered blogging, I encourage you to do so.