Captain Jack Sparrow called ...

... and he wants you to sign up for the BUCCANEER BLOGFEST!

Court Young and Sharon Bayliss will be hosting the Buccaneer Blogfest, an event designed to help bloggers build their platform and create connections. Together we will sail the blogging seas! Arrrgggh!

This blogfest is open to all bloggers and want-to-be-bloggers who post about writing, books, publishing, and everything related. Bloggers at all levels of experience are welcome, and Courtney and Sharon are happy to advise and support new bloggers on all things bloggy. Participants are strongly encouraged to follow each other and comment on posts. The idea is to build new connections and a larger blog audience.

The blogfest will run from 7/9-8/3 with three prompts per week. If you have to miss posts, don't make that a reason not to sign up, a few missed posts are fine. If you're not a writer or don't have a current novel or WIP, alternate prompts will be available for week #2. This is an outline, more detailed instructions for the prompts for each day will be made available the weekend before each week. Also, you are welcome to adjust the dates +/- a day or so if you have other commitments.

Please put any questions in comments!

How do I participate?

1) Add your blog link to the linky below

2) Throughout the fest, visit the other blogs as much as you can and comment.

3) Post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with the prompt of the day

4) Re-post the Linky & Buccaneer banner on your own blog to show your pirate pride and promote the blog fest

5) Finally…Have Fun!

1. Intro Week (July 9 – 13)

a. (July 9) Introduction: Tell us a little bit about you and your blog. Post the sign up linky for this blogfest in your post. Include your other social media links so we can follow.

b. (July 11) Why you did you start blogging? What are your goals for your blog?

c. (July 13) Interview the person signed up below you on the linky and post that interview.

*During this first week, you are strongly encouraged to go around and follow the other participants in the blogfest - both their blogs and other social media.

2. Work in Progress (July 16 – 20)

a. (July 16) First paragraph of novel or WIP

b. (July 18) Character interview

c. (July 20) Share your light bulb moment with us. How did you come up with the idea for your WIP?

3. Reading (July 23 – 27)

a. (July 23) What are you reading? What books are on your shelf?

b. (July 25) Favorite authors and why?

c. (July 27) Recommend or review a book of choice. Tell the interwebz why you love it!

4. Final Countdown (July 30 – August 3)

a. (July 30) Social Media: Share your feelings and opinions about social media and it's relation to writing and reading.

b. (Aug 1) Host a giveaway using Rafflecopter or a similar tool. If you don't have anything you'd like to giveaway, we'd be happy to let you post the Rafflecopter form for a CQ sponsored giveaway.

c. (Aug 3) Reflection post: Share your experience from this blogfest. What are the next steps you want to take with your blog?

*Courtney and Sharon will also be hosting a treasure hunt in this last week where you can win prizes by visiting each other's blogs.

Why Should I Participate in the Blog Fest?

To sail the seven seas of the internet and make new friends. We plan to have tons of fun over the next few weeks and we hope to inspire you to write!

Make the most of this blog fest by visiting and commenting on other people’s posts. Leave comments and let the blogger know you visited. Don’t be a stranger. If you like the blogs that you sailed upon make sure to follow them so when the fest is over you can keep in touch. This is a Blog Hop!