A few years back the standard advice was that a blog was a must if you wanted to be taken seriously as a writer, but not so much anymore.
I like your theme. It's clean, uncluttered and encourages reader feedback. I'll bookmark this theme for when I'm ready. https://wordpress.org/themes/sela/ Oh, and I enjoyed your post about sex scenes. I had to really prune back two or three sex scenes in my book, as my editor considered them to be out of context for the main story. They were a bit long, so she had a fair point.
I had the opposite issue, with an editor wanting me to add sex scenes that I didn't think were necessary. I tried, but it wasn't fun!
I added as much as I felt comfortable with, but realised she wanted an erotic romance rather than a romance. I'm not interested in writing ER so I moved on.
I'm glad you didn't give in. You could have ended up with a book publication you wouldn't be comfortable with.
I have a blog on a social media site, and I'm also active in the blog section of this writing forum and another writing forum. The only difference is that my blog on the social media site is more professional; most of my blogs that I post on the writing forums don't make it to the one on social media. It can be a good way to generate interest in your writing, especially if you share short stories or excerpts, and of course a wonderful way to interact with people. You don't even have to necessarily be consistent to reap these benefits. I would know, because sometimes I don't post for months at a time. If you're not going to commit to a blogging schedule, don't promise otherwise.
I have a science blog that I should probably write for more often. Oh well! It's fun though. I haven't blogged about writing yet, nor much personal stuff, though I have a blog coming soon page that has been up on my personal website for years that I have never followed through on. Blog posts are fun because you can put out content without as much quality pressure as a novel or short story aimed for publication. Just write what you find interesting. I write speculatively about science, yet don't claim to be a scientist. It's interesting to explore those topics nonetheless though.
I have five blogs and have had some since the mid-2000s. Why? I write daily but when I am writing a book I don't write in them. The blog for me is a gym for my mind and brain. Writing has to be a daily exercise and the blog is that treadmill.
I finally got around to designing a website for my new book, which I'll add blog and comment features to in the near future, but I've been so busy finalising The Last British President that I simply haven't had the time. Here's a link, which I hope is permissible to post here. www.thelastbritishpresident.com
Is there a reason you've created a website for a book and not for you, as an author? Do you only plan on writing one?
You're completely correct and yes, I plan on writing a few more. It sort of clicked when I read your comment, in one those 'wtf have I done?' moments, as it were. I shall be taking remedial action.