Social Networking for Writers: To Do or Not To Do

31 Oct 2010 6 Comments

by Marion Spicher in Building a Platform, Creating a blog, Self Promotion, Social Networking Tags: , ,

B&B Whidbey Island Writer's Conference

Unpublished writers, would Social Networking work for you? Browse the pros and cons below:

  • Folks must budget time if they decide to network on line.  I budget an average of three hours a day, checking email loops, writing and reading emails, blogs, facebook, twitter an LinkedIn.
  • No budget constraints? Hire a professional to set up the website and the blog, etc.  The rest of us must learn as we go.
  • 1st turning point suggest we get the learning curve out of the way before one is known and published.  The fear factor diminishes when we know no one but family is paying attention.
  • We can learn to make posts crisp, interesting or helpful, not dallying with readers’ time.
  • Why did I start ahead of the game?  Knowledge of how my mind works. My left-brain has one track, and that track needs repetition, using more time.  Stress freezes my brain cells, and when my manuscript is picked up by an agent or publisher, I’ll avoid the learning curve angst.  Published networking friends taught me pressure builds once published, as one marketing strategy is a network platform.

    • Ancient Whispers by Marie-Claude Bourque

    Knight of Passion by Margaret Mallory

  • The clear message in an email discussion on the GSRWA loop by Marie-Claude Bourque and Margaret Mallory? Creativity and time redirects away from our manuscripts to social networking.
  • Whatever the decision, realize social networking cuts into writing time, and for some, dampens creativity.
  • Weigh the time pressures and alternate zones for creativity.  Techies breeze through social networking, learning to link efficiently.  In a former post on this blog, a pointed to a link ‘how to blog on wordpress for non techies.’ I suggest blog first, then graduate to a website if you must.
  • Agents admit that if two equal manuscripts in the same genre sit before them, and they must choose only one, the writer with a network wins.  Consider the odds. Perhaps not likely. But a great story?  I wager they’ll wait, and deal.
  • Social networking bumps your name up on the Google search. Something to consider when deciding when to choose a pen name.  A writer wastes a lot of name recognition exposure, waiting to switch names.  If you do comment or write blogs or have a website, Google yourself.  You might be surprised. You’ll reap great motivation to make the first sentence count because it may appear on Google.
  • One last thought? Would I have reaped the same level of motivation, inspiration, support, encouragement, resources, & education, without social networking?  No.
  • Would my passion for writing have continued to grow without social networking?  Maybe not. We’ll never know.

    • An Agent’s site classroom for publication

    17 Sep 2010 Leave a comment

    by Marion Spicher in Websites of interest to writers, Writer's Agency, Writer's Agent Hunt, Writer's Conferences, Writing Tags: , ,

    As I studied the presenters for the Surrey International Writers Conference coming up October 21st, I ventured to the agent website, Michael Larson-Elizabeth Pomada in San Francisco to learn what I could about agent Laurie McLean.  This website is worth a visit for a variety or reasons, but I stumbled upon a wealth of information they offer to educate writers about publishing.

    Check my ‘Links’ page for more sites of interest to writers.  Let me know in a comment if you would like to be included.

    Have a great weekend, all, and for those of you who write, hope the fingers fly on the keyboard in between finding time for relaxation and renewal.

    Writer’s Conferences

    08 Sep 2010 Leave a comment

    by Marion Spicher in Writer's Conferences, Writing, Writing Inspiration Tags: , , ,

    Mount Baker WA

    Labor Day 2010 is history and two writer’s conferences are on the horizon.  Three weeks until the Emerald City Writer’s Conference in Bellevue WA, and in the last week of October, the Surrey International Writer’s Conferences.

    The anticipation builds as each day draws closer and the lists for preparation are building.   The conferences work better for me if I do some preparation beforehand, and one of those preps is to decide what I expect and want to get out of the expense, and the time spent.

    I outline a daytimer type of calendar page for each day of the conference, with the workshops I wish to attend marked, 1st & 2nd choice, and a ‘maybe’ marked for taking a needed recovery break if it becomes necessary.  I look forward to contacts with writers and other professionals involved in this business.

    Have a great week, all.

    Writer’s time sheet

    26 Jul 2010 1 Comment

    by Marion Spicher in The Business & Documentation, Time Management, Writing Tags: , , , ,

    A favorite spot on the Bay

    To continue on the writer’s record keeping topic, I created a spread sheet to track  time, split into different writing categories.  I’ve found it a useful tool for learning about time management as I tackle the goal of writing every day.

    Spread sheets can be onerous if one is not familiar with them, but again, I am happy to share.  Please email me at mspicher1@me.com if you would like me to send an attached copy of the format to you, putting “Time Sheet for Writers” in the subject line.

    The additional benefit? The spread sheet provides supporting evidence if you need documentation for tax purposes.  Or to reveal, for example, how many fresh pages or revision pages you can write in a period of time.  Useful to know for setting deadlines in the future.

    Have a great week everyone.  For those going to the RWA national in Orlando, I will be anxious to hear from GSRWA buddies, all about it.  Maybe we should have a post RWA party?

    Take care, write on … See you Wednesday.

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