tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post3610718079625574791..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Do I Need it? Why I'm Considering Deleting My Facebook AccountJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-5629415072319854452012-04-04T14:09:02.961-04:002012-04-04T14:09:02.961-04:00Jennifer, I wonder it's worse for folks who jo...Jennifer, I wonder it's worse for folks who joined as a personal account and then try to turn it into a professional account. I never really thought about it when I first joined. <br /><br />Renee, I looked briefly at G+, but I honestly couldn't figure out how to sign up. That alone turned me off, though I might have to take another peek one of these days. Totally with you on the new FB format. Bleh.<br /><br />Jenny, thanks, I'll take a look at that. I've heard a few folks mentions Triberr.<br /><br />Claire, ironically enough, I give that same advice to folks who ask me. Do what you enjoy, cause it's just too hard to keep up with it all. I used to enjoy FB, which is probably why it's hard to kick it to the curb.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-35228685639982907882012-04-01T09:25:21.088-04:002012-04-01T09:25:21.088-04:00I have given blogging workshops, here in Japan, an...I have given blogging workshops, here in Japan, and I always advise that people find the social media that works for them and stick with it. It's better to have no blog presence than to have a bad one. Ditto Facebook, Twitter, and everything else. <br /><br />PS, I still haven't figured out what Google+ is meant for.Claire Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14354840714847021685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-36902816277801606612012-03-31T14:03:45.437-04:002012-03-31T14:03:45.437-04:00Janice,
I've only really been on social media...Janice,<br /><br />I've only really been on social media for a year and, while I love it, it does take a ton of time.<br /><br />The best find for me so far has been Triberr. It gathers my fave bloggers into one spot so I can promote them and read them easier. That is all it does. And the time I save? Priceless.Jenny Hansenhttp://jennyhansensmail.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-59488257556463813942012-03-31T10:42:28.704-04:002012-03-31T10:42:28.704-04:00Janice: The thing that most concerns me is that I ...Janice: The thing that most concerns me is that I do feel I've lost contact with people I care about because of the barrage of blog posts that come to my page. I think a bunch of people have hidden me. <br /><br />Which bums me out.<br /><br />I think Mike Manz had a great suggestion in trying Google+. I just hate hopping from site to site. I have a fan page, and I just started it in December. I have people helping me write my current WIP. I ask people for their input on things. And they love it. I went from 0 subscribers to 450 very quickly. I've locked in to other blogging friends with pages and we interact and encourage people to check out other author pages. It is working to grow my page. And I think people who have helped provide input for my character will be interested to see how her story turns out. <br /><br />So...<br /><br />I'm considering turning the WordPress blog off my main page and just letting the posts go to my FB fan page. Then maybe my real friends will talk to me again.<br /><br />Otherwise, I may just kill my Facebook page, too. I've been on since 2004. It's lost a lot if it's appeal for me. <br /><br />Great post.<br /><br />But<br /><br />I hate the new Facebook format.Renee Schuls-Jacobsonhttp://rasjacobson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-81091342370913065702012-03-30T10:32:26.780-04:002012-03-30T10:32:26.780-04:00"If you're friend or family, you interact..."If you're friend or family, you interact with me offline, because nothing I say online is of any relevance to you." Love this! I started Facebook after my blog. I did it for personal connections with old friends and family, and I think I'll keep it that way...I have mostly personal stuff on there, but I do make professional announcements too...I figure I'm still marketing my work to more people I already know than I would have in my pre-Facebook days.Jennifer Hoffinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-69830572798211411152012-03-29T08:06:05.632-04:002012-03-29T08:06:05.632-04:00Maine, there's a lot of wisdom in LHA's qu...Maine, there's a lot of wisdom in LHA's quote. I've been tempted to just stop everything but the writing. I enjoy the blog too much to do that though. But some weeks I vanish from social media.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-36408210868493599402012-03-29T06:46:46.587-04:002012-03-29T06:46:46.587-04:00I'm not on Facebook, so I can't say what t...I'm not on Facebook, so I can't say what the value of it is, but I can say that when I showed my teenage nieces that their favorite author has a website and blog, they looked at me like I'd pulled out a pair of his underwear. They had no interest in it at all - they cared about the characters in his books, not him.<br /><br />I'd say do what you enjoy, 'cause that in itself will make it worthwhile, and you're not enjoying it, it's going to show.<br /><br />Also, I'm reminded of this quote from Laurie Halse Anderson, who's practically stopped blogging.<br /><br />The best thing any of us can do for our careers is not to network, not to attend workshops, not to go to writer’s group, or read a blog or enter a contest or work on a website.<br />The best thing we can do for our careers, and more importantly, our souls, is to sit down, every day, and write.<br />- Laurie Halse AndersonSteve MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026970188928733645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-72557196123608772852012-03-28T16:15:32.915-04:002012-03-28T16:15:32.915-04:00You guys have such great advice!
Mooderino, LOL i...You guys have such great advice!<br /><br />Mooderino, LOL isn't Pinterest the new hot thing? That's what I keep hearing about now.<br /><br />Sally, yeah. I've been bad. Part of it is my fault for dropping out. I didn't know about those rankings, that could explain it. I'll try being more active and see if that helps. Thanks!<br /><br />Catherine, I haven't played much with groups, but I'll have to look into it now. LOL ramble away, I don't mind. You had something helpful to say!<br /><br />Sareh, thanks! Good to hear a teen perspective on this.<br /><br />Beverly, that does make sense about the size. People do use it even if they have nothing else. <br /><br />Di, thanks I'll check those out. It's so hard to figure out the right approach. I keep waffling, LOL! <br /><br />Cindy, thanks! I keep going between that type of FB Page and being more "writer +" Both have appeal. <br /><br />Renee, thanks for speaking out now :) Writers do seem to be who I interact with most, but that might be because they're on more?<br /><br />Mike, thanks for the link! Nice breakdown. And you're right, FB does seem to be more for folks I know in some way vs unknown comments like on Twitter. I'm not on G+ yet, but if I do, I will!<br /><br />Debra, two pages makes sense, but then I wonder if I'd ever be able to keep up with them. Do you find it tough to manage both?<br /><br />Patti, I know! But everyone has their own tastes. I probably need to really think hard about what I want from it.<br /><br />Sherrie, very interesting. That's a real concern, because you never know who might friend you.<br /><br />Wendy, I'm clueless on Goggle+ myself. Twitter is my online space for sure. And my writer space. <br /><br />Suzanne, I think things have changed from when it all first became popular. Just like blogging. It's so popular now that it's easy to get lost in the flow. We do it, but is it worth it? For some it probably is, for others no. <br /><br />Traci, I have thought about an author page vs a person page. But at this point, the books have been out 3 years so the page is all mixed now. Might be an option though. If I can keep up with both. <br /><br />Debbie, I use mutual friends as well, especially since I fell into the game pit for a while. If I see obvious game accounts as mutual friends I don't accept. My publisher/editor is also on FB, and it's nice to see what's going on with her as well. <br /><br />Jacqueline, I totally agree about the international community. I tend to hit Twitter early in the mornings, and I have all sorts of folks from the other side of the world I chat with. I make lists in both FB and Twitter, which do help a lot. But the FB list don't seem as organized. That might be due to that "popular posts" issue mentioned. <br /><br />Chris, I've noticed that too. It's kinda like Twitter with the link fest. Haven't tried Pinterest yet.<br /><br />Siri, lists really do help. But the FB list don't always show everyone. :( <br /><br />Eve, that's a fun idea! But goodness, that might be harder to keep up with lol. A very interesting idea though, thanks!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-42181439628108618682012-03-28T03:19:07.791-04:002012-03-28T03:19:07.791-04:00You know what I want as a reader? A fan page of th...You know what I want as a reader? A fan page of the characters I love in a book. You know, where I can post fun questions like (for example): Hey Nya, what's your favorite color? Are you learning martial arts? What do you think of suchandsuch? Or, hey, if you go to Hogwarts, where do you think the sorting hats will place you?<br /><br />Readers care for the characters. So why don't you give a way to interact with them?evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00616590317823015907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-41210735968855753142012-03-27T18:07:13.271-04:002012-03-27T18:07:13.271-04:00Chris, good point about Facebook. It's sort of...Chris, good point about Facebook. It's sort of turned into Tumblr. I've moved in that direction myself, reposting rather than leaving "true" status updates. Either I can't think of anything interesting to share, or the stuff that's interesting isn't something I want to share (like the nitty-gritty of wedding planning).<br /><br />I do like reading news on FB from people I don't talk to regularly.<br /><br />Pinterest is fun and addictive, but if there's a way to use it to actually interact (besides "repinning"), I haven't found it yet.<br /><br />At the moment, my widest network is definitely on Twitter. But once your follower numbers get past a few hundred, you can't interact with everybody. I'm still working on making lists.Siri Paulsonhttp://siripaulson.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-68436236784936980172012-03-27T15:07:18.054-04:002012-03-27T15:07:18.054-04:00I used to enjoy Facebook more than I do now. It se...I used to enjoy Facebook more than I do now. It seems like I see fewer personal posts, and more links to online articles, photos, videos, memes, etc. This isn't just from authors. It seems like a lot of people have run out of things to say, so they are just sharing links to whatever intrigued or amused them.<br /><br />I sympathize, as I started feeling like I don't have anything new and interesting to say, and it's certainly easier to repost links or share my blog links. But Facebook isn't as much fun anymore since it's less personal, and it's a lot more time-consuming if I actually follow links and watch videos. I wonder if Facebook is on the way out.<br /><br />That said, I do like keeping in touch with people -- I have a lot of acquaintances I wouldn't contact personally, but I do enjoy hearing their news. I have a Twitter account, but I just don't get how to use it, and Google + seems to be pretty much a wasteland after its initial flurry. I blog, but like you, my followers are writers, not readers. I blog more to promote my editorial business and writing craft book than my fiction books.<br /><br />People seem to be enjoying Pinterest now... hmmm...Kris Bockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217265282250089583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-63245817276420633072012-03-27T13:57:39.222-04:002012-03-27T13:57:39.222-04:00I never signed up for FB in the first place becaus...I never signed up for FB in the first place because of my concerns over the ever-changing privacy issues. But I am a very active Twitter user (@jwindh) and I have found it really useful.<br /><br />I don't consider any of the social media sites to be a plan for simply marketing books. But I have found Twitter to be really useful for me to build an international community of people who I otherwise would not have ever known - some who are useful industry contacts, some who have become supportive writing friends and critiquers, and some who are just interested in the things that I am interested in and in what I do.<br /><br />So when I do my next book launch, I think my Twitter community will be supportive of it in many ways. Perhaps not by buying books themselves (hopefully a few will) but probably in other ways, such as suggesting media contacts, or venues for my next tour.<br /><br />I did sign up for G+, because I thought I "should" (and, at the time, Google did not seem to be as evil as now apparent...) I never go on there any more. I found no use for it. I don't need it to keep up with my "real" friends, and it just seemed to be repetition of what my Twitter friends were already posting on Twitter.<br /><br />I agree with Elizabeth's comment, too, about most of the SM sites being so flooded with content. The posts you do want to read, from people you do care about, disappear in the flood.<br /><br />That's why I like Twitter. You can organize lists. So I politely follow back anyone who follows me who seems to be "real" and who has at least something in common with me (i.e. who is not following me only to make me follow back and increase their numbers). But then I can put the ones who I actually want to READ on a list... so I get a separate stream of the content that I value, while still not snubbing anyone but not following them back.Jacqueline Windhhttp://www.jacquelinewindh.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-60102560211699013362012-03-27T13:49:02.269-04:002012-03-27T13:49:02.269-04:00I do most of my posting on my Personal FB page but...I do most of my posting on my Personal FB page but gave up on the idea of just having personal friends in my list a long while back; it took too much time to check each person who sent a Friend request. Now I check our list of mutual Friends instead.<br /><br />If I didn't have a FB account, I likely would never have started visiting my publisher (Simon & Schuster) in NYC. My publisher/editor follows my FB personal account (or at least checks in every so often) and noticed that I was going to be attending the SCBWI conference in NY last year. As a result, he asked if I wanted to come visit the S&S office while I was there. I said yes, of course, and have visited several times since then.<br /><br />I don't just use FB for work/networking but also for keeping tabs on friends, family and non-work acquaintances.<br /><br />My @inkyelbows account on Twitter, however, is almost entirely work-related (I have several Twitter feeds).<br /><br />Good luck with your social media decisions! There is no one right answer -- depends on individual time constraints, personality & needs.Debbie Ridpath Ohihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11784775687291535329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39814847080285198222012-03-27T13:30:16.766-04:002012-03-27T13:30:16.766-04:00I think I would keep it "for the fans" w...I think I would keep it "for the fans" when you do publish. I keep a page and a separate (family) account on FB. But Twitter's where the business side of things is from what I can see. I'm not published yet, but I do see a lot of success from twitter stories. I haven't gotten into Pininterest or anything else because there's only so much time and you do have to write if you want to be an author.Traci Kenworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336373871521363649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-34968600358468199712012-03-27T09:01:31.051-04:002012-03-27T09:01:31.051-04:00I think this is a question that's coming up mo...I think this is a question that's coming up more and more, as writers realize that the hours they spend in social media are hours spent away from their writing. For those of us with full time jobs, writing in the wee hours of the morning or late at night, or any time in-between, those moments are precious. They must have an equally precious pay off. So far, my blogging and social media have earned me some amazing online friends, but no sales. So like you, I'm looking for ways to streamline. Thanks for raising the question everyone is afraid to ask.Suzanne Lillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11928374852063824975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-30342485667596459442012-03-27T02:52:16.265-04:002012-03-27T02:52:16.265-04:00I use Facebook to keep in touch with family (many ...I use Facebook to keep in touch with family (many of them overseas), distant friends (in time and place) and people I share interests with. I hardly ever link to my blog there. Facebook is definitely my personal online space.<br /><br />Twitter is where I'm trying to build a more business-like brand. I have a modest 500+ followers there, and unlike Facebook, I don't know a single one of them in person.<br /><br />Google+ I just haven't figured out yet.Wendy A.M. Prosserhttp://www.wendyamprosser.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-42276945088739781122012-03-27T00:08:37.639-04:002012-03-27T00:08:37.639-04:00I joined Facebook to connect with old friends from...I joined Facebook to connect with old friends from high school and college and I loved it for that. People from my blog started friending me and I was okay with people I know in real life through blogging and even bloggers that I've emailed personally, so I friended them back. But then people started friending me who only found me through other people. I didn't even recognize their names and I had no idea why they would want to friend me. Suddenly it wasn't just about connecting with real friends, but building up friend lists. And then personal photos were getting tagged and becoming public and that <i>really</i> bugged me. So I quit. That was more than two years ago. And I haven't missed it yet.Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26634050950503755182012-03-26T23:12:44.985-04:002012-03-26T23:12:44.985-04:00Very interesting, and yet, the comments are also c...Very interesting, and yet, the comments are also conflicting. haha!! Just like Social Media.<br /><br />Just tonight I was advised to have a fan page, but what I most love about Facebook is the connections to both old and brand new friends (yes, I've made a lot of new friends on there). I probably use it more like a Free-flowing Blog and am always trying to generate conversation, frequently through photos and quotes, and often youtube videos. It's a good fit, so maybe the question is: Why change what ain't broke?<br /><br />Thanks for being so honest and sharing your frustrations. As you can see, you're not the Lone Ranger!<br /><br />Good luck figuring out your next move! (Writer Thang, haha. "Like" that.)patti.mallett_pphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453756965198648016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52523368642288343922012-03-26T22:49:33.897-04:002012-03-26T22:49:33.897-04:00Great article! I ended up having a facebook page ...Great article! I ended up having a facebook page for just friends and family, and one for my 'writing' self. I invited my friends and family to join me there too, but let them know that it was a more public site and that I'd be posting many marketing stuff and blog links.<br />I too find myself using social media for linking with other authors and gaining support from the connection.Debra Dunbarhttp://debradunbar.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-38903243774584679562012-03-26T21:13:10.225-04:002012-03-26T21:13:10.225-04:00I touched on this subject briefly in a post (http:...I touched on this subject briefly in a post (http://lived-inlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/reclassifying-past-from-fiction-to-non.html) about the effects of social media on the generation currently being born, but I'll elaborate on the relevant parts here.<br /><br />If you want to figure out how best to use a social network it helps to think about the way it works. Facebook works by leveraging the relationships you've already built in "real" life (meat space, call it what you will). It is very uncommon to meet someone new through facebook. Facebook takes your real-life connections and creates online versions of them.<br /><br />A site like Google+ generally helps you create new connections based on interests. It is very common to interact with new people on Google+ and generally less common to have a real-life history with the people there.<br /><br />My advice (this is what I do) would be to use facebook for keeping in touch with personal relationships, and use twitter and Google+ for promotional activities. Divide and conquer. <br /><br /><br />PS. If you circle me on G+ I can share some awesome circles with you. I've got a great circle of writers, and another fantastic circle of readers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16215715294336288274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-16119091312560371882012-03-26T20:18:32.911-04:002012-03-26T20:18:32.911-04:00Hi Janice, I love your posts but I have always bee...Hi Janice, I love your posts but I have always been a silent follower on your blog. I have struggeled with the same question. I am a recruiter and writer so I struggle with trying to balance each position so I dont only post jobs or just writing information. I believe it is all about name recognition and creating a reputation you want people to see. I have rarely interacted with a reader online, so I network with other writers instead.Renee Holderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902416239307386197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-44848316450677165542012-03-26T19:33:55.556-04:002012-03-26T19:33:55.556-04:00My FB account is for family and friends - friends ...My FB account is for family and friends - friends do include writers in my writer's group, but we mostly use FB to talk about our kids, coming home with a trunk full of groceries to find the power is out and things like that.<br /><br />Occasionally, I'll post a link to my blog, if I've written something I think would appeal to my friends and family, but I'm careful not to overdo it. I do get hits this way and friends will often repost my link to give me more exposure.<br /><br />Someday I'll get into Twitter and use that for social networking from a writing perspective. But for now, I'm busy enough!Cindy Dwyerhttp://cynthiadwyer.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-81238881132499162672012-03-26T19:09:36.257-04:002012-03-26T19:09:36.257-04:00I'm a fan of Kyra Davis...she's a fan of J...I'm a fan of Kyra Davis...she's a fan of Janet Evanovich, and if I'm lucky my novel will share their sense of humor as well as be a romping good tale of murder and mayhem. Kyra Davis is traditionally published and has chosen to go e-publishing with her latest book. She has used FB very effectively. Somehow I even get posts on the right side of the feed (like advertising to "like" this will show up) and they keep us updated on her efforts to get an audio version out next. It's not a fan page; it's her personal (mom-is-a-FB-friend-too) page. I recommend you check her out to see how she has used them. I don't follow her on Twitter because I'm rarely there nowadays. That may change. So, she might have a twitter account, too. If you pepper your FB Posts-about-blogs (which can come from your twitter postings on your blog) with things about the weather, the dog, etc. (also postable from twitter or your phone), then it might start some of the dialogue that keeps a fan reading about favorite authors. Best of luck, and thanks for blogging about this.Di Eats the Elephanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12067737807348338927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-83177888488066342742012-03-26T18:52:00.023-04:002012-03-26T18:52:00.023-04:00I have FB fan page(s) for various different things...I have FB fan page(s) for various different things, plus a personal FB account.<br /><br />I'm using Networked Blogs to bring content to my FB fan page, plus sharing something someone else might post on my regular feed from time to time.<br /><br />FB is still the biggest beastie out there, and for some of my family and friends, it's the ONLY form of Social Media they use. I don't worry that I'm not active on Digg, for example, but I do want to have a "presence" in the bigger areas.Beverly Diehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00392288953821757887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-48164787089790347662012-03-26T17:06:23.621-04:002012-03-26T17:06:23.621-04:00I'm a teen writer. I have a facebook fan page ...I'm a teen writer. I have a facebook fan page for my blog and one of my books. But I never really use them. I have 40 blog follows but only 6 or five facebook fans. But that's okay cause I just don't use facebook a ton. I used too, but now I don't. I only use it to keep up with distant friends or to talk to people in groups. <br /><br />Online terms, I read some author blogs, a lot of writing blogs, and I just generally stick to blogs and websites. They're much more interesting and helpful then facebook, twitter (which I have NO IDEA how to use), and Google+ or whatever else. <br /><br />I keep my friends and family on facebook and if my readers or other online writing people want to talk to me, they can email me through a email specifically for the purpose, contact me through my blog, or my Facebook fan page. But that's about it.Sarehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01829472672254117776noreply@blogger.com