tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post7018526536488024470..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Speaking of ineffective promotion, here's an example, PLUS how to fix--UPDATEDJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62305988957643878272016-01-05T13:06:00.446-05:002016-01-05T13:06:00.446-05:00Since you asked, I have a question!
I have a new ...Since you asked, I have a question!<br /><br /><i>I have a new book, and I want it to get popular.</i> Should I send you a tweet about that at 2AM or 5:34AM, which is when your email showed up in my inbox? I'm thinking I should just have the book delivered to your door at 2AM. That way you can read it. If you like it, it helps keep you awake until 5:34AM when you send emails. If it's boring, you get some much needed shark sleep.<br /><br /><i>That was the takeaway, right?</i><br /><br />-Anxious in Austin<br /><br />P.S. I remembered how much you like Italics, so I threw some in!roadkills-r-ushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14029861300358380117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17189790205834235292016-01-05T10:27:08.469-05:002016-01-05T10:27:08.469-05:00Donna,
A belated congratulations. What great news...Donna,<br /><br />A belated congratulations. What great news!<br /><br />Re bots. I don't automatically block them. Done well, they are amusing. I thought about setting one up with Inara from Firefly once. Every time someone mentioned Firefly or Serenity, they would get a quote from Inara.<br /><br />I have a few bots following me that I find amusing. I have a Jayne bot, Inigo Montoyo bot, and a Star Wars bot following me. Or did. I haven't checked lately to see if I get "I do not think that means what you think it means" when I type inconceivable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42753575396562472512016-01-05T05:47:17.143-05:002016-01-05T05:47:17.143-05:00Donna,
Woot woot! Wow, that's gotta be the gr...Donna,<br /><br />Woot woot! Wow, that's gotta be the greatest feeling ever. Well, it'll be supplanted by the feeling that rolls in on November 1, but so far it's gotta feel good.<br /><br />It's almost light, time to crash, so I'll have to congratulate you in a new post that you'll actually read. <br /><br />Dixie Dupree. Love the name. I can already picture her and I haven't even read the first sentence. Yet.John Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702305890462479118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19933497643912016562016-01-05T03:38:39.559-05:002016-01-05T03:38:39.559-05:00I wrote another comment and when I tried to prove ...I wrote another comment and when I tried to prove I'm not a robot my browser crashed. I'll take this as a sign. Back to work, grind grind.<br /><br />But gee, Diane, I'm blushing.angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28017733191587367652016-01-05T03:01:57.849-05:002016-01-05T03:01:57.849-05:00Congratulations, Donna! November 1st - that's ...Congratulations, Donna! November 1st - that's so exciting!<br /><br />I, too, wondered about the French twitter button, but wasn't game to ask :)<br /><br />But I *will* ask what is probably a stupid question (but I don't know how to work out the answer!): Seeing as twitter's the topic and bots have been mentioned: How do you know if the twitter account that follows you is a real person or a bot? And another related question: What should you do about the bot followers: Block them? Report them? Ignore them? What is best?Kae Ridwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10356868531870405990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-15622681652467533152016-01-04T22:15:05.675-05:002016-01-04T22:15:05.675-05:00Congratulations Donna! How exciting to have a dat...Congratulations Donna! How exciting to have a date set! It's on my calendar.<br /><br />The Drifter release is also on my calendar.Cindy Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13196306055833459983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-60855110251212937062016-01-04T22:14:23.881-05:002016-01-04T22:14:23.881-05:00A slight coincidence here, for me at least, is tha...A slight coincidence here, for me at least, is that I used to draw cartoons. It's the toughest job ever grief-wise, you just will not believe how much of the brown stuff gets thrown your way. If you're gonna do it, be a complete bar-steward, it's the only way you'll get through the day without a litre of gin inside you. On the plus side: scribble scribble, scratch, ink, splot! job done, ooh look money, I'm of to get some more gin.DeadSpiderEyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07687178085803686186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-48941180922099300832016-01-04T22:06:16.565-05:002016-01-04T22:06:16.565-05:00Yay! Thanks, Donna. Duly noted: Nov 1. :)
Look, y...Yay! Thanks, Donna. Duly noted: Nov 1. :)<br /><br />Look, you already have buyers for your novel when it comes out. You must be a genius at book promotion...Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6422965427175359852016-01-04T20:25:01.111-05:002016-01-04T20:25:01.111-05:00Wow, it's all about "you," or "...Wow, it's all about "you," or "me," depending upon your POV. Thanks Janet, I need to revisit at my tweets and make sure they're about the reader not the writer. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714778117954527535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29746261491528533102016-01-04T20:17:51.223-05:002016-01-04T20:17:51.223-05:00Hooray for THE DRIFTER! It already has 2 holds in ...Hooray for THE DRIFTER! It already has 2 holds in my library system.Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84662963758036307112016-01-04T20:06:39.314-05:002016-01-04T20:06:39.314-05:00Donna, I've made a note in my calendar!
Twitt...Donna, I've made a note in my calendar!<br /><br />Twitter used to be a lot more fun. Now it's mostly rage and promo, and I spend less time there (more time writing, yay!). Janet was actually one of the first people to talk to me on twitter when I joined. Someone retweeted something of hers and I thought she was funny, so I followed and tweeted to her. It was late at night and she was still in the office, drinking scotch and having an impromptu dance party. Or so she said. I suspect she was actually just taking a quick break from crushing hopes and dreams, as sharks do.<br /><br />For me, twitter is a way to connect with people I like, to push back the dark edges of a solitary profession. Most of them are writers, some are imaginary internet friends, all of them are smart and funny. And news. Twitter is a terrific source of news and opinion, especially news organizations based outside of the US.<br /><br />And it's great for book promo, as long as that promo comes from someone whose taste is similar to mine and is anyone <i>other than</i> the author.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6843333998551728512016-01-04T19:42:43.672-05:002016-01-04T19:42:43.672-05:0011/1/16
11/1/16
11/1/16
11/1/16
Donna's day.
C...11/1/16<br />11/1/16<br />11/1/16<br />11/1/16<br />Donna's day.<br />Can't wait.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24381977905867707942016-01-04T19:25:56.527-05:002016-01-04T19:25:56.527-05:00O yay nov 1...in my calendar Donna. Id like mine s...O yay nov 1...in my calendar Donna. Id like mine signed!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11543685541225544175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54385724847884540742016-01-04T19:14:21.710-05:002016-01-04T19:14:21.710-05:00Yay! Donna. So excited for you. I can't wait t...Yay! Donna. So excited for you. I can't wait to read your book. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88791450294754476432016-01-04T18:25:12.270-05:002016-01-04T18:25:12.270-05:00Will have to read all the comments later as I just...Will have to read all the comments later as I just got in from Raleigh for the day - but wanted to shout out to Colin/E.M. (because there's something about spotting one's name in a comment) and say (or yell)<br /><br />NOVEMBER 1 2016!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />whoop!<br /><br />Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56321867419189844172016-01-04T18:16:35.789-05:002016-01-04T18:16:35.789-05:00BJ, I KNOW! And what is it about woodland creature...BJ, I KNOW! And what is it about woodland creatures that seem to appeal to us so much? Bloom County and this blog are full of them. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11543685541225544175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14857302442427046882016-01-04T17:50:04.107-05:002016-01-04T17:50:04.107-05:00I usually err on the side of trying to be less ann...I usually err on the side of trying to be less annoying when twittering. Yes, I post when I have a new cartoon up on my blog, but also try to retweet interesting things that might be interesting to any of the people following me. Lots of panda news or pictures, things to interest of other writers, friends books coming out, etc. Trying to follow the 20/80 rule, although maybe I do the 10/90, where only 10% of what I post is about me.<br /><br />Today's post was most interesting because of the comics connection, and I did go check out Holly's tweet, and tweeted back after checking out her agency website. (I have learned a little bit over the years, thank goodness.) Maybe she will visit the pandas, maybe it will be her taste in comics humor, or maybe not. <br />I'll let you know if anything comes of it.<br />:o)Panda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91011530710831236402016-01-04T15:27:15.442-05:002016-01-04T15:27:15.442-05:00This is another good reminder of the difference be...This is another good reminder of the difference between the creative and business side of writing. On the creative side, the story is the focus and you write everything based on what will work best for the story. On the business side, the audience is the focus and you write everything based on what will work best for the audience.Cindy Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13196306055833459983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67346427599662797522016-01-04T14:39:22.419-05:002016-01-04T14:39:22.419-05:00Thanks to the Shark's prompting yesterday, I j...Thanks to the Shark's prompting yesterday, I just bought myself today. Bought the domains of my name. No use in putting off what you can do today :D<br /><br />Poor Pickle; not recognizing that is no way to make acquaintances or friends who may be interested in your work. And in the end, that is what you want to shine - your life's work, because you believe that it will entertain/help/inform others. Like Shark says, produce GOOD writing. EVEN IN PROMOTIONS.<br /><br />Though it is somewhat of a dance trying not to come across as all car salesman promote-y when trying to get attention for your work. I have a friend who makes me cringe when they send out mass emails - it sounds so much UNLIKE them. Do you want me to click on your link because you think I will like it or do you want me to do it out of pity or anger? Yikes...<br /><br />However, I also think being famous rather than infamous is a good life goal to have LOLJanice Grinyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14363741660626407979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66618098558426727572016-01-04T14:32:48.004-05:002016-01-04T14:32:48.004-05:00I've been working on my main WIP today in a fl...I've been working on my main WIP today in a flood of welcomed motivation after a few weeks away, so I haven't read through all the comments here--forgive me if I repeat something.<br /><br />I just want to point out that Twitter--all social media, really--is meant to connect us to each other. In a more professional light, this is technologically-enhanced networking. Promotion through social media is an offshoot of that; it has its place, but it should always be natural, personable, and most of all, sincere.<br /><br />At least, I should add, that's how it used to be. I don't know exactly when that changed to become the news aggregate and paid promotions forum it is today. In the early days of Twitter--at its best, way back in 2007/2008--it used to be about holding real conversations, respectful debates, and building relationships. Some of my strongest relationships were forged here--over a dozen of us formed a local writing group after "meeting" on Twitter, friends who were formerly strangers and situated across the country (and across the pond) have taken our friendships offline, bridging the divide and making the world seem that much smaller (and that much more special). In recent years, I've become a part of the Lyme and chronic illness community, using Twitter and social media to help each other through what too-often is a misunderstood and isolating way of life. The common denominator through all of these examples? Connecting. Building relationships. Growing support.<br /><br />The same is to be said for promotion--if you view social media promotion as another means of connecting, you have a much better chance of return. If I know you, that's an immediate follow-back. If I don't know you, but you start a conversation with me, it's a follow-back. If you follow me and start bombarding me with links to your product...No.<br /><br />I want to see everyone succeed, but I become emotionally invested in the people I'm able to interact and form genuine relationships with, including bigger-name authors. The more that relationship is nurtured, the more likely you'll have my loyalty and support (and my money, when your book is published).<br /><br />Life's too short for clickholes.<br /><br />I wrote an article for CVS' Reinventing Beauty Magazine a number of years ago extolling the virtues of a social media community. It's here (<a href="http://issuu.com/beautyhandbook/docs/bh114_complete_lores" rel="nofollow"> My Virtual Front Porch) </a> on page 98 if anyone is interested in reading. Twitter really did use to be a front porch where everyone could gather and get to know each other. Now, it's more like a block party where friends of friends of friends all show up and you don't know anyone. There's a lot of noise, and it can seem overwhelming. <br /><br />But standing on a keg and shouting your name isn't the way to introduce yourself. If anything, you're just blocking the way to the beer.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05332570278984058081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4523177896402745912016-01-04T13:40:00.532-05:002016-01-04T13:40:00.532-05:00Schadenfreude (Miriam-Webster) enjoyment obtained ...Schadenfreude (Miriam-Webster) enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others. <br />From the German Schaden = damage + Freude = joy<br /><br />Schadenfreude (Woodland Creatures) Hurrah! This time it was somebody else besides myself who screwed up!<br /><br />Thanks, Pickle. You made my day! (Don't worry. My time will come yet ... again ... and again ... and again!)<br />Pam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20413517699217904332016-01-04T13:36:29.901-05:002016-01-04T13:36:29.901-05:00I went back to read April's comment from yeste...I went back to read April's comment from yesterday. First off, welcome. <br /><br />Second, if you start tweeting, facebooking, and blogging under your name and are active, those are the things that are going to come up first in a search engine as opposed to a dead site. So, don't be afraid to use a variation of your name and make it sing. Janet is Janet_Reid on twitter because some other n'er do well has JanetReid. <br /><br />Stuff happens.<br /><br />Activity will bring you to the top with your new version of your name.<br /><br />I changed the name of my fantasy because someone self pubbed a very badly written erotic science fiction with the same name. There are times you want to distance yourself from a name, but usually given names aren't it.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62409833257918878432016-01-04T13:32:14.489-05:002016-01-04T13:32:14.489-05:00I don't sympathize with, but do feel sorry for...I don't sympathize with, but do feel sorry for, this little pickle. But, it did give a good lesson. Thanks Janet.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452613533552903695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24600461675996304262016-01-04T13:25:11.111-05:002016-01-04T13:25:11.111-05:00DLM- I do like historical fiction, and I enjoy pal...DLM- I do like historical fiction, and I enjoy palace intrigue and assassinations almost as much as thieves and liars. I also like being part of Janet's group of blog commentators so I will be thrilled when one of us publishes a book and I can tweet about it. Consider me a friend already. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08697166619478748131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53454527933369770852016-01-04T13:19:31.624-05:002016-01-04T13:19:31.624-05:00@BJ, He's also on the GoComics site so every m...@BJ, He's also on the GoComics site so every morning in my daily comics ration email, I get Opus! YAY! A Wish For Wings That Work is one of my favorite Christmas stories :)nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.com