tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post7470652418609494635..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Facebook not so muchJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42777076273457013982017-04-14T16:09:44.194-04:002017-04-14T16:09:44.194-04:00This is a testimony that i will tell to every one ...This is a testimony that i will tell to every one to hear. DO not let go cause there's a way to win him or her back. I'm Candyse Philip from NC. I have been married 4 years and on the fifth year of my marriage, another woman had a spell to take my lover away from me and my husband left me and the kids and we have suffered for 2 years until i met a post where this man DR APATA, a powerful spellcaster have helped someone and i decided to give him a try to help me bring my lover back home and believe me, i did all that he asked of me and i just send my picture to him and that of my husband and after 48 hours as he have told me, i saw a car drove into the house and was really surprised to see my husband and he had come to me and the kids asking for forgiveness and that is why i am happy to make every one of you in similar case to get in touch with this man and have your lover back to your self without any delay, His email: apataspellhome@gmail.com call or whatsapp him on mobile +2348143502763Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23439679059496270732017-04-14T07:30:16.370-04:002017-04-14T07:30:16.370-04:00Sam: FB frowns on having two personal accounts and...Sam: FB frowns on having two personal accounts and has been known to delete accounts that aren't in someone's 'real' name. Just saying - tread carefully there, and you may not want to be too vocal about it. (I wouldn't have said anything, but if anyone else is considering doing this, they may want to know the risk.)<br /><br />Twitter, on the other hand, doesn't give a whit. I currently have four accounts on Twitter - one personal account (which I never use), my writing account @BJMuntain, an account for my now-deceased pooch @KokoMuntain, and an account I set up for a Twitter experiment where I posted a short story, one 5-tweet chapter per day for 21 days. I may try something like that again someday.)BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88100970911841901822017-04-14T03:27:20.384-04:002017-04-14T03:27:20.384-04:00Coming in late after a totally delightful day. We ...Coming in late after a totally delightful day. We have a four-day public holiday for Easter (it's now Good Friday evening) and today had picture-perfect autumn weather. The Barbarians, The Hub and I saw the new Lego Batman movie and then a friend and I went for a long walk in the local hills with our dogs. Still smiling.<br /><br />When I hunt for an author I always look for their website. Usually they have an 'about me' page which I always read, but the most imporant page is the 'books' page. I have a rather OCD need to read books in order, plus if I like an author I want to know when their next book comes out. So for me, the website is really all that I need.<br />AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55965947958467613702017-04-14T00:19:11.797-04:002017-04-14T00:19:11.797-04:00I hate Facebook. Haaaate. Don't trust the comp...I hate Facebook. Haaaate. Don't trust the company, don't like the kinds of conversations that happen there. I deleted my account a few years ago and it felt so damn good. But after my last workshop it became clear that I couldn't avoid it any longer.<br /><br />Luckily at that same workshop, a writer friend had the brilliant suggestion of getting a cheap Kindle just for Facebook. Got one for $30 off Woot and it's done the trick. I also set up Hootsuite so I can easily cross-post. I don't post anything super personal on it (I have Twitter and Tumblr for that) but it's there.Brittanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02661380649581961221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-73308844289876952932017-04-13T23:03:10.637-04:002017-04-13T23:03:10.637-04:00I have a FB account in my writing name (this one) ...I have a FB account in my writing name (this one) and a separate personal one. The writing one is public and so are all my posts. They don't contain any information or photos of my family (though my dogs are fair game). I'm happy to be friends with anyone on there (though equally happy to drop them off if aggressive or hateful crap starts coming up in my timeline). I talk about writing related things on there, plus anything else I think is funny or interesting and not too personal. Hopefully once my book comes out and, heaven forbid, I might actually have people who read it and who are interested, this can be a way of connecting with readers.<br /><br />The personal one is reserved for actual friends in real life, and I use it for staying in touch and connected with friends and family across the country and the world. I never post publicly from there.<br /><br />I find this split works nicely for me. <br /><br />I also use twitter (am not a HUGE poster, though I am addicted to reading it) and starting a bit with instagram.Sam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14995956710131020432017-04-13T21:45:26.941-04:002017-04-13T21:45:26.941-04:00John (mss) Frain - glad you found it amusing. You...<b>John (mss) Frain</b> - glad you found it amusing. Your comments ALWAYS crack me up!Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18371965691829925162017-04-13T21:11:31.307-04:002017-04-13T21:11:31.307-04:00Amy,
Don't worry, I'm sure all of us livin...Amy,<br />Don't worry, I'm sure all of us living in moose country knew you were joking.But you're going to hear all our moose stories now.<br />I know someone here who made earrings out of moose droppings. I'm not joking!<br />Yes it is a beautiful place. Winter is getting tougher or I'm getting tired of it. At least we have a new tractor to help with the long hilly driveway. It has been a record snow year and is still up to my knees in the back forty (feet). Ramona is thrilled to see spring is here and made it up to the garden today with just a little wet foot.<br />You come here, we'll find you a moose. Best time is spring or fall, dawn or twilight and by moosey water. They like mucky ponds.<br />I was once on a hike with a friend and came face to face with two young ones. We just all looked at each other. The people stepped aside and the moose continued down the path.<br />Life in the woods.Sharyn Ekberghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11987304898246173619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79505991536675207912017-04-13T19:16:11.795-04:002017-04-13T19:16:11.795-04:00Regarding my use of social media - I'm afraid ...Regarding my use of social media - I'm afraid I haven't been as authorly lately as I should, though I know better. I have a Twitter account I love, though I don't tweet or read nearly as much as I used to. I have a Facebook author page, but I rarely use it and I don't link to it. I'll do better when I have something to sell, but Facebook pages are not the best way to get your information out there, anyway. Facebook's algorithms work against pages, not for them. My website is available, but I haven't been keeping the blogs up.<br /><br />I resisted Facebook for as long as possible - until a) my entire family went onto Facebook, and it was how they decided they wanted to keep in touch, and b) I needed to join it so I could manage our non-profit's Facebook page. I now use it for mostly family and friends, and I am quite knowledgeable about the privacy settings, and keep them in mind every time I post.<br /><br />Pinterest: I use it mostly to keep groups of links together, like certain recipes, or events I want to attend when I visit NYC, or friends' books. <br /><br />Instagram: I'm very new to Instagram. I haven't posted anything yet, as I'm not sure I really like my tablet's camera and I need to find the cord from my digital camera to hook up to my computer. The biggest problem with Instagram is that you HAVE to have a mobile device (preferably a cell phone) to set up and post to an account. I don't have a cell phone at this time, just my landline and a tablet that requires WiFi to use. And not all tablets can be used for this.<br /><br />One thing I've done, though, is I've joined a few Facebook groups. One of them is very active, and very good, with a sister group for writers. The group is called 'Space Opera', and the sister group is 'Space Opera: Writers'. They're both active, well-maintained, and I may have developed a bit of a following there. <br /><br />If you can find a group or groups like that on Facebook for your genre, join it/them. SO:W is supportive, informative, and full of interesting people. I understand there are other such groups that are not as supportive or useful, but if you look around, you may find others.<br /><br />Why Twitter? Well, there are a lot of great people with a lot of good information there. And it's great to get into conversations with some of these great people. I met James Scott Bell and Chuck Wendig and many others on Twitter, and then I met them in person at conferences. I also follow hashtags I'm interested in at a certain time. There are ways to limit the things you see.<br /><br />Are there problem people? Yes, but you can report them and block them. And I do. If someone is insulting someone else (individuals or a group), I'll let Twitter know. They may or may not do something about it, but I'll then block them so I never have to see them again. I'm also careful about who I follow. I don't follow back just anyone who follows me, because that way lies madness. I'll follow back anyone from this blog, by the way - but you may have to let me know where I know you from. If I haven't followed you back, I don't remember who you are or I can't tell from your Twitter information.<br /><br />AmyJ: Come to Saskatchewan. We have moose. I once saw a family of three moose right by the highway on the way from Regina to Saskatoon. Heck, we've had moose come right into the city. <br /><br />Annndd.... that's a lot of posting for today. Sorry. It's a topic I'm passionate about, obviously.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39467309580158152172017-04-13T19:00:23.503-04:002017-04-13T19:00:23.503-04:00Oh, and as I write Middle Grade fiction, I'm n...Oh, and as I write Middle Grade fiction, I'm not sure how I can reach that audience, other than using snap chat but that would embarrass my kids no end, as well as being a whole new skill set/language to conquer!MA Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11055543285024785889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63053912207924996692017-04-13T18:59:15.896-04:002017-04-13T18:59:15.896-04:00Lennon,
That was a fun-tabulous story. I smiled t...Lennon,<br /><br />That was a fun-tabulous story. I smiled the whole way through as I found it so cheerful to sneak a look in on your girl scout meeting. (Please, don't take that out of context!) <br /><br />You must be a writer.John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37481757935254146682017-04-13T18:55:46.901-04:002017-04-13T18:55:46.901-04:00I use Instagram the most but that's because I&...I use Instagram the most but that's because I've always loved taking photos of curious things. To build a big following on it you need to 'like' strangers' posts and leave comments on their posts. I only do that on posts I genuinely like. Lots of times I get a lot a new follower and they turn out to be a just a commercial brand - a real estate business or 'lifestyle consultancy' etc. <br />On twitter I follow people who make me laugh (shallow, I know) and so far have only retweeted rather than posted anything original. Facebook I've just put my little toe in, to see that it feels like. <br />I've got a website up and running and from what I've gleaned here, that's the most important thing.MA Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11055543285024785889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29134095544149830382017-04-13T18:47:23.247-04:002017-04-13T18:47:23.247-04:00"I think often people over-think blogging.&qu..."I think often people over-think blogging."<br /><br /><b>Colin</b>, in the fourth grade, my Girl Scout group was focusing on earning badges. You could pick which badge you wanted to work on, so I chose the one on 'good deeds.'<br /><br />I was commissioned to do three good deeds. I thought it was the greatest badge ever and imagined all kinds of adventures I would go through. <br /><br />But by the next meeting, my leader asked me what I'd done and I said, "Nothing yet!" I couldn't believe she thought I'd already accomplished it because I assumed it meant I had to save a baby or rescue a princess or something equally dramatic. She of course, couldn't believe I hadn't accomplished one single good deed in a week. <br /><br />So yeah, I over-think about everything :) Good thoughts though. Thanks!Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72184012113602815272017-04-13T18:43:47.615-04:002017-04-13T18:43:47.615-04:00I have two FB accounts. The author one is linked t...I have two FB accounts. The author one is linked to my Twitter account, so I use that for posting about books and writing.<br /><br />I also like FB for its various reading and writing groups. It's possible to carry on more sustained conversations there. (And I just helped launch a nonfiction group called Illuminate.)<br /><br />Twitter helps me keep current with all kinds of news, though I try to confine my tweets to topics about reading and writing.<br /><br />My blog hasn't been too active lately since I'm at the working-on-a-proposal stage. But I try to post something new there are least once a month.<br /><br />It feels like kind of basic social media activity. Still, I enjoy it and think it's a good way to connect with people who will likely be interested in what I write about.<br />Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22787882785022888932017-04-13T18:18:06.222-04:002017-04-13T18:18:06.222-04:00I'm sorry. I haven't read all the comments...I'm sorry. I haven't read all the comments yet. I just had to speak to the Janet's response.<br /><br />A writer friend of mine has been following the marketing efforts of another writer very closely. A traditionally published author in YA steampunk, he'd had some success self-publishing his back list. He decided to try an experiment and self-publish a new YA paranormal. By all accounts, it's a good book. But after putting $2000 into making it as professional as he could (cover, editing), after putting in all the marketing he was learning from a marketing 'professional', he wound up losing $1300. Now my friend is wondering if all the marketing advice she's hearing ("you should do this" and "you must do that") is worthwhile. She was pushing, today, for 'numbers' - as in, what numbers are there out there to support various types of marketing. She's been finding specific authors who are posting their own results. She insists that the numbers have to be 'out there somewhere'. But those numbers don't mean anything, either, except to the authors involved. There are too many variables involved, including the human mind. And there is nothing so frustrating as trying to figure out the human mind.<br /><br />I told my friend, it's important to have a website. When she wanted the proof, she understood it was necessary as a means for people to contact her and see who she is - not a means for selling. Which is true. I told her a newsletter is the most useful of the social marketing tools, but she insisted on proof. Reasoning (as in, the people who subscribe to your newsletter are more likely to buy your book because they're already invested in you) didn't fly, because this author who 'lost' money has a great newsletter, but he still lost money, and she never buys from newsletters, anyway. I never said, "Have a good newsletter and you'll be a bestseller." I'd just said that it was one of the best such tools in marketing books. But she insisted on 'proof'. I don't have that proof, beyond common sense, things I've heard from other authors (including this one who 'lost' money, by the way), and Janet's blog.<br /><br /><b>Folks, marketing is not a science. Marketing is the art of guessing what will make people buy something.</b> If marketing were a science, there would be no marketing failures. Everyone would know exactly what to do to become a bestselling author, and no one really does (no matter how many marketing pros there are out there who claim to do this. Many of them become 'bestsellers' by writing books on how to become a bestseller.)<br /><br />There is no one way to become a bestseller. There is no one way to market a book successfully. And there are no numbers to back any of this up. I tried to explain to my friend that the number one reason people buy books is 'word of mouth', but there's no way of measuring that. She insists there must be some way of measuring it.<br /><br />Honestly, it all depends on the product and the way it is sold. And that will be different for each product (each book, each series, each author) and for each method of sales (online, bookstore, library, book signing, newsletter, word of mouth).<br /><br />And it depends on the buyers - humans whose minds we can't comprehend. Who would have thought a fan-fiction erotica would become a run-away bestseller? Who could have known that a story for children about wizards in a wizard school (this wasn't the first such story written, by the way) would break all the records?<br /><br />The best you can do is be you. The best you can do is talk to people, be social on social media or in real life, get your name and your book out there. And once it's out there - no matter how it's published - it's completely up to the very human buyers how well it will do.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86326587491346515532017-04-13T17:01:23.040-04:002017-04-13T17:01:23.040-04:00Your surroundings must be beautiful, Sharyn. I had...Your surroundings must be beautiful, Sharyn. I had just thought to come back and delete my last comment, on the off chance anyone didn't realize I was just joking around. I don't really think there's a racket. :) The thought of offending anyone makes me shrink inside.<br /><br />I've seen so many moose crossing signs in New England, usually when traveling through Vermont. It's a joke in my family that for years I've looked and looked and looked, and have yet to see a moose. I have, however, had Moose Tracks ice cream while in New England. And it was yummy.Amy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05324408700941398495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13589652390267819942017-04-13T16:39:01.932-04:002017-04-13T16:39:01.932-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Amy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05324408700941398495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86832416621508542562017-04-13T16:36:44.239-04:002017-04-13T16:36:44.239-04:00Casey, there are plenty of moose in Alaska, but th...Casey, there are plenty of moose in Alaska, but they always hide when you're trying to find them. Last week one was blocking traffic on Tudor (a main street), when my son was already late for work. They also have habit of lounging in the middle of cross-country ski trails at the bottom of hills where it's hard to stop. I did once see one eating the flowers in front of the Welcome to Anchorage sign near the airport. I always wondered how the tourist bureau arranged that.Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67762764445901445652017-04-13T16:33:50.824-04:002017-04-13T16:33:50.824-04:00If I'm trying to find information about an aut...If I'm trying to find information about an author or their books, I look for a website. I follow a few authors on Facebook, but I wouldn't say it's driven me to purchase their books as they're primarily people whose books I buy anyway (though it does serve as a nice reminder when they have a new book coming out). Jacqueline Carey and Maggie Stiefvater both have great Facebook presences - they're really fun to follow because they post a lot of things besides just about their books. I feel like Facebook is a nice way to connect with your fans, but as Janet said, if it's not something you enjoy, it probably doesn't help much.gypsyharperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860444700834261053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72107956093004810772017-04-13T16:07:39.053-04:002017-04-13T16:07:39.053-04:00Amy,
I do work for tourism here in NH. But believe...Amy,<br />I do work for tourism here in NH. But believe me we have moose and you can see them. Right place, right time. One road north of me is called Moose Alley for that reason.<br />I've seen them when we're out driving and I have seen their hoof prints in the driveway.<br />We also have bears, fox, otters, and raccoons and that's just in the back yard. Plus bobcats but I haven't seen one.<br />I'm on the edge of the National Forest which is about 800,000 acres. I see Mount Washington from my house. It is still snow covered but melting fast.Sharyn Ekberghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11987304898246173619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7317446955178608102017-04-13T16:02:23.466-04:002017-04-13T16:02:23.466-04:00Discussing social media makes me tired. Of course ...Discussing social media makes me tired. Of course it harvest time and I'm tired anyway.<br /><br />I opened a Facebook page to stuff an invention of mine into Nissan's face. After that I was thinking of doing something with it but then Frito-Lays wanted me to follow them on it. I declined and it grew incredibly commercial without me.<br /><br />My thought process doesn't work in 140 characters so I passed on Twitter.<br /><br />I think a blog should show your personal face. I am not there at this time. I do have to admit that I have a problem, at times, with blogs just being about selling your books. I check blogs to discover the hidden thought processes of some writers whose work I find enticing. I check <b>Donna's</b> because she is Donna but I can respond better in personal situations. Dead blogs are a definite turn off.<br /><br />I guess I am going to have to write something other people will talk about.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49107455663246745232017-04-13T15:52:55.456-04:002017-04-13T15:52:55.456-04:00As one of those on the younger end of the spectrum...As one of those on the younger end of the spectrum (for now anyway), I really don't like Facebook all that much. It feels too pushy. Now, coming from my work as a UX (user experience) designer, as you're figuring out what works for you, something to consider is WHAT the audience's purpose is when they're looking up an author on social media. Typically they're a) trying to find out more about the books because they're already interested and/or b) they want to know more about the author themselves. Jill Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15260600727956409597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-500054793776218842017-04-13T15:45:52.112-04:002017-04-13T15:45:52.112-04:00OT: Hi everyone! The past weeks have been a roller...OT: Hi everyone! The past weeks have been a roller coaster, but I've been popping in and out of here to see what's happening. A blanket congratulations for all the happy news and sending lots of good writing vibes to all.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05332570278984058081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37604848003814978792017-04-13T15:40:20.409-04:002017-04-13T15:40:20.409-04:00Twitter has changed so much since I started using ...Twitter has changed so much since I started using it in 2007/2008 (holy guacamole, has it really been ten years?). Back then it was really about forming connections and having conversations. I loved it, and I met a slew of writers in my area that way. Sadly, now everyone seems to be screaming and no one is listening--at the very least, no one is interested in conversation. Because of that, it's lost a lot of the appeal for me, but I still think of it as a water cooler of sorts and I like to micro-blog when I'm feeling particularly moved to share philosophies.<br /><br />Blogging is similar. I've always been a fiction writer, but as for public writing, I started out with blogging--mostly personal development stuff, sharing stories about my life. It's freeing to me to have this outlet and be able to share my thoughts with the world--whether or not anyone cares to hear them is up to them, but they're there. I met some of my closest friends through blogging--online friendships taken offline. In fact, one of my very best friends is someone I met online when I was a teenager. It's been twenty years, and we still haven't met in person. Connections are made where you look for them.<br /><br />These days my blog is mostly about my advocacy efforts and and writing, but I'm still grateful for the outlet and the friendships I've made through it.<br /><br />Facebook is the biggie for me. I prefer it now simply because of how I'm able to connect with people. I'm also allowed to be as verbose as I want to be (I can still hear my sister-in-law calling to my brother after reading one of my posts: "Brian! Your sister wrote another book on Facebook!") Ah, but I have much to say and I like words.<br /><br />My philosophy when it comes to social media is to do what moves you. If it feels authentic and genuine, keep doing it. If it feels forced, why expend that energy? There are many options for building your platform--choose the one that feels the most natural to you. That's when you'll start to see the return. <br /><br />Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05332570278984058081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-34663291145105164402017-04-13T15:17:32.960-04:002017-04-13T15:17:32.960-04:00"**(if you're reading this in six months-..."**(if you're reading this in six months-ie October 2017 and beyond please note!)" <br /><br />Thought I'd help out a little and work on my time-travel skills at the same time. OMG, my dials are loose and I hit six years instead of six months. <br /><br />I'm EXHAUSTED! And I better be careful lest I bump the dials again. <br /><br />Anyway, nobody uses Facebook anymore. Everyone was just looking at<br /><br /><i>whooooooaaaaaaaaaaa</i><br /><br />John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9921739028690438132017-04-13T15:15:55.317-04:002017-04-13T15:15:55.317-04:00Sharyn, Doing a little work for the tourism bureau...Sharyn, Doing a little work for the tourism bureau? How much do they pay people to keep up the charade? ;)Amy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05324408700941398495noreply@blogger.com