Why do YOU use social media?
I'm asking because I went to the OWFI Writer's Conference and one of the speakers asked me and Aaron (from Aaron's Word Tree) what we wrote. We said YA and she automatically said "You need a tumblr!"
I thought this was strange. I do have a tumblr. I don't use it often, and I certainly couldn't use it as my blog home (I've tried).
Well, when they began speaking, I understood why she said that--the speakers said, "You need to be where your audience is."
You're all aware that my book isn't published, and though I'd like to reach YAs, I feel that's why I have a Twitter and a Facebook. If those YAs out there want to find my blog, they will...through my Twitter or Facebook...and they probably aren't going to care that it's on Tumblr, Blogger, or WordPress.
But really, I didn't start blogging to connect with YAs. I started blogging to connect with other Writers and hopefully find people who will fall in love with my book--YA or otherwise. Now, that doesn't mean I don't want to connect with YAs, but when I began this blog, I just wanted to get into the community, find some help, and be around others who knew exactly what I was going through because they'd been there, too.
Now, when I'm published will this blog be different? I mean, it'll probably have an awesome, shiny picture of my cover on it. I'll probably get to post more about how my journey in the publishing world is going...but no...really, it'll be the same. I'm still going to want to connect with writers, and with people who love my book.
I get what they're saying...but in the end, I need to do what's most comfortable to me and being on Tumblr isn't comfortable. Also, Social Media is already overwhelming enough.
All of this made me curious as to why you, as writers, use Social Media. Why did you begin a blog? Do you find Social Media overwhelming?
I'm like you, I blog to connect with other writers. But I wonder about these things, too. I mean, at some point we should be reaching out to readers, right? I don't have a Tumblr account. To be honest, I don't even know how it works!
ReplyDeleteYeah, we should be reaching out to readers, but I think of using Twitter and Facebook as those avenues for connecting. Maybe I am wrong, though! However, I've watched Jennifer Armentrout go from around 600 followers to over 10,000 and she just blogs from her website. Tumblr feels awkward to me, it's like pinterest meets twitter...I never felt like it was easy to follow anyone, either! lol.
DeleteI find LIFE overwhelming, but hey, it's a necessary evil, eh? ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to social media, I think you have to go where you're comfortable. I know people who use twitter exclusively. I know those who have only a website. Some adore facebook and shun everything else. Me, I'm doing the media splits, between facebook, blog, twitter, linkdin, goodreads, and recently, pinterest. Personally, I think it's best to pick one medium, master it, and maybe juggle in another if you're comfortable. Most people really only do one or two mediums well, and the most popular seem to be facebook, twitter and goodreads for the reading/writing audience.
HAHA! Life can be overwhelming!
DeleteI agree--I like to be comfortable. Sometimes, though I think I am best with my blog, I have found it to be overwhelming, especially compared to the mountain of homework I have or the amount of writing I need to complete.
I'm glad you guys feel as media schizophrenic as I do! I like the idea of picking what makes me comfortable and focusing on it. Though I do have a presence in almost all of them, I'm only there to check in and move on.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I tend to use FB more just because it's sort of "home base" it's easy to jump over to my page and say a few things rather than think of a whole blog post!
DeleteI agree -- go where you're comfortable. Personally I find the blog to be a clunky way to connect with people because it's so much work to read and write them. Twitter is way easier and just as effective IMO. I know, when we were at the conference I didn't even have a Twitter account. Now it's all I use! Shoot me if you must, but I say life's too short to do things that don't make you happy.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you didn't have a Twitter until after the conference! I like Twitter, but I need to make it a habit, and it just hasn't formed for me! I agree-do what makes you happy!
DeleteLol! When I win the lottery someday (I don't even play, so this is really stretching it), I'm going to get myself a Social Media Assistant. Yup. Honestly, blogging and twitter and a forum already keep me hopping more than I'd like. I've just started FB too, but more? *sigh* Maybe a cloning machine?
ReplyDeleteOoohh, I want one of those!! lol. Or the cloning machine would be nice. Then I could do everything!
DeleteMost of my social media use is to connect to other writers. We have a great community and I'm thankful for all the support and encouragement. I started blogging years ago with a personal blog, but when I started to get serious about my writing, I created a new blog. Some social media outlets I don't use. I find my blog the most effective tool and then Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for the community as well, Christine! This is where I met everyone first, then I began to use other forms like Twitter.
DeleteSocial media can be overwhelming, and while there are benefits to having an online presence, I also think it's important to make time for my writing. So if I were to choose between signing up for another social media site and finishing up my MS, right now, I'd choose to finish up my MS.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Cynthia. I used to feel bad about my hiatuses, but you just have to sometimes.
DeleteI totally agree with you and Cynthia. Social media can be overwhelming and it eat up precious writing time. Sometimes I wish I would have waited until I was finished with my first wip before starting my blog...but then again, I know I would have missed out on a lot. The trick is finding the balance that works for you. I'm on fb and have been thinking of starting an author page once my ms is finished, and I'm just now starting to get the gist of twitter. That's enough to keep me half crazy, so I think I'll hold off on tumblr, but maybe later on I'll look into it because the speaker is right, you have to go where your readers are....
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I stared a blog before I completed my WIP, because I found so much help! I agree though, I think I have too much right now...at some point I may use Tumblr...but I also feel that my audience isn't just there.
DeleteThis is a good question! I use FB for personal use. I use my blog and twitter for my writing life. I've found fellow writers that help me, but I haven't found much readers,
ReplyDeleteI use my blog and Twitter to connect with other writers. Maybe someday when I actually have readers I'll use my blog to connect to them, but Twitter will always be to connect with other writers.
ReplyDelete