Welcome to number 5 of the Top 5 Things I Wished I Knew Before I Started Writing. This is part of the Mini Blog Hop for The Magic Wakes blog tour, and came about from a discussion the author had with a group of teen writers. The blog chain starts HERE. If you go to the very, very bottom of this post, after the book blurb, you can find direct links to each post as well.
5. Platform Building (Putting on Your Social Face)
Blogs, twitter, facebook, google+, etc…
There wasn't a lot I needed to tell teenagers about how to build an online presence. :) My only suggestion to them was to remember that everything they put on the internet is there for the whole world to see. I also suggested that while they tried to think/act/speak more professionally, they needed to be themselves. You can only be something you're not for a short time. And no one likes a fake.
Now, the one thing I wish I had known personally was how addictive social networking could be. I LOVE reading blogs and interacting with people through email, twitter and facebook. The problem is that with all this socializing and “platform building” I’m not writing as much as I used to.
I believe it’s important to set some guidelines for yourself when it comes to social networks. Here are the guidelines I set for myself.
- · I can’t, and don’t have to do all of them. Find the ones I enjoy and let the others go. I enjoy twitter, facebook and blogging, so that’s where I participate in the online community. I still have accounts on SheWrites and several other communities, but I just don’t have enough time to be active there.
- · Be myself every day. That means it’s okay to talk about my life outside of writing. It’s okay to share excitement and anxiety.
- · Writing comes first! Social networking second. For me this means I put in my writing time before I sit and get lost in the blogosphere. I tried writing on M, W, F and blogging on T and TH, but that didn’t work for me. Now I check my email and facebook, but I watch the clock and after 15 minutes I turn it off and write. After my writing block I can start going through my google reader.
- · I don’t have to comment on every blog I read. In a way I hate this one. I wish I could comment on every blog, but the truth is I don’t always have something noteworthy to add to the discussion. I’d rather wait until I have something worth saying. I just hope some of my friends know that I’m lurking in the shadows.
Q4U: What rules have you set for yourself?
Links for Charity Bradford!
Author Bio
Charity Bradford has been a voracious reader ever since her 5th grade teacher introduced her to the world of books with Where the Red Fern Grows and Summer of the Monkeys. She’s the mother of four kids that keep her on her toes, constantly reminding her that imagination still makes the world go round. She lives in Arkansas with her hubby and children, and firmly believes that a smile can solve most problems. The Magic Wakes is her first novel.
Book Blurb
Talia has a secret, one that will save her world and yet rip it apart. Only she can decide if the price is worth it.
Scientist Talia Zaryn has always had visions of an alien invasion and of her own death. She’s kept it a secret, hoping they are nothing more than childish nightmares. But when her face in the mirror matches that of her dreams, she fears the dreams are prophetic. Talia must prove that life exists beyond their planet, Sendek; perhaps then people will prepare to fight.
Talia’s work at the Space Exploration Foundation leaves no time for personal relationships, but Major Landry Sutton isn’t looking for a friend. He’s looking for a traitor. His ability to sense emotions convinces him Talia is that traitor until a touch sizzles between them. In an instant their minds are connected and they can communicate telepathically. Just as the two begin to trust each other, the invading force arrives.
Talia and Landry must uncover the secrets of Sendek’s past if they hope to defeat these terrifying creatures. And Talia is the key—if only she can learn to trust the magic coursing through her veins.
5 Things I Wish I Knew About Writing Before I Started Mini Blog Hop
Alex Cavanaugh--Intro to Blog Hop
Cally Jackson--Time
Elizabeth Poole--Publishing Options
Kay Froebel--The Process
Mason Canyon--Critique Partners
Katy Sozaeva--Platform Building
Great post. I agree about the platform building. I love the blog hop idea with fantastic advice and insight. Thanks for sharing Charity's book. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
DeleteThanks Katy!
DeleteThanks for hosting me Katy!
ReplyDeleteGood tips! I think setting a timer is really important!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in creative writing courses in college, this was something we all had to do. We were supposed to set pen to paper and write for 20 minutes. If we couldn't think of anything else to write, we were supposed to just write "relax" over and over until something popped into our heads. I came up with some cool stuff doing that1
DeleteSometimes that timer is exactly what we need to push ourselves forward.
DeleteThanks for having me here today Katy! And thanks for the honest review.
ReplyDeleteI tackled the media I liked best first and then learned to work in some of the others.
ReplyDeleteGood points to remember. Glad you said it.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea M Pax!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for coming by Weston!
really awesome post as usual! I actually didn't have time to read it when you first posted it so I started the email and finally got to it! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have done the same thing, reading them through e-mail. When I'm really busy I sometimes have to skip, but I usually go back and check things out later. Happy to have you drop in!
DeleteAwesome Post!
ReplyDelete