Keeping Up Appearances

By that I mean “social networking” it may sound easy but as a writer you’re delving into limited resources such as time to accomplish the goal. There’s no easy way around it and unfortunately, it’s a must in today’s competitive market.

You want your name out there so people (your readers) can get to know what you are about. They followed your blogs, tweets on Twitter, they corresponded with you on forums such as RT Book Reviews http://www.rtbookreviews.com/ or RWA Online chapter http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/ or any number of forums. Or read your articles on sites such as Hubpages http://angeliquenewman.hubpages.com/ or Wikinut http://www.wikinut.com/author~xekjh/Angelique-Newman/ Your name becomes familiar and easier to spot in bookstores or wherever they choose to get a book.

Beside the time and energy it takes to put into networking, you’re selling yourself as an author and the reader will get a feel for your writing through the posts you submit. In this tough economic time, it’s hard to part with money, so the reader wants to make certain they find the most satisfying read for them. I like to think of it like matchmaking a reader to an author. Perhaps it’s the romantic side in me.

So pace yourself and always put your manuscript first; but when you have the chance interact with others and get to know your viewers; you never know you may just find a match and be put on someone’s must read list.

And So It Begins . . .

I'm officially a blogger. Again I am stepping into unfamiliar territory. Who knew writing a manuscript could get so high tech. Years ago I thought all you needed was a good imagination and a pad of paper. And of course years to churn out that masterpiece, tweaking and tugging into place so you can stand back and admire it with unhurried pride.

And that's when I woke up.

I've since learned writers had dual lives. I like to think of it of as a (Superhero / heroine) syndrome. They're nurses, doctors, hair dressers, cashiers --- heck even judges! They're cranking out one to three books a year, blogging, networking going to conferences. And still they manage to juggle careers, family life --- then once again when the muse strikes, they're on the case, tackling a story until they get their desired end. Of course the people who are closest to them know when they're on the next lead. The writer has that far off look, their listening and yet . . . well their thoughts are on the next page of their life.