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3 Clicks to Better Blogging & Social Media

IMG_0432I’m teaching a workshop on Blogging and Social Media for Writers at Red Oak Writing this Saturday. The powerpoint slides are ready, I have notes in hand, and the computer is all juiced up.

Even though I’ve gone through my stack of articles gathered over the last several months, I’m still coming across new ones of note. This is a hot topic: balancing writing with author platform, figuring out if we should or when we could or how to begin.

There are still seats available for the workshop. Email me through my contact page if you’d like to join us to talk pros and cons of blogging, strategies and etiquette of social media, and which digital outlets might serve writers best.

If you can’t make it Saturday, because you live states away or you’ve recently moved to the Caribbean (I’m thinking of you, Julie, basking in that tropical sun), here are three links to articles that hit on some of what we’ll discuss.

1. How to Write a Great Author Blog AND Avoid Huge Ships

Blogging is THE most resilient form of social media and one of the best tools to build an author platform. Why? Readers read blogs. Perfect snare for readers. 

Kristen Lamb talks right brain, left brain, and how you can use your muse for blogging as you do for your fiction.

2. Finding a Balance Between Writing and Marketing

The one thing no one ever told me before my first book got published was how much time I’d spend on non-writing related work. Even if you’re a traditionally published author, you have to engage your audience, which often means using social media.

Joshua Graham says even bestselling authors have to engage in social media while writing their next book, and he gives six tips for balancing between “your creative and business life.”

3. 50 Simple Ways to Build Your Platform in 5 Minutes a Day

Writing rules. Self-promotion drools. Isn’t this how most writers think?

Christina Katz reminds writers that we can’t just stick to pen and paper in the 21st century and assume our art–alone–will lead to success. We’ve got to take ourselves online, and she gives us 50 quick tips for taking it one step at a time.

See you Saturday or see you online!

 

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A Baker’s Dozen of Links for Writers

It’s the season of sweets, gift giving, and toasting to a new year.

So, from me to you…

…A Baker’s Dozen of links to articles, interviews, and posts from this last year that have inspired me to write, reaffirmed my commitment to write, or changed my perspective when I write.

1-5. Stocking Stuffer posts by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi (at The Bookshelf Muse) on:

Each post offers five simple tips that will help you tighten up your writing and/or strengthen your story.

6. Lynn Capehart’s article in The Writer on inclusionary writing. I won’t ever look at character descriptions the same again.

7. Lydia Sharp’s post on the Difference between inciting incident and catalyst. This post, along with a great first chapter critique I won over at Becky Levine’s blog, helped me reshape the first chapter of my novel and set my story on track again.

8-11. Author interviews I’ve had the honor to conduct, in which authors share the story behind the story, offer insights into the challenges of historical fiction and research, or talk about the passion behind their characters:

I’m looking forward to several more author interviews this year from Cathryn Grant (whose debut novel, The Demise of the Soccer Moms, will be published as an e-book in January), from Danielle Evans (Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self, a wonderful collection of short stories), and from Rebecca Rasmussen (The Bird Sisters, due to be released April 12, 2011).

12. Kristen Lamb’s post on the Writer Reality Check. “Takes guts to be a writer,” Kristen says, and she lists some realistic expectations for those of us who want to make writing more than just a fun little hobby.

13. A call to action from Writer Unboxed for all Writers to Pay It Forward. “Paying it forward is something we can all do because no matter where we are in our writing careers, there’s always someone just one step behind, hungry to learn.” Much of the time, I’m the one a few steps behind. I could not grow without the encouragement, support, and wisdom from writers who are further along than me, and I can’t fully embrace those lessons until I pass them on to someone else.

There you are! Happy New Year, my friends!

May your days be full of writing and your muse be close at hand.

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