tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post7878582670732143126..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: Why (Most) Authors Don't Need a Facebook Page.Candy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-62812021405385213572015-03-14T13:29:53.963+00:002015-03-14T13:29:53.963+00:00Great post! I'm glad I read this!Great post! I'm glad I read this!Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-45910355730365904652015-03-14T11:33:34.849+00:002015-03-14T11:33:34.849+00:00This was a fantastic read! Thank you! I was always...This was a fantastic read! Thank you! I was always overwhelmed by social media, tending to be more of a private person. Slowly, I learned how to maneuver it, and I started a FB business page for my children's storytelling business. I've watched as FB changed and changed and changed again. Some of my posts get one or two likes, other days it's 30 likes with several comments. It varies wildly, but for me it's worth it both for business and for just being "in touch" with folks. I so agree with the idea that "being human is the best kind of marketing." And... I've been a writer in various forms all of my life, but for me, doing a blog is a constant debate in my head. These days, I'm trying to take stories that I perform and get them on paper. My writing time is so tight, and I don't want to blog just to have a blog post out there. I want it to be meaningful. I fear that the pressure I'd feel to blog every day, or once a week, would sap my energy for the writing I really should be doing. Hearing you talk about making it meaningful not necessarily frequent really resonates. Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04392474952350346830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-52316609955269789482015-03-11T18:22:56.891+00:002015-03-11T18:22:56.891+00:00Great article Candy! Understanding the FB distinct...Great article Candy! Understanding the FB distinction really helps. <br /><br />P.S.: my initials are J.K. ;-)Jan Markleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317561950719847803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-35133651409510619532015-03-11T00:16:14.740+00:002015-03-11T00:16:14.740+00:00Yes yes yes - here's to being able to keep up ...Yes yes yes - here's to being able to keep up with less quantity and more wonderfully informative posts like yours Candy! Great comments here too! Interesting what Sarah McIntyre says about illustrators having a link to their site on twitter at the very least. Did anyone mention YouTube? I was recently told that even short 30 sec videos - not to mention trailers are the best way to reach our target audience - kids. Ive been looking at Youtube videos about how to film drawing etc - a lot of pioneers out there coming up with weird contraptions for overhead filming yet Zoella manages well with a simple board and markers - because her content is funny. Yes the human touch is key.Bridget Marzohttp://bridgimage.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-64827574148674825882015-03-09T17:00:53.029+00:002015-03-09T17:00:53.029+00:00Interesting. You must have readers who actively vi...Interesting. You must have readers who actively visit and engage - lucky you! Most of us will have audiences of the more passive kind who will wait for postings to appear on their feed (which is where FB exercises its power to hide you).Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-75046867448655557742015-03-09T15:06:41.566+00:002015-03-09T15:06:41.566+00:00Nick, I was feeling bad about our inactivity and ...Nick, I was feeling bad about our inactivity and wondering whether it was time to call it a day. It's a relief to see the traffic. As an avid blog follower, i must say that I tend to stop following blogs that post too frequently not just because of quality but because I just cannot keep up. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-82363124548038684122015-03-09T14:59:52.509+00:002015-03-09T14:59:52.509+00:00Let me see, it was something like this...
I can s...Let me see, it was something like this...<br /><br />I can see the point of just having one presence on Facebook, and having fans subscribe. But I like having two separate places, and most of the time put different things in them (though big news will appear on both). I think if I was constantly switching between making public posts and posts to just friends that sooner or later I'm sure I'd mess up and make something public I'd rather I hadn't.<br />My fan page does get quite a lot of posts and interaction with readers - particularly readers who are in other countries and reading translation versions. I don't see them so much on my website or Twitter, so perhaps Facebook is more of a thing in some countries than others?<br />But this is all an academic discussion for me: I kind of have to keep my Facebook fan page - it's linked in all my books and promo stuff.<br />(I won't tell you what 'promo' just mistyped as; suffice to say, I'm glad I caught it)<br />Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-18095588888687304552015-03-09T14:50:26.150+00:002015-03-09T14:50:26.150+00:00Come on, can't you remember what it was?Come on, can't you remember what it was? Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-40273035645232136002015-03-09T13:46:40.160+00:002015-03-09T13:46:40.160+00:00Regarding the quality vs. quantity question, I fee...Regarding the quality vs. quantity question, I feel that I should point out that this is the first post on this blog in almost 9 months, but it's still attracted 25 comments in one day! If you post it, they will come :-)Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-7836200171757355722015-03-09T10:02:15.219+00:002015-03-09T10:02:15.219+00:00Cheers, Rowena!Cheers, Rowena!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-48376128483017813762015-03-09T10:01:04.142+00:002015-03-09T10:01:04.142+00:00Sue, I just want to respond to what you said about...Sue, I just want to respond to what you said about posting regularly on a blog. I think it's more valuable to post meaningfully than to blog frequently. There is so much clutter on the internet as a result of advice to blog often in order to build an audience. If we only blog when we have somethong useful and considered to say, our posts will continue to be searched for and found for a long time to come. There is so much going on online, when our voices are absent, we are not really missed. And Facebook and Twitter are forms of blogging too, so not posting on the main blog does not necessarily mean your readers are not being served. The most important thing for authors is to strike a balance that does not impinge on their writing.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-63118222640300064272015-03-09T09:36:25.779+00:002015-03-09T09:36:25.779+00:00And just to add ... my fellow authors will appreci...And just to add ... my fellow authors will appreciate your putting forward the perspective of the target audience! Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-5062022273797855372015-03-09T09:14:37.962+00:002015-03-09T09:14:37.962+00:00Thanks, Sue. Yes I agree there's no point bei...Thanks, Sue. Yes I agree there's no point being found if you have no intention tof make yourself available. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-6954788052459687732015-03-09T09:03:08.830+00:002015-03-09T09:03:08.830+00:00I put up an in-depth and thoughtful reply. It appe...I put up an in-depth and thoughtful reply. It appears to have vanished!Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-42408110730310855482015-03-09T08:13:13.116+00:002015-03-09T08:13:13.116+00:00Fab adice, I can fell my brain saying 'doh...o...Fab adice, I can fell my brain saying 'doh...of course!'Kathryn Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439670363289229014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-3088124432633064342015-03-09T08:10:06.196+00:002015-03-09T08:10:06.196+00:00This is brilliant advice - really useful comments ...This is brilliant advice - really useful comments too and HOORAH for next book. Can I read it now? Can I? can I? Don't make me sneak into your house at night and steal it....:) xxKathryn Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439670363289229014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-87043674705832115092015-03-08T22:15:12.521+00:002015-03-08T22:15:12.521+00:00I agree that social media is overwhelming and I...I agree that social media is overwhelming and I'm absolutely behind you in "don't bother with a Facebook page". I just don't think you should keep ANY social media profile if you're not going to update it. When I was trying to get in touch with a certain US writer on behalf of my students, who wanted to do an online interview, he had a Twitter account with three tweets and thousands of followers. No way to get in touch there. As a reader, I was merely irritated. He has no web site of his own, so I tried his Goodreads profile. Sorry, thousands of fans, but no friends. No contact. I emailed the Miami Herald, for which he writes. No reply. Finally, I tried his publishers. There was a reply. It was "no." ." No sorry, he's busy writing us a book. Just "no." Written, I suspect, by an intern. At least they replied.<br /><br />And I know about these things. I understand. Imagine an average young reader's reaction when they can't contact their favourite writer at all.<br /><br />I doubt the writers I found on Livejournal had assistants chatting on their behalf about which baseball team they were following(and losing, dammit!) or what classes they were teaching next week. <br /><br />Kate Forsyth, VERY busy children's writer, has found ways to make herself available to her fans, even if she has to send a form letter(there are some questions she gets often). <br /><br />Charlie Higson, who says on his website that he doesn't often answer because he's writing, did answer and agreed to allow one of my students to interview him for my blog.<br /><br />Li Cunxin, author of Mao's Last Dancer, flat out arranging a ballet company tour, replied immediately and answered the student questions in less than a day! That post has had several thousand hits, by the way. And the kids couldn't have been more thrilled. They had watched him on YouTube before creating their questions - not just the film, the actual footage of him dancing during his career.<br /><br />Those children's writers I know personally who are on Twitter still manage to get books written. And they're available. That should make some sales. <br /><br />Looking forward to seeing your point "be found", Candy. :-)Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-53577739437387707872015-03-08T18:29:18.930+00:002015-03-08T18:29:18.930+00:00Thanks Candy, interesting reading. Thanks Candy, interesting reading. Heather Kilgourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07553036216216310308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-35218211907102568872015-03-08T16:34:30.660+00:002015-03-08T16:34:30.660+00:00Hmm did I really want to give you that kind of per...Hmm did I really want to give you that kind of permission, Jeannie? Congrats again on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Us-Jeannie-Waudby/dp/1908435631" rel="nofollow">your new book</a>!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-36555057040446042622015-03-08T14:58:55.389+00:002015-03-08T14:58:55.389+00:00Thanks Candy for your generous and detailed post. ...Thanks Candy for your generous and detailed post. Music to my ears! I am taking facebook author page off my to-do list. Hooray!<br />I'm glad your writing is going well. :)Jeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18153826649245862065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-62701595242386102112015-03-08T14:51:47.749+00:002015-03-08T14:51:47.749+00:00Really useful & welcome advice, Candy. Can'...Really useful & welcome advice, Candy. Can't thank you enough.Rowena Househttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11548957772863528477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-89662753278307882202015-03-08T11:59:33.284+00:002015-03-08T11:59:33.284+00:00Thanks, Addy. I've been wanting to do this for...Thanks, Addy. I've been wanting to do this for ages but I needed to write my book.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-59274754402420719322015-03-08T11:36:23.673+00:002015-03-08T11:36:23.673+00:00Thanks, Candy. Human sounds good.Thanks, Candy. Human sounds good.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-68872760011853654302015-03-08T10:35:03.360+00:002015-03-08T10:35:03.360+00:00Really useful piece, Candy - thanks!Really useful piece, Candy - thanks!Sue Purkisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084528571944803477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-52608137848988357452015-03-08T10:33:40.165+00:002015-03-08T10:33:40.165+00:00Huzzah! I love being human! Thankyou Candy for blo...Huzzah! I love being human! Thankyou Candy for blogging about something sooooo useful. addyfarmerhttp://www.addyfarmer.jimdo.co.uknoreply@blogger.com