tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post2665315468893182116..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: Just Because Social Media is a Tool Doesn't Mean You've Got to Be A Tool Too.Candy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-65286238950234811502013-10-30T12:25:31.968+00:002013-10-30T12:25:31.968+00:00Nice post. If I get too many people trying to mark...Nice post. If I get too many people trying to market something constantly on my news feed, it's bye-bye. I'll post the occasional blog post from my blog if I think it's particularly good but, then again, I don't write my blog for a living, just for fun. Catherine Mayhewhttp://www.thesouthinmymouth.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-48637206637410955262013-10-30T11:19:30.188+00:002013-10-30T11:19:30.188+00:00Amen to all this. My platform is about 99% authors...Amen to all this. My platform is about 99% authors, so I post authorly things for them to look at and write authorly blog posts. If I ever get a children's book published, I hope some of them will want to read it, but they aren't my main audience and I wouldn't treat them as such. So, on a purely marketing level, I'm not building a very good platform, but on a personal level I'm just fine, thanks :-)Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-50147009867073601762013-10-30T11:17:28.531+00:002013-10-30T11:17:28.531+00:00I don't think think there's anything wrong...I don't think think there's anything wrong ending with a strapline "author of ..." or "my new book is" ... ir using the url/name sign in. As long as your comment was sincere and not just to plant a link to your book (we get spammers for all sorts of crazy products leaving links in the comments of this blog - it's actually hilarious and and we're thinking of featuring them in a blog post about pointless spam). <br /><br />The thing is: Internet users are streetwise to tricks like that. Better to use the url/name function when leaving a comment ... then people will check you out because your comment is interesting and not for any other reason.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-87207785706232093722013-10-30T11:08:59.566+00:002013-10-30T11:08:59.566+00:00I think these are new times though and we authors ...I think these are new times though and we authors do have to participate in marketing and getting the word out there ... it's the HOW we need to work on. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-79985031080988636842013-10-30T10:33:33.182+00:002013-10-30T10:33:33.182+00:00"As authors we are told on the internet that ..."As authors we are told on the internet that we can't just sit back and expect the publishers to do all the work" - indeed. We have done the work of writing the book. Don't let them forget that! :-) <br /><br />The purpose of a traditional publisher is to produce and sell books. We could do it ourselves (by self-publishing), but choose not to. So we should be wary of choosing not to and then doing it anyway. No one should be persuaded to do more marketing than they want to, in any medium. If you look in your contract you will probably see a clause saying that they have complete control over the production and marketing of the book. Hoist with their own petard!Stroppy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16560035800075465845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-44460553332651961802013-10-30T10:11:00.411+00:002013-10-30T10:11:00.411+00:00I found that so helpful, as I do get anxious about...I found that so helpful, as I do get anxious about promoting and although I have not done what that author did, I can imagine going against my instincts and doing it to combat my own shyness and reluctance, if you know what I mean. A lot of writers are basically shy, and we see other people promoting their stuff, and worry that we should just try harder. I know that I forced myself to mention the name of my upcoming book when I made a (relevant) comment on a book about history books, and now I worry that was similarly inappropriate. Sigh. It is difficult getting this right. As authors we are told on the internet that we can't just sit back and expect the publishers to do all the work, but we can go to the opposite extreme. Thanks for the reassuring calmness - I won't fret about not being v comfortable marketing my book, I will get specific advice from my publishers and agent, and I will get on with what I love - writing the next! I really hope the name check I forced myself to give my book on the History books site wasn't inappropriate. Thanks for yet another very good blog.Anne Boothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17160915179685300264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-43585274207587761192013-10-30T09:57:38.247+00:002013-10-30T09:57:38.247+00:00I think this is a real conundrum for independently...I think this is a real conundrum for independently published authors because they have no choice but to be their own sales department. I think the answer would be to to keep the sales persona wholly separate from the author persona.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-91522535826382194582013-10-30T09:51:19.686+00:002013-10-30T09:51:19.686+00:00Yes yes yes yes and yes!Yes yes yes yes and yes!Abi Burlinghamhttp://www.abiburlingham.talktalk.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-83189722774221222762013-10-30T07:54:34.433+00:002013-10-30T07:54:34.433+00:00Great post Candy. Couldn't agree more.Great post Candy. Couldn't agree more. Keren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-39015137373274156862013-10-30T07:29:13.546+00:002013-10-30T07:29:13.546+00:00But I acknowledge it's hard to find a balance....But I acknowledge it's hard to find a balance. Especially if say, you're an author who DOESN'T normally spend time on the Internet and think you've got to get out there. Thanks, Jane. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-79973713157121587722013-10-30T07:26:21.658+00:002013-10-30T07:26:21.658+00:00Heh!Heh!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-30202806080239803532013-10-30T07:25:44.004+00:002013-10-30T07:25:44.004+00:00Thanks, Nina!Thanks, Nina!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-64004163126936857042013-10-30T07:25:22.974+00:002013-10-30T07:25:22.974+00:00Cyberspace feels like outer space to some people. ...Cyberspace feels like outer space to some people. They forget that there are real people out there. Thanks, Maureen!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-12462583899071517192013-10-30T07:21:59.342+00:002013-10-30T07:21:59.342+00:00This is an excellent post, Candy. I think I reinfo...This is an excellent post, Candy. I think I reinforces the idea of doing what we do because we love it--whether that's blogging or tweeting or keeping up with friends via facebook or, of course, writing. Using social media primarily as a means to sell a book or promote yourself seems as dodgy (and pointless) as writing a book just because you want to make money. We're lucky to have these platforms, but their real use, I think, is as a place to talk and learn and offer support, not as a forum for selling or boasting. Jane McLoughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11560284790806029134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-57281710976281154072013-10-29T22:24:40.022+00:002013-10-29T22:24:40.022+00:00And have fun bloggie pals!!! Enjoy your blog, your...And have fun bloggie pals!!! Enjoy your blog, your own personal space in the big wide world of the internet! Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-88067688175668605392013-10-29T21:58:41.541+00:002013-10-29T21:58:41.541+00:00Excellent article, Candy. You hit the nail on its ...Excellent article, Candy. You hit the nail on its pointy head. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-75163249938612846732013-10-29T21:23:00.829+00:002013-10-29T21:23:00.829+00:00It seems that you're doing a bit of analysing ...It seems that you're doing a bit of analysing lately, Candy - The industry, being an author, and now social media. I think we could all do with stepping back from time to time to get a clearer picture of what's going on as getting a sense of perspective and reality is always good. And that author was rude. Would he behave like that in reality? I think not. Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-46782379233187641132013-10-29T21:09:28.937+00:002013-10-29T21:09:28.937+00:00What an excellent post, Candy - thank you very muc...What an excellent post, Candy - thank you very much Katy Moranhttp://www.katymoran.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-42055271409371648132013-10-29T19:17:06.313+00:002013-10-29T19:17:06.313+00:00I was friended by a writer who was friendly and lo...I was friended by a writer who was friendly and lovely but she kept posting her online book launch on my wall. After she did this 4 times in a week, I as politely as I could, as her not to do that and pointed her towards a post by Kristen Lamb on how to use social media to promote your books without pissing off people. She said she totally understood (which she didn't) and then unfriended me. Which is fine, 'cause she was badmouthing a writing association in her home country, and that didn't bode well for how she was going to behave. Ah, the things we learn. Thanks for your post, Candy. :)A. Colleen Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13626402785266163594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-51529986792872253272013-10-29T18:27:45.643+00:002013-10-29T18:27:45.643+00:00Thanks, Kath!Thanks, Kath!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-55666062710918886372013-10-29T18:27:34.480+00:002013-10-29T18:27:34.480+00:00Exactly!!!Exactly!!!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-76115791783286104382013-10-29T18:26:58.575+00:002013-10-29T18:26:58.575+00:00Well ... we are all idiots about a lot of things. ...Well ... we are all idiots about a lot of things. A lot of authors have not spent enough time on the internet to realise how they're coming across. They have to learn how to look before they leap.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-23275089332157171112013-10-29T18:26:13.115+00:002013-10-29T18:26:13.115+00:00Excellent advice, Candy - you wise woman, you! Excellent advice, Candy - you wise woman, you! Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-73134242943578807922013-10-29T18:19:12.263+00:002013-10-29T18:19:12.263+00:00I so agree, Candy - have been saying this for ages...I so agree, Candy - have been saying this for ages. But "And he was only trying to be a good author" is too lenient. He maybe was just doing as he was told. But the mark of an intelligent human being is to *think* before doing as they are told. As my mum used to say, "so would you jump off a cliff if they told you to do that?" You're still 100% responsible for your own actions, even if someone told you to do them. So don't let him off - he might not have been evil, but he was an idiot!Stroppy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16560035800075465845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-24013716696103392202013-10-29T18:18:18.778+00:002013-10-29T18:18:18.778+00:00Yes, yes and yes again!
There've been so many ...Yes, yes and yes again!<br />There've been so many posts over the last few months (I did one months back) about authors needing to do what they do best, and yet the clarion call from publishers for authors to have a social media platform just seems to become more strident. I read something the other day about having to be on Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr - in addition to being on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Google +. It's all too much - especially since I'm pretty sure way too much of the activity misses its target market. If I look at the number of authors following me on Twitter I wonder why - I'm not their target market; I'm way too deep into my dotage!<br />At the end of the day, as the article which Vanessa posted on FB yesterday said, the only thing that really counts, the thing that realises good sales figures is the book itself, which, if it's a good book will build sales figures by word of mouth.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871239587214383387noreply@blogger.com