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Friday, August 31, 2012

Getting to know you

Where do you write?
1.In a smooshy black leather chair. Laptop in my lap.

2.Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?
The remote control. I CONTROL THE SPICE!

3.Favorite time to write?
When I have an idea and a few minutes to actually get something down. It can be anytime, but sometimes inspiration strikes as I'm walking out the door to go to work. Inspiration, thou art a heartless bitch.

4.Drink of choice while writing?
In the mornings - coffee. The rest of the time, there's no set drink. Suppose that's boring. Okay, um, the tears of my vanquished enemies.

5.When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?
MUSIC! Because I write in the same room as the tv and my noisy husband.

6.What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?
It came to me as a dream. I added a new beginning, and then had to figure out where to go after the dream ended, but the idea came from a dream. My subconscious has ALL the talent.

7.What's your most valuable writing tip?
Writing is work. People might think that you are “just” writing. Eff that. YOU ARE BUILDING WORLDS. There is nothing insignificant about that. Your writing deserves your time and attention. The laundry can wait. I promise. ;)


Monday, August 6, 2012

Where are their friends?!

This is a sort of open letter/ PSA to the writing community regarding social media, and holding our friends accountable.

Are we the company we keep? If our publishing house sister is spamming the crap out of Twitter, does that reflect poorly on the house, and ourselves?

There is a fine line between self-promotion and spam.

Some writers are fine dancers, courting the line but never stepping on its toes.

Other writers pole vault right over that line, straight into the land of ZOMGLOOKATMELOOKATMELOOKATMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whenever I see one of these pole vaulters, I can't help but wonder where their friends are. Where are their crit partners? Where are their friends? Agents? Anyone? ANYONE?!

This writer is alienating their fan base/ followers. They are engaging in social media practices that are detrimental to their success.

So why aren't their friends saying anything to them?

We can be happy for our friends while holding them accountable for the things they are doing/ saying. If one of my CP's/ friends was constantly Following/ Unfollowing people to try to get their attention, or spamming my Twitter/ Facebook feed with shameless self promotion I would SAY SOMETHING!

Maybe these people's friends HAVE said something, and they didn't care to listen.

If that's the case, then we need to spread awareness about this. When I see a mention of your book, I should be excited, and happy for you. I shouldn't roll my eyes and go, 'oh fuck, here we go AGAIN. I hate this book and I haven't even read it...'

Friends don't let friends sabotage themselves. Friends shouldn't let friends self-promote to the point of Spamming. You may think one or ten posts a day isn't a big deal.

But when it's the SAME post, or a slightly different worded version of the same post, it's like gum we've already chewed. We're going to spit you out. We want something fresh.

Interact WITH us, don't talk AT us. It's a much better way to promote yourself, and your work.

Hold your friends, and yourselves accountable. We're all in this together.

Thanks.