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Social networking for writers
Social Networking for Writing
The
other day I mentioned social bookmarking as a social service
writers can use to promote themselves and market their writings. The bookmarking
services to use with websites and blogs (especially) are both parts of and forms
of social networking. The term applies to making connections with people on the
Internet. I think cyber-networking or digital- or electronic- or something other
than "social" would be a less confusing terminology, but we're stuck with
"social". Yes, it's the same as networking socially, in real life, but perhaps
with more intensity and intimate overtones.Just as in the physical world, social networking requires joining, attending, and participating to benefit. I'm referring to those special websites with interactive capabilities: Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Orkut, Friendster, to name some of the original and general ones. The concept is simple, really: sign up, add as much information as you wish to a profile, find "friends" with similar interests. Sharing your other social networking connections (sites and friends) is becoming more common, as are niche networks, like Flickr for photography, MyBlogLog, and LibraryThing for booklovers.
If you expand the definition of social networking to include participation in chats, forums and mailing lists, the potential for writers to exploit this newer tool increases. By always using a link or the name of your website/book/business in the signatures used on these types of sites, a writer can custom-build a social network, a fan base, traffic potential. Seeking out and contacting others, making cogent comments, offering assistance -- all are ways to "work" the social network. It isn't enough to just join and not be active. In fact, I think it may be detrimental to your appearance/reputation.
Ah, there's the rub: the work. It takes time, energy and concentration to utilize a social network. That's why writers must carefully select which ones to join and limit participation to a few at a time. Give one several months to show positive results. If it doesn't, then drop "unjoin" that one and move on to another. I find that a focus on one chat, one forum, and one general group are about all I can handle. While writers need to spend about half their time promoting or marketing, more than that becomes counterproductive in that there's no time to produce new writing. These Google search results will lead you to social networking sites for writers.
From: http://www.google.com/reader/view/
A poem by Maureen Wheldon
She holds a rose to her throat,
the leaves tickle her thoughts,
her face like a painter's palette,
her legs like easels.
She was once the beauty
stepping across the red carpet,
gracing coffee houses:
in an age of grace.
Now wrinkle-eyed,
she sits and sews and darns
her grandson's socks:
sitting in a wicker chair.
She sees her once dark
and lustrous hair,
and hears sweet music.
Maybe, it is just the trees
the summer trees and roses.
From: http://www.google.com/reader/view/
Tips for building a website (for writers)
Basics Can Work For New Authors
Whether you are just starting out as an author or writer or maybe you've been around for some time and want to get a new presence online. In this entry about The Writing Life, I wanted to give a few ideas about how to use the basics with your website to easily build a presence. At first, it may look complicated but it's not.
A long time ago, I learned the value of creating my own website. Yes, I could hire someone to do it for me. Many years ago I actually went in the outsourcing direction--and I found it frustrating. At times I couldn't get in touch with my web person--and every time I wanted to make the smallest and easiest change, it involved someone else's time--so I was charged for it.
The first step is to figure out what theme or topic you are going to address on your website. Who is your target audience or reader? Is it for a particular book or author? You need to focus on that theme so anyone who comes to the site will clearly know what they are getting and you can build repeat visitors.
I personally use one of the largest domain places, Godaddy.com Find an available domain and right before you purchase it, do a Google search for "godaddy coupon" and you will often find a discount code that you can use to get some money off the domain purchase.
After you have your domain, you need a hosting site. Choose one with flexibility and that hosts many websites and provides good service. The one that I'm using and recommending these days is Hostgator. It's inexpensive and you can do many things with it. Previously I was recommending Homestead. I still have some of my material there but I'm slowly moving everything to the new place. Homestead is still a good place but doesn't allow me to do some of the technical things that I want to do these days.
One of the options to quickly set up your site on Hostgator is to start a WordPress Blog. For an example, I've done this process for my terrywhalin.com site. The search engines like blogs and will pick up on the fact that you are using WordPress--even if it doesn't look or function like a blog. It will help your overall traffic and exposure online.
As I mentioned earlier this week, with your basic site, set up a newsletter and start the process of being directly connected to your audience. Pick up this free ebook about newsletter creation and read it carefully then begin the communications process. It's a step I recommend for every author or would-be author. Jump in at any point and if you do it consistently, it will reap rewards for you.
Finally I wanted to point out an article which yesterday appeared in my local newspaper, The Arizona Republic. I found this same article online and it's about Henry Winkler and his new children's book. Notice in the article Winkler is promoting his 14th Hank Zipzer book called Enter At Your Own Risk. I was fascinated with his struggle with dyslexia and how he's overcome it--yet notice Winkler's co-author or the writer for the series, Lin Oliver. I instantly recognized Oliver's name as the long-term Executive Director of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Many would-be book authors look for their own entrance into the marketplace yet struggle with their lack of visibility. If you are in this situation, can you get near someone high profile, join forces with them and use their platform to propel your writing into high gear? It's something else to think about for your writing life.
From: http://www.google.com/reader/view/
Poetry 101
Poetry Publishing Basics
Many new poets have become readers of Poetic Asides since when it began more than 10 months ago. And with close to 300 total posts, it's not a good idea for me to expect you to dig around looking for helpful publishing information. So, I'm going to give a real quick Poetry Publishing 101. (If you find it helpful, I suggest bookmarking this post.)
*****
Before you attempt any publishing, you need to read a lot of poetry and write a lot of poetry. I put reading a lot poetry first--and by reading poetry I mean reading poetry by contemporary poets--because this is truly the best way to learn how to write effective poems. Successful poets pay attention to what they like in poems and spin it around in a new direction. Of course, you should also write--daily, or at the very least, weekly. If you frequently go longer than a week without writing, you might want to try setting up a writing routine or even reading more poetry (because reading poetry often sparks new poetry).
Avoid rushing into publishing before you've worked on your craft for a while. For instance, I worked on my poetry for more than 12 years and wrote thousands of poems before I felt comfortable enough to try getting published. Even after that lengthy apprenticeship, I've still had more than my share of rejection slips. The competition is fierce, so to spare your ego (of rejection) and your bank account (of postage expenses), I recommend you exercise a little bit of patience in your pursuit of becoming a world famous poet.
*****
When you think you're ready to get published, start off by submitting to magazines and journals that accept poetry. Too many poets come to me asking how they can get their whole collection of poetry published when they haven't even published a single poem. (Of course, it should be noted that this is a natural way to think if you don't know the business of poetry publishing--so don't feel bad if I'm describing you.)
If you're not sure where to find magazines or journals that accept poetry, then I suggest checking out the most recent copy of Poet's Market. (Full Disclosure: I work on Writer's Market and recently have been going over pages of Poet's Market--and I edit the resurrected Poet's Market newsletter. So, yes, I'm a little biased to which reference I direct you.) You can pick up a copy at your local library or bookstore--or you can order online at http://www.fwbookstore.com/product/1538/23.
In this guide, you'll get more than 1,600 listings for magazines and journals, presses, contests, workshops, etc. But even more important for the poet new to publishing, it is loaded with practical articles and interviews that show you how to properly submit your poems.
*****
If you've already been published in several journals and think you have enough poems to put together a collection, the best way to get that collection published nowadays is through poetry book and chapbook competitions. Chapbook competitions tend to be for collections of less than 48 pages (usually 24-40 pages is the norm), while full book length collections trend over this 48-page threshold. Neither type of competition is easier or harder to win--so don't enter the chapbook competitions thinking it'll be a cakewalk because the size of the manuscripts are smaller.
*****
Of course, more and more poets are bypassing the traditional means of publication and doing it themselves. This tradition dates back as far as any poet can remember. Even America's great poet, Walt Whitman, was a self-publisher. But if you decide to go this route, make sure you can look yourself in the mirror and say that you're self-publishing for the right reasons. Don't do it just because it's the easy (or lazy) way of getting published if you actually want to build a readership over time. While saying you've got a book published can feel fulfilling, it loses its luster if the only people who own a copy of your poems are you, your mom, and your garage.
*****
Finally, I'm not gonna get into the whole can of beans with those FREE poetry contests you can find in the backs of magazines and online. Not in this post. Instead, here's my account of my first publishing experience before I decided to get patient (that's right I was full of ambition at 16--and learned a valuable lesson as a result): http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/Im+Coming+Out+Of+The+Closet.aspx.
From: http://www.google.com/reader/view/
Snipet from an article from Joanna Young.
Here's what King's got to say on the matter. Stay tuned for more in the month ahead.
You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair - the sense that you can never completely put on the page what's in your mind and heart. You can come to the act with your fists clenched and your eyes narrowed, ready to kick ass and take down names. You can come to it because you want a girl to marry you or because you want to change the world. Come to it any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page.
Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words
count
From: http://www.google.com/reader/view/
Five Lessons Poets can Learn From Henry Rollins
Five Lessons Poets Can Learn From Henry
Rollins
Henry
Rollins has had one of the most varied careers a creative performer can possibly
hope for. He has worked as a singer/songwriter, spoken word artist, movie and
television star, comedian, author and poet. While he had never achieved
blockbuster success in any of his chosen fields, he never lacks for
opportunities to work and perform. Here are five lessons poets can learn from
Henry Rollins.
Write about yourself honestly
I can’t really explain it, but I feel as long as I tell them my dark sides there is nothing they can dig up. – H.R.
Rollins’ spoken word performances mostly take the form of a personal memoir. He tells stories of unflinching honesty about his life, whether it portrays him in a good or bad light. The ability to look at yourself and the world around you with absolute honesty can come with a price. Allowing the world to see the true you is not only difficult, it can be downright painful, but it allows you to connect with your audience in a way that few poets ever manage.
Be open to change
I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention. To not be like your parents. To not be like your friends. To be yourself. To cut yourself out of stone. – H.R.
One of the qualities that has kept Rollins in the public eye since 1981 is his ability to move on to new projects. Rollins spent the first five years of his career as the front man for the band Black Flag. When it broke up, he went out and formed his own band. He also began to tour alone as a spoken work artist. He then began a film career with minor movie rolls. This eventually led to his becoming both a radio and television host. Over this stretch of time, he has also written numerous books. While his career has varied, Rollins personality and voice has remained remarkably steady.
Hard work will be rewarded
I just get things done instead of talking about getting them done. I don’t go out and party. I don’t smoke, drink or do drugs and I’m not married, that leaves a lot of time for my work. – H.R.
One of the reasons Rollins has had such a long career is because he has worked so hard. He is constantly releasing new material, touring and performing. He stays in the public eye because he always has something new to show people. The world can’t forget you if you never go away. Prolific writers may not be better writers, but they get more chances to succeed because they always have something new to show you.
Self publish if you have to
If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls. I will write always. I will capture nights all over the world and bring them to you. – H.R.
Rollins began writing books while he was front man for the band Black Flag. Like many beginning poets, his first efforts at self publishing amounted to photocopied sheets of paper. He later moved up to publishing chapbooks and eventually started his own publishing company. Rollins did what it took to get his voice heard. Today, self publishing is a much easier task. You can publish on the web for free or next to it. Printers are cheap and powerful now, so publishing chapbooks is not an expensive challenge either. Print-on-demand services like Lulu now make it fairly easy to release full-sized books of poetry and even sell them on Amazon.com. There are no more excuses. If you aren’t publishing, you should be.
Don’t be afraid to fail
Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength, move on. – H.R.
Not every poem you write is going to be great. It is hard to please yourself, and it is even harder to please others. Letting other people into the world of your work opens you up to their criticisms. No poet, no matter how good, is perfect. You can find fault with anyone’s work, and people will find fault in yours. Writing in general, and poetry in particular, is such a subjective means of expression that you can’t possibly please everyone. No matter how the good poetry you write is, especially if you become well-known, someone out there is going to hate it. Accept that there is no perfect poem and no perfect poet. Write what you can write and accept what comes.
Note: I am republishing this article of mine from another, now defunct, site.
From: http://www.google.com/reader/view/
Metaphor Creativity
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[Note from the Proprietor: In my continuing quest to avoid taking
responsibility for practically everything, you can blame this one on Brad Shorr.
What started out as a short post has once again unexpectedly blossomed into a
2-parter. Ah, well; that’s what happens when one waxes eloquent. Come to think
of it, that’s what happens when one bloviates a lot, too. But I
digress.]
By now you’re probably wondering where I’m going with this. 
From: http://www.google.com/reader/view/
Atmosphere in writing
Atmosphere in Writing
From: http://www.google.com/reader/view/
Natural Disasters Rattle the World
Natural Disasters Rattle the World
From: http://www.google.com/reader/view/
Encyclopaedia Britannica quote
From: http://www.google.com/reader/view/