M.L. Desir’s Wednesday Down and Dirty Tip: Social Media
The days of authors languishing away behind their keyboard, clack-clack-clacking away on their latest story or poem are what one could call the good, old days. Of course, in those good, old days you could end up like Edgar Allan Poe – wandering the streets of your city delirious and distressed, then dying shortly after. Or you could share a similar fate to Emily Dickinson, a reclusive writer, who didn’t become popular until after her death. However, if you’re a writer who wants to be a Somebody are also new to using social media, here are some down-and-dirty tips. The easiest social media tools to use (in my opinion) are Twitter, Facebook, and blogs.
Why?
Twitter is similar to texting. It’s best done when short, sweet, and interactive because even if you don’t have something of your own to tweet at the moment, it’s entertaining to read what has already been tweeted and join in by retweeting, liking a tweet, or commenting on a tweet that caught your attention. I LOVE it! 🙂
Though it’s not my favorite social media, I do enjoy interacting with readers, friends, fans, and fellow writers who leave comments on my post. I rarely post photos and I’m thinking about posting more as time allows.
Blogs
In the beginning of my blogging journey, I procrastinated because I didn’t think I had anything new or interesting to say. However, I’m learning that even if I share views with other people, my take may be a little different based on my own individualized life experiences. I enjoy writing about lots of topics. The only problem I still struggle with is finding the time to write. Between working full-time as an educator, writing books, being mommy to three sons –ages 15, three, and three months – time is a precious, priceless luxury.
So, the down and dirty tip for marketing yourself as an author is . . . create an account, engage as much as you can, and with time and consistency the routine will become second nature, and nothing more than an afterthought. Like breathing air or drinking water, but uh, not simultaneously.
And yet, with the way technology is becoming so very intrusive and the rampant focus on egocentric me-ism, Emily Dickinson’s poem, I’m Nobody! Who are you? is a state of being much to be desired.
I’m Nobody! Who are you? (260) Emily Dickinson, 1830 – 1886
I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?
Then there’s a pair of us!
Don’t tell! they’d advertise – you know!
How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell one’s name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!
finis
Monique L. Desir 