On Breaking Habits, Managing Energy, and Extended Absences from Social Media

There’s a lot of discussion in the writerly blogosphere about the importance of social media, regardless of whether a writer is published. Much of the advice is valid: Social media is a great way of publicizing your work (books, blog, etc.), networking within the industry, and developing an audience. Personally, I’ve grown to appreciate Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest over the past couple years. They’ve either been instrumental with building the blog’s audience and driving more traffic, or helped me connect with other writers, bookworms, and SF&F fans. (In Twitter’s case, it’s been a blessing for both.)

So, why have I been absent from social media lately, apart from Goodreads? It’s not that I’ve given up on it. Rather, the absence began with an intention, then drew on longer for reasons I couldn’t pin down until recently, thanks to a book I’ve been reading and some recent reflection on the “energetic” toll this year has taken on me.
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What Do You Think?: E-Newsletters by Writers (Plus, A Quick Survey for You)

One of the most talked-about outreach tools for writers today is the email newsletter (or, e-newsletter). In fact, “start a newsletter” has been among the most suggested advice I’ve heard at Writer’s Digest Conference for the past two years – from authors, publicists, and publishing professionals alike. It seems valuable, especially since other writers have found success with them. Yet despite all the positive buzz, I’ve hesitated to create one.

Why? Well, up until now, it hasn’t been a priority. I’ve had enough going on that starting an e-newsletter would have taken time away from blogging and (more importantly) novel-writing. But now, with a slower blogging schedule and edits on the WIP’s third draft coming to a close, I have time to give it serious thought.

So, what are the benefits of an e-newsletter? What cautions should we keep in mind? Plus, I’m offering readers – yes, YOU – a chance to help me decide whether I should start my own e-newsletter and what content I may want to include. More details on that shortly.

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Interview with Rachel E. Carter, Author of the Black Mage Series

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There are countless ways of discovering authors and their books online. In the past two years, my top three sources have been Twitter, blogs, and Goodreads. That last site is where I met YA fantasy author Rachel E. Carter. While her books are still on my TBR list, I’ve enjoyed reading her book reviews and watching her interact with fans there. She isn’t just an author who adores YA fantasy; she’s one who engages, encourages, and respects other readers, including those who review her work.

Today I’m thrilled to have Rachel here to talk about her Black Mage series, whose third installment Candidate comes out on Tuesday, October 27th. You’ll learn more about her love for kick-butt female protagonists and bad-boy love interests, how music influences her writing process, and her tips on writing and social media platforms. And maaaaybe some Harry Potter and Song of the Lioness fangirling – which I wholeheartedly approve of!

Also, if you like e-books, you can buy the debut Black Mage novel First Year for 99 cents from Kindle, Nook, iBooks / iTunes, and KOBO through October 31st! Look for the links at the end of this post. 😉

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New at DIY MFA: Recurring Themes from Writer’s Digest Conference 2015

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My third and final article on Writer’s Digest Conference 2015 is live at DIY MFA! You could also consider it a “special edition” of my regular column, Theme: A Story’s Soul. I talk about some of the themes regarding writing, author platforms, community building, and other topics that emerged during the conference – and the glimpse they collectively provide into today’s writing career.

Click here to read “Writer’s Digest Conference 2015: Recurring Themes about Today’s Writing Career.”

Did you also attend this year’s Writer’s Digest Conference? What were some of the most meaningful lessons you learned or advice you received while you were there?

New at DIY MFA: #5onFri – Five Reasons Why Writer’s Digest Conference 2015 Was Awesome

DiyMFA

I wasn’t expecting Part 2 of my coverage of the 2015 Writer’s Digest Conference to post until next week at DIY MFA. But since it was ready, they snuck it in today instead. 😉

Today’s article is also part of DIY MFA’s weekly #5onFri series. As the title says, I offer five reasons why WDC 2015 was awesome – and why I’m already considering going back for 2016.

Click here to read “#5onFri: Five Reasons Why Writer’s Digest Conference 2015 Was Awesome.”

The third and final installment of my WDC coverage should be live next Thursday. (Yes, I’ve done a lot of article-writing the past couple weeks!)

Did you also attend this year’s Writer’s Digest Conference? What were some of your favorite aspects of the event? Which sessions did you attend?

Tweet Tweet! Guess Who’s On Twitter?

After contemplating it for a while, I finally decided to join Twitter! Now you can follow me there for updates on my writing projects and other related things. I’ll still use this blog and Facebook, of course. Just think of the Twitter account as another way to reach out to fellow writers and potential readers. 🙂

Click the link below to find me on Twitter. I look forward to seeing you there!

P.S.: Been trying to get the “Follow Me On Twitter” widget to work, but I’m not sure how. Any suggestions? Should I go to either WordPress or Twitter for tech support?

Coming Soon: Another installment of Mini-Review Monday is coming next week. Plus, WANACon February 2014 has begun, and I enjoyed the first presentation I attended – so I’m looking forward to the second one later this evening!