Wondering
I've been comparing notes with writer buddies, and I've begun to wonder if the only way to have real success as a writer today is to be a major on-line presence? Does high visibility ensure nominations for awards? Increased sales? Better reviews?
If so I guess an early retirement is in my future. I would rather the time I spend in front of a computer be spent writing. It's also very hard for me to talk incessantly about what _I'm_ doing. It feels like you're forcing conversations on people, and I've always found that asking people about themselves and then listening leads to much better conversations. Maybe the way to do that is to have guest bloggers?
And what leads to that high visibility? I'm very private person. I can't tell you about my personal life. It's no one's business and it's rude to force intimacy on people you don't know well.
And I'm bad about posting. I always have good intentions. I'm going to post pictures of Vento and me and talk about the maneuver we're executing and how I achieve that particular move. But then I wonder, does anybody give a damn about upper level dressage? Once I got permission to talk about the AI conference I attended I was going to write up a report, but so much time has elapsed, and it feels stale now.
I'm damned if I'm going to bore you with what I ate for dinner, or that I mowed the lawn. It feels like a blog should be about something, but I'm a writer. My life isn't that interesting. (It will be interesting for the next month while I'm in Australia, and I'll try to be good and post a lot from my new IPad, but then it's back to dull routine.)
So, what do I write about here? I talk about the movies I've seen because I feel like I have something to offer there. When the antics of the politicians leave me breathless with rage I feel I must respond. I try to talk about books I'm reading, but since I'm a PKD judge this year I don't feel that's proper, and if I'm reading something that isn't eligible I tend to re-read books I love -- THE WITCHES OF KARRES, or a Heyer book.
I suppose this is a pre-ride ponder as I look at the state of media, and realize that none of us has any idea what's going to be the end result of these profound changes.
I wonder if Dickens would have blogged?
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written by rand, August 23, 2010
I suggest hiring a great publicist & a marketing strategist to get your name out to more people via interviews, expert panels & product placement connections. Remember Harlan Ellison's Chevy Geo commercials? Hilarious, even a little ridiculous but very effective in reaching a large demo that wouldn't ordinarily know who he is or seek out his work. Stephen King makes serious $ endorsing products. You're a beautiful, highly intelligent woman who could inspire young women/men to pursue science or writing or law through a certain computer/cell phone/credit card/et al. & in turn that allows you to connect to those like Alice who aren't as savvy to go the extra mile like her but would still be interested in what you do. (sorry if it all sounds so media whore like & shameless but w/ the playing field shrinking to certain pipelines run by just a few corporations; PR, rather than good work, seems the only way to get attention because they wield a great deal of the power)
Just a thought...
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written by Melindas, August 23, 2010
I enjoy going to conventions, and meeting people. Connie Willis said it worked for her. It's takes time, but you have the pleasure of getting to know and learn about people along the way.
As for publicists -- friends have had mixed results with that. One writer swears by it, a couple of others told me it wasn't worth it.
And if they bring out the urban fantasy under another name I may have to blog as that person too -- oy! Or maybe I'll just do a Daniel Abraham and admit up front that Phillipe and Melinda are the same person.
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written by Linda, August 23, 2010
You feel you don't have an interesting life, but it's way more interesting and well-stated than mine! At least you can write. I enjoy your views on politics and insanity as well. Keep doing what you feel in your heart, as long as you have enough to feed you and your horses. I only make enough money to feed me and my cats.
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written by Chris, August 26, 2010
I wonder if he had rabid fans?
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written by Ty, August 27, 2010
That's the only part of the writing gig that will feel like *work*.
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There are some things you can do to push your content to other venues and increase the chances that someone will stumble across what you write, without necessarily doing a lot of initial work (besides the initial outlay of time to set up these things, and just a bit of time to publicize and get the word out). Auto-repost of entries to an LJ, tweets, Facebook (or a Facebook fan page/publicity page, if you want to keep your Facebook page to friends only), etc. are all pretty straightforward these days.
Now, actually holding conversations with people on all these different venues -- which is important to sustained growth of readership -- would be more time consuming...
I don't personally ride, by my fiancée does and she often looks over my shoulder when there's a Vento post. I'm very interested in your views on movies and television, OTOH, and definitely enjoy those posts, as well as commentary on writing in general (and your writing in particular).