[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPMWWEscRP0&feature=player_embedded]
Jeff Vandemeer’s post on author platform got me to thinking. Really thinking. If you haven’t watched, do yourself a favor and take the 4 minutes to do so. Sure he’s pimping his book Booklife, but he’s doing it because he sees a need. He’s experienced enough of the insanity of the writing life to know a thing or two about a thing or two. At the :40 mark he gets into the hazards of using social media without a plan and the importance of educating yourself and setting boundaries. This resonated with me.
If you’ve spent any time on the web and you are an unpublished writer, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind, like all the other writers of the world are getting a leg up by being on various social media all the time (Twitter, I’m looking at you). Maybe you are and maybe they are. But if, by sacrificing your Twitter/Facebook/blogging time, you are better able to focus on writing the best work you can.
A great platform is nice, but writing without distraction and falling into the world of my creation – well, that’s the goods. I think that’s what makes me a better writer. I would rather have my writing speak for me than my 140 character snippets. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve said before that social media is a powerful tool, but when it eats away at the quality of the words and the story, web 2.0 needs to take a back seat.
Wait a minute. This from the guy who Tweets more than George Rogers?
Ha ha, kidding.
I say, stick with your current tweet rate. As long as it doesn’t take up too much time out of your day, or too much creative energy to think of something unique, I don’t see the harm.
By the way, have you heard of Sprouter? http://sprouter.com/
It’s design is supposed to connect entrepreneurs with venture capitalists. Go figure. we’ll see.
“but writing without distraction and falling into the world of my creation – well, that’s the goods.” Oh yes! It is!
But, does your on line distract you?
I find it adds to my inspirations and enthusiasm. Otherwise, what would be the point?
I agree that the online writing community is great and provides much inspiration. For me the problem arises when keeping up on everything winds up being the focus rather than the writing. I suppose it’s ultimately about balance, but if one or the other must suffer, it would have to be the social media. Thanks for commenting!