Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

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Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

How sociable are you?

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In today's society, it's impossible to ignore social media. It can be minimized, but it's hard to completely eliminate it. If you're an author, you're encouraged to engage certain activities within the social media world. Some writers choose a boatload of sites before they eventually start reducing some of them.

I started this blog years ago because two different people online at sites I visited suggested it. Neither of those people still visit this blog. I do Facebook and Twitter, although basically on Twitter I just post links to this blog. I visit a few other blogs – many less than I used to – and currently I'm content with what I do. I'm privileged to guest post at Novel Rocket once a month. Although I've signed up at Goodreads, I rarely go there.

How important to you is participating in what social media has to offer?

 

Father, we can overload on so many things and easily be distracted from you and what you have for us to do. Please help me not to do that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

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4 responses to “How sociable are you?”

  1. BK Jackson Avatar
    BK Jackson

    First, I really enjoy coming to visit here at this blog. Like you, I used to visit way more. Now basically I’m down to this one and The Kill Zone blog, and even that one I don’t get time to visit every day.
    I have to preface my comments by saying I’m a writer-wannabe–I’m not actively marketing any books so I’m in a position to cash out of social media. That said, I’m not sure of the value in general of the requirement that you “have” to have a blog as a writer. Even for authors I DO follow, I don’t go hunting up their website. And when I do hunt up their website, it is usually because they write books in series, and I’m trying to find a list of their books in order. Or, I just like their writing related articles.
    Even if I suddenly regained quality of life, I doubt I would go back to haunting a thousand writers websites like I used to do–out of a sense of obligation generated by being a member of a writer’s organization such as ACFW.
    Technically I still have a blog but Blogger did something to the site and I can’t figure out how to access my own blog nor do I have time or energy to hunt them down. So I just said “forget it”.
    I DO think there is value for authors who use FB–especially if you are capable of providing a hook in the very first few words of your post. BUT if all the author ever does is bludgeon you to death with sales pitches it has the reverse effect and I ignore them.
    While technically I have a Twitter account (signed up for in the heyday of writer organizations urging writers to get on board any and all social media trains) I never ever log in or use it.
    And of course more forms of social media pop up all the time. I find it all wearying and sometimes I wonder if perhaps this is one of the reasons I never get in a hurry to put my work out there. Social Media can be annoying and I don’t want to be a snake oil salesman.

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  2. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    First of all, thank you for coming here, Brenda. You don’t only bless me with your thoughtful comments, you bless others.
    Second: I agree with you. Period. Well-stated, all of it. And I don’t consider you a “wannabe”. You’ve written enough to be a writer regardless of publication. That’s my opinion, and I’m stickin’ to it.
    Thanks for being here. I’m honored.

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  3. Brenda S Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S Anderson

    Boy, I think I’ll just copy & paste what Brenda said. 🙂
    Like both of you, I used to follow tons of blogs regularly, now I’m down to three, one of which is Nicole’s. I blog regularly, but that might come to an end soon. Statistic-wise, readership is steady, but interaction with those readers is very little. It feels like I’m adding my voice to the cacophony of bloggers out there, without standing out.
    Then there’s Twitter which is just annoying! I might post something periodically, but I don’t speak in soundbites, so I’m not clever enough to be successful at Twitter-speak.
    My Facebook page is slowly adding Likes. I try not to bludgeon readers with the buy my book message. One thing I do see on FB is authors who post the same thing to a ton of groups each day, so my wall is filled with author spam. Those authors sell very well, but I just don’t feel right spamming the groups. Guess that’s something I should get over if I want to increase sales.
    People keep saying Google-Plus is growing, but I don’t see it.
    And I use Goodreads to track the books I’ve read. I used to use Shelfari–I actually like Shelfari better–but more people are at Goodreads, so that’s where I go.
    Then there’s Pinterest & Instagram & Periscope & a zillion others.
    Personally, I don’t want to be ruled by social media, like so many are nowadays.

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  4. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    I’m thankful to you, Bren. Your comments here are always meaningful and I appreciate every one of them. I hope you’ll continue your blog – even sporadically. I rarely go to author pages on Facebook – if I’m going to “visit” an author, I prefer blogs. As you’ve no doubt noticed, I get into the down and dirty politics on Facebook, and I don’t care who it offends. I post the links to this blog but rarely get any comments from my Facebook friends here. Which is fine.
    This is it for me. I actually enjoy this although it’s taxing at times. I think to be “successful” at blogging, one does have to be consistent. My blog is not what the norm would call successful, but with you, Brenda, and Deb filling in the blanks it’s well worth it to me. Others view it and don’t comment – their prerogative of course.
    I like Shelfari too because it gives me a sense of accomplishment as I list the new additions. 😉
    Twitter is merely a no-pressure, little attention place. I got the most attention from it when I was able to contact Corey Miller from Reckless and posted about that short-lived series.
    I think we’ve come to the same conclusions about social media.

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