It's the first Wednesday of the month and that means Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. If you are a writer and you don't know about IWSG, go HERE right now. (Right now! You can read this post later, this is more important!) Big, big thank you to this month's hosts! The IWSG founder, the ever impressive, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and his amazing co-hosts, CD Coffelt, Tina Downey, Isis Rushdan, and Michelle Wallace, thank you, thank you, thank you!! So here's the thing, I suck at social media. The reason may be, (and this is no shock to anyone who knows me) I suck at social real-life, too. I'm not a social person by nature. I'm thirty one years old and I have the same best friend I've had since the sixth grade. And other than my family, she's basically my only friend.
And I'm totally cool with that. I can't keep up with a throng of friend, I prefer to keep my social circle small and tight. Which is fine in real life, not so great online in a time where social media is such an important part of marketing. (PS. I suck at marketing, too.)
Don't get me wrong, I love my writing friends. I love reading people's blogs and FB pages, but I have a hard time keeping up. I don't know how people do it! Also, I don't know how to be interesting on social media without sounding fake. I rarely tweet. I forget to blog, or just can't come up with anything to say. I suck the least at FB. But even there, I've been posting teasers from RUN FOR THE ROSES every Tuesday, leading up to its release, and last Tuesday I totally forgot. I still posted on Wednesday, but geez. What is wrong with me?
Any way, that's it, I guess. If you have tips or advice you'd like to share I'd love to hear it!
How about you, are you a social media natural? Or do you struggle like me?
Oh gosh, I feel like I could have written this myself! Especially the part about trying to be interesting on social media without seeming fake. I can't manage that at all. I love blogging and am so attached to my writing friends but I totally suck at the rest of it. I can't give any advice but I can definitely commiserate!
ReplyDeleteI am a total introvert. Too much interaction with people, and I sort of melt. For me, it's all about defining social media in way that make sense to me. I don't jump into fast conversations. I blog, I tweet every once in a while. I mention cool scientific discoveries. I write cryptic poems. I adhere to KISS (keep it simple, stupid). Happy IWSG Day! I wave.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't have a hard time with social media, and when I express myself to the many people I have meant from all over the world, my expression comes from my heart. Something to share about something I am working on, making, want to do etc. In turn, I read what is going on with them. Everyone is different, just be yourself and don't beat yourself up about your feelings on the subject, it is what makes us unique and interesting! sandysanderellasmusings.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI'm an introvert, too. But I do better online because I can think about how to respond and not feel so put on the spot.
ReplyDeleteAs far as keeping up... I keep a folder with a blog schedule (calendar format) and I check Twitter via Hootsuite on blogging days (although I haven't been as diligent of late). I'm also going to cut back my social media time. I mean, if my writer's blog is keeping me from writing, what's the point? I'm going on hiatus over the holidays, then thinning my schedule out to about once a week when I return.
You're a busy mom. Find what works for you and stick with it. ;)
I find my social media - and even my blog - goes in cycles of having people I connect with regularly. In a couple of months' time I'll be remembering all the people I'm neglecting and they'll become the next cycle. And that's how I handle real life too, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteI'm also an introvert and finding my place here online took a while. I found it easier to focus on others and lose myself. Somehow that made it all come together.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first began blogging, I wanted to do it constantly, now it is a struggle. Everything is a struggle. There's just so many different outlets, and it's hard to think of things to blog about. I try to be good at at least one. I'm pretty good on FB, and I'm okay at Twitter, but my blog gets neglected when I have school. I think it's perfectly okay to not be good at social media (but I think you do a great job!). I think the world puts too much pressure on us to use social media--sure it's good for marketing and all that...but so many other people use social media, that people are bound to happen upon your books!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a social person, either. Being social online is a bit easier for me, but it's still hard. So...I have no advice to share, sadly, since I often flail when it comes to this sort of thing!
ReplyDeleteSocial Media takes soooo much time and effort. Although, I've loved meeting wonderful authors through blogging. And this IWSG helps a lot. You can read it in the writers own words how we are so similar in our hurts, struggles, and trying to write a good book and get it published. It's like have so many friends without leaving the comfort of you own home.
ReplyDeleteSocial Media is like making friends the hard way. It takes SOOOOOO much effort. There's commenting on blogs, and writing, and then writing about writing. Always smile. Try not to be the blackhearted grouch I am in my regular life when the world is significantly less awesome than I'd hoped. So yeah. I find social media to be hard. I make friends well enough, but really, I just want some me time with my stories.
ReplyDeleteI keep reading advice to pick one or two outlets that you enjoy and go with that. I think it's probably good advice I need to take more to heart.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I feel like I suck too! We all struggle, there's no way everyone can do it all. Plus, I know for a fact that you've made quite a few online friends. Stop kicking yourself, you're doing fine!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a social person too. I was friends with this person in college who was very social; almost every time we hung out she would invite a bunch of other people to hang out with, because she always liked to be with a big group of people. I, on the other hand, always felt more comfortable socializing with just one or two people at a time.
ReplyDeleteI am the WORST commenter in the world - real or Bloggy - I swear I'm so bad that it's amazing I'm even here :)
ReplyDeleteMy only tip would be to set up a reminder in your online calendar (this reminds me to tweet ) and as you saw I'm trying to make an informal schedule for ME, so I remember :)
PS... you know this, but don't ever force your "voice" to change - you are who's you are, right :) (so said Popeye, I think :)
I know I suck at social media. I have to improve but the only place I shine is my blog. Facebook is a little rusty (ha) and Twitter...pretty much on life support right now. So it's not just you Rachel.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you suck at social media! I love when you pop up on Facebook, and I never think, "Oh, Rachel, that was boring!" :p I think we all think we are dull, I know I do. Just be you - that's all you can be!
ReplyDeleteI think you are brilliant and very friendly- I also think you are wonderful at marketing. I have no Twitter or Facebook page and still I struggle with time and keeping up with blogging/ social media. To be perfectly honest, I even hate texting and prefer to pick up the phone and call my friends to hear their voices. Keep doing what you are doing Rachel- I think you are fantastic.
ReplyDeletePS: I also consider you a friend. So that means you have at least 2. :)
I totally suck at keeping up with social media! I keep thinking this book is NOT going to get written while I'm bloghopping or facebooking or tweeting or emailing... Gah. I only devote one day a week to blogging. It's all I can do.
ReplyDeleteDon't fret. Do what is best for you. :)
I'm such an introvert it's not even funny. I should probably go out more.
ReplyDeletewww.modernworld4.blogspot.com
rachel no worries!!! did you know they say writers are introverts by nature. i disagree, but some of us definitely are. my thoughts on how to break some of the barriers of that down?? when you're on facebook, comment back on something you like. do it a few times. you don't have to be on there all the time, just every once in a while. then...the more you do it, the easier it becomes. just like writing. the more you do it...the easier it becomes!!! i have faith you will be the most social butterfly in no time!
ReplyDeleteOh man. Social Media overwhelms me. I figure, we just have to do the best we can. That's all we can ask of ourselves, right? haha ;)
ReplyDeleteAs much as I like social media, there are those times when it's tough. I wasn't a very social person either, yet over the internet, I could actually communicate more efficiently. I was always better at expressing myself through the written word rather than running mouth (which used to get my into loads of trouble). The trick is to work at it - not all at once or a ton at time - just what you can. It's a trade of its own, and working at it is a surefire way to get better at it. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone! This is what I love about IWSG! I feel a lot better, and I will do my best to take your advice as well. :) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI go in spurts. Sometimes get more involved, sometimes back off. It's hard to keep up though. I feel like I miss so much cause I don't get on FB much. You do what you can.
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