How much is too much marketing

Someone posted this link on facebook today: http://heyauthor.tumblr.com/ . I found it very funny, but it is telling. As writer's are we promoting ourselves too much. Yes, normally we are a bunch of narcissists, and we are trying to get our work out there to the masses, but as far as social networking goes, are we bombarding the internet with too much "hey buy my book" and not enough, "I'm just a real person, here's my life"

I admit, I don't Tweet all that much. I just don't have the time. And I do try to interact with people on there, but I feel like I'm lost because I'm just not on there enough, though I would like to be more. So yeah, I Tweet writing stuff. I also promote friends writing stuff. I also asks questions which no one seems to answer (because I just honestly think I'm not on there enough.

And I have heard that when social marketing like 25% should be marketing, the rest, just real life stuff. Or something like that. Don't quote me. So maybe I'm screwing up on my Twitter.

However, on Facebook, I think I'm doing it right. I have my personal page, and then I have an author page. So on my author page I write all about my author stuff. On my personal page, I mostly write about life, but if there is important writer stuff, like an event, or an awesome review, yeah, I share it.

I don't do much else as far as social marketing goes. I Tumble, which I've hardly done, and yeah, I've used it for writing, but I only have two posts. I Youtube, but that's pretty  much about writing too and people know it. When I veered off to life, people stopped watching me :( So I'm going to get back to a writing Vlog. Soon. Hopefully.

So, what do you think? Do you think writers go overboard when social networking? Or do you think it's just part of the biz? Would you unfriend/unfollow a writer who did nothing but tout their writing?

Friday Free For All: A Little Rant About Stupid Crude Idiots on Facebook

I use Facebook for all sorts of things. I connect with friends who are scattered all over the country, I network for my writing, I play games. It's a fun thing for me. Something I enjoy (maybe a slight bit addicted to).


I have over 2,000 friends on Facebook. Some of this is for my writing, some for my gaming. So, I know some of these people aren't going to be a high class of people. But really, what makes a person think they can IM me and ask crude questions.


Here is an IM I received this morning from someone I don't really know, just play Mafia Wars with (don't judge me, everyone needs their fun):


Zaid

hi

5:15amMegan

hi

5:15amZaid

may i plz ask you something?

5:15amMegan

yes

5:15amZaid

thanx

mmm.. can you plz sit on my face?

Really? Come on. And when I ignored him, he said please. Needless to say, we are no longer Facebook friends. I get a lot of IM's about Mafia Wars, so I assumed that is what he was going to ask me about.

And this is the second time this has happened. The first time was a few months ago. A guy asked me to blow him on IM.


Do these people have nothing better to do than sit at their computers and sexually harass others? Get a life, better yet, get a girlfriend. Of course, these guys are probably so socially retarded no one in their right mind would date them.


I know, this is the risk I take having so many friends that I don't really know. But I should have a right to my fun without having to feel violated.


Okay, rant all done. Thanks for giving me an ear. Love you guys.


Song of the Week: Redemption Song (love me some Marley)


Movie of the Week: A Simple Plan (that is one messed up story)


Book of the Week: Twisted Tree by Kent Meyers (reading it for Amazon Vine, don't know how I feel about it yet)


Quotes of the Week: "There's nothing more dangerous than a resourceful idiot." ~ Scott Adams


"Is being an idiot like being high all the time?" ~ Janeane Garofalo

Top Four Ways to Get Through NaNoWriMo: # 2 Shutting Down Social Networking Sites

Don't kill the messenger.

I can't get through the day without my Facebook. But seriously, if you're going to write 1,700 words a day, 50,000 in a month, you have got to kick the Facebook, Myspace, Hi5, or whatever your socially networking site of choice is habit.

You may think you'll be able to just keep it open in the background, for a little distraction here and there. But I'm telling you, that distraction will turn into a couple hours, and when it's 4:00 pm and your family is going to get home soon, and you've only written 200 words, you'll regret it.

You'll go through withdrawals for sure if you're as addicted as I am. You'll miss the chat, the posts, the pictures, your mafia wars, vampire wars, farmville, whatever it is you do on there all day. In the end it will be worth it.

Warn everyone you know as well, so they don't go reporting you as a missing person.

I almost forgot, if you want to register for NaNoWriMo click here.

If you want to buddy up with me, here's my profile page.

Yes, I get that this is yet another social networking site, but it's one that's supposed to keep you on track with your writing. So just enter your word count and move on. Nothing more to see there. :)

Good luck.

Introducing...Me!

Mood: Tired
Current Read: Nasty (by my friend Bret Wright, Review to come soon)
Listening to: The sound of my keyboard clacking underneath my fingers
Current Write: Rough Waters

Welcome to my first blog. My name is Megan, and I'm a writer. It sounds like I'm introducing myself at and AA meeting, doesn't it? Sometimes I feel like there should be a 12 step program for writers. You know, just to keep us going, get us through, stop us from giving up our dreams.

Step One: Admit that you have talent, and that talent should be shared with others.
Step Two: Whenever you question your sanity, you should probably be writing.
Step Three: Make the decision to write every day no matter what.
Step Four: Search within yourself for your story.
Step Five: Don't be afraid to tell people you are a writer.
Step Six: Be entirely ready to face rejection.
Step Seven: Realize you have shortcomings and you will probably need to edit and edit and edit again.
Step Eight: Make a list of your goals, and try to see them through.
Step Nine: Realize that not everyone will like your work.
Step Ten: Take critiques with an open mind.
Step Eleven: Realize that it may take many no's to get one yes.
Step Twelve: Never give up.

What do you think? Does that work?


Okay, aside from being a writing addict, I'm also a social networking addict. I have a profile at Amazon.com, Myspace, Facebook, Jacketflap, and I'm sure other sites that escape me right now. It only seemed the natural order of things to start a blog. So, here I am.

As far as writing projects go, I have started a Middle Grade series, the first book being titled, Dena Powers: Superhero? I have three finished, yet unedited books completed in the series, and have up until this point been actively trying to get the first book published.

I also have a work of adult fiction complete, titled, What Gets You In. What happens after we die? It's not really a religious piece. The story is about thirteen people and their journey into the afterlife.

My newest finished manuscript is called Mending Fences. The protagonist, Austin, sets out on a journey to restore the lives that have broken around him. Why? Well, you will have to read the book when it comes out to find out.

My other hobby is video. I have a video series called Chronicles of an Aspiring Writer. They can be found on youtube, here http://www.youtube.com/user/itlnbos and also on my Facebook profile. I'll be posting them here in the near future.

I guess that's all for now. Thanks for reading me. Hope you come back often.

Ciao!

Megan