I still prefer medieval clocks to tweets.
I brought a typewriter to college my freshman year. It wasn't just the times. I was probably one of the last college students to let go of the writing tool I felt comfortable with. When I turned in my first paper, my professor wrote a clear, direct note at the bottom: "Next time you will use a computer."
So it's no surprise I'm a reluctant convert to social media. I like to hang back when new technology comes out, waiting to see what benefits it might bring. A little like the Amish, who evaluate new tools like rollerblades or the telephone, and decide whether the new invention will bring them closer together as a community or not.
This blog came first - not so different from writing I've done all my life, a fairly comfortable space. Then I got used to Facebook. I resisted Twitter as long as it seemed professionally possible. But just like my college professor in 1987, my publisher and agent gave me stern instructions to get on the bandwagon and start tweeting. Most of it still seems like mumbo jumbo, but yesterday I realized the immense power of a single tweet.
Because of one tweet, I got booked on WGN radio in Chicago. A thoughtful parenting blogger wrote a stellar review, which mentioned Free Range Parenting guru Lenore Skenazy. Lenore saw the review and wrote a short tweet: "Sounds like a good book!" Because WGN follows Lenore, they paid attention and booked me. Now I understand.
So now I've seen the power of this odd, new tool. I still don't care for it, but I've experienced its power and relevance to my writing life.
Is social media helping your writing? Or distracting from it?
Heather -
way to go, Way To Go, WAY TO GO!
Thanks!
(Ditto what Laurie said!) 🙂
I'm with you, Heather. Slow to adopt new technology. I certainly agree the potential for value exists, as your examples illustrates, but it seems to me that the ability to drown in social media at the expense of actually writing is the far bigger danger for most writers.
That said, I do blog, have a Facebok and Twitter account, and also use LinkedIn, but mostly use them on the periphery. I usually only retweet items I've seen, or "like" something on Facebook. I try to blog at least twice per month, but have no subject focus because I'm not an expert at anything, especially writing.
I figure the least this is all getting me is experience with the medias, so if the time comes when I need to use them, hopefully as a soon-to-be published author, I'll at least know what to do.
Congrats on your serendipitous tweet. I look forward to reading my signed copy of your book as soon as it hits my mailbox!
Chris
A very smart approach, Chris. Getting used to it all takes practice, so wonderful that you are getting your feet wet so you'll be ready when that book of yours is ready (and not drowning in the meantime)! Keep it up - and thanks for ordering a copy of my book.
So glad that wee review was able to give you boost. It's a great book and I'm enjoying sharing it around. Lots of my parent friends have expressed interest. New favorite quote from it, "Don't berate yourself. Do the best you can, as often as you can."
Hallelujah!
Thanks again for the great guidelines!!
Good to have you visit! See what wonderful things you started?? I've seen all sorts of reviews of books, but the thoughtful ones are the ones that go places. So glad your friends are getting excited about the book, too. You are very welcome....and THANK YOU.
I'm on board with the no homework. My daughter went to Montessori schools (3 of them, in two different states) from age 3 - 13. She had no homework at all until the "Intermediate" level (corresponds to grades 7 and 8). And then the homework was mostly reading (and one day a week, Weds., they had a radically different schedule which included a "community lunch" where the kids prepared a hot meal for one another).
I wonder how it works for a teach though to have two students who are the exceptions in the class? How does this impact the lessons (which are not Montessori in nature, I'm sure, and possibly more dependent on the homework)? How does it impact the other students? What experiences have you had along those lines?
I'd also suggest that eventually homework is probably impossible to get around. If English teachers could only discuss the books read IN class time, well....not a lot would get discussed I think. However, when you get to high school, I recommend you prepare a letter that begins "Why my children don't do summer reading...." (The last two years, before 9th grade and before 10th grade) my daughter has been assigned roughly 5 books a summer. Not especially light reading, it has included The Count of Monte Cristo, Jane Eyre, Brave New World, The Autobiography of Malcom X, among others. It's a heavy load to carry, esp. while trying to go to summer camp, the beach, Grandma's etc.) I am not in favor of it, but would not be willing to have my daughter not do it. My support would not help her on the exams that come in the first week covering the summer reading.