Okay, so I've read that sticky, along with quite a few threads both here and on the self-publishing forum. My intelligent human rating wouldn't be particularly high at the moment. I haven't done anything wrong, but I basically have zero online presence, except for here.
But I do write, quite a bit actually, and I'd really like to publish. I have no idea if that will be self-publishing or trade, although I'm going to pursue the latter option first, because I like the idea of entering the pool at the shallow end. But either way, everyone seems to recommend an online presence, so it seems I should establish one.
The whole idea of social media rather overwhelms me, so I thought perhaps it might make sense to ease into the thing.
Part of the problem with social media is that I don't know how to add value to it. Running about, hither and yon, asking people to buy my books (which don't yet exist) just didn't seem very, uh, me. But if I could approach it like I do AW, asking for the odd bit of help (like here) and trying to give value back by critting and posting comments that are at least meant to be helpful, that I could see myself doing. Except I don't really know how to start.
Where to start should probably be Twitter. I at least have a Twitter account (CathleenTown3), and I've tweeted for the pitmad thing. Not much of a start, but considering I've never logged onto GoodReads, don't have a Facebook page or website or blog, it seems the likely place to begin. And many of the self-publishing threads have said that Twitter is a valuable platform to be involved with. The question is how? And what on earth should I do to add value? I can hardly post a crit there.
Do I just look up AWers with whom I have nodding acquaintances and have Twitter in their signatures and send them a little message along the lines of "Hello, just wanted you to know I thought of you and I hope you have a nice day?" I could do that, but I don't really know if that's the sort of thing people do on Twitter. I'm happy to congratulate people on meeting their writing goals, like in the threads here, but currently, I don't even know if they post about them.
I figure this'll be a multistage process, so I've decided to break it into bits. Once I'm somewhat comfortable with Twitter, I'll add something else. And hopefully, I'll end up with a reasonable level of proficiency with social media by the time I publish.
So, I'm looking for help, if any AWers would be so kind, especially in the area of establishing a Twitter presence. Thanks.
But I do write, quite a bit actually, and I'd really like to publish. I have no idea if that will be self-publishing or trade, although I'm going to pursue the latter option first, because I like the idea of entering the pool at the shallow end. But either way, everyone seems to recommend an online presence, so it seems I should establish one.
The whole idea of social media rather overwhelms me, so I thought perhaps it might make sense to ease into the thing.
Part of the problem with social media is that I don't know how to add value to it. Running about, hither and yon, asking people to buy my books (which don't yet exist) just didn't seem very, uh, me. But if I could approach it like I do AW, asking for the odd bit of help (like here) and trying to give value back by critting and posting comments that are at least meant to be helpful, that I could see myself doing. Except I don't really know how to start.
Where to start should probably be Twitter. I at least have a Twitter account (CathleenTown3), and I've tweeted for the pitmad thing. Not much of a start, but considering I've never logged onto GoodReads, don't have a Facebook page or website or blog, it seems the likely place to begin. And many of the self-publishing threads have said that Twitter is a valuable platform to be involved with. The question is how? And what on earth should I do to add value? I can hardly post a crit there.
Do I just look up AWers with whom I have nodding acquaintances and have Twitter in their signatures and send them a little message along the lines of "Hello, just wanted you to know I thought of you and I hope you have a nice day?" I could do that, but I don't really know if that's the sort of thing people do on Twitter. I'm happy to congratulate people on meeting their writing goals, like in the threads here, but currently, I don't even know if they post about them.
I figure this'll be a multistage process, so I've decided to break it into bits. Once I'm somewhat comfortable with Twitter, I'll add something else. And hopefully, I'll end up with a reasonable level of proficiency with social media by the time I publish.
So, I'm looking for help, if any AWers would be so kind, especially in the area of establishing a Twitter presence. Thanks.