Introverts and Social Media

I'll admit it. I was dragged kicking and screaming onto Facebook. I caved to peer pressure after all my friends joined and then my book club (which I started with 3 of my friends) created a FB page. They sent me annoying yet humorous emails saying that I wouldn't know about future meetings unless I joined. So I finally drank the Kool-Aid and....well, I don't hate it as much as I thought I would. Though I rarely post myself, I love commenting on the updates of others and it's a fun way to stay connected with friends and writing colleagues.

Why is this important to writers?

Yes, a writer's main job is to write the best darn book they can. If you don't have that, all the social media connections in the world won't help. But that's not a writer's only job. It's more important than ever to have an online presence and to connect with the world online. This can be through things like blogging, a website, Facebook, Jacketflap and Twitter.

But I'm an introvert....
Yeah, so am I. I actually think social media is perfect for introverts because you don't have to worry about the face-to-face interaction. It's less anxiety provoking. I've read online that you should only do the things you love and I agree BUT if I hadn't pushed myself out of my comfort zone by trying the blog thing, I never would have discovered that I love blogging. LOVE IT. Just remember that GROWTH=BEING UNCOMFORTABLE.

You know what makes me more uncomfortable than anything?
TWITTER. I practice what I preach and set up a Twitter account despite not understanding anything about Tweets, Twitters, or various other T words I'm missing. I even sent out one Tweet that I thought went to my blog Sisters. They informed me that it went out to the whole Tweet-o-sphere. Yeah. I haven't Tweeted since. Is Tweet even supposed to be capitalized? Please, somebody let me know. Also, has anyone written Twitter for Dummies yet, because I will buy a copy from you RIGHT NOW--seriously, email me. I even have several followers despite my lack of Tweets, so I feel kinda lame about that. Anyway, my goal is to at least know enough about Twitter to figure out whether I want to do it or not.

Bottom Line
Publishers expect authors to have some online platform--even if you write fiction. Agents are focusing on your manuscript, but they're also looking at your web presence. The days of brilliant prose written in a dark attic room while leaving the marketing to the publisher are long over. Figure out what you love, or at least what you're good at, or at the very least what you can stomach--and get to it. 


Any social media tips I missed? Anyone love Twitter? I'd love to hear from you.

Speaking of meeting interesting peeps in the virtual writing community, Lisa over at Everyday Intensity is sponsoring the July Intensity Project. It's thought-provoking and enlightening so check it out.