[From the Archive] Just Because You Can…
Lately there’s been quite a bit of chatter online about what not to do as what to do with your online presence. Many times, as with Standard Manuscript Format, some of the information is … contradictory. Leading to many new writers wondering which piece of advice they should follow. Guess what? Welcome to the wonderful world of publishing where everything and nothing changes – seemingly randomly.
So what’s a new writer – or even an established writer to do? The Good Rule of Thumb? Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should be done. Take a look around you, if you see something going on that annoys you? Don’t do it yourself. If there’s something that seems right incorporate that strategy judiciously. Keep in mind is something annoys you no matter how right it may seem, it will probably annoy your readers/followers.
This applies mostly to online presences – but also to personal appearances – especially now that social networks are all the rage. Most Wondrous Techno-Gurus have made it possible for writers to wallow in their inherent laziness and call it efficiency by creating features and functions that allow us to automate posts, cross-post across platforms, and generally even schedule things to post when we’re not around all with a touch of a button. With these nifty new features, it’s way too easy to cross the line between effective marketing and Sleazy Used Car Salesman. Just because you can doesn’t mean you SHOULD. No one likes a hard sell, and seeing the same pitch post three times a day because of an auto-poster has that new SPAM smell all over it. It won’t get you sales. It’ll get you blocked.
The other end of the spectrum is “Less is More”. There have been discussions in the past few weeks about publishers and editors checking out potential authors online to see what kind of presence they have and what they’re saying before making a decision to sign them or not. This applies to social networks as well as blogs. Again, there’s no hard/fast rule of what they’re looking for, hence the discussion. However, this is where ONLINE PROFESSIONALISM comes into play, and keeping professionalism in mind when you’re talking about anything – including you life. Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
Yes, stuff happens in life. Major life issues. Health issues. Family issues. Crap hits fans. There are books and movies we love and hate equally passionately. However, we must keep in mind TMI. If your life issues are making your writing challenging, comment on it but don’t go overboard on how much it sucks to be a writer. If you really hated a book, don’t threaten the author, editor, AND publisher. Every detail of your family life probably isn’t something you want random fans to know about. Fans want to know about authors. Publishers and Editors want to know about authors. You can tell a lot about someone by the tone of their posts. If you’re not approachable online, you’re not going to be approached in person. That WILL translate to sales. Just think before you type. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
So much of making it as a writer comes down to this endangered species known as Common Sense. Thinking before we post. Thinking before we send the 12th copy of the same Tweet. And if you need a mantra it’s this – just because you can doesn’t mean you should.