Unsociable media

A lot of my author friends have multiple Facebook pages, a website, a blog, a newsletter, a Twitter account, a Pinterest presence, and God knows what all else. When in the hell do tey have time to write? I know some who post the same message on all the outlets in an effort to be efficient, and that works for them but feels impersonal to me. I know, it's advertising and everybody's doing it.

I was told repeatedly last year by well-meaning folks that I needed to have an author page on FB. I finally caved and created one, but I still struggle to see the use of it. Its followers are mostly people who are already friends on my "regular" (like anything about me isn't irregular) Jordan page. I hate posting the same messages on both. I have a thing about "redumbdancy", you know. I try to switch it up as much as possible, which is time consuming, and I'm talking about only TWO pages.

I may not be cut out to have a big internet presence for another reason. I like FB better than Twitter because I prefer a two-way conversation to a monologue. Tweeting feels like shouting into the Grand Canyon to me. Maybe somebody hears me, maybe they don't. Either way, I rarely hear back. They don't call, they never write.   And don't talk to me about Instagram--*sticking my fingers in my ears* la-la-la-la.

The greatest thing about my adventures in writing is the wonderful people I've met. I've connected with folks I am truly sorry I will probably never lay eyes on, but being able to chat with them on FB is the next best thing. I try to read all the posts on my newsfeed every day, but FB doesn't make it easy. I liked it much better when the order posts displayed in was more chronological and not popularity-based. I knew when I hit yesterday's posts I had seen them all. Now I can't tell, and I know I'm missing communicating with folks I like. Grrr.

I see authors who treat FB like their own personal billboard. They post about their books or their accomplishments (nothing wrong with that!), but you NEVER see them comment on anyone else's posts. WTH? It's okay if I'm too boring to merit a response, but we have a shit ton of mutual friends and I find it hard to believe we're all that uninteresting. Everyone has a story, and I find them endlessly fascinating. That's why strange people used to tell me their life stories on the bus

I have never heard anyone say they bought a book because of a tweet or a
single random FB post. It takes more than that, especially considering all the free options readers have. Unless you're already at the top of the lists, it's about relationship building. It's not like it's a burdensome task. Yes, you're going to run across the occasional hacker or troll, but they're easy to spot if you pay attention. All the real people I've met have added to my daily life in innumerable ways. Some of them even end up in my writing. And no, I'm not telling you who.

XANDER'S NEWS

It's getting closer! The cover is done and it is GORGEOUS! I'm not doing a reveal until the 30th and it's killing me to sit on it until then. I'm thinking about a release date near Valentine's Day weekend. Specifics later.