Connections

by Myra McEntire

Today’s post is about connections. We are all surrounded by one big worldwide web - wait. That analogy is already taken. Crap. Thanks, Al Gore.

So much for originality on my first guest blog.

Back to connections. Last August, I attended a writer’s conference, Killer Nashville, where I met Jennie Bentley. *waves to JB*

I also met Tracy Barrett, president of the Midsouth Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Tracy’s wise advice prompted me to join SCBWI, which led me to the Midsouth listserv, a fount of writing information. On that listserv I met Kimberly Pauley, who is the author of Sucks to Be Me, as well as the book goddess over at Young Adult Books Central. Now I review for YABC – books in my genre that I get FOR FREE in the MAIL!

I heart brown paper packages tied up with string.

Yippee for you, you might say. What a nice little serendipitous circle.

Question. What if you want to make connections but can’t attend a conference? What if you want to communicate with other writers but you’re shy, or just don’t … like people? Face to face, I mean.

Have you ever considered social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook? I know, I know, you don’t need followers or friends. You refuse to drink the virtual KoolAid. You think Twitter is for twits and Facebook is for fruit loops.

Not. True.

Check out this article in The Tennessean about Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson. He believes social media can put a human face on a company. I believe it can put a public face on a writer.

Writers aren’t pop stars. (Although, I personally fancy myself to be a rock star.) You don't see James Patterson or even Stephenie Meyer starring in Coke commercials or hosting Saturday Night Live. Media attention can be a hard thing for a writer to garner.

Allowing a reader a personal glimpse into your life and your writing process – as well as into your personality – pulls that reader closer to you. And your work.

Conversely, no man is an island. Twitter and Facebook connect you not only to readers, but to other writing professionals. On your terms. And in your time. Because when your characters stop talking to you, finding another human in that worldwide web who "gets it" can be a priceless lifeline.

Twitter allowed me to vicariously experience a Donald Maass workshop as Fine Print Literary agent Colleen Lindsay tweeted her notes to her followers. I wrote the notes down and applied them to my manuscript. I still feel like I should send her money.

This past weekend, I happened to see a certain book I’d reviewed on the shelf at a bookstore. I love this writer’s work and wanted others to love it, too, which led me to put the book into a couple of teenager’s hands after I sort of chased them down the YA aisle. I didn’t follow them to the checkout stand. Exactly. But they bought the books.

I tweeted about the incident, very generally. When I woke up the next morning, Sarah Rees Brennan - the author I referenced - was following me on Twitter. How good do you think the review I give her book is going to be? Not just because the work deserves it (and it does), but because she added a personal touch.

Don’t underestimate the personalized face social media outlets can give you as a professional. Even if joining up makes you feel like a twit. Try it. You might like it.

Your readers might, too.

Myra McEntire is a writer of Young Adult paranormal romance and blogs about duck minions, Edward on a Stick and toddlers that refuse to wear pants at writingfinally.blogspot.com. She is represented by Holly Root at Waxman Literary Agency. Her Twitter handle is @MyraMcEntire, if you'd like to drop by and say howdy.