Sunday, June 28, 2009

Figuring out the whole social network network...


I recently went to speak to a lovely group of readers in Scottsdale (thank you Diana, for inviting me. I had a great time!) and one of the Q&A's that they found interesting had to do with the life of a writer. If you've read my blog before, you know I work full-time in addition to writing. I'm also a mother, although my kids have reached an age when it's more about keeping track of where they are then anything. Still, sometimes keeping track can be a...well...a full-time job. Then there's the marketing.


Most readers assume that the publisher does all of the leg work in promoting a book. And that may be true for some writers, but for most of it, spreading the word is the writers' responsibility. With the ever changing world, that word spreading can be a challenge.


For example, when my very first book released many, many, many moons ago, the Internet was still in its infancy and only a handful of people knew how to use it. Email was just coming into the spotlight and had yet to change lives and bring the world closer. Social networks weren't even in a twinkle in their PCs eye yet.


Fast forward to today. I have 2 websites I design and maintain (http://www.erinquinn.info/ and http://www.eringrady.com/ ), a blog I try to update regularly, a facebook account, a twitter account and identies on goodreads.com and shelfari.com. I have a myspace account too, but honestly, I hate myspace so I never even go there.


All of these require time to learn, create and maintain. Facebook was easy and I love facebook, but it's taken quite some time to figure out twitter and how to do it and to what purpose. The websites too require some skill, some hit and miss designs, and time to keep it updated.


In the end, I'm always left wondering if I'm wasting my time or it is really connecting me to readers (which is my whole purpose. I love readers. I'm the person craning her neck to see what you're reading when I walk through a park, past a cafe, in an airport. :-)


Anyway, since I just learned to tweet from my phone, I thought, I'd blab about it on my blog.

4 comments:

Caffey said...

Hi Erin! Its Cathie :) Ah, mine are YA and home with me but not too because I too need to keep track of them! They are great kids but I've always been one that will worry!

I really don't know how you do all you do and find the time to write and family and promo and more! And I gobble up your book in a day when you work on it for a long time. Know you're appreciated!

You figured out Twitter?!?! I know when I'm posting to all (I think, LOL) But don't know how to reply so the world doesn't see, LOL.

Congrats on the RT review!!! Soon! So glad to find your blog too!!

Cathie
cathiecaffey(at)gmail(dot)com (I'm not using the yahoo, we already know how a pain that is for me :)

Erin Quinn said...

Cathie! How are you? Good to hear from you. Yep, I'm still figuring everything out. Maybe one day I'll know it all, ha ha. Did you enter my contest this month? It's a good one!

Caffey said...

Hi Erin! Yep I just got to go over and do my order on Amazon. I wouldn't miss ordering this anyways! So you'll have a email from me soon!

I go step by step and figure the net out! I make alot of mistakes along the way (like emailing everyone when I meant to reply just to one on Twitter). LOL

Thanks for stopping on my blog! I plan to read your new one and post about it!!! I'm excited! That's why all the !!! points! Smile.

Donna Del Grosso said...

Hi Erin!
Where do you find the time to do it all??? I think time must be bendable for you. It's the only explanation!!!