…that was the question in a recent thread of emails among some of my writer friends. Conclusions ranged from gotta-have-’em to nah-it’s-just-navel-gazing.
Here are a few paraphrased reactions from editors, agents and writing coaches at the UWM Spring Writers’ Conference 2010
- I’ve found 2 recent nonfiction book projects through people’s blogs and tweets. I approached them [underline mine] to ask if they wanted to write a book about their area of expertise. (Was that a collective gasp I heard from the roomful of working/aspiring writers?)
- In nonfiction writing, the authority of the writer and his/her platform (e.g. professional contacts/online following) are king. Publishers can “work around” an individual who isn’t the strongest writer. (Was that another gasp from folks who are working on the craft?) For fiction writing, skill and craft are still of the highest priority; platform is less important.
- If you don’t have an online presence, you may as well “not exist” to most people. It is very effective to use blogs, Twitter and Facebook as tools for building relationships with potential clients/readers rather than using blogs as an “online business card,” a showcase for your own writing, or, worse, a “look at me” site. (People get tired of that very quickly.)
- Readers need to get something out of visiting your blog or following you on Facebook/Twitter. Posts need to have “added value:” free information, inspiration, fresh content, free stuff, etc. (One blogger held a raffle for a Flip camera for anyone who subscribed to his blog, newsletter, etc. and increased his subscribers by a huge number.)
Yeah, but when am I supposed to do all this blogging/tweeting? asked the tech-overloaded/time-deprived roomful of writers. Writing coach, Rochelle Melander, gave us great advice: turn it off when you’re writing, turn it off at least one day a week, block out the time you’re going to allot for this aspect of your business (yes, business) and then stop. Which reminds me, I’m almost out of my allotted time for this….
