Paul Greci posted on his blog yesterday about pushing through resistance in his writing, and it got me thinking: I've been facing some internal resistance of my own lately. But it's nothing to do with my writing - at least, not directly.
It's to do with Facebook. And Twitter. Which, frankly, I loathe. (Nothing against all you guys who love them; they're just not for me.) I'm not good at sifting through noise to find the sound bites that I'm interested in, and as much as I love knowing what my very best friends' kids are up to, I just don't have time to read about everybody else's kids/dentist appointments/shopping finds. I'd rather be writing. Or reading. Or hanging out with my own kids, without the distraction of constant tweets and postings popping up every few seconds.
Plus, you know: I like the phone for keeping in touch. And email. Letters. What happened to those?
I know what you're thinking: we only need to choose what we like to do, and do it well, right? That's what everybody says, right? Well. That is what everybody says, and to a certain extent, it's true. There are many, many writers and actors and artists who manage to be successful and attract a broad audience without Facebook or Twitter or any of those social media vehicles, simply because they are that good.
But I'm not talking about attracting an audience. I'm talking about connecting: with writers, with editors, with agents. I'm talking about maintaining contact with people I meet at conferences and seminars, because I liked them and I liked what they had to say, and because building relationships is what being human is all about. And those wonderful people whom I want to maintain contact with?
They use Facebook and Twitter for that.
So you see my dilemma. Now I'm going to ask for your advice.
If you were me, what would you do?
By the way, I know I'm usually much better than I have been this week about responding to all the lovely people who leave me comments here on the blog. Both my kids have croup, and we're not really getting much sleep around here. And we would probably buy stock in tissues, if buying stock were my thing. But as soon as I can get enough time at the computer, I will respond to each and every one of you, I promise.
Isha,
ReplyDeleteIt's a touch one. I hate twitter too. I find Facebook a little more manageable, but I feel like my writing relationships were mainly established through blogging and maintained through emails. Nothing like a "personal" private conversation to establish a real connection!
Hope the kids feel better.
I don't use an social networking sites at all, except Blogger, which isn't as confusing--you can skip posts if they don't interest you. I prefer it that way, since it limits my time in front of an electronic, and I get to discovered new people--without worrying about dentist appointments and so forth.
ReplyDeleteI hope your kids feel better soon!
I still think you should only do what you're comfortable and interested in doing. There's no law that says you have to have FB and twitter to be an author. So yeah.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Elana that you should just do what you want, but I see you're dilemma. I know the appeal of facebook and Twitter for keeping in touch is that it sort of makes it easier to share contact info without it feeling too personal? Like if you meet someone at a conference or a party, it's easier to just say "My name is Blank, just facebook me!" It cuts out all the digging around for pen and paper and exchanging info. But on the other hand, I'm an early adopter of FB and Twitter (I was in college when both were starting up), so they're both second-online-nature to me. (But I did think Twitter was so pointless when my friend 1st convinced me to get on it. It's better now that there's more people to follow and tweet at.)
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, I still think do what you're comfortable with. Twitter is a little crazy though - lots of noise. :P
I agree with Elana. Just do what you have time for and want to do. You can connect with lots of people by reading blogs and commenting. That's how I found you. I do Facebook, but not twitter because I don't have time. And I haven't made the plunge to blogging for the same reason. I work full time and squeeze in time to write. Follow your heart on this.
ReplyDeleteI hope your kids are better soon. Croup is nasty!
ReplyDeleteI've never joined FB and never actually felt the need. Not yet anyway. I like blogging and I don't mind tweeting depending on the day. So I'm just going to stick with those.
Technology is this other kind of relationship...and I think it's okay to use it when you need it.
ReplyDeleteI hit up Twitter every now and again when I want to see what everyone's talking/gossiping about, but I almost never comment or get involved because it's a time suck and it seems a lot of effort. Facebook is for family and friends I know in real life. Blogging and email are where my heart is too--I love connecting with other writers and being inspired and motivated by them. Go with what you're comfortable with. I think you're already doing that.
I do FB, but not twitter. Too much "noise" on twitter for me to pay attention to.
ReplyDeleteI like seeing what some of my friends and family are up to. Most of my FB friends are fellow bloggers and its neat to get to know them a bit outside of the blogs.
But I don't pay much attention to FB either. I don't get into the games or chain links or anything.
I log on, look around, see what I want, maybe comment, once in a while post.
So I've taken the advice of do what's comfortable, and ignore the rest. So many people out there are doing fine without twitter. Others are its lifeline.
To each his own style.
..........dhole