Generally speaking, society couldn’t give two shits about writers. If you think about it, during those rare moments that you hear people discussing anything literary, they’re not talking about the author. They probably don’t even know the author’s name for the book they’re discussing. The only exceptions to this are the “classic” authors. It’s safe to assume that no one will truly care until the author is dead, and even then those people are other writers and English professors.
This is why I find it so ironic (not to mention a big pain in the asshole) that writers today have to develop a platform if they want to be successful. Platform first, great novel to promote later. (Say what?) Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Blogger, Reddit, YouTube – most, if not all of these social media outlets must be utilized, daily, and having nothing to do with the writing they wish to promote. We have to be likeable. Approachable. Make you laugh. Make you think we’re just like everyone else.
Why?
We aren’t like everyone else. Most of us are misogynists who greatly prefer the company of characters to people. We have cabins or basements or garages where we hide from people. Writers are up all night or are disturbed in the wee hours of the morning with words we need to commit to paper. Poorly written novels that make their way to the shelves at Barnes & Noble while our manuscripts sit, rejected, in a drawer, make us angry bordering on homicidal. And don’t you dare use the wrong “you’re” where a writer can read it.
You see? Writers are fucking crazy. We’re different. We aren’t “quirky.” Zooey Deschanel is quirky. Go follow her on Twitter. I’m pretty sure she tweets on how to make the world cuter.
It doesn’t make sense, and yet, I have a Twitter, a Facebook page, and a blog (which I update when the moon is full and I turn into a networking werewolf. (Rare and frightening). The fact is readers will more likely pick up a novel by an author they’ve heard of than someone they haven’t. I know. I’m guilty of this as well. My reading time is precious and I don’t want to be disappointed.
Some writers are a natural at appealing to people. Author Christopher Moore is a networking fiend – maintaining a Twitter and Facebook with entertaining quips, links to things he finds interesting, and replies to the many, many questions and comments he receives from readers on a daily basis. And yes, he still puts out a novel every year and a half or so. This is why he has such an enviable loyal following, while authors like Shalom Auslander who have a website that is updated by a publisher, are obscure and are found only by happenstance. And in the case of Auslander, this is a shame, because he’s a great writer. You can read my interview with him here.
Where platforms are concerned, as a writer, you have to decide which you want to be: obscure, or known. If the answer is “obscure,” then by all means, keep to your dark corner. Someone will find you eventually. Maybe. If not, then open that Twitter account, give the annoying little bird the finger, and put something out that will make people chuckle, or sneer, or in general, give a fuck about you.
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Carlos Cortes Wednesday, 08 Aug 2012 04:10 PM
How right you are. I hate to acknowledge you’re right. Gatos! I hate it. I should be there, with the five-score-and-forty brigade enriching the lives of whoever pines to know what I had for breakfast or if tonight will be the night. I can’t, so I’m damned to remain an obscure writer.
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Georgia Choate Wednesday, 08 Aug 2012 03:38 PM via Twitter
Amen. I hate facebook. I'm on it anyway. If the house is empty (lonely), I'm not allowed on facebook, 'cause it's so depressing. Everyone is so happy and successful that it feels like a huge snub to me, and it brings me down fast.
Frankly, most platforming, except my blog, just keeps me from writing. Time is precious and priceless. Getting my persona out there is daunting to me, and I need to focus on the craft right now.
When the time comes, I have a good mind to make up a pen name and a NEW persona. Then I'd also be writing a new character and getting better at the craft.
This is why I find it so ironic (not to mention a big pain in the asshole) that writers today have to develop a platform if they want to be successful. Platform first, great novel to promote later. (Say what?) Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Blogger, Reddit, YouTube – most, if not all of these social media outlets must be utilized, daily, and having nothing to do with the writing they wish to promote. We have to be likeable. Approachable. Make you laugh. Make you think we’re just like everyone else.
Why?
We aren’t like everyone else. Most of us are misogynists who greatly prefer the company of characters to people. We have cabins or basements or garages where we hide from people. Writers are up all night or are disturbed in the wee hours of the morning with words we need to commit to paper. Poorly written novels that make their way to the shelves at Barnes & Noble while our manuscripts sit, rejected, in a drawer, make us angry bordering on homicidal. And don’t you dare use the wrong “you’re” where a writer can read it.
You see? Writers are fucking crazy. We’re different. We aren’t “quirky.” Zooey Deschanel is quirky. Go follow her on Twitter. I’m pretty sure she tweets on how to make the world cuter.
It doesn’t make sense, and yet, I have a Twitter, a Facebook page, and a blog (which I update when the moon is full and I turn into a networking werewolf. (Rare and frightening). The fact is readers will more likely pick up a novel by an author they’ve heard of than someone they haven’t. I know. I’m guilty of this as well. My reading time is precious and I don’t want to be disappointed.
Some writers are a natural at appealing to people. Author Christopher Moore is a networking fiend – maintaining a Twitter and Facebook with entertaining quips, links to things he finds interesting, and replies to the many, many questions and comments he receives from readers on a daily basis. And yes, he still puts out a novel every year and a half or so. This is why he has such an enviable loyal following, while authors like Shalom Auslander who have a website that is updated by a publisher, are obscure and are found only by happenstance. And in the case of Auslander, this is a shame, because he’s a great writer. You can read my interview with him here.
Where platforms are concerned, as a writer, you have to decide which you want to be: obscure, or known. If the answer is “obscure,” then by all means, keep to your dark corner. Someone will find you eventually. Maybe. If not, then open that Twitter account, give the annoying little bird the finger, and put something out that will make people chuckle, or sneer, or in general, give a fuck about you.
Wednesday, 08 Aug 2012 04:10 PM
How right you are. I hate to acknowledge you’re right. Gatos! I hate it. I should be there, with the five-score-and-forty brigade enriching the lives of whoever pines to know what I had for breakfast or if tonight will be the night. I can’t, so I’m damned to remain an obscure writer.
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Wednesday, 08 Aug 2012 03:38 PM via Twitter
Amen. I hate facebook. I'm on it anyway. If the house is empty (lonely), I'm not allowed on facebook, 'cause it's so depressing. Everyone is so happy and successful that it feels like a huge snub to me, and it brings me down fast.
Frankly, most platforming, except my blog, just keeps me from writing. Time is precious and priceless. Getting my persona out there is daunting to me, and I need to focus on the craft right now.
When the time comes, I have a good mind to make up a pen name and a NEW persona. Then I'd also be writing a new character and getting better at the craft.
~ Georgia
www.georgiachoate.com
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