Social Media's Raging Storm: Follower Gathering

Lately, I've been curious about the phenomenon of gathering followers on social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook, and blogs. I've noticed certain people - often times new writers with their first or second book out - gathering followers like fisherman catch tuna in a net; as if the numbers alone will insure greater book sales. 

Daisy Whitney, a marketing guru and dear writer-friend, wrote an interesting post about social media recently. She pointed out happiness comes from within, not without, and that giving yourself a break from social media's raging storm (my words, not hers) can be an extremely healthy undertaking. Her main point being, "Don't Stalk Yourself!"

Please understand, my background is in marketing. In my early days, I managed and promoted my rock band, and later I worked in marketing for several architectural and engineering firms. That said, I wonder if we've taken this "follower gathering" (FG) thing too far. 

On Twitter, I only follow someone back if I think their tweets are interesting, funny, inspiring, or all of the above. I do not simply follow back in hopes their followers will soon follow me. I mainly stick to people in the literary world, but also include some musical and political folks. On Facebook, I operate the same way. I only friend people who I know and/or interest me in some way. I imagine, once I have a book deal, I'll be encouraged to increase my FG, though it may seem a bit disingenuous; following people for the sole purpose of increasing book sales.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this - it's the foundation of marketing. The more people who know about your product, the more product you'll sell. That said, I'm not sure why it irks me when I see: So-and-So now has 30,000 new friends! (I'm from New York, therefore I exaggerate.) Of course, there's the natural twinge of jealousy:

Hey, wait, she's got more followers than I do! WAH, WAH, SHE'S MORE POPULAR THAN ME!!!

What am I not doing that he's doing? 

Should I change my profile pic? 

What does he know/have that I don't know/have? 

Why does she have to be prettier (more successful, more interesting, more  hooked up with the 'right' people, more famous, younger...) than me?

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH...

(We humans are a real treat, aren't we?)

But, more than that, it bothers me because I love the personal schmoozing factor of social media outlets. I hate to think that could be obliterated by the need to use these outlets strictly as marketing tools. Plenty of people advise writers to watch every word they say on social media outlets in order not to alienate possible readers. I say, "Bah, Humbug!" If some people don't like my political views or sense of humor, so be it. Delving into the thoughts and lives of the artists I love makes me love them more. The more open they are about who they are and what they believe in, the better.

I hope my attraction to social media as a means of getting to know interesting people, having people make me laugh, making people laugh, being inspired, inspiring others, and sharing music and political views, etc. doesn't fade as my number of followers grows. Why? Because I'm human and have an ego and love when my follower numbers rise. (There, I said it!)

Curious to hear your thoughts on this. 

Feel free to share this on Twitter, FB, your blog, YouTube, Linkedin, etc. (Bwahaha!!!)

So Many Books, So Little Time

First of all, let's hear a round of wild applause for Daisy Whitney! She graciously led a beginner's YA class here, and I, for one, am much wiser for it. In addition to her instruction, she sent me five YA books to read:

The Opposite of Love and After You by Julie Bauxbaum; Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott, Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers, and Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. As soon as I finish Allison Winn Scotch's Time of My Life and my own new YA novel, I'm going to dive in to these tasty gems headfirst.

THIS WEEK:
We actually played two "shows" (and I use the term "show" loosely) this week. The first was at my honey's work, and the second was last night when we had the good fortune to play the Diving Cat Studio & Gallery again. The picture on the left is me waiting for our roadies to come help haul in the equipment where my honey works. Oh, wait! I forgot. We are the roadies!

The other pics are from the Diving Cat. Have I told you how amazing that place is? I haven't? Well, it's amazing! We tried out some new/old songs like "Heaven" by the Psychedelic Furs and "Never Comes the Day" by the Moody Blues. Here I am with my friend, Joanne's cowboy hat. What do you think, should I move to Wyoming and buy a horse? No? You guys are smarter than I give you credit for.

IN OTHER NEWS...
I'm plowing through my YA novel at breakneck speed, however I'm up to a very delicate point in the story. The main character, who has a particular gift/power just found out her boyfriend has a power that could weaken or even kill her. She has to decide whether or not to go forward with the relationship and how to keep his power at bay. Plus, there's the matter of New Year's Eve and the Senior Prom. You have to have a date for things like that, right? Damn, life can get complicated! (Yup, that's my son, Ethan, and his beautiful girlfriend Meghan at their prom in May. Please don't ask me what was up with the Unibomber shades...)

IN EVEN MORE NEWS...
I'm heading to Denver on Tuesday for a whirlwind week with my family. I'll finally get to meet my new niece, Devyn Rae, and fawn all over her. I'm duly prepared with a few choice additions to her already Paris Hilton-rivaling wardrobe. Also, my family and I will be entertaining my parents on Saturday night at a party to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. The theme is the 1950's, so be prepared to see pics of me in a poodle skirt upon my return. (By "prepared," I mean you may want to slip something 40-proof in your coffee before viewing the pics. Don't say I didn't warn you.) I'll also be having lunch with some writing types including the woman who led a workshop at the Backspace Conference in May, my editor on a previous novel, and possibly an agent.

Also, I'm hoping to have another very special guest appearance on my blog in the next week or so, so stay tuned for that...

So, tell me, my friends, what books are you reading or looking forward to reading?

Guest Blogger: Daisy Whitney - Teaching YA

This is a first for Write on Target. I've got a guest blogger! Daisy Whitney has been like my fairy godmother, encouraging me with my new YA (young adult) novel, educating me in the ways of YA and even starting my YA library (she sent me five books to read, oh yes she did!). Daisy is a producer, on-air correspondent, podcaster and expert in the new media business. And, she's a talented writer with her first novel, THE MOCKINGBIRDS being released next fall. Please, I implore you, check out her amazing website complete with her fabulous New Media Minute. Daisy is more energetic and powerful than a tornado, and she's one of the kindest, most down-to-earth people I know. And, apparently, she thinks I've got a LOT to learn about the world I'm currently word-playing in. Hopefully, you'll learn a lot, too.

So. ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, heeere's Daisy!

ATTENTION CLASS!

As some of you may know, our dear blog host Debbie Schubert is embarking on a new manuscript, and this one's for teens. Naturally, to prepare her fully for the young adult genre, she must go back to school and begin the education of a YA author. Where does this education begin, you may ask?

In the most fun place of learning there is - the library. (Or the bookstore, or the e-reader storefront, or Audible.com and so on...) While there, Debbie will become a student of YA and learn the rules of the YA world. And, how to break 'em.

Now, Debbie, the first order of business is to tell us what you know about YA.

Um, it's the coolest genre there is?

Yes, correct! It IS the coolest genre there is! You can write fantasy, paranormal, contemporary, dark, edgy, steam punk, poetry, verse and then mix up 'em all up in a big blender too and see what you come up with. YA is genre-bending and rule-defying and a complete playground for creativity!

Onto the second order of business. Now, I'm presuming you've read "Forever" by Judy Blume and if you haven't I have one word for you: RALPH! Now if that didn't make you blush, you must go to detention where you will read sad stories in which animals die like "Old Yeller" and "Where the Red Fern Grows."

No, please don't make me do that! I've got six cats and a bunny. Plus, I'm a VEGETARIAN and I HATE when animals die!!!

Good. You remember "Forever" and it was a bible for you, too. So you get to pass onto the next assignment and here it is:

YOUR FALL READING LIST!

And in the spirit of learning and sharing, I think it's only fair Debbie write book reports on these books, right? Speak loudly with a big fat blog comment or two if you agree.

Hey, wait a minute...

And now, the teacher will present Debbie Schubert's Official Indoctrination into the Wild and Woolly World of YA Where She is Forevermore Allowed to Have Crushes on 17-Year-Old Boys (they're made-up, people, it's OK!)....

1. Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen
This book is something of a Bible of YA. It's well-regarded, much-praised and hard-core. Not that way! No, this book is edgy and tough and intense. It's about rape.

2. Looking for Alaska by John Green
Beautiful and mesmerizing with the most alive, detailed and unique characters you'll encounter. A story about what it means to be alive.

3. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
A heart-wrenching, heartbreaking story about one girl's unspeakable loss and how she can possibly survive. Be prepared for tears, beautiful tears.

4. Cracked up to Be by Courtney Summers
You will not be able to put this down. A page-turner, a mystery, a microscope into how popularity and friendship and high school can all go horribly awry and how to recover.

5. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Fall in love! With the beach, the sun, the sand and the lyrical words of this romantic, poignant novel about first love and first loss and true friendship.

6. Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott
Quite simply the best romantic comedy ever. And the kissing! Sigh, the kissing! Oh, the kissing! Will is my favorite YA boy ever!!!!

7. Evermore by Alyson Noel
Like Twilight? This is better. Plus, Ever is tougher. And Alyson Noel tells one hell of a story.

8. Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis
Part mystery, part diary, part peek into the mind of a 12-year-old girl whose family is raveling apart. The spare, sparse language transports you right into the character's world.

9. Far From you by Lisa Schroeder
Get on the Lisa Schroeder bandwagon, I'm telling you! She writes in verse and in the smallest amount of words manages to make you feel the biggest amount of heart for her characters.

10. Beautiful by Amy Reed
There is nothing else like this book. It is a gut check of a novel on the slippery slope of drugs, alcohol and sex. Brace yourself for the horror and the beauty and your hope for the character's redemption.

Class dismissed!

Daisy Whitney is the author of the forthcoming novel for teens THE MOCKINGBIRDS (Little, Brown 2010) and she blogs about writing and the path to publication at www.daisywhitney.com/blog and about her favorite books at www.bookchick.com