Blog's Goal

The purpose of this blog is less sinister than you might think…or is it more.  I aim to diagnose and treat ailments that commonly afflict writers, such as writer’s block, mental obstacles, and the internet.  Ultimately, I hope to help you become a better writer.  So, you old school writers grab a pen and paper, and you young ones dust off that monitor.  And let’s start writing.  

Biography

My background is classified, but I will offer some glimpses of my personality. For instance, I like fish that doesn't taste fishy. I enjoy reading paperback books instead of hardcover. I love movies but rarely can find anything worth viewing. And I dislike TV shows, even when they're appealing. My greatest pleasure...well...one of my greatest pleasures is smoking cigars. I love a well hand-made cigar, becoming transfixed by plumes of smoke dancing before me; it cures the worst the day throws my way. Sorry, but I'm heading out for a smoke!

Steven Pressfield on Professionalism

Have you ever felt like quitting?  I have.  Deep within the innermost sanctums of my mind, I have heard that sinister voice explicate convincingly why I should relinquish my dream of authorship.  You’ll never be good enough.  That isn’t writing.  Such negative thoughts metastasize all cogitation, destroying my will to continue writing.  It’s times like these that encouragement helps.  I found this in the form of a short video from one of my favorite authors, Steven Pressfield (PositivelyPositive1, 2011).  He describes the type of professional mindset needed to succeed.  Shun resistance, which Pressfield relates to “internal sabotage,” and embrace a professional outlook in writing (PositivelyPositive1, 2011).  So is writing aptitude needed?  

References

PositivelyPositive1. (2011, April 19).  Steven Pressfield: overcoming resistance [Video file].  Retrieved from http:// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH5B2j843WU

Michael Connelly: a Predominant Force on Facebook

Photo © Michael Connelly 

Facebook is big.  According to Experian, it’s one of the top three largest social networks in the virtual world, and author Michael Connelly has established an effective presence on the social network giant (Download, web).  But what makes his Facebook page so successful?

After reviewing two other author's Facebook pages, I chose to analyze the Black Echo author's page, simply because it intrigued me more.  The other two favorite author's Facebook pages I checked out were Steven Pressfield's and Mark Frost's.

Content is essential, even for famous authors, such as Connelly.  An analysis of Mr. Connelly’s Facebook page reveals key elements that attracts new audience and keeps established readers craving more.  Below are several practices implemented on Mr. Connelly’s Facebook page that one should remember when striving for social media success.

Social: your Facebook profile is a portal to your personality, and it’s more than a one-way street.  Choosing an appropriate cover and profile picture is important.  Mr. Connelly adds a personal touch with a portrait picture and a cover shot of the cover of his latest novel The Black Box.  The cover photograph alone piques the interest of his readers, providing them a glimpse of what’s to come.

The about section provides a succinct resume of his writing and proffers a link to his official website that delves deeper into his biography and books.  Also, his page offers information on upcoming signings, book tours, book releases—both old (on e-books) and new. 

      

      Aside from posting events, interaction with your audience is crucial.  Obviously, when you’re as famous as Mr. Connelly accomplishing such a task alone is quite onerous.  Although Mr. Connelly has an administrator, he interacts frequently via posts with his readers.  A perfect example of such interaction is his Facebook question and answer sessions.  In a video posted on Facebook the author answers the reader’s question.  Each video is set in a different location, adding intrigue to each posted video.  In one video you can discern New York City’s skyline from the balcony he’s recording from (http://www.facebook.com/video/?id=21622339686).  He also hosts contests for his audience, sharing pictures of his readers reading his books.

Natural: I don’t expect to see you scratching your nether regions or boasting of such frivolities.  I expect a person who can express their natural voice professionally.  Don’t be afraid to show glimpses of yourself to your audience.  Just make sure and choose aspects of your personality you’re comfortable sharing with the public.

Consistent:  maintaining a presence on your Facebook account is imperative.  Make sure to schedule the social network into your daily writing regimen.  Don’t just post text.  Share information from other sites, especially if they promote your work.  Liking” and sharing links are other promotional practices that broaden your audience.  Mr. Connelly makes good use of these two practices by employing them to aspects that pertain to his work.  For example, he shared a link to abanow.org, which is a video of him receiving an award for The Fifth Witness novel (Connelly, podcast).

Diverse:  although the reason for your Facebook page is to promote your work, you must diversify.  But your reason for social networking is to publicize your writing.  I understand, but everything you becomes hackneyed to your followers.  Spruce your Facebook page up with comments, videos, images, and links of your interests beyond the scope of your works.  Share a whole side of you that doesn't push your products on them; after all, it is social networking.

Michael Connelly’s Facebook success can, in part, be attributed to his application of the

aforementioned practices.  Of course, it goes without saying that his awesome writing is the catalyst 

to his accomplishments.   

References

“Download the 2012 digital marketer: benchmark and trend report.” Experian marketing services.  Retrieved from http:// http://go.experian.com/forms/experian-digital-marketer-2012?WT.srch=PR_EMS_DigitalMarketer2012_040412_Download?send=yes

http://www.facebook.com/MichaelConnellyBooks

Connelly, M. (Speaker).  (2012, September 12).  Michael Connelly accepts Harper Lee prize for the fifth witness.  American Bar Association.  Podcast retrieved from http:// http://www.abanow.org/2012/09/michael-connelly-accepts-harper-lee-prize-for-the-fifth-witness/

Don’t be Paralyzed by High Writing Standards!

Is your writing flow interrupted by the captious critic within you?  Does he force you to edit your writing as you go?  Perhaps, you have set the standard too high, too soon. 

Guess what? You’re not alone.  I, for example, have to consciously force myself to work through a first draft without editing the piece.  It's hell, but when I don’t, my creativity wanes, mired by the excessive weight of high standards.  Every word I jot down appears amateurish, in need of fine tuning.  So like any good writer, I edit and edit, until sentences transform into savage serpents that stifle my creative breath.  Then.  Paralyzed. 

How to cope with the inner critic can be tricky but manageable.  Below are several techniques that can help you avoid paralysis set by high standards.

1.      Don’t set the bar so high.  Keep the inner critic at bay by focusing on getting the story on paper.  Remind yourself that editing is important but not till the first draft is complete.  Whether you’re a seat-of-your-pants or outline writer, you need to suppress editing for when it is needed.

2.      Free write.  Set aside at least five minutes a day to write whatever comes to mind without rewriting.  This exercise will definitely help you control the inner critic.

3.      Don’t be afraid of failure.  You may never be the next Stephen King, but that’s all right.  You can still make a living writing, just like many other published authors.

Demanding a high standard of prose is acceptable as long as it doesn't impede your writing efforts, especially while writing a first draft.  Let the story flow out of you first.  Then, work on polishing it up, for as long as it takes.  Just remember someday you’ll have to set it free.