Social Media

I want to take a minute and talk about social media today. It can be a great tool for an author if used in the right ways. I'm talking about Facebook, Twitter, etc. Personally, I use both and love it. Below I'll list how they can be a help for an author, and also my pet peeves.

• A good way to interact with your readers. They love when an author is willing to talk with them as a friend
• Connecting with other writers. This is so important to an author to have that interaction because lets face it writing is a lonely thing at times, so being able to take a break and chat is great.
• A good promotional tool if used in the right way. More on that in a few moments.
• Author branding is so important because you have to know what you're going to write and stick with it. Social media can help you as you build your brand, get your name out there. You can find and interact with others in your genre, but don't stop there; branch out and talk with others not in your genre. If you stick with just your genre, then you're missing out on some great opportunities and possibly some readers.
• Give back to other others who are still trying to get published. You can help answer questions for them, mentor and cheer them on.

Now onto my pet peeves.

• Authors who don't have Facebook or Twitter. I'm sure some other readers might feel the same way. You read a good book, and want to find out more about the author. You go to look them up and they have no website, Twitter or Facebook. I don't know about you, but that gets on my last nerve.
• Authors who only use social media to promote their work and don't help out their fellow authors. I mean, come on and show that you're a real person. You don't have to use your real name or say names of your kids and all. I sure don't. I've given my kids pen names that I call them by when talking about them online. My oldest is Pumpkin, my other daughter is Twinkle Toes and my twin boys are Firecracker and Tank or I say Twin one or two.
• Authors who give out too much personal information. There's a fine line of sharing too much with readers. An example would be your sex life. Let's face it, we all have one and that's great. I write erotic, but I'm not going to put out there what goes on behind closed doors with my husband. Some might be comfortable talking about their's with readers, but there comes a point when you can share too many details and such.
• Also, be careful not to over promote yourself.

Well, there are some of my thoughts on social media. What are some of your's along with some pet peeves that you hate to see authors do?