As writers, we want to be heard. We want people to sit up and pay attention to what we have to say, whether it is real or the fictional stories we weave together with our words. In short, we want to be read.
Traditionally, being read meant finding a publisher. Pique their interest enough and they would publish our stories. Then they would insure people read what we wrote. In today’s rapidly changing world of publishing, that is no longer the case. Not only do we have to work harder to get the attention of publishers themselves, we now have to entice readers both before and after we get published.
Welcome to the wacky, often confusing world of author platforms, social networking, and trying to get noticed. It’s a world full of contradictions at every turn. You need fans to help in getting published, but you really need to be published and read to get fans. You should tweet, facebook, and blog to get noticed and build a following, but you shouldn’t blatantly market yourself. You need to be vocal and active, but you shouldn’t do it so much so that you become annoying. Like I said—wacky and confusing!
As I set out to create my platform, following, fan base, or whatever you want to call it, I find myself trying to find balance. How much is enough to be heard and noticed without being too much and becoming social white noise to the world? How much can you talk before people stop listening? If they stop listening because of too much trivial chatter, they won’t be there to hear the important things when you say them.
As a writer, I think the only thing worse than not being heard/read is becoming white noise to those you want to hear you.
What are your thoughts? Can a balance be found? Or is it always a walk on the razor’s edge of too little or too much? I’d love to hear your opinions.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons CC License
Another question is how much self promotion turns people off? How important is the social banter that makes you seem a friend, and not just a self-promoter. It’s a difficult proposition to balance the two, but I’d lean towards being a friend than being a promoter.