Writers are supposed to go to writers' conferences. It's a great networking opportunity, a chance to learn more about your craft, a chance to ask the more successful authors for tips, a chance to meet agents and publishers. It's a great opportunity all the way around. The catch, is that a majority of writers tend to be . . . is the right word antisocial? They tend to prefer sitting alone, at the computer (or typewriter), creating an alternate universe to the company of crowds of people.
I'm starting preparations to go to the Chicago writer's conference, which is always a very nice event. The North Shore Chapter of RWA does a great job putting it together and they've always been friendly and helpful. I've posted many times that I work a seasonal day job. And the season is spring (and autumn, but that's beside the point). This conference always falls in the spring which, for most people, is a great time to get out and enjoy the returning pleasant weather, to break out of our winter prisons. For me, its a time of tremendous pressure and stress, and yet, the conference provides a nice break from all of that. Coupled with that, its a conscious "turning on" of the personality. In order to network, I have to make a concerted effort to be outgoing (which I don't come by naturally). It's a break out of my comfort zone. And it's always rewarding, as difficult as it is to get time off from the day job at this time of year. This is a source of great stress, but at the same time, it's one of those things I do for me. Work life balance, doncha know, and a chance to show a different side of my personality that stays hidden for large periods of time. That outgoing stuff? It's something I've learned through the years. Credit it to a great speech teacher in high school, coaxing out shy, introverted kids to be able to address a room full of people. I've always been a quick learner, and I understand the application of those lessons to my daily life. Do I wish I was an outgoing person? The life of the party? Nah, that's not me. I can do it when I have to, and I don't mind, but I'm just as happy sitting quietly in the corner, observing the rest of the room. In the end, that's what writer's are best at. Observing, imagining and putting the stories that come into your head onto "paper."
For those of you that are in the Chicago area toward the end of April, stop by and buy some books! Coupled with the conference will be a book signing featuring Cherry Adair and Julia Quinn, among dozens of other authors (ahem, me included). 4:30pm to 6:00 pm Saturday, April 24, 2010, at the Deerfield Hyatt. You will be able to find details posted on my website. Visit the Events Page.
Chicago Spring Fling Book Signing.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Distractions
Okay, so this is the time of year when my posts will be a little more erratic. The day job takes over, and being highly seasonal work, we are in high season.
Which brings me to today's topic - social networking. I've gone back and forth about whether or not to express my opinion, and since my brain waves are a short on creativity at the moment, I guess I'll go ahead and have my say.
Facebook. My Space. Twitter. And I don't even know how many others (well I know some of them, but those are the main ones). They're great ways to market yourself, they're great ways to keep in touch. But the more you subscribe to, the less time you have for your real life. Hence, I've limited myself to Facebook and to my writing social network sites.
One thing that has amazed me about Facebook is the old friends that I've reconnected with. People I haven't seen or spoken to since grade school, but who I remember fondly, nonetheless. People I've had longer standing relationships with. People I care about and would like to stay in better touch with, but time and distance seperate us. I opened my Facebook account to network with other writers, but very quickly, my family and friends "friended" me. Don't get me wrong, I still use it for networking, but it's use has expanded. How fun to connect with people I haven't heard from since I was 10 years old (and younger!). And yet some of these people are forever a part of me. I'm one of those people who hold friendships close. I don't forget people I've developed friendships with, even when they've faded into the past, or moved into different stages, so its fun to reconnect. And yet, for some of the long-ago friends, we've grown into completely different people (not all of us, but some). People I was close to all those years ago, I probably wouldn't develop a friendship with if I met them for the first time on the street today, but history holds us together. We can still reminisce about the fun times we had.
On the other side of that coin, I sometimes wonder if the reconnecting is always a good thing. I had some friends who had a very difficult home life. While we've all grown into healthy (for the most part), responsible people, I stop to wonder if renewing old acquaintances on Facebook dredges up ugly memories better left forgotten. We all have skeletons in our closets and memories we've tucked safely away. We move forward and away from some things better left forgotten. And then someone sends us a friend request and it all comes rushing back. No, this hasn't happened to me, but I have to wonder . . . then again, that's the writer's imagination - fodder for a new book, you think?
Like my blog, I try to keep up, but sometimes, after a twelve hour day in front of my computer at work, its very difficult to turn on the computer at home. So to my Facebook friends (and other places I frequent), forgive my inattention. I'll check in when I can, when real life is less demanding.
Anon
Which brings me to today's topic - social networking. I've gone back and forth about whether or not to express my opinion, and since my brain waves are a short on creativity at the moment, I guess I'll go ahead and have my say.
Facebook. My Space. Twitter. And I don't even know how many others (well I know some of them, but those are the main ones). They're great ways to market yourself, they're great ways to keep in touch. But the more you subscribe to, the less time you have for your real life. Hence, I've limited myself to Facebook and to my writing social network sites.
One thing that has amazed me about Facebook is the old friends that I've reconnected with. People I haven't seen or spoken to since grade school, but who I remember fondly, nonetheless. People I've had longer standing relationships with. People I care about and would like to stay in better touch with, but time and distance seperate us. I opened my Facebook account to network with other writers, but very quickly, my family and friends "friended" me. Don't get me wrong, I still use it for networking, but it's use has expanded. How fun to connect with people I haven't heard from since I was 10 years old (and younger!). And yet some of these people are forever a part of me. I'm one of those people who hold friendships close. I don't forget people I've developed friendships with, even when they've faded into the past, or moved into different stages, so its fun to reconnect. And yet, for some of the long-ago friends, we've grown into completely different people (not all of us, but some). People I was close to all those years ago, I probably wouldn't develop a friendship with if I met them for the first time on the street today, but history holds us together. We can still reminisce about the fun times we had.
On the other side of that coin, I sometimes wonder if the reconnecting is always a good thing. I had some friends who had a very difficult home life. While we've all grown into healthy (for the most part), responsible people, I stop to wonder if renewing old acquaintances on Facebook dredges up ugly memories better left forgotten. We all have skeletons in our closets and memories we've tucked safely away. We move forward and away from some things better left forgotten. And then someone sends us a friend request and it all comes rushing back. No, this hasn't happened to me, but I have to wonder . . . then again, that's the writer's imagination - fodder for a new book, you think?
Like my blog, I try to keep up, but sometimes, after a twelve hour day in front of my computer at work, its very difficult to turn on the computer at home. So to my Facebook friends (and other places I frequent), forgive my inattention. I'll check in when I can, when real life is less demanding.
Anon
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