There is a common stereotype that has come about that authors are the unicorns of the professional world. Moody, easily spooked, and obviously to be treated with extreme caution, writers are all obviously social recluses that are allowed this by their profession. After all they get to sit about in their pjs all day writing.
This is sadly, not a true fact, and is actually quite the opposite. Anyone can write. It takes devoted fans to make a writer and author. To get fans you have to (you guessed it!) socialize with people! (Gasp).
Now, for those of you who are already edging away with a look of horror, don't leave me just yet. There is a way to do this without ever leaving your home, or those comfy jamjams. The saving grace of that ever reclusive writer is, social networking. I'm sure you've heard of it, it's hard not to. Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, blogging. This is how so many authors are getting their start. This is how they are getting out there before their words have ever actually hit print. Social networking.
As an aspiring published author myself, I have dutifully done my part and started to cull what I have fondly started to think of as my perspective minion following. I blog actively through this blog. What I post here I advertise through my own private Facebook, inviting perspective family and friends to become readers and take a look. I do the same on my professional twitter, my two Tumblr blogs, and Goodreads. I reach out through every medium possible and search for my readers. Writing is hardly even the half of it. You need readers for much of anything else. Betas to help you edit, like minded bloggers and writers to give you advice and help you along, and followers to spread your word. With as many social networks as I juggle I do have to give a word to the wise. Pick your favorite and then go with it, give it your all. If you are spread too thin then you won't get much of anything anywhere. I know I know, even to me saying I run three functioning blogs, a Facebook, a Twitter, LinkedIn Pinterest, and a Goodreads account sounds pretty impressive. But it took me awhile to realize that it takes a lot of devotion to really get the results and you just can't do that when you're looking in eight different directions at once. For now I focus primarily on this blog and my twitter for my writing and it has worked much better. By blogging original content here at least a few times a month, and trying to adhere to at least one tweet a day on twitter, my followings (at least on twitter) have gone up substantially. If you get off track as well, no worries! Just do your best to jump back on. Life is crazy and I'm not going to pretend that I always find time to tweet or write a blog post. But I try my best even so.
The online world can be a scary place, and I won't act like it isn't daunting trying to build from nothing. But you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Give it a try and see what happens.
And as always, keep writing!
