Self-Promotion Blues

In last night’s hands-on platform-building class at Lane Community College, students experienced a little victory and a lot of  mind-numbing frustration. Admittedly, the classroom is less than ideal (smack in the middle of a brick building) and the Internet connection a bit spotty at times. Even so, I watched the students coping with info overload as they tried to launch blogs and get on social networks. My advice? Hang in there!
Writing Tip for Today: When you feel overwhelmed by technology, take a deep breath and step back. The way I solve these types of problems is the same as when I used to sew a lot of clothes. When you sew the sleeve inside out for the third time, it’s time to take a break. If all this blogging, wordpressing, facebooking etc is getting the best of you, try these things:

  • Go to the site’s help, or google your problem, such as “How to change a wordpress url.” You’ll be surprised at how simple the answer turns out to be.
  • Ask a techie. Plenty of knowledgeable folks in cyberspace–or even your own home. Yes, you feel like an idiot for a minute or two, but try not to let pride keep you from learning this stuff.
  • Finally, I hear a lot from writers who can’t or won’t do this Internet/social network stuff because it’s 1) too time consuming or 2) they don’t know the ropes and are too cowed to learn. Don’t let ignorance or myths keep you from becoming an author! If this Internet promotion stuff wasn’t important, I wouldn’t do it and all these literary agents wouldn’t demand it of their writers. Take it slow if you must, but keep trying. It really is worth your time and trouble.

About Linda S. Clare

I'm an author, speaker, writing coach and mentor. I teach both fiction and nonfiction writing at Lane Community College and in the doctoral program as expert writing advisor for George Fox University. I love helping writers improve their craft and I'm both an avid reader and writer of stories about those with wounded hearts.

3 comments on “Self-Promotion Blues

  1. Great tips Linda. another one I’d like to add is: allow yourself to take small steps. Each bit of knowledge and skill is a victory, but remember that you can’t possibly learn it all or physically do it all overnight. Its a building process and takes time.
    Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all the things I don’t know how to do, or all the things I want to do but can’t find the time for. Even the knowledge that there is still so much to learn can be overwhelming! However, when I look back at how far I’ve come, I am truly amazed.

  2. Thanks, Linda. I, too, have been fighting technology tooth and nail. My main reason? If I have any time at all, I need to spend it working on my book! However, you make the point that agents want this and that, yeah–sometimes you just have to ‘bite the bullet’ and get in there. I have a website AND a blog…but haven’t written anything on them since I opened them! 🙁
    Okay, now I’m going to get serious!

  3. Yay! But while you’re getting serious, don’t forget to have fun. You have to love what you do–and I hope your enthusiasm and passion for writing spills over onto your Internet endeavors. ~Linda

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