At the class I teach about platform-building for authors, I urge writers to start and maintain blogs. “This is how you build a readership,” I say dutifully. I show them how to set up a blog, how to find it again once they’ve logged out and how to link it to Facebook, yada yada yada. A few weeks later, a student, probably a dear sweet soul who is as likely to publish as one of my cats, raises her hand. “It’s been weeks and I only have three followers,” she confesses.
About that time, I launch into a tirade about how cheesy this following thing is. It’s made me crazy from day one. I feel like a first grader who doesn’t have enough points to go on the field trip. Nooo. While all the good writers with lots of followers romp through the book store, I’m sitting in the cafeteria, watching the lunch ladies gossip.
I’m tempted to bribe them if they’ll follow me or at least hit “like.” And what about the 133 readers who have given up everything to follow me? There were 134, but that was yesterday. Now I am probably scarred for life from worrying about that one lousy follower who crushed all my hopes and dreams. I can’t bear to tell the dear sweet soul that even if she manages to amass 134 followers, the editors/agents we’re all trying to impress will likely say, “Meh.” My advice? I’d love to tell that turncoat #134 (you know who you are) to follow this!
Be sure to write in and Ask Miss Crankypants anything about writing that hasn’t been groused about enough. I’ll be pouting over in the corner, eating worms.
Haha, Miss Crankypants! What a fun idea for a blog! How can I take your platform-building class? I am a relatively new blogger and appreciate all the wisdom I can get, cranky or not.
At this point I teach the platform-building class at a community college where I live. But I may do a series on it on the other blog–more writing tips and less crankiness. Here we only want to have fun! Check out Linda Clare’s Writer’s Tips, I’ll do a platform-building series very soon! Thanks for stopping by! Miss CP aka Linda
Don’t you think the page viewers from all over the world are more interesting than the followers. Why do I get so many readers from Russia, Thailand and Germany? Are they telling me who I should be writing novels for?
Thailand? Well I was going to suggest you know how Europeans think, but maybe it’s the food. Just kidding. That’s all I’m going to do here, besides gripe. Thanks for your support. ~Miss CP aka Linda
I shared it on my facebook site. Maybe you will be back to 134 soon.
Thanks, John. Obviously, I need all the help I can get. Miss CP aka ~Linda
Well, you just crank your pants so I don’t have to, Linda! Let’s all turn up the readership for each other. hugs.
Oh dear Val,I’m just getting started. BTW, some sweet persons just jumped my other following to 135! Now please, nobody move. ~Linda
LOL! I’ve always enjoyed your writing tips, Linda, and this new “Miss Crankypants” blog is awesome! I’m a follower you won’t loose! 😉
Thank you thank you! I feel so validated. ~Linda
If everyone is so nice to you, it will be harder to find your crankypants.