Why seanan_mcguire doesn't count

[msagara]

When I say things tongue-in-cheek, I usually forget where my tongue is and almost bite it off. I wrote:

Balancing the social with the promotional is hard. If LJ were my only on-line presence, it would be very close to impossible because putting up notices every few days in the month before a book's on sale date doesn't work for me as a reader -

Comments

[catvalente]

Yep, this is pretty much how I do it--or how I like to think I do.

[msagara]

You absolutely do the same thing, although you don't have insane cats and lurking zombies.

I mentioned seanan_mcguire because she does mention upcoming pub dates a lot, and she does a lot of link/review write-ups of exactly the type that without context drive many people insane; you always mention yours, but not in as scheduled a way, if that makes sense?

[catvalente]

Well, you know, Seanan's insane cat and my insane cat are actual sisters. My cat is slightly more under control because her cat is a year older, so she kept me appraised of how to avoid certain behaviors. I usually do the cat antics stuff on Twitter, though the easier to post photos. (One of her wicked cats, anyway. She has another who is gorgeous and awesome, too. I have another who hates me because she knows I'm only her stepmother and growls like a dog. I...have no explanation.)

I don't do the link roundups because I would have to be organized enough to find all my reviews. I link when I think one is particularly interesting. I think Seanan is a more organized person than I am in general. (Also I kind of stopped being able to read my own reviews after the Hugo nom. People got mean and it hurt too much so I just don't look now.)

But given that I have five books coming out in the next 12 months? (I haven't had a novel out for 18) I'll probably start being more regular with the bookish posts.

[teenagewitch]

That is totally how you do it. You mix in alot of fun stuff along with the writer stuff.

[mtlawson]

::snicker::

I deserved that.

[mtlawson]

Ah.

She is comfortable in her own skin. Not just among friends, but among strangers. Or online. It's not calculated, it is just her personality bubbling forth. She makes it look effortless, because for her it is.

[msagara]

She makes it look effortless, because for her it is.

I wouldn't actually go that far -- it's not effortless; it is a lot of work, and she has it all organized for a variety of reasons, and she doesn't ride off the rails. But...she does it in entirely her own way, and yes, I'd say she's comfortable in her own skin.

[anonymous]

My opinion, which seems to be the minority one at times, is that no one should feel obligated to share more of themselves than they feel comfortable with, including public figures. I am uneasy with the gossip mags who relentlessly follow celebs and with the people who read them. Some people thrive on the attention, and that is great, but its wrong to expect it of everyone.

I've stopped doing many of the things I used to because of other's expectations of my entertaining them. I just can't be 'on' all the time and the pressure to be was just too much.

That was my entirely wordy way of saying, you are liked and respected as you are, please don't feel you need to change, especially to conform to stranger's expectations.

[dancinghorse]

I think some publishers may be getting the message. Mine is doing actual promo. And making a book trailer. I am flabbergasted.

Personally I find that when I blog about writing, nobody wants to hear it (though they will happily hire me to teach them about it), but if I blog about horses, they get very excited. So if I talk about my horse book, they also get excited.

It's being you, yes. And being the you that's not like everybody else.

Also, not coming across as the sweaty guy with the cart full of self-published books, you remember him? There was always one (or two or three) at the conventions back when self-pubbing was not the done thing, trundling around and cornering people and trying to hard-sell them his book. People felt sorry for him and bought it, or else ran and hid when they saw him coming.

That's happening online now. It's a serious dilemma for authors whose publishers are expecting them to Do Something Online.

[mizkit]

I *always* want to hear about writing from you, because it's like a mini master class in How To Do It Rite. Just so you know. :)

[green_knight]

when I blog about writing, nobody wants to hear it

Not true. However, the people who most want to hear about writing are other writers, and it can be difficult to balance talking to new writers (who want/need to hear a certain type of information) and talking to peers (who want/need to lead a discussion on a different level), particularly if you're trying to do them in the same post.

But the horse stuff, yes. (Or . Writers giving an insight into what it's like to be really passionate about something readers know nothing about: that's a topic that won't get old. Whether it's roses or bellringing or horses or wilderness walking or archive research or ballet or