*Insert Literary Blog Name Here*
I write books.
@shala_darkstone & Maggie Gibson!
All in all, there were 23 entries – not bad for my first contest – and the winners were picked via Random.org. And there will be plenty of chances to win again, as I’m going to run a book contest every time I hit a new 100 follower milestone. So stay tuned – I’m at 841 followers right now, which means it’s not long ’til the 900 giveaway!
Congrats to Shala & Maggie! I’ll update with the books they choose once I have the details.
Thanks, everyone!
I just hit the big 800 on Twitter–however transient it may be–so it’s time to celebrate. And the best way to celebrate? Giving away stuff!
Here’s the deal:
Tweet your fave book ever (not the book you want to win, we’ll work that out later!) @PetaAndersen by Friday at Midnight EST to go into a random draw to win a YA or MG novel off my shelves. Two books are on offer–choices are listed below. You can get an extra entry by:
Folks, please post links to your blog post &c., or comment on how you shared to help me keep track of who’s done what. Thanks!
Tip: Make sure you’re following me so I can DM you details if you win. People not on Twitter can still enter by doing any one of the above (I <3 hearing why folks love the books they do, so 4. is a good way to go!), and leaving their email addy (e.g. janeisawesome[at]gmail.com) in the comments below.
Winners will be announced sometime on Monday or Tuesday, depending on how many extra entries I get.
Here are the 5 novels on offer, a mix of old and new:
And that’s all for now! I’ll be back, later again (yes, that’s 3 posts in one day! Almost a record for me!) with a post on award shortlists. Remember–tweet your fave book ever @PetaAndersen (aka me) to enter!
Update, 2:23 pm:edited to clarify details
This Saturday past, I facilitated the Online Presence Special Interest Group at the New England Regional SCBWI (#nescbwi10) conference in Fitchburg, MA. The group was filled with marvelous people with great questions, and we talked about everything from Twitter lists through the difference between LiveJournal and WordPress. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing up articles based on the things discussed, but in the meantime, here’s a collection of links for folks still sorting out how to fit into the blagosphere.
Anything I missed? Any other links or lists you’d like to see? Drop me a line!
Book reviewing is big business–at least, it used to be. Publishers clamored to get their authors reviewed in big name papers (New York Times, anyone? Chicago Tribune?). Authors crowed over a spot in the now defunct Kirkus. Yet new book review blogs pop every day, and several niche review sites, such as Bookslut and Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, have a large core of dedicated readers.
Book reviews have been around as long as, well, books. Back when Ancient Egyptians and Phoenicians were first scratching out letters, people talked about what they’d read recently:
“Did you read Ahmose’s scribing of the Pharoah’s proclamation?”
“Ugh, it’s so wordy! Mkhai’s is much better.”
Until recent years, reading–and therefore reviewing–was limited to the upper and religious classes. Amongst these folk, books were the order of the day, dissected and discussed in minute detail. By the time the literary salons of the 1600s rolled around, book reviews had grown much more formal. Authors, critics, patrons, and other literary figures debated context, allegory, intent, and more, forming the basis of modern literary criticism. Some even published pamphlets, arguably the earliest printed form of book reviews. Others wrote responses in magazines. Not all of it was pretty.
Two hundred years later, quarterly reviews appeared, heralding the arrival of the format we know and love. Until recently, many readers pored over a reviewer’s thoughts on the author’s voice, literary devices, even pronouns (yes, Cormac McCarthy, we know you think you’re a literary genius, but we’d be more inclined to agree if you actually gave your characters names). But for the average reader, many professional reviews are unaccessible. Jenny McSmallAnimalVet doesn’t want to know if the latest James Patterson is a new look at love, latkes, and the legal system. She just wants to know if it’s worth reading (five stars on Amazon, anyone?) She can learn all about love and latkes when she gets the book.
And then the blog came along. The power of blogs lies in their everyman-ness. Blogs are like critics-in-a-box: anyone with access to a computer can sign up with WordPress, Blogger, Livejournal, even Diaryland, write up their thoughts, and hey presto! instant critic. Instead of being forced to read half a dozen review pages in search of the perfect book, readers can now pick a genre (cozy mystery, pop science, YA) or demographic (stay-at-home mom, clock maker, dalek) and find reviews written with their interests in mind. But blogs are just the top book in the stack. The real threat to professional reviewing is a lot more insidious: time.
Blogged reviews, like professional, in-paper reviews, take time to read–and time away from reading. Sure, reading a review can prevent you from buying a bad book and save a few dollars. But scrolling through a 1000+ words of in-depth review eats, at best, four minutes’ worth of time. If the review leaves you undecided, it could be another four minutes before you find a second review, and another four minutes for you to read it, bringing the total up to twelve minutes. If we consider that most novels run 250 words to a page, then you could have read about 12 pages–a short chapter–in the time it took to decide if you want to read the book. But never fear–social media is here.
Social media may seem like the buzz word of the moment, but it’s here to stay. The obvious players–Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, &c.–are mostly about connecting with friends and family. But niche sites–sites devoted to reading and reviewing–are on the rise. Boasting nearly three million users, Goodreads “is the largest social network for readers in the world.” (Facebook reports around 400 million users worldwide.) Why do people use the site? According to CEO and Founder Otis Y. Chandler, it really does come down to finding what to read next. He writes,
When I want to know what books to read, I’d rather turn to a friend than any random person, bestseller list or algorithm. So I thought I’d build a website — a website where I could see my friends’ bookshelves and learn about what they thought of all their books.
Other readers agree. Twitter has #amreading and #fridayreads, hashtags that encourage users to share, criticize, and recommend in easily digested 140 character sound bites. And while the publishing industry has been somewhat slow to adapt, houses are now actively seeking out blog and social media reviews, aware that the right voice on the right blog could be just as effective–perhaps more effective–than a review by the once-and-now-dead king, Kirkus.
But old-fashioned book reviews are not dead yet. Well written reviews still have a lot to offer (and I’m not just saying that because I’m a reviewer). While they may not be the best source for a what-to-read-next list, they do perform a vital function: they make us think. Good reviews pick over issues, dissecting books, suggesting ideas and interpretations we mayn’t have thought of. They act as devil’s advocate, daring us to take a closer look at our likes and dislikes, encouraging us to use books as a way to learn not just about the author’s world, but ourselves.
Will professional book reviews disappear completely? I hope not.
Do you read book reviews? Do you prefer recommendations from friends? Would you miss professional reviews?
Photo Credit: nkzs
Authors should blog. Authors should get on Facebook and set up fan pages. Authors should tweet. And many YA authors do, setting up themed blogs, tweeting their favorite books, putting up book trailers and extra content. But just who is the content reaching?
According to a recent study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, teen blogging and tweeting are down. Interestingly, the researchers list teens as 12 – 17 years old and young adults as the 18 – 29 set. Key facts from the report:
- Blogging is less popular among teens and young adults now than it was 4 years ago. Think kids are still reading and commenting? Maybe, maybe not – teen blog commenting stats have also dropped.
- 14% of online teens now say they blog, down from 28% in 2006.
- In December 2007, 24% of online 18-29 year olds reported blogging, compared with 7% of those thirty and older.
- By 2009, just 15% of internet users ages 18-29 maintain a blog–a nine percentage point drop in two years.
- 73% of wired American teens now use social networking websites, a significant increase from previous surveys. Just over half of online teens (55%) used social networking sites in November 2006 and 65% did so in February 2008.
- 72% of online 18-29 year olds use social networking websites, nearly identical to the rate among teens.
- The specific sites on which young adults maintain their profiles are different from those used by older adults: Young profile owners are much more likely to maintain a profile on MySpace (66% of young profile owners do so, compared with just 36% of those thirty and older) but less likely to have a profile on LinkedIn (7% vs. 19%).
- 8% of internet users ages 12-17 use Twitter. far less common than sending or receiving text messages as 66% of teens do, or going online for news and political information, done by 62% of online teens.
- Older teens are more likely to use Twitter than their younger counterparts; 10% of online teens ages 14-17 do so, compared with 5% of those ages 12-13.
- High school age girls are particularly likely to use Twitter. Thirteen percent of online girls ages 14-17 use Twitter, compared with 7% of boys that age.
- Young adults lead the way when it comes to using Twitter or status updating. One-third of online 18-29 year olds post or read status updates.
While the report is good news for authors with older adult audiences (blogging, social networking, and twitter usage are up for internet users 30+ ) it poses an interesting question for YA authors – if teens aren’t using the same services as their favorite authors, how can we connect with them?
Last year, Matthew Robson, a 15 year old intern at Morgan Stanley, wrote a report about trending technology and teens. While the report is largely based on Robson’s own observations and anecdotal evidence, it provides some insight into teenage tech habits. According to Robson, Facebook beats Twitter in the teen market because,
Facebook is about connecting people, and sharing information with each other. The way my friends and I see it, Facebook is a closed network. It’s a network of people and friends that you trust to be connected to, and to share information like your email address, AIM screen name, and phone number. You know who’s getting your status messages, because you either approved or added each person to your network.
Twitter, he points out, is the opposite,
It’s a completely open network that makes teenagers feel “unsafe” about posting their content there, because who knows who will read it. Sure, you get emails notifying you when you have new followers, but that doesn’t compare to the level of detail you get when someone on Facebook adds you, and you get their information.
Robson makes a valid point – our kids are clever, web-savvy individuals. In recent years, teens have been inundated with warnings about online friendships and web-stalking and it’s great to see they’ve taken it on board. But what if the teen resistance to Twitter is more basic than that? Adolescence is all about belonging, finding a niche, expressing individuality, and forming friendships–key components to the Facebook experience. Twitter, on the other hand, makes it hard to form meaningful connections, especially as a large percentage of tweeple are out solely to promote their own content (Get your free credit report now! Learn how I made millions with this simple tool developed by a stay at home mom in just 93 days!). Finding followers can also be difficult–and why post regular updates if no one is following you? While it’s possible some teens still use Twitter as a way to keep with their favorite actors, musicians (and hopefully authors) it’s unlikely. There are easier ways–gossip magazines, tabloids, online news services, and personal/professional sites–which don’t require attention 24/7.
Why spend so much time thinking about why teens prefer Facebook over Twitter? (And if teens don’t tweet, then who’s following Ashton Kutcher?) Teen reactions to both services provide insight into what teens do want, even crave – connection and community. This seems like a big ask – what’s a YA author to do? (Aside from writing excellent, readable, relevant books, that is.)
Start by seeing what’s out there. Google the popular stuff and see what fans are producing themselves. Harry Potter and Twilight spawned huge online forums and communities–and while you mightn’t have such a big fan base you can still learn from their sites. Google yourself, too–you may be surprised by what’s out there.
If you’re web-savvy (or have a friend/spouse/liger who is) encourage readers to talk about your books by adding a forum to your website–check out the forum on Princess Diaries author Meg Cabot’s site for a few ideas. Answer questions and take time to respond to your readers. Ask questions, too – it’ll help you reach readers and give you some insight into the 2010 teen experience. Love the ‘net but hate the code? Consider signing up for LiveJournal. LJ users are like an out-of-the-box community – give them a little love and they’ll respond in kind.
Make it easy for readers to contact you – make sure blog comments are enabled and set up a site email (you could use your domain name or just set up a free Gmail account) and check it regularly. Respond to everything you get, even if it takes you a few months–after all, someone loved your book enough to write to you about it, or to ask for advice. What if it’s difficult to think of something to say? You’re a writer – you’ll work it out! Don’t forget about more conventional methods of connecting with readers either. Make school visits. Talk to kids at the library and local bookstores. Remember why you’re a YA author (not for money or fame – who are we kidding?) and put yourself out there.
If teens aren’t using Twitter, should YA authors just delete their accounts? Yes. No. Maybe. Twitter is what you make it – everything comes down to the reason you tweet. If your sole objective is to connect with teens, Twitter might not be your best option. But if you want to connect with crossover and new adult readers, go for it–one third of 18 – 29 year olds read or post status updates. Twitter is also an excellent way to connect with other writers, learn from writers, agents, and editors, and establish a web presence (a useful tool in finding an agent and/or editor).
Do you have a Twitter account? Why do you tweet? How do you connect with your readers?
Twitter is an excellent resource for many things–its instant gratification quotient is off the charts. And while I enjoy the garnering of sympathy when I’m having a bad day, the book recs when my shelf (or rather, my Kindle) is looking a little bare, and the answers to my many questions (Will Daleks ever conquer stairs? Will I ever overcome my obsession with Daleks?) it’s not enough.
No, Twitter, it’s not. I need more from you, and I need it now. Which is why I’m creating two new hashtags.
How can a hashtag make me work harder? Well, it’s a bit like highschool. Katie Q Writerson may not need an A+, but if Mr. Jacobson is her favorite teacher (and her secret to-die-for-crush), she’s going to put some extra effort in. Now, put on your writing togs, and meet your own handy-dandy Mr. Jacobson: #mondaywritinggoals and #fridayroundup. These two little hashtags are how I–and hopefully a few others out there in funky tube land–to tell the world will hold ourselves accountable, and, with a little luck, get more work done.
#mondaywritinggoals (or just #mondaygoals if you want to keep it simple) – tell us what you hope to achieve for the week.
#fridayroundup – tell us what you achieved this week.
If setting weekly goals is a new thing for you, or even if you just need some encouragement, use the #mondaywritinggoals hashtag to call out for some important. Looking for others working away like you? Try Johanna Harness’ #amwriting, a slow chat that happens “in the background of your writing day”.
Now saddle up, folks. It’s time to get your tweet on.
Published Tuesday, May 26, 2009, Classified News Blog by Daype Classifieds
Everyone knows that having some kind of online presence is important. But with so many ways to interact online, it can be hard to know how to get the most out of your social networks and actually connect with people in your industry. In fact, some would even have you believe you need a virtual PA or intern to manage the varying social network services out there. But with just a little bit of homework, it’s actually quite simple to set up and maintain your online presence.
Networking Sites
As a slew of recent media articles have reported, social networks like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter are no longer the sole domain of twenty-somethings and teenagers. Companies are using them for branding and promotions, and parents are using them to keep in touch with said twenty-somethings and teenagers. So how do you fit your career interests into your Facebook page if your Aunt Ellen keeps posting LOLcat pictures to your wall?
First, think about the reason you joined a social network, and if it’s the best one for you. If you truly did join Facebook to keep in touch with faraway family (or you just really like LOLcat pictures) – fine. Just remember that many employers now conduct fairly in-depth online searches about prospective hires, so keep it clean.
Okay, now you’ve established the why of your joining a social network, think about the network itself. Facebook is great for more casual connections, but LinkedIn is the go to for many professionals (more below). Both these services, however, are not industry specific, so making worthwhile career connections can be a bit time consuming. Enter the targeted social network…[more]
Published Friday, May 15, 2009, Classified News Blog by Daype Classifieds
Yes, you read that right. Twitter is now being used as a way to buy, sell, and job hunt online. To get my head around this new, 140 character way of posting classifieds, I spoke to people at Tweba, iList Micro, and the smaller startup Twitmart…[more]
Tweet-tweet, tweet-tweet – sometimes it seems like everyone’s talking about Twitter. Here are just a few things you can do to make your tweets stand out from the crowd.
1. Don’t waste words
Twitter has a 140 character post limit – make every one of them count. This can be particularly hard if you’re not good at self-editing, so take a minute or two to consider your tweet before posting.
- Is it succinct? Simple?
- Do the words work for you? Have you made a point, or just alluded to one?
- Can you read the tweet out loud without stumbling? If not, maybe you’ve used too much jargon or too many big words.
2. Focus
Think about why you’re tweeting.
- Are you going for brand recognition?
- Looking to network with like-minded individuals, or experts in a specific field?
- Trying to drive traffic to your own site?
Whatever the reason, jot it down on a piece of paper to help crystallize your Twitter focus. Then, every time you write a tweet, check that it’s in keeping with your Twitter focus. [Read more...]
