Conducting Yourself Online #WWOW

1/9/2013

What's on your mind, Lacey?

Do you really want to know? Do I really want to say? Wait...which account am I on?
Social media sites want to know how we are, what we are up to, etc. And we want to share this. But before you share, take a moment to really think about what you are in fact sharing.

If you're an author, than you obviously know that you're more than an author. Maybe you work another job, married, kids, and such. Yes, you want to connect with you readers. But before you post your political views or strong opinions, take a moment to think about how it might effect your career.

Reader's don't really want to know your views on gun control or which president you voted for. They don't want to know you had a fight with your husband or anything like that. Sure, sharing a cute moment with your kids or a new recipe your trying will engage them. But those are positive things. Yes, that's the key, stay upbeat and positive, even if you've been on a rejection cycle and you really just want to scream and cry to the world.

I have a personal social media accounts as well as ones for my pen name. I keep things very separate. Since becoming an author, I really think about what I say. Once you hit tweet or post, its there. Someone can copy it in a moment and you'll never know. I find even on my personal accounts, I watch what I say as well.

This isn't to say I might have shared something at some point that might have been questionable, just remember, how you portray yourself can effect your career.

Want more wisdom?

#WWOW or Writers Word of Wisdom - A Smart & Savvy Group of Authors who write a weekly feature for their blog -Writer's Words of Wisdom- each Wednesday. The goal is to impart what we've learned about writing, editing, getting published, book promotion, and more along the way.

For more Wisdom, be sure to check out these authors as well.

Carol Burnside/Annie Rayburn http://AnnieRayburn.com/blog
Paloma Beck http://romancebeckons.blogspot.com/search/label/WoW
Melinda Dozier http://melindadozier.blogspot.com

3 Comments

Paloma Beck link

1/9/2013 06:14:43 am

This is so true. I cringe whenever I see an author step out there and rant, especially about book reviews. I always wonder if they had paused a minute to re-consider - slept on it, maybe - would they still have published their post.

Lacey

1/9/2013 06:55:56 am

I have been angry before over things. A few times I wrote the status to get the anger out, but never hit post. And I'm thankful I reconsidered.

Carol Burnside / Annie Rayburn link

1/9/2013 07:45:55 am

So true! Many times I err on the side of not posting something at all if I think I'm not being clear or it's starting to sound iffy as I'm writing it. The internet isn't your diary, folks!