Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 33

Whoo Hoo! Over Here!

 Q: Tell us about your ideal reader. For whom do you write and why don’t they ever leave reviews or tell you how you’re doing?

 

-from Susan

 

Interesting. Rhys Bowen and I were just talking about who we write for – who our ideal reader is and why. As you doubtless know, Rhys has about a million of them, people who love her multiple series and standalones and wait eagerly for the next one. She can hardly write fast enough, but she refuses to write a book so quickly that it doesn’t meet her own high ...

Social Media - Handle with Care. By Harini Nagendra

Here's the question we're answering this week on Minds: What’s your social media strategy? Do you try to promote a brand or a reputation?

Way back in ancient history, I first heard about this new platform called LinkedIn, from my sister. You have to get an account, she insisted. It's great for jobs and networking. Not for academics, I thought - but on her urging, I created an account, and then promptly forgot all about it - except for accepting the occasional invite.

Then in 2015, I was writing my...

The Social Contract from James W. Ziskin

What’s your social media strategy? Do you try to promote a brand or a reputation?

I don’t have any kind of organized, well-thought-out social media strategy. That is to say I’m a pantser when it comes to the Internet and my writing career. I know more or less where I want to go and what I’d like to achieve, but the windshield is foggy and the map is torn. I remember the old Thomas Guides maps of Los Angeles. The ones before there was GPS, even MapQuest. The Thomas Guide taught me how to get aroun...

Outreach online

What’s your social media strategy? Do you try to promote a brand or a reputation?

Although I participate, I’m no expert on social media. Since I got onboard, the idea’s been simple: to network and build relationships. On the personal side, these platforms keep me connected, and they’ve also allowed me to meet new friends, many who I’ve had a chance to get together with at a variety of writer events. 

On the business side, the idea is to gain attention and followers. For me, it means joining gro...

Strategizing

 

Terry here with this week's question: What’s your social media strategy? Do you try to promote a brand or a reputation? 
There used to be something called "platform." These days it's called your "brand." Which makes me think of cattle. And "brand new." And "What brand of toothpaste do you use?" 
 Alas, if you're reading this for advice, you can stop here. In truth, I have no social media strategy. I can't think of my books in terms of "brand." When I try to do self-promotion on Facebook or ...

Being Social

What’s your social media strategy? Do you try to promote a brand or a reputation?

Brenda

My social media strategy is not all that sophisticated. I post book news on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), and more recently, Threads. I have private and public addresses on both Facebook and Instagram, although most of what I post on all the sites concerns my books. I'm finding the longer social media carries on, the less likely I am to post anything about my personal life, even on my private accounts.

Anot...

Getting Your Writing Mojo Back, by Josh Stallings

 

Q: In your writing life, how do you cope with your self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, frustrations, and despair? I’d really like to know.

A: This is a hard but timely question. There is a multiverse of different forms of what I’ll call, “I suck so bad why bother typing” syndrome. 

Near the mid point in every project I am sure that I’m not up to the task of writing the book. It is either the wrong book or I’m the wrong writer for it. Erika always reminds me I’ve been here before, on every book. R...

HISKITH (my one chance to use the working title), by Catriona

Out 4th June. Details here.

I'm ducking out of the question this week, because I've had a book come out on Tuesday and that gives any writer a free pass for a bit of BSP* The book is called DEEP BENEATH US, although the working title was HISKITH, and for the first time ever, I've attempted a POV character who is a . .. man! I wonder if I've written a plausible man. I hope I find out. For now, here is Barrett Langholm, fifty-ish, divorced, beleagured father of teenage girls, as we meet him at the ...

Despair, they name is Author by Eric Beetner

 In your writing life, how do you cope with your self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, frustrations, and despair?

This week’s topic hits me hard. After 30+ books I long ago gave up the idea of being a best seller. I have let go of any expectations of awards or starred reviews or movie adaptations. I’m a sub-mid list writer with a (very) small but dedicated readership with no hope of making it out of the basement. I know it and I’ve learned to be okay with it.

I’m okay because the alternative is to q...

Writing isn't a chore

 

Inyour writing life, how do you cope with your self-doubt, feelings ofinadequacy, frustrations, and despair? I’d really like to know.

 

I read this question several times and I struggled with howto answer it. The truth is I don’t like to talk about myself.

 

Self-doubt, inadequacy, frustration (yes to all), anddespair (not so much)—sure,I’ve felt these emotions, but not in ways you think. I’ve accepted thatpublishing is an ugly business. Art and Commerce mix like o...