Social Networking: Beyond just Marketing

This week I finally got around to reading this month's RW Report put out by the RWA. One article by Dyanne Davis in particular drew my attention since it cited "some quick tips to refill your creative well". (Another reason I took off from blogging last week wasn't to just write, but to refill the well and read too. But I digress…)

In the article she discussed ways to seek out inspiration and one of the ways was by using your social network. She told of an author who throws out questions on Facebook when he's working on scenes he needs help with. For example: What would you do if you found your man in bed with another man?

I thought that was interesting—and a great way to be social and use social networking to help you as a writer. It kind of reminds me of that Hilary Clinton book title It Takes a Village. I think a lot of writers find it takes a village to write a book sometimes! We constantly bounce ideas off our spouses or significant others, our critique partners, and sometimes friends or family. But Social Networking opens up your feedback even more. You'll never please everybody but you can get an idea of what the majority of people think out there.

1) Maybe you have a few ideas for a title for your book. Throw it out on Facebook or Twitter or your blog and see most people think would make them buy the book.
2) Are you stuck with a scene or need some inspiration? Do what the writer above did and pose a question on Facebook to get a different take on the situation. Maybe you'll end up looking at the scene in a different light.
3) Having trouble naming your characters? Host a blog contest or throw it out on Twitter. I saw an author have her hero's name narrowed down to three. She posted them on Twitter and got feedback on what most readers preferred and her hero was finally named.
4) Need inspiration to keep your butt in the chair and your fingers on that keyboard? Tweet about your writing progress or ask some writers to participate in a writing challenge. I've seen some authors say on Twitter that they're going to do a little writing sprint and would anyone like to join them. They each write for an hour and then they post how much they've each written when the time is up. What a great way to drum up some motivation to write and finish up your story!
5) Are you your own worst enemy when it comes to finishing your book? Set up goals and blog or tweet about them. (That's what I do. The shame factor really works well in keeping me accountable):-)

See? Writers don't have to picture themselves as a lonely island. It's like that song from High School Musical "We're all in this together…" People are out there just waiting to help us write that book.

We just have to ask.:)

How about you? Do you work alone or do you have people you bounce ideas off of? Have you ever used social networking to get help with your writing?