An Author’s Random Musing: Social Media

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Since becoming a published author, there is one thing I have struggled with more than anything else:

Social media.

I made an account on Facebook because that was apparently the only place my publisher would share any news. Once there, I was inundated with advice to create a Facebook author page. After all, how else were readers going to find me?

For someone as introverted as myself, who would very much like to live on top of a mountain away from people, the idea of sharing my personal life was frankly one of the most terrifying things. Who would be interested in what I was doing? Couldn’t someone enjoy my writing without needing to know details of my life?

I maintained that author page for over a year and in that time, only two people who were readers every showed up. Every other follow was from fellow authors who liked my page because they wanted me to like theirs in return.

Still, I heard more and more that an author needed SOME kind of social media presence, if only for readers to find them. So, to Twitter I went, nevermind how many times in my life I mocked the idea of posting short messages for everyone to like.

Of the two, Twitter has been more enjoyable. I’ve learned not to be a promo happy Tweeter. I’ve learned the most about interacting with people on Twitter. I also have an author profile on Instagram, where I share book covers of books I recommend or reading memes.

Am I selling books because of being social? Definitely not. Have readers found me? I like to think so and in the end, that’s all that’s important to me.