Google calendar blunder

[Segilola]

Hi all,

Something super upsetting happened today.

I am not very organised with my contacts, to-do list etc etc

With my upcoming novella, I decided I would try to get my act together. So I made an entry in my Google calendar and added the details of the early reviewers who left me reviews on goodreads. The idea was to send them a reminder on release day so that they could add their reviews on Amazon as it is not possible to do so now.

I had some bloggers agree to do a blog tour on the day, so I added their details.

I did a library thing giveaway and entered the details of the winners in the calendar, so that on the day, I can say that it is now possible to leave reviews on Amazon should they wish to.

When adding the details, I set it so that Google does NOT notify anyone. It was meant to be my own personal entry to remind me of who I needed to contact. I mean that is what a calendar is for, right?

About a week or so ago, I got a declined calendar invitation from someone and I assumed that I had accidentally said to notify her (I knew that was not possible because I added more than one person at a time and definitely clicked on do not send). I sent her an email apologising.

I just got another declined invitation and an email from one of the library thing winners who was clearly upset about receiving the invitation.

One, I haven't looked at that calendar entry in a week. So I am not sure what would have triggered the invitation send today. Two it included in the invitation the email of everyone I added to follow up with.

I do not think words can convey how upset I am about this.

I have looked at my calendar settings and can't see anything that says send invitations to everyone. I use my calendar to book guests for my podcast show and didn't realise that the calendar would show the email address of everyone in it.

Anyhoos, has this happened to anyone before? Can you recommend any free calendars that I can use and sync with my gmail account? I mean a calendar that when you say do not share entry with anyone that actually does not share the entry with anyone.

I don't think anything has brought me close to tears as this has. Now the people who received the invitation will probably think of me as a spammer or someone who does not respect their privacy. Because of this now, I can't even bring myself to send the reminder email next week.

I seriously feel like burying myself under my duvet right now,

[Nik]

That's very unfortunate, but hope most of those contacted by mistake will still respond positively.
Never used google calendar, nor other online one, so can't really recommend an alternative.
Hope your launch will be successful despite this setback!

[Segilola]

I hope so

What do you use to keep reminders?

[Nik]

Cell phone calendar and paper calendar.
I guess I'm one of those few remaining Luddites/dinosaurs -:)

[Tara Woods Turner]

Cheer up :) Sometimes unfortunate mistakes happen but most people don't judge you or hold it against you. A few people you contacted may have been mildly annoyed but I bet most didn't even notice or pay it much attention.

I work on Apple devices and their reminders are fairly simple and effective. Google is wonderful but lately I've begun to wonder if I should be putting all of my eggs in one basket. There are probably dozens of free scheduling apps out there. I don't know which platform you use or what level of interface exchange you need but the less your apps are interdependent the less likely there will be a negative domino effect should something go wrong.

Big hugs and email or PM if I can do anything to help. Once you find an app or program that you like feel free to use me to test it out. :-)

[Segilola]

Nik wrote: "Cell phone calendar and paper calendar.
I guess I'm one of those few remaining Luddites/dinosaurs -:)"

you're funny Nik ehehe my phone belongs to the liliputian (my 1yo) so that's out of the question. Anything paper is fair game for ripping and there's no hiding space in my house. Sometimes I wonder if the little human has invisible wings.

[Segilola]

Tara wrote: "Cheer up :) Sometimes unfortunate mistakes happen but most people don't judge you or hold it against you. A few people you contacted may have been mildly annoyed but I bet most didn't even notice o..."

the email today was more than mildly annoyed. It felt like my mom was telling me off for something I didn't do. Oh well

[Marie Silk]

Aw, I'm sorry Segilola :( I can understand why that would be upsetting!

I submitted my book for review to a blog recently and then had a strange email from google plus. It was an invitation for the "event" which was my book being scheduled for the blog. I am not sure that the scheduler is aware that I can see this event or that I received this baffling invitation, but I am wondering if putting someone's email address in the calendar automatically notifies them.

Hopefully the rest of the people who were notified with your unintended invitation are more understanding.

[Graeme]

Just putting the idea out there.

Is it worthwhile simply writing a second, fully apologetic, email to follow the first and carefully explain that the first email was sent accidentally and that you are actively taking steps to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

Then follow up and conduct your launch as you originally planned to do.

I.e. cop it sweet, it was an honest mistake, make a sincere apology, move forward and stick with your launch schedule.

Hugs from Australia.

Cheers Graeme

[Nik]

Happened to me to exactly as Marie described. Well, at least I knew the deadline for review this way-:)
The assumption that google sends on autopilot sounds true

[Graeme]

Nik wrote: "Happened to me to exactly as Marie described. Well, at least I knew the deadline for review this way-:)
The assumption that google sends on autopilot sounds true"

I suspect that is default behaviour.

[Segilola]

Thanks guys, that's a bit comforting. But it shouldn't be the default, especially when you click do not share.

Thankfully it was only book launch info. Imagine if it was highly personal. Google would put it in the public domain without permission.

Guess I'll have to look for an alternative now

[Segilola]

Graeme wrote: "Just putting the idea out there.

Is it worthwhile simply writing a second, fully apologetic, email to follow the first and carefully explain that the first email was sent accidentally and that you..."

thanks, sent my most apologetic email

[Segilola]

Marie wrote: "Aw, I'm sorry Segilola :( I can understand why that would be upsetting!

I submitted my book for review to a blog recently and then had a strange email from google plus. It was an invitation for t..."

I hope so too. Thanks

[Graeme]

Hi Segilola.

Good luck with the launch.

[Segilola]

Thanks Graeme

[Jen Pattison]

What an awful thing to happen Segilola - I'm with Nik, I use a paper calendar and so I can't add any insight I'm afraid. It's great to see the advice and support you've had already, I hope that your email can soothe things over and all the best for your launch.

[Annie]

I'm an excel spreadsheet type of girl haha!

I do have my 3 Apple devices synced together and use them daily. But that's exclusively for work. Hmm. Might have to look at doing that for author-y stuff too...

*ponders*

Anyhoo, many calendar apps are set to "green" by default. I'm not one for reading instructions when it only affects me haha! But when handling other people's personal info? Yeah, I fine-tooth-comb that sucker!

My buddy uses Outlook religiously. Have you looked at that, Miss Segi?

[Segilola]

Thanks Jen, I might just go old school like you guys :D

[Segilola]

Ann, outlook? Like Hotmail? Or is that a separate app that you need technical know how to activate?

[Eldon]

So sorry for your luck Segilola :(

I think Graeme is right though...perhaps an honest apology explaining how technology turned against you will smooth it all over? After all most people can understand how all this technology can become troublesome.

Aside from that Annie is spot on - forget calendars!! Who needs them when you have Excel :)

[Eldon]

Segilola wrote: "Ann, outlook? Like Hotmail? Or is that a separate app that you need technical know how to activate?"

And Outlook is Microsoft's email program so chances are it's not cheap.

[Segilola]

Eldon wrote: "So sorry for your luck Segilola :(

I think Graeme is right though...perhaps an honest apology explaining how technology turned against you will smooth it all over? After all most people can unders..."

I know right, looking like technology just doesn't like me.

Spreadsheets are super time consuming and won't send notifications to my phone but . . .

Ah this just reminds me, I have been reading about spreadsheet bots that you can use for a variety of things. Maybe when I miraculously create extra time, I can make one into a calendar. With a one year old, I need something that can remind me of the gazillion and one things I have to do. Baby brain is seriously bad@ss

[Eldon]

I have a nine month old so I hear you :)

With the right programming though Excel can give you a reminder. You could program it to send you an email (but only you!) to remind you.

[Segilola]

oh really . . . please share how I can do that. use simple non technical words :D

[Eldon]

When it comes to VBA and writing macros, if you don’t have a solid understanding of code, there’s nothing simple. And then even if you do it’s hardly easy! Don’t despair though, with Excel there are numerous ways to accomplish anything.

I think your best bet would be to write this formula in any cell =TODAY() this is a dynamic formula (meaning Excel will change it every time you open the file and ask you to save every time you close) that will use the Windows date to return today’s date. Now, in Excel all dates are just numbers and you can use that to your advantage.

Format a cell as a date and type in the date you want to be reminded. Then reformat it to a general format to find out what the number is. Next up we use conditional formatting (this is an option along the ribbon under the home tab). This will allow you to change the color of a cell based upon the value in the cell with the TODAY() formula. So, in other words you can have the reminder cell change to yellow a day before the event and then even change to red once it’s gone overdue.

To take it a step further you could use an IF statement to return a message along the lines of “do whatever now” but with the color formatting in effect this might be overkill. Of course the only catch is that you need to open the file every day for it to work! Course that’s no different than your email reminders right?

Hope it helps! If you need more info you can PM me and I’ll try to walk you through it.

[Segilola]

OMG my heading pounding just reading that . . .

Can we chat about it next week and you can do a dummy's guide to?

[Eldon]

Segilola wrote: "OMG my heading pounding just reading that . . .

Can we chat about it next week and you can do a dummy's guide to?"

No problem :) Just PM whenever.

[Segilola]

thanks