I have almost decided to self-publish my books through Amazon and other electronic media. In preparation for that, I’m taking Kristen Lamb’s course “We Are Not Alone”. See her blog here As a result, I am trying to build a platform on Social Media (Twitter, Facebook and Blogging).
Sighhhhhhh
I have not figured out how to do it all and work full time and have a life.
I know writing should come first, (after going to work so I can pay my mortgage) so I started this class after finishing one novel and before starting another. I figured a month to learn social media skills and then I’d be back to writing and editing. After all, I’ve written a fair number of words and I know my process and my procrastination tools.
Yeah right!
Little did I know that these three activities would take every minute of every day that I gave to them. And then they’d ask for more.
So I wisely decided that one answer would be to get a smart phone. Then I could read 
email and respond to things on my breaks and at lunch.
Yeah right. NOT.
First I couldn’t get my email to work. Nor could the tech at the wireless store. Eventually my son-in-law figured it out and fixed it. Yay.
And then I realized I can’t type on that touch screen – it’s a learned skill that I need to master, just like learning to type with my thumbs on my Blackberry. Sheesh.
Then I recognized that a better email package would enable me to manage emails when I read them. It meant I wouldn’t have to go through them when I opened my email. Sounds good, right?
NOT.
I reviewed email apps on line. Read reviews. Made notes. Asked questions. (Are you seeing the time I put in?) Finally purchased one for my phone.
Doesn’t work. Apparently my email provider is hard to program on a smart phone. And now I have to go back to my generous son in law and ask him to set up the new email app on my phone.
So what have I learned? I can master social media. It’s not that hard. But the learning curve is time consuming. And when I do Facebook and Twitter at the same time, it sucks up the hours. Blogging is even worse.
I have to admit I’m enjoying the process. In spite of the frustration and the time and the way my eyes are starting to feel square from staring at a screen.
Now I’m going to put this away and finish editing my book. It’s the reason for all these other activities and I must get it done.
Pat, it’s funny you mention following me, because I see you everywhere – you’ve got to be as busy as I am. I think I’d love to be retired right about now…well no, not really, that would leave me too poor to do anything I like to do.
Class has been exhilarating. goodness, if I’d known then what i know now…I’m going to abstain from Kristen’s January class. I’m sure it will be excellent but I need to write a book at the start of the year. LOL
Louise,
You’re doing a great job with the WANA1011 class. How do I know? I’ve commented after you on blog post after blog post. You get around, girl! The class has worn me out, but it’s been exhilarating. As for phones, I use mine to receive and send text mesages. Period. I admire you for your forward-thinking re smartphones and your desire to stay a few steps ahead of your baby tech grandkids. (Good luck with the latter!)
Karen, I am so glad you spent time with your son and his family rather than visit my blog. Family always comes first. when all is said and done, they’re what counts – way more than our social media circle. That being said, I appreciate your visit to my blog. and I appreciate your discipline with twitter. Good for you
Louise, you captured it so well. You and I are going through the same things. I need some free time to create a schedule 🙂
I’m sorry I am late to the party Louise. My son and his wife came over the weekend from out of town, so I took a break from social media.
I totally understand your frustration. I have felt the same way. All this stuff can eat up your time. And when do we have the time to dedicate towards our WIP? That’s what’s been bothering me. Not all of us are multitask ninjas!
That’s why I’m not on twitter very much. Just a couple times a day. And as much as I love reading everyone’s blog, it does suck up even more time. I hope to find the balance soon or I might be falling off the social media planet.
Thanks you Louise for this post! It was a timely subject. And we’re all trying to make huge adjustments! Hang in there! 🙂
Oh, Louise, I too could have written this post. I have a smartphone, but I’ve stayed off Twitter on it. I think I need some time to be unplugged. But that leaves my computer, so I end up reading blogs and tweeting a bit when I should be writing. Yes, isn’t that the reason we’re doing this? I love Kristen’s class, but how in the world does she keep her social media time to 15 minutes???? I’m still trying to keep blog reading to 30-60 minutes, so I can have blogs for my mashup AND read them closely enough to enjoy them! I tweet, but not much. Maybe I’d do more little stuff if I used the phone. Ah, well, learning curve. L-o-n-g learning curve!
Jennifer, all I can say is ‘ditto’ to your post. It’s as if I fell behind and haven’t caught up. I took an extra few days off at christmas, so I can get caught up an d put some things in place to help me keep up in the new year.
I’m so glad you wrote this post, Louise. I can so relate to how overwhelming it is. I feel like one of those hamsters on a wheel at times. Just can’t keep up with everyone’s blogs, which is my favorite part of social media. I also thought about getting a smart phone someday (can’t afford anything right now) but it would make it easier to keep up with the tweets, I think. But after reading about what a hassle you’ve been dealing with, forget it. I’d have umpteen meltdowns, and it’s just not worth losing my mind over. Just the simple technological procedures are a challenge to me. Like the remote control! No kidding. I shared your Walmart playground comment on my parenting post today. Thanks so much for sharing that with me! Hang in there, Louise. And, yes, writing the novel is what it’s all about!
Lynn, when you can afford it, get a smart phone. My sil got mine working perfectly and it’s amazing — I can reply to email and tweets and I can read blog posts, altho they’re fairly small print. I am a total convert for my android phone. Had a blackberry but this is so much better. I’m still practicing typing on the touch screen but that’s getting better as well.
I’m sorry to hear you’re as overwhelmed as I am, altho it’s good to know I’m not alone. I chuckled at your comment about the remote – my same sil has this home entertainment system. Their four year old has to show me how to use it… too funny. Can’t wait to read your post on parenting. thanks for including my comment. One of the best things from WANA is that I’ve met such nice people, like yourself.
Wow, I could’be written this post! Except luckily I got email to work on my phone. It really does help, as I can’t access blogs or personal email from my workplace. I first took a week-long WANA class in July – and I still haven’t figured out the “still have time to write” part. The only way I was able to meet my writing goals this past week was I pretty much stayed off Twitter. I don’t like doing that but sometimes, something has to go. Hoping to get on more this week – but like someone said, the only way I can do it is limit it to an hour a day.
Lol still learning to type on my phone too!
Thanks for sharing your reality Jeanette. it’s such a steep leatning curve isnt it. good news is that my sil got everything working for me.
I cannot agree with you more. Social networking takes a huge amount of time. But I enjoy meeting new people and reading books I would never haved found otherwise. I think I came across a post where the person said she limited her social networking to one hour a day. I don’t know if I could do that. I don’t know if I’d want to do that. Networking junkie here?
Self-publishing today imo makes a lot of sense today.
Anna, obviously you and I are having the same reaction to social networking – I like getting to know people and I’ve found a great many good books. and self publishing does seem like the reasonable choice in today’s market. see you on twitter
I need to use a timer while on Social Media. I typically Tweet at random when I have the iPhone with me. In the car (when someone else is driving) or during commercials during the one or two TV shows I watch a week. The balance always seems to be: networking and still being able to write.
a timer is a good idea, Stacy. I get caught up in all the interesting stuff and find myself spending way too much time on social media and not enough on my life – including fitness. sheesh.
I feel your pain here Louise. Kristen’s class has been an eye-opening experience and great fun. But at the same time just where am I to fit all these new “duties” of social networking into my schedule. I love to blog and love the results thus far. It is very time consuming to write a blog, track the results, read everyone else’s blogs, comment on them, tweet, retweet, etc. Wasn’t I supposed to writing a novel?
Amen, Tim. sounds like we’re in similar boats. And i’m supposed to be editing, which I don’t like to do, so this class has pushed that way out of the timelines I had set. i have got to find a way to get this under control