Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Horror

Hello new followers! Nice to meet you.

Today's post will be some things that I have recently come across that bring on that feeling of "Oh dear, what have I done!" Be prepared to shudder and groan along with me.

!. I've gotten into Twitter more. I used to think I would never leave the happy community of people I already knew at Facebook, but no. Twitter is taking all the time that I used to spend scrolling through people's status updates. It's a strange thing because I actually know all of the people who are my friends on Facebook. In Real Life. And I would rather spend time interacting with people who are writers. That I've never met. Am I crazy? Probably. But at least you all get my crazy. I'm not saying I'll give up on Facebook completely, but man. It's lost a lot of its appeal.

2. Speaking of Twitter, I can't believe how awkward I am sometimes. You can send messages to any body! I mean, any body. As long as they have that little @ in front of their names, you can talk to them. This is both cool and terrifying.  Especially when you follow people who are influential and highly placed in the field of your choice. Like agents. And published authors. And, you know. People! And, like I mentioned before, they don't actually know me. They can't hear my tone of voice when I try to be funny. (I try to be funny all the time. It just falls horribly flat in most situations where I'm writing with 140 characters.) I did this the other day with an agent. And a second agent. Then, just for fun, I added a third agent. Yup. I felt pretty dumb afterwards, but what can you do?

3. I just discovered the joy that is Google Reader. Wow. I keep following new blogs (hello again, new folk!), but there is only so much time in the day. I love to read what every one is doing and I used to spend hours clicking through from blogger to each and every post and leaving comments and interacting and all that fun stuff that we start a blog for. But it was seriously killing my writing time. (I have a blog addiction. I love to get out there and read you all.) And now, I can still read what you are doing. And, strangely, I feel like I'm cheating on you somehow. I mean, it's easy to just read your post and then move on and never comment or interact with you or anything beyond that screen in Google Reader. But if I commented on every blog, every time, I would never do anything else! How do people do it! I just don't know.

So, friends, these are the horrors I have recently encountered in my life. What do I do with them? What's a horror for you?

13 comments:

Chantele Sedgwick said...

I wish I could visit every blog and comment on them, but there is no way. Not enough time in the day, and I have my kidlets to look after. ;)
I'm getting used to Twitter. I don't use it a ton, but I'm starting to like it more and more. ;)

Ruth Josse said...

Twitter scares me. I already don't have enough time. It sounds a little bit addictive. Yes? As for the blogging thing, I comment when I have time and don't when I don't. And then try and not feel guilty when I don't.

Sierra Gardner said...

Google reader is one of the best things that has ever happened to me! Finding time to manage social networking can be really challenging. The first thing I did is organize the blogs on Google reader into folders. I have folders specifically for crit partners, blogging friends and people I plan on interacting with regularly. I also have folders for blogs that consistently offer great posts and folders for blogs that I feel comfortable just skimming. I also have to limit my time on twitter or I could spend all day there!

Liesl Shurtliff said...

I love Google Reader!

I have not yet started to Twitter. I am afraid.

Jess said...

Twitter can be addictive, but I don't actually tweet--I'm a lurker. I just think it's pretty darn cool that I can see what Judy Blume thinks of things like the Academy Awards outfits and hosts :)

Angela Kulig said...

Twitter is THE BEST it's an addiction I will not lie. I'd much rather chat it up with a bunch of other writers than talk to my husbands great aunts second cousin twice removed. I dislike facebook because all of my friends have to update on every little thin in their lives. Apparently I need 3 paragraphs a day on their garending habits. Another post on running out to get toilet paper. You know how I feel about meaningless dribble? If you cant get it into 140 characters or less I don't want to know.

Ben Spendlove said...

I don't know, but I just followed you.

Sarah said...

Hahaha. I don't do facebook, but I got sucked into twitter a few months ago and I love it. It IS a huge distraction, though hugely fun. I'm too shy to "talk" to any agent but my own on twitter, though!

Mary Frame said...

OMG I am having the same twitter experience (including the awkwardness!) Kiersten White actually responded to TWO of my tweeted replies. (after that, no more...may have overdone it a bit...) I also, as you know, have a habit of stalking people I meet in the blogosphere on twitter.
And I feel you about losing the need to check out facebook and my real life friends. Writers are just so much more fun!
:)

Annie Laurie Cechini said...

OH MY GOODNESS. So feeling this post. A) HI SIERRA! Yes, google reader is the best ever. B) I think I'm really funny until i start typing on twitter. And I hit send. And...then it hits me that possibly, what I THOUGHT was coming out as hysterical might not have been taken the way I meant it. And then the inevitable headslam ensues. HUZZAH! :P Yeah, I'm taking a Twitter break to try and regain some brain cells.
And, let's be honest, dignity.
:)

Laurel Garver said...

I'm still avoiding Twitter, because I can't add one more thing that could steal writing time, and because I'm sure I'd be a big dork unintentionally.

I handle blog commenting by setting time limits, and by giving myself goals, like leave 12-15 comments on various blogs daily. On super busy days, I cut back the commenting in half.

Anonymous said...

I've also lessened the time following updates on FB...twitter is more rewarding when you follow other writers. I like posting short messages, so the 140 characters are fine... :)

Jolene Perry said...

Yep. I'm on twitter, took me a while, but it's a really awesome way to stalk the agents you like :D