Going Public

Writing is inherently a solitary act. I spend all day by myself in my office writing. And when I have free time, I sit by myself and read a book. I shun plans with friends to do this, only sometimes reminding myself that people were created to be in community with each other and that I should really get out and do something with someone who isn't the figment of another author's imagination. I enjoy being alone, and I don't think I'm the only writer who would write that.

Well, enjoying the solitary life is all good until you are on the road to trying to publish a book, and you are suddenly supposed to be accessible to all sorts of people and like to do readings and book signings and tours. Well, I don't know that. It's only what I've heard so far.

I took the first step to marketing myself today by joining LinkedIn and Twitter. I have avoided Twitter despite reading about it nearly every day for the past year. It just has absolutely no appeal to me whatsoever. But then an article from Writer's Digest spurred me to join not only Twitter, but LinkedIn. Both are supposed to make you more accessible both to the publishing industry and potential readership. I figured I would be proactive, and despite that I do not have any publishing contacts or potential readership (sorry, Dad, you don't count), I would sign up for both. I will keep you posted if either of these things assist me in my path to publication. You can follow me on Twitter, although I'm not sure if anything of merit can be said in under 140 characters.