Keeping up with a social media presence can be a daunting task. Especially for those new to the game, posting new and relevant content often feels like that “extra” thing that seems to have little effect and is easily forgotten. But if it’s neglected, potential readers, fellow writers, and maybe even agents and editors may…
Before I get started on today’s topic, I want to express a huge thank you to everyone who supported my fundraiser for Houston disaster relief or gave directly to an organization that will help people in need. We are seeing the best of America coming through every day, and if there’s a silver lining to…
Because I had nothing better to do (certainly not writing, editing, or marketing, apparently), I created a place where my smartass side could play. I call her Bad Writer. She gives bad writing advice. She doesn’t promote anything or use serious hashtags (though sarcastic hashtags may come into play). She’s all about snark. And if…
The title is one that I hope will spark some constructive discussion. I’ve asked myself the question many times since the election and on certain days when I find myself glued to my Twitter feed. I realize the title itself may cause a few to bristle. Everyone is “allowed” to say whatever the hell they…
A friend emailed me a question. She’s written a book and is considering what to do with it. Her question: “How do you self-publish on Amazon?” She didn’t mean what buttons to push on KDP that makes the book go live. She meant: “What are the steps necessary to prepare a book for publication?” I…
I like to think I’m pretty savvy when it comes to the interwebs. I took to blogging easily, Facebook and Twitter are my favorite hangouts, and I’ve operated my self-publishing business almost entirely online. So imagine my surprise when I recently discovered two things: 1. That StumbleUpon exists, and 2. That it’s existed since 2002.…
Yesterday I returned to Colorado after spending five days in sunny and warm Florida, where I got to hang out with these guys: And do this thing: It was educational, and I’m not talking solely about what I picked up in the workshops. This was my second writers conference. The first was in Colorado last…
When I started blogging in 2012, creating a Facebook page linked to the blog was a natural move. Every blogger had one. I followed a few bloggers’ Facebook pages and even found new bloggers via Facebook shares. As time went on, the powers that be tightened up the feeds, so to speak. Users don’t want to see…
I read a lot of blog posts over the course of a week. A lot. And most of them don’t come from my WordPress Reader, where the blogs I’ve subscribed to are listed. I find most of them on Twitter blog share days, where bloggers can share their interesting content with specified hashtags, expanding potential…
When it comes to promoting on Facebook, people seem to land in one of two camps: 1. Facebook is the king of social media and deserves the most attention, or 2. Facebook is turning into the place where the “old” people hang out, so our attention should move to wherever the audience is moving. There…
Allison Maruska 