You can get her book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble for only 99 cents.
Remember, you don't have to own an eReader to read it. You can download either the Kindle or Nook software free to your computer, tablet or phone. I know it's hard to read fiction on the computer, but it's great to have a short reference book like this at your fingertips!
How long have you been writing/how did you get started?
I actually wrote my first book—long-hand—in 8th grade. It’s funny, I was looking back through some of my old year books and several kids commented about me becoming a bestselling writer.
I began my writing career as a technical writer in the 80’s, then had kids and began writing again seriously as they grew up.
How did you get interested in social media?
It was a sink or swim situation. I got a job as managing editor at a Centered Mag, an online Christian Magazine for College age guys. Everyone I worked with was young enough to be my son—and social media is the only way to reach that audience. I had to become an expert or quit my job.
With my success came a huge sense of accomplishment. It’s become one of my passions to show others that social networking is NOTHING to be afraid of. Believe me, if I can do it, ANYONE can!
Why did you write Social Media Marketing for Writers?
This book wasn’t originally my idea. My publisher, Eddie Jones with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas came up with this idea. They are also publishing my devotional book, Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home, later this year. Eddie knew I taug
ht Social Media Marketing to writers at conferences all over the country and he asked me to send him my notes so he could evaluate the possibility of doing a book. The rest, as they say, is history.
Why is social networking important for writers?
Writing is all about building relationships—with readers, editors, agents, other writers—and what better vehicle than social media? It’s tailor made for writers. After all, we communicate best through the written word. And it gives us an unprecedented opportunity to connect with our readers.
I know your has lots of tips for writers using social media to build their platform and connect with their audience, but how do we find the time? How do you find the time?
I developed my schedule because I was totally overwhelmed. I felt like I was spending all this time on social media and not getting any writing done—which was the reason for starting the social marketing. I found the minimum I could do and still get results.
I’m very ADD and without a schedule I don’t get anything done!
Here’s an overview of my schedule on days when I’m home:
Most important, I only check email/phone messages 3 times a day. That makes a huge difference in my ability to concentrate.
I’ve found my best creative time, mid-morning, so I reserve that for writing. But here's how my day breaks down:
- First hour of my day is spent on email and social networking.
- Then I write until lunch.
- After lunch, I check email, return calls and do about 20 min of social networking.
- Then I work on editing assignments, rewriting, marketing, whatever is next on my list.
- Then the last 30 minutes of the day is spent on email, phone calls and social networking.
That’s a rough estimation of my days—some work better than others. But this is the schedule that made it possible for me to publish over 700 articles in 2010.
Can you share some of your favorite writing quotes?
"Easy reading is damn hard writing" -Nathaniel Hawthorne
"I write for the same reason I breath - if I didn't I'd die." -Isaac Asimov
And my life verse -
Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Esther 4:14For those of you who don't know Edie, be sure to visit her blog. And don't forget to LIKE her book on FaceBook!
