We know that it’s important to be online when you’re an author. There are so many opportunities out there: guest blogging, radio shows, online parties, etc. You’re not going to get these things if you’re not paying attention. I’m always scouring my feed for any and all cool promotional opportunities, signing up without a second thought. It’s fun, but the online world can also be mentally exhausting. Especially during certain times of year.
They say there’s a balance in the world, and it seems like Social Media’s a good example of that. It’s allowed us to meet people from different countries, easily share information, and so much more. It’s also allowed us to see some of the ugliest aspects of people. We can see people calling others names because they don’t agree with a statement someone made, people trying to tear competitors down, and other negative behavior.
The internet has made this so easy. We don’t actually have to come face-to-face with a person, so the interaction loses a bit of reality for some. They forget there is a real, breathing person on the other end of that connection so some will easily spew negativity they would never dream of spewing had they been interacting offline.
I’ve been there, and it’s taken its toll on me, but there are a lot of ways to improve your online experience. Here are just a few I’ve used recently.
- Stick to the networks that work. If you find your Twitter is a safe haven where people aren’t arguing about politics, sports, or something else, spend a little more time there. If you’re finding Facebook is the more enjoyable place content-wise, stay there for the most part.
- Know your limits and adapt to them. I recently started making interest lists on Facebook and lists on Twitter. I put the people I truly love seeing posts from in there, people who are open-minded, respectful, and, above all, fun. It makes starting my day with some networking much more enjoyable. I keep an eye on these lists and add/remove people as needed.
- Avoid trending topics.
- Sign Off. If things are getting a little too ugly in your network, step away. Go for a walk. Work on that latest story. Anything that will get you a little space before you potentially say something that will just add to the negativity.
Social Media’s a huge part of your author tool box, but don’t let get you down. Being a part of an author community is supposed to be fun, so take your Social Media into your own hands and make it a place you enjoy being instead of a chore that you need to cross off the list.
