Twitter – Social Media Marketing Tool, or Time-waster?

by Janet Lane
Today we look at the strengths of the mini-message networking site, Twitter.  First a news flash regarding Twitter’s phenomenal growth: since last month’s numbers, Twitter has grown from 6 million unique visitors in the US to 7 million.
Why Twitter is good
● A feeling of connectedness and immediacy. A professional on a business trip [...]

Twitter – Social Media Marketing Tool, or Time-waster?

Part 2 of the Twitter series by Janet Lane
(See prior post for part 1)
My survey
I surveyed eighty members of RMFW, asking (1) How long have you been Tweeting? (2) how many tweets do you generate per day? (3) How many Followers do you have? (4) Do you Tweet for just your novel writing, or do [...]

Twitter-Social Media Mktg Tool or Time-waster?

I first heard about Twitter at a one-night class I took last year on blogging. The instructor mentioned it as a final comment. He introduced Twitter briefly as the newest social media communication phenomenon, and showed us the “Tweet” (message) he had posted before he came to teach the class that evening. [...]

Finding time for writing

In today’s tight market, authors are called upon to develop an impressive platform, a network of thousands of friends, family and associates likely to buy our books. To develop that, we promote. Following every promotional tip we’ve ever received, we lead workshops. We mail press releases and postcards. Do book signings. Stage contests on our [...]

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

There’s magic in the Emerald Isle. Where else could you find leprechauns and pots of gold at the end of the rainbow?  Looking past parades and green beer and hair, Ireland brings to mind whimsy and magic, marvelous optimism and charm that claims a large place in our hearts despite its diminutive size.
I’ve always been [...]

4 secrets to improve luck, get published

… continued from previous post
In his book, Change Your Luck, the Scientific Way to Improve Your Life, Dr. Richard Wiseman’s research took several years and involved interviews with hundreds of exceptionally lucky and unlucky people.
In one study, Wiseman used television to announce that he would track the success rate of lucky and unlucky people who [...]

Get lucky to get published

Part two
… continued from yesterday’s post
In his book, Change Your Luck, the Scientific Way to Improve Your Life, Wiseman’s research took several years and involved interviews with hundreds of exceptionally lucky and unlucky people.
He discovered a significantly new way of looking at luck and the role it plays in our lives.
People are not “born” lucky.  [...]

Get Lucky! Improve your odds, get published

There’s nothing worse than being surrounded by success when you’re not there yet.  Not so long ago I was at that point, trying desperately to get published and not succeeding.  The term “ambivalent” so fits struggling writers who just heard their best friend was offered her first contract.  How else can you experience such happiness [...]

Get your Rocky Mtn News on-line!

AN UPDATE – 3/16/09 – If you’d like to receive the Rocky Mountain News on-line, go to iwantmyrocky.com A group of reporters, photographers and editors from The Rocky are trying to Save the Rocky and offer it on-line!  Great news!
–Janet
Okay, I’m a loyal fan of the Rocky Mountain News, and I’m in mourning that this [...]

Fire! High stakes ignite your story

Returning from the mountains yesterday, my husband and I saw an alarmingly large column of smoke.  It first became visible around Genesee, where the skyline of Denver and its sprawling suburbs spill onto the plains. Judging by its distance on the horizon, the black smoke appeared to be about twenty stories tall, the size of [...]