New Year, Not New Me but maybe New Writer Me? #WriterWednesday #AmWriting #NewYearsResolutions

In my New Year blog (New Year, Not New Me ~ New Year’s Resolutions I hope I can manage to keep), I claimed I wasn’t going to make specific resolutions for 2018. Instead, I made up some broad goals for the year. We’re three weeks into the year, and I’ve already changed my mind. Hey! I’m a woman, it’s my prerogative. So, here are my goals related to my writing life for 2018.

Do one guest blog or interview per month. I know, I know. This sounds like a lot. I already try to blog three times a week on my own blog and often fail spectacularly with that. How in the hell do I think I can do one more blog a month? I have no idea, but I need to change something up. Marketing that used to work is no longer working for me. This may not be the solution, but I’m willing to try pretty much anything.

More time on social media. I seriously heard you scream Are you out of your mind? when you read this. I know, I know. Social media is taking over our lives. Blah, blah, blah. I spend a lot of time on social media as it is, but I don’t really connect much. I thought I was connecting, but upon further analysis (because I analyze everything!), I merely like a lot of stuff but don’t actually tell anyone why or respond very often with thoughts or comments. Another blogger asked me why not? And I admitted I’m scared of what people think of me. I don’t know them, why would they want me to comment? *Face palm* I love it when people I don’t know comment on my stuff, why wouldn’t others feel the same way? *Pulls up big girl panties* I can do this.

Goodreads. I’ve never thought of Goodreads as a way to really connect with readers. I was using it as more of a platform to show off my writing and reading. But then I was analyzing (again with the analysis!) why other writers seemed to have lots of followers and few friends whereas I have a lot of friends and fewer followers. To make a long story short, I realized I’m not actually treating my Goodreads friends as friends, I’m treating them as followers. That’s not what I want, so it’s time to interact more on Goodreads. *Takes a big breath and reminds herself she has her big girl panties on*

LinkedIn groups. I admit I’m not a fan of Facebook groups for writers. The strings are long and hard to follow and OMG! I don’t need yet another group on Facebook to follow! What’s different about LinkedIn? First and foremost, I can set my notification settings in more detail. I get one email a week with a round-up of all new topics in the groups. For me, that’s more manageable than constant notifications from Facebook. Secondly, I’m hoping as it’s a professional network, the information will be, well, more professional and not just writers cleverly trying to post something to promote their book without making it too obvious.

That’s it, folks. Stay tuned. I just may not spectacularly fail.