May 29, 2016 |
Hey y’all (I said “y’all,” y’all!)!
I’m back from my second year at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.
Was is everything I hoped it to be? Yes and no.
Yes, because there was much to learn, more to affirm, and an abundance of camaraderie.
No, because in this midst of all that, there were some treasured folk that were deeply missed.
I’ll tell y’all about it later (I said “y’all” again!), but this post is about what I learned about social media. In particular, it’s about one post that taught me about social media.
You see, there’s this thing we call Lobby Time. In the early mornings (not really), between classes (sometimes) and after the evening group session (always), most of us gather in the lobby. It’s where we connect, hang out, let our hair down, play Magic or other games . . . You get the picture.
And speaking of picture (see what I did there?), I took one. There I am chatting it up with some friends-turned-family and I think, This would make a great photo. So in the midst of their discussion, I lifted my cell phone and click. I took a photo.
This photo.
Lobby Time at BRMCWC with Alton Gansky and Lori Roeleveld.
Great photo, dontcha think? I sure do.
The man on the left is Al “Pops” Gansky. He’s Aaron’s dad and the co-host of our weekly Firsts in Fiction Podcast. It was a year ago at Blue Ridge that we met face to face for the first time. [Read: And They Say Getting There is Half the Fun.] He kind of adopted me.
The woman on the right of the photograph is Lori Roeleveld, a disturber of hobbits. She’s an excellent blogger, and a true friend. She calls me sister.
So why wouldn’t I want a photo of some of my favorite peeps?
And why wouldn’t I post it on Twitter and tag them in it?
And why wouldn’t they respond?
So apparently, it’s become a thing. Like, a thing-thing. Like, an internal, #BRMCWC, photo-gone-viral thing. This was taken Monday night. The conference went until Thursday afternoon.
Do you know how many people were talking about this photo by Thursday afternoon? Well, what’s This Girl to do when the conference director says, “Send that to me ASAP so I can share it.”
Of course I sent it to her.
Here’s the thing. It’s not the photo. It’s the reactions.
So many people love so much about this photo, but it all started with Lori’s Tweet-back:
“When did I start to resemble Al?”
And since she has her own Twitter followers, they saw her reply to the photo. And each time, we tagged Al in the retweets. So others saw it.
And kept the conversation going.
And directed others to it.
Two days later, I passed Lori in the hall. As she had broken her foot last week, I paused to ask how she was doing. She gave me a tired smile and said, “I’m alright except for starting to look like Al.”
It’s a good thing my peeps have a sense of humor.
I can honestly tell you upon pain of death that this is one of my most popular tweets ever. It’s certainly one of my favorites.
Sure it’s not a Kardashian. Or Justin Bieber with his pet monkey. Or a Kardashian with Bieber’s pet monkey.
But it is a pretty fantastic photo of some pretty fantastic people that received some pretty fantastic attention.
And all I did was take a photo.
{View the original twitter pic of Alton Gansky and Lori Roeleveld at BRMCWC, and join the fun, here.}
So what’s the moral of this story? Have fun with your photos. And now and then, warn a girl.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
May 17, 2016 |
Last month we discussed some things people do on social media that can sting. [Read: Social Media Buzz: Don’t Bee That Person.]
In this post you’ll find some subtle yet sweet behaviors that will keep your Swarm buzzing and building.
To Bee and Not To Bee
Being a ninja involves skill and knowledge, and the ability to fuse them cohesively. Sort of like bees in a hive, right?
I love being a Ninja Bee and helping others use their social media secrets to grow their online community.
MoJo – Social Media Ninja
Here’s a little honey to share, some tips on the fly that can help draw people into your hive and create some positive buzz for your and your books.
- Use your (key) words. Ask yourself: Who will my audience be? When you post online, direct some of the conversation to their attention. Writing a cookbook? Use #recipe. Quote a sentence or two from your manuscripts or reference a character trait. Your hive will fly to your side and bring friends with them.
- Connection is a two-way conduit. The Three R’s: Reach, Respond, Reply. Whether it’s a like, share, or comment, your swarm is more likely to help create a buzz if they know they’re appreciated. Keep the honey flowing.
- Forget you’re a writer who needs readers. You are also a person, pet owner, coffee drinker, snowboarder, checkers champion. Whatever other things that go into making you you, don’t forget that your readers are also multifaceted. An honest online relationship is more than just marketing. Share those bits and bites of your life, and the next time one of your bees posts about their day, simply support them. They’ll think of you sweetly.
- Share the sweet struggles. Writing isn’t always easy. Take your swarm on the journey with you. It’s okay to admit writer’s block or a belligerent character. Those behind-the-scenes moments are the extras readers like to experience with you. Just make sure you put your stinger away when venting.
- Share the sweetness. Writing is a beautiful adventure. Give your swarm a reason to spread the buzz and share the honey. Offer freebies and discounts on your books. Swarm Swag like bookmarks and free downloads are terrific gifts to say thanks to those hard worker bees who spread the word for you.
Remember, your hive is built with community.
Field of Dreams
With some sweet tea and a big smile,
~ Happy writing and keep on Buzzing.
Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
May 1, 2016 |
I feel bad for not blogging like I used to. I really do. It’s not that you don’t matter. You’re my Swarm, of course you matter!
You matter so much, that I’ve been putting my efforts into the bigger projects. I know you’re just waiting for NOLA to be finished, and that’s my focus right now.
NOLA Inspiration
And here you are, checking your inboxes every day, patiently waiting for news.
Have you joined the Facebook NOLA Swarm group? That’s where you’ll find most of my updates.
In the meantime, here’s a little bit of what’s happening:
NOLA is about two-thirds rough drafted, and half of those pages have already gone through some deep edits. That means I’ve only one-third left to write. It’s getting pretty exciting. Last week I dreamt the final scene. So this week, I’m finishing the deep edits and writing what comes next.
In just a few weeks, I’ll be at this year’s Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and network with other writers, agents, and publishers. I’m looking forward to connecting with known friends and discovering new ones.
So I figure it’s about time y’all met NOLA’s protagonist, Penny Jo Embers. She goes by “Josie” but her new friends call her “Penny”.
When she first arrives in New Orleans, she finds a place to stay.
Red-Headed Embers
Later, she meets characters, mystery, and food. Oh, the food! [Note: You didn’t hear it from me, but it’s quite possible a NOLA Companion Cookbook is in the works, as well.]
She’s not sure what she’s supposed to do. Her life feels over. Or unstarted. Or just messed up. Is she running away from it, or is she taking a break to gather her thoughts?
Torn between a home she doesn’t love and a place she loves but isn’t home, she manages to find a moment of peace with her new friends.
Josie the Firefly
Of course, that’s just a snippet of what happens. Let’s be real. She’s in New Orleans. It’s not just about the food and the fireflies.
Want more? I was hoping you would. Join the Facebook NOLA Swarm Group and be a part of the fun.
NOLA should be released later this year.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Apr 7, 2016 |
Building a Social Media Swarm takes more than just constant posting. You need to know your audience, and let them know you. Read on to learn how to create a positive social media buzz.
To Bee and Not To Bee
Don’t Be That Person.
You know who I’m talking about. There are certain cyber-people who make you want to use Facebook’s Unfriend button more often than not. Am I right? We’ve all been in that person’s skin one time or another. The thing is, you shouldn’t stay there.
Here’s a quick run down of five social media personalities you should try to avoid becoming:
- The One Who Only Wants to Sell. You know these people. They ask “How are you?” but don’t wait for the response. They don’t care. While you’re telling them about your day, they’re just waiting for you to catch your breath so they can interrupt and suggest how your – or any – situation relates to their newest title. Everything they post turns back to the product they have to offer. It’s as though their only vocabulary is “Buy my book! Buy my book!” If this is your goal for using social media, I suggest you simply open an online store.
Social Media isn’t just Squawking.
- The Self-Focused One. This is similar to No. 1 except these people know how to personalize everything – toward themselves. Instead of mandating that you purchase their wares, they manipulate every conversation back to “Me, Myself, and I.” They’re not really interested in hearing about your writing adventures. They’ll often interrupt the conversation to be the center of attention. Now, if you notice a fire behind the person you’re talking to, this is a good skill. If you’re trying to be a good friend, notsomuch.
- The Silent Streamers. These are the people who see everything online but do nothing about it. Sure, having a new “like” on your page or a new follower on Twitter is equivalent to Internet cash, but only a penny or so. It’s the interactions that keep you going. Right? In the Internet world, if you’re not going to support someone, don’t offer your likes and follows and then disappear. That’s like being the child in room who covers their eyes and says “You can’t see me!” You really do know they’re there, but they want to pretend they’re not. What’s the point?
- The Streaming Stalker. Similar to No. 3 except creepier. This is the person who gives a like to everything you do, on all platforms, the moment you do it. It’s like they wait online just for you. If you post a photo your donut-and-coffee breakfast, the Streaming Stalker will like it, suggest ways to eat and drink, and share it nine ways to Sunday. The Internet is designed for interacting, not creeping someone out. It’s okay to show your support, but don’t do it in a manner that resonates something off a crime drama. Let the person you’re following know you support them. Help promote them by liking, following, sharing, and commenting on their posts. Just not everything all at once. And don’t hijack their posts. Remember, you’re there to support them, not steal their thunder.
Drama, drama, drama!
- The Overly Emotional One. These are the people who are either happy-happy-happy, or woe-is-me. All. The. Time. Let’s face it. Life is full of a little bit of everything. It’s okay to be real online. Don’t be so cheerful that people want to put on blinders when they read your posts, but don’t be a chaos junkie either. We all have our up’s and down’s. So share bits and pieces of what’s going on in your world and by all means interact with your followers. But if you want more likes, the trick is to be likeable. Find a balance between Pollyanna and Eeyore and you’ll do just fine.
Next week I’ll fly by with some positive activity for you and your Swarm.
Until then, with some sweet tea and a big smile,
Happy writing and keep on Buzzing.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Apr 3, 2016 |
Ground beef, green beans, mashed potatoes and memories.
So, y’all know I’m the new Foodie Columnist for Broken But Priceless Ministries, right? Every three months I get to prepare a meal, write about, take pretty pictures, then eat it. Not a bad way to get my name out there in the dog-eat-dog world of writing, am I right? [Dog-eat-dog. See what I did there?]
For April’s magazine [of course I’ll post the link when it’s available, silly of you to even ask!], I had a hard time deciding what to make. In the end, this family favorite won. Okay, it may have had something to do with the fact that I’d been asking my mother down the street to make it for me for the last month but whenever she said, “I can make it tonight” I always responded with “I’m too busy to come over.”
So long story short (or are we past that point, now?) I made it myself. I grew up on this dish. It’s as delicious in summer as it is in winter. The gravy thickens as it stands, which makes even the leftovers delicious. Serve it up with a side of squash or salad greens and you’ve got yourself a complete meal.
Hamburger Pie, from the Unemployment Cookbook
INGREDIENTS:
1 medium onion, diced
1 lb. Ground Beef
1 can (14 oz.) French style green beans, drained
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can water
1 box instant mashed potatoes
1 egg
DIRECTIONS:
Brown ground beef and onion. Spoon into 2-quart baking dish.
Cover with green beans.
Mix together soup and water, pour over green beans.
Cook instant mashed potatoes per package instructions. Beat in egg.
Spread on top of casserole.
Bake uncovered 350 for 30 minutes.
Not quite a fan? You can use sirloin or ground turkey instead of beef, and replace the green beans with mixed vegetables. For a real twist, use cheddar mashed potatoes.
However you make it, don’t forget the big gulp of sweet tea.
Happy eating,
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
The Unemployment Cookbook, Second Edition
This recipe is from The Unemployment Cookbook, Second Edition, now available through New Inklings Press and Amazon.
