Facebook was intended as a friendly communication platform, built on interaction. In some ways it’s really out of control now re: what people are willing to put out there, but I do enjoy, in a more limited way than I used to, looking at what friends are up to and also being exposed to interesting links, etc. Using it as a marketing platform is a whole different story. Some people seem to do it so well naturally, but there’s every reason to see why others hire professionals to do it for them.

Yes it does boil down to finding some semblance of balance, doesn’t it? And I really do appreciate learning about how other writers manage it all.

Therefore, I started my Blog (Above,)opened a page on Facebook, and Tweeted. It took a few years to find my way in self marketing. Because of that endeavor, I am now the Social Media Director of American Indian Veterans Memorial, Inc.(Facebook,) aivmi.org (Website,)and Twitter’s @aivmi.

During this experience, my writing has improved, because of cross promoting and diverse writing. I book and movie review on my blog,write interesting content on aivmi.org, and promote all with FB and Twitter.

What has gone by the wayside is my novel writing. I am 60% into my third ‘Homeless in Homestead,” with an agent and fans waiting.

I enjoy what I am doing, but to find a balance is the most difficult hurdle that I have.

To promote or not to promote, is the question. Our art must be the number one item on my ‘To do’ list. This I have now put as my priority, as all of us should.

If it means putting Facebook on the back burner, so be it.

A couple of years ago I took a workshop re: Facebook marketing for writers. I learned a lot but it mostly confirmed my instincts re: the social nature (the importance interaction) of social media — which I do enjoy even if I need to back away from time to time. I do maintain an author’s page and I do my best to keep it current (putting aside the ‘wisdom’ of algorithms)

How we spend time on Facebook is about balance . . . and I couldn’t agree more re: the issues brought to light via Women Writers/Women’s Books. Funny thing — since I wrote this piece, I feel a little less compulsive about time spent on social media.

Very comforting to see this post! I’m a complete schizophrenic when it comes to FB and have exactly this fear- that my FB friends are sick of me posting about writing! But really the truth is that I don’t want to comment on everyone’s children’s achievements or their holiday pics and I fear too that they will think I don’t reciprocate with their posts!
I suppose it’s all about a balance and perhaps a break from FB is a good think- especially so that you can stop procrastinating with the real book of writing!
Thanks for another super post on this great site !

Here’s the (un)simple truth as I see it: Facebook is not going away. The pleasure is in the connections it makes possible. And when it feels overwhelming, I simply back off.