Okay, so encouraged by many people who have liked my blogs or FB page, I went on twitter. That led to much advice about promoting books from other authors. That led to searches on the web for placement, advertising, google buttons, tag switches, reader tracking, https, .orgs, zfiles, QRSTs and WTFs, so that now, I have pretzel brain. Oh yes, that malleable organ has been rolled out, stretched and put through a complete twist and flip. If you’ve ever made a pretzel, or watched one being made, say at the mall, you know that they take this long, thin, piece of dough and twist it and flip it. That’s my brain on the internet. All that’s left is to drop it in hot oil and add salt. And, of course, some people like mustard.
And here’s the thing. I like the social media for the social aspect of it. I love exchanging ideas with other authors, getting and giving encouragement to and from people I don’t even know, but many of whom are smart and funny and obviously good people. But I HATE promoting myself. I always have, it just feels like, “Look at me, see how great I am?” I was never comfortable with that aspect of being an actor. I just want to connect with people on a real level. And, while it’s great to have people like your work, it’s weird when that unhealthy level of ‘fan’ comes into play. I still get letters and contacts from people who think I’m whatever character they liked in a movie or show, or don’t realize that I’m a fifty-two year old mom, not the sexpot bitch in “Laker Girls.” I’m just Shari, a vastly imperfect being doing my best to put something fun to read or watch out there.
I know some people live for this. Some of them get so caught up in what they are putting out about themselves that they get addicted to it and have to try to create more. My word for that? Yucky. I learned early in my life that to put your value in what other people think of you leads to deep unhappiness. If you present only what you want people to see about you, then you can’t be upset when you find that nobody knows you. It’s a lonely place.
Fortunately, the fame thing doesn’t happen so much as a writer. People understand that your work is what they like, they don’t confuse you and the character you are writing they way do with the character an actor is portraying. The main reason I shifted from acting to writing was my girls. I knew I couldn’t be here for them if I was always off on location, or dragging them around on shoots. The second reason was that I’m more comfortable working as a writer. Some people think it’s lonely, but with all these characters in my head, I have to shut the club down at midnight!
Remember when people had publicists? Someone else to do all the bragging? I just can’t bring myself to retweet every nice thing someone says about me. It feels…false. I know, I know, I have to promote my own books, no one else will do it, blah blah, I get it. So now I have reluctance mixed with technology based on number codes and links and tags and blogs and social media, and so I’m gritting my teeth, appreciating the social interactions and the only other thing I can say is…
pass the mustard.
Goof post… good picture… oh, man…zanita…
Love you author name!! clever twist of your own words there. Think I’ll spend a few hours pouring my own art out.
It is never wasted time to pour anything out… unless it is beer…
Depends where you are pouring it, gullet or sink. anyway, if there is any left over, it’s great in soup!
I have a great cheddar cheese/beer bread recipe. I guess in the end, beer always gets poured out… one way or another…
You need to send me that recipe on FB. Please? I love to bake and it’s almost cool enough. Well, it’s under 90 anyway.
Hello again Shari,nice post,I realize once more that Scorpios do write well,a certain way with words which captivates the eye’s interest…..
Evan
I suppose there is a certain amount of passion in scorpios that applies even to the written word. Great name, by the way, it’s the name of one of my main characters in three of my books. Evan Paley. Thanks for the nice comment.
Actually Evan is short for Evangelos but thank you Shari for liking the name!I would love to read your books some day…………….
I will soon be re-releasing my first three books, featuring your namesake, as ebooks. I will post the first chapters on my site, and possibly this blog, and then they will be very affordable. Hopefully you can get them then. Love to hear what you think!! Best, Shari
Incredible intuition! 🙂
You even guessed my financial troubles! 🙂
I’ll be eagerly waiting to read the first chapter online!
Hey, I was a starving thespian too!! Hang in, it’s worth it.
I’m not an actor but I do participate in amateur plays from time to time,mostly comedic parts,the feel on stage is so unique,you know that better than I do……
Appreeciate your blog post