Comments on: Staying Out of Hot Water: Developing an Appropriate Online Presence

By: Kelsey Browning

Kelsey Browning — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:08:03 +0000

RU Crew –

Sara Megibow has some additional words of advice on this topics in the Nelson Literary Agency’s October newsletter. You may have to scroll halfway down the page once you follow this link: http://nelsonagency.com/cgi-bin/display_newsletter.php?timestamp=1254410475#agentlink

Happy reading,
K-

By: Michelle Buonfiglio

Michelle Buonfiglio — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:55:39 +0000

Hi, Rosie! I know you’ve got a new contract, and are putting all your ducks in a row. Congrats! All this can seem scary, but really, it’s fun stuff, and new authors are doing a great job learning the ropes of online promotion, asking questions and implementing fresh approaches to soc media, etc. It’s very exciting.

But to maybe add some perspective, I don’t believe a rep can be trashed that easily, though I know there are folks out there in cyberspace who love for authors to think they’ve got the power to destroy careers. I keep hearing from authors, “I’d say something to stand up when I see bad stuff happening online, but I’m afraid for my career.” Hmmm. I think there’s more to whether books are bought and sold than what some blogs and their commenters say about a book or author. Do not buy it.

The good news is that any real mistakes can be weathered, and there’s no error a sincere acceptance of responsibility can’t help turn around. But a caveat to that is don’t be too willing to throw yourself on your sword before you’re certain you’ve made an error. Could be just a big ol crap storm of nothing that somebody’s trying to make your problem.

By: Michelle Buonfiglio

Michelle Buonfiglio — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:42:48 +0000

Becke, I thought about you as I was pondering some of these questions, as you’re in such a unique position: already branded as published in non-fiction, and branding now for a career in romance fiction. I believe if pre-pubs and even pubs looking for a model studied the way you ‘do business’ they’d note why you’ve had such a long career already at BN.com in online education, board moderation and now blogging, as well as your expanding fb and twitter presences (and work at RBTB). You definitely understand how to build and direct community, too, and take pains to be appropriate and stay in touch with viewers/commenters. It’s a lot of work and energy, but it certainly pays off on many levels.

By: Michelle Buonfiglio

Michelle Buonfiglio — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:36:54 +0000

Kathy C, you’re so right, and I can only imagine what you hear! I feel the same about things I read online. And it’s so unfortunate that we often hurt folks online when we have no intention of doing so. I remember in the early days of RBTB when so many of us were learning how to communicate, we were afraid to comment, were painfully aware of how what we wrote might be construed. I heard privately from so many folks who wouldn’t comment because they were afraid others would make fun of them or attack them. That was four years ago, and I think more folks who might like to be heard are more concerned now with being smacked down.

I’ve been humbled and amazed by the intimacies so many viewers/friends have shared online among themselves at RBTB, and shared appropriately. But I do note a wariness in commenters in the last couple years, and that’s unfortunate, because it was really nice to connect so freely before. And I’d read your “truth is stranger than fiction” if you wrote it!

By: Michelle Buonfiglio

Michelle Buonfiglio — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:32:07 +0000

Thanks, Cathy! I missed your comment, and it’s true. Sometimes it’s a good thing when something online ‘takes off,’ but at other times can get kind of out of hand.

By: Rosie Murphy

Rosie Murphy — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:29:23 +0000

Great information, Michelle! Thank you, RU! I am so in over my head when it comes to all of this. I want to do it right because of the “public” aspect and because one’s reputation can fall on a word. Scary!

By: Becke Davis/Martin

Becke Davis/Martin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:35:41 +0000

Great interview, Michelle! This hits home with me in many ways. When I started to write fiction, I was already multi-published as a garden writer and as the landscaping industry is still male-oriented, I didn’t want to get laughed out of my job if word got out that I was writing contemporary romance. With that in mind, I started a Facebook account under my pen name. It’s gotten confusing now, since no one seems sure which name is which. It’s made me hyper-conscious of the fact that anything I post online is visible, and is going to stay visible, and not just to people in the writing world. It’s a scary thought, and one none of us can afford to forget.

By: KelseyBrowning

KelseyBrowning — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:20:34 +0000

Michelle -

Thanks so much for hanging out with us today and answering all these fabulous questions. This topic is a little different from some of our other career posts, so I’m delighted, but not at all surprised, that it generated so much interest.

I’ll see you over at RBTB soon!
Kelsey

By: Kathy Crouch

Kathy Crouch — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:09:55 +0000

Interesting post and pinters Michelle thanks for your time and effort on here. I work in the public and everybody shares everything with everybody nowdays. I often stand at the cash register scratching my head going and I care about this because? I hear your whole life story while you check out, boy I could really do truth stranger than fiction. So perhaps the net is similar people pop off with things and later go oh that’s not what I meant. But unlike real life you can’t take it back and see a face to apologize to for the error. Everyone sees it and you could do major hurt or harm to someone more than in real life.

By: Cathie Linz

Cathie Linz — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:07:18 +0000

Great post, Michelle! As you indicate, what goes on the Internet rarely stays on the Internet. Cathie