Are You Getting Off?

As a debut author last year, I embraced the internet and all that it offered in terms of promotion, connecting to readers and colleagues. All those online interviews, blog posts, Facebook interactions, Twitter—all those things to get the word out about my novel—I did with gusto. In addition, I joined a few, private FB groups, where we shared information about our crazy publishing business—stuff that was affecting us all—good and bad.

This knowledge exchange and cross promotion was thrilling. It felt important and valuable, until it hit me that something insidious was happening. Over the year, I didn’t realize how many hours I was spending on Facebook, until my internal safety net, the one that filters TMI (too much information), had torn open. I plunged into a flood of data, bobbing and spinning down a scary, invisible current.

What strange, webby waters had I entered? What blurry ocean of online-ness?

I can only speak for my own experience, but my inner balance had tipped. My excessive online time had reached a point of disturbing my sleep, my rest, my sense of solitude. I’d toppled into a psychic whirlpool—one of my own making.

On walks around the city, which I do daily, my mind became entangled with other people’s Facebook posts and pictures. Random worries began to invade my thinking. If you’re a worrier like me, you’ll understand how this sucks holes in your brain. My psychic body was leaking, sinking, dragged down by www.overstimulation dot net.

Recently, I got stuck in an airport when my plane to Arizona was grounded due to a March snow storm. Luckily, I ran into two authors I knew—also bound for AZ (for the wonderful Tucson Festival of the Book). Together, we waited for our rescheduled flights. Over lunch, we talked about our favorite subjects: writing and books. Halfway through my salad, my friend said: “If you’re spending more than 30 minutes on Facebook every day, that’s too much. You should be spending that time writing your next book.”

A measly thirty minutes of Facebook every day? I was logging in way more than that. I felt ashamed of myself. Did I have a problem? Was I an addict? Clearly, my friend’s comment hit a nerve.

Since then, I’ve given this some thought and I’ve concluded that some of us can stay online at will, write new books and produce new work without feeling this data drain that I’ve experienced. But, some of us (i.e.—me ) need to unplug regularly and often. If I don’t step away from scrolling, linking and clicking, my energy begins to thin—a kind of mental osteoporosis (that, thankfully, begins to reverse itself when I take time off-line).

I’m going to try that 30-minute rule and see how I do. What about you? Do you get web fatigue? Or, are you unaffected by it? What strategies do you take to keep your balance?

***

Jessica Keener’s debut novel, Night Swim, recently landed back in the top #150 on Amazon’s paid bestseller list, and in the #1 spot in the Jewish Lit category. She is working on several new projects and hopes you will “like” her new FB author page to stay in touch as she continues to post pictures of clouds, trees, skies, flowers, books, Boston, New England, food (for up to or approx.. 30 minutes throughout the day, but who’s counting?).

An Open Letter to Debut Authors: Five Things to Consider

Dear Debut Author,

 A year ago, when I launched my debut novel , I told myself that I would throw myself into the next twelve months and do all I could with the resources I had to bring my babe into the world. It’s been a wild and crazy ride (as Steve Martin might say).  These past twelve months, I’ve felt emotions in concentrated, hyper-potent doses. I’ve been wistful, happy, and everything in between; seasoned by all the events and people I’ve met, mistakes and victories I’ve experienced. I’m both sober and inebriated. I have a long way to go, and much to learn, but I hope you’ll consider these five things as you step into your debut year.

Thing #1 – Delight, enjoy and celebrate your launch.  You’re a debut author once. That’s it. Embrace your accomplishment.  Give yourself time to breathe in your feelings of pride and happiness—yes—happiness!  If you have to disappear into your bedroom closet to shout, do it! Hug your old clothes. Spill your pent up tears. If you start blubbering with gratitude because a bird landed on your front walk, ride the sensation—sob away. Be a sentimentalist. Be melodramatic with joy. You’ve worked hard to achieve this, harder than most people will ever understand. 

Thing #2 – Pace yourself. You will reach stations of utter exhaustion, moments when you are overwhelmed, and confused. You will tell yourself not to complain. You will tell yourself: This is my dream, how can I stop pushing, doing, trying every day?  Well, here’s a silly joke:  

“Knock. Knock.”

“Who’s there?”

“Human.”

“Human who?”

“Human who needs sleep. Human who needs routines. Human who needs healthy foods to function at debut author speed.”

Seriously. You will push harder than you thought you could. But, you will hit that wall of fatigue. You won’t know you’ve bumped into it until your head hurts and your mind is whizzing around Venus—hot and fiery. That’s when I’d like to suggest you take a break, a few days off to parent yourself.  Don’t worry. You’ll be back at it. You’ll book another reading; you’ll write another blog post, you’ll answer more q&a’s, but you must pause or you will burn up.  Your psyche will disintegrate. Respect the demands of your particular lifestyle, family and financial constraints. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good, who want the best for you.  You are the boss of your life.

Thing #3 – Beware of Goodreads Reviews. (Okay. Laugh.)  Every author I talked to forewarned me: “Goodreads is particularly nasty,” they said. “Not everyone will love your book.”  You will listen and nod and be grateful for the cautionary advice, but privately you will want to be that one exception.  You won’t be.  No one is. Not Dickens. Not Jane Austen. Not YOU.  You will get that cranky, stupid review, the one where a reader can’t or won’t understand your character, will refuse to understand why your book has swears or sex. My cheap advice?  Don’t engage. Let those nasty reviewers fade away. Most will. (You can always vent with fellow authors. They will happily vent with you.)

Thing #4 – Let surprises…surprise you.  A reader you’ve never met will fall in love with your book, rave about it, pass it on to his or her friends, blog about it, cheer you on Twitter and Facebook.  It’s not a fluke.  It’s what you hoped for but it will still come out of the blue, unexpected and thrilling. It’s one of the most wondrous events, a gift from heaven designed especially for authors.  Soak it in. 

Thing #5 – Do everything in your power not to compare yourself with other writers and their books.  Comparing is an animal that seeks out sink holes, swamps and depression.  You’ll follow it anyway. But keep a tight leash on it. Life is fickle. Readers and reviewers are inconsistent. But you can remain constant about yourself.  Don’t compare. Just don’t.

Now, return to Thing #1 - Delight, enjoy and celebrate your debut year.  Congratulations! 

Warm wishes and good luck!

Jessica Keener   

Author of Night Swim

Skyping Your Way to Bookclubbing Heaven: An Author’s Starter Kit

by Jessica Keener

I’m still new at this: setting up Skype appointments with book clubs and writing classes.  But I’m in love. I fell hard the first time I clicked my Skype button and hooked up with a college professor in Alabama from my upholstered, flying chair in Massachusetts.  I didn’t have to spend money on travel. I didn’t have to be away from my family. I didn’t have to go out at night (I’m a morning person)—or pack.

Skype, I now know, was invented for authors and book clubs.  It’s energizing. Free—a stellar means for spreading the word about books without draining authors who are truthfully exhausted from trying to do too much in the name of promote, promote, promote.  Skyping helps authors get their time machines back, and time machines as every author knows, help us escape to that place where books are written.

Ready for takeoff? Here are eight tips to get you going.

1. Set up your Skype account.  It’s free. It’s simple. Go to the Skype website, create your account and you’re done.  It won’t take more than five minutes. If you hate all things technical, then ask a friend to walk you through. It’s truly e-z. (www.skype.com)
2. Establish a place in your home (or office) for your Skype appointments. Ideally, it’s a room with a door you can close, a setting that you can control.  If you don’t have that, then pick a corner or space that’s out of the way, free from ambient street noise, babies crying, and kitchen kettles whistling.
3. Arrange a five-minute practice run with your host before your scheduled time. That way, you can be sure your Skype call numbers (like telephone numbers) connect, and that  your equipment—computer, computer screen, audio—is working.
4.  Visuals –What will your book club hosts see on their screens?  A view of your bathroom is not recommended—unless your book is about bathrooms.  Do you have a floor lamp or lamp with a moveable arm so you can adjust your lighting? You want to be sure your hosts can see your face and not a shapeless shadow.  Skype visuals have a tendency to look a little crinkly, too, like vintage I Love Lucy episodes, so lower your expectations for perfection in that regard. If your laundry room is the only room available to you—fine. No worries. Drape a tablecloth over the dryer. Put a pile of favorite books on top, or flowers. That’s it. You’re done.
5.  Audio – Make sure your sound is audible and clear. And speak just a tad slower than your usual pace because Skyping is a bit like communicating from outer space to mother Earth. Your voice will lag. Everyone’s lips look out of sync. (Sound waves are slower than light, remember?)
6. Your style— Be comfortable. Be genuine.  In short: be—yourself, whatever that means.
7.  Let everyone know you’re up for Skyping.  Put a note on your website so book clubs are aware that you’re interested and available.
8. Have fun.  Remember, you’re an author-astronaut now. You can go anywhere.