I'm the type of person who seems to collect things, like stacks of magazines, old mail, oodles and oodles of information and recipes I've found in random places, that could help me as a writer or as a cook at home. Both are my favorite hobbies.
But I fail at always keeping things organized. I was perusing back through my long "collection" of old email in my inbox, wondering which I should discard and which I should save to recall the valuable information tucked on someone else's website or links. There is a lot out there and many authors have found new avenues of social networking. I'm always impressed with how they have acquired all of their new friends/fans/author support. And then I feel jealous of their popularity. I want the same for myself, but how do I achieve this?
One author claims the social networking is a valuable tool. You got to nurse it along, build upon the contacts you make, keep pumping up what you've got available. It makes sense, doesn't it? Instead of pumping out your money on bookmarks, t-shirts, or entering book contests. It's the people out there who stumble upon your website, the friends you make during this process, who will end up supporting and buying your books.
Since I'm such a collector, I realized how organization is also key. For me, I will have to dedicate a whole day to weed through each old email and pick out the websites recommended, get a list of the people who follow them, and also get a separate list started of my author friends, and of those, who in the past, I have offered a "free" pdf file or actual book. Then put these lists down into a safe place for quick access, like in an index box, in order to keep the communication flowing whenever I release future projects or to share press leases or interviews.
It won't be easy, because as I scroll down my emails, there is a lot there, but to build up my own network of readers and author friends, I must keep communication flowing, to make them feel recognized on the other side. Only then, I feel reciprocation in kind will be achieved. And it's always wonderful to be recognized somehow, isn't it?
Any tidbits of advice or comments are always welcomed here.
