We have all been sucked into social networking. Some of us Twitter, most of us Facebook and if you are reading this you are participating in a blog. We live in a time where we can be connected to the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can pull up our email on our phones while sitting in line at bank, check our news feed while waiting at the doctor's office and find a recipe while grocery shopping (Beware this probably violates Jean's grocery rules).
This all sounds great! It seems that we would be more productive since we can work whereever life takes us. We can search for agents, check out the market and even read the latest releases. We are limited only by our time, imaginations and service providers.
It would seem that with everything so accessible that I would get more accomplished but that doesn't really seem to be the case. I am not one to get sucked into hours on Facebook or surfing on the Inter-net. In fact, I have computer geek friend who often teases me about using the internet like a huge encyclopedia set. I get online, look up a fact or two and log off.
So my questions is where does my time go? If I have so many tools to make my life easier why am I still always running right up to deadlines?
How do you handle social network?
I don't do any of the social networks. I just find them tedious. I guess I am a dinosaur. I do follow some blogs, but not many. I guess I am hopelessly out of date.
ReplyDeleteCheryl-I don't know that you are out of date. Perhaps you are the smartest of us all.
ReplyDeleteStephanie: I finally decided I had to schedule social networking like I schedule everything else I do. I also have a great book by Kristen Lamb that helped me streamline my social media use to maximize it. I tend to be very organized. The biggest time buster for me is a long distance phone call. I will drop any and everything for three of my long distance friends. If they call, I answer the phone and it doesn't matter how long they want to talk. They are priorities.
ReplyDeleteThe only way I know how to focus on my writing is to shut down all Internet and email till I reach my minimum goal. Then I get to reward myself.
Great post!
Don't feel bad, Cheryl. I'm not a social butterfly when it comes to social networking. I have a Facebook account but just don't do much with it. I don't Twitter. I follow a few blogs. Just can't get into the whole social networking thing. Right now it's much more important for me to use the little time I do have writing.
ReplyDeleteOoh! How timely, Stephanie. It just so happens that, on Christine's recommendation, I'm reading WE ARE NOT ALONE by Kristen Lamb. The same book Christine mentions above. What a great book so far. I find that my mind is really opening up to the possibilities. I'm most assuredly beginning to understand more about our need to communicate and be heard.
ReplyDeleteI'm on Facebook and obviously I'm very lucky to be a part of this blog. I've got a website too. That's as far as I've gotten but I'm hoping this book will help me assimulate into the cyber world at a faster pace. There's a big world out there and I want to be a part of it. ;)
Cheryl, if I can do this, you can too! ;)
Christine! Loving this book so far! Thanks for recommending it.
As far as time-busters go, that would have to be keeping up with my e-mail. I usually have various projects going on at once and those include monitoring e-mails messages. Life can be hectic. I'm going to have to start timing myself. LOL! As Christine said, sometimes you have to shut down everything in order to detach and channel the muse.
Well as you might have noticed from my late night postings, I'm trying hard to limit my social networking during work hours. But I'm a little caught up today so here I am!
ReplyDeleteI haven't jumped on the twitter-bug. Goodness knows I don't need another distraction! I only read a few blogs and Facebook. It's hard enough keeping up with emails. :-D
Twitter is my social network of choice. I just love it. I'm on Facebook, but I don't care for it a whole lot. Twitter is instant conversation. I talk with quite a few people there, and I hear all the good gossip and news before it hits the rest of cyberspace.
ReplyDeleteI knew yesterday that RWA had gotten more rooms for the conference right when it happened. I was able to log on and get the extra days I needed (my roomie is leaving on Saturday and had only booked the room through then) before they were gone. Have also been hearing from an author who lives in Egypt about the things the news isn't reporting. Definitely puts a different perspective on things, especially when she says that most people aren't participating in the protests, etc.
So, basically, I love Twitter -- but I have FB and MySpace and have my Twitter client set up to update them as well.
And yes, I do check my email and Twitter while waiting in lines, and I even looked up a recipe and shopped for the ingredients while in the store. :)
Sherry, managing your time is a great thing. But I'm with you, e-mails are my time derailer.
ReplyDeleteLynn, you are the social media guru! I humbly bow to your Twitter prowess. You've made me realize why Twitter is a good thing. Which reminds me, I must learn how to Twitter. ;)
Christine-That book sounds great. Thanks for sharing aout it with us.
ReplyDeleteCrystal-I think tht time to write is what we all are trying to find time for. You are so wise to make it a priority.
Sherry-Glad to see you when ever you can stop by,
Lynn-I love your Tweets! AS I have mentioned before, you are my favorite Tweeter!
Kathy-Keep us posted on how the book goes. If it helps I may need to read it.
One thing you gals need to do is ad the little bar at the end of your posts where you can tweet or FB a link to the post by clicking on the icon. I don't know if that is on the template part of Blogger or in settings.
ReplyDeleteI was not on FB or Twitter and I didn't blog that much until I sold to Carina Press. They are very big on social media I found out. LOL.