Book Blogger Confessions is a new(ish) meme run by Tiger at All-Consuming Media and Karen at For What It's Worth. Every first and third Monday they post a new question to open up discussion about common frustrations to book bloggers. Link up your post on either blog and hop around to listen to and learn from your fellow bloggers!
This week's question is:
I do interact with authors on Twitter, but considering I'm such a rare tweeter anyway, it's not anything that happens super frequently. The authors I interact with the most are those whose books I've read and adored (like @LisaTBergren), or authors who just happen to tweet a lot in general (like @LiaHabel and @TaherehMafi).
The big caveat here is that when I say I interact with these authors, I mean we've had a conversation or two. Which may have only consisted of a couple of tweets. With the exception of Lisa, I don't think any of the authors I have interacted with via Twitter really know or remember me. And I consider that a good thing.
As a reviewer, who also happens to be a writer, I try to keep myself at a professional distance. I don't go out of my way to contact authors. I don't tweet at them when I post reviews, with the possible exception of major fangirl 5 star lovey ones. I prefer to stay under the radar, happily occupying my little blog space with warm bookish thoughts until one day (hopefully) this domain can be used to publicize my own work. I'm also incredibly shy, and feel like if I start tweeting at authors I'll just annoy them. (I should mention that I'm focusing on Twitter because I don't use Facebook for blog-related things.)
As for how it impacts my reviews, I think that in general I'm always worried about loving an author, but hating their book. For the most part, I limit my interactions to authors until after I've read their book. If I wasn't a big fan of their book, I usually just quietly unfollow them. If I am a fan, I'll keep following, and if the mood strikes, I'll start up a conversation. I'm a cheerleader at heart, so when I read books that I love, I want to pump up their authors. I want to sing their praises to the world, and thank them for writing such amazing stories.
And I love that social networking allows us to do that.
8 comments:
"For the most part, I limit my interactions to authors until after I've read their book."
Yes, this. I actually think that maintaining a professional distance from authors is a good thing. While I don't think it annoys them if you try to befriend them, I do think it blurs the line between author and reader, which has the potential to create not so great situations.
Great insight! Thanks for the post! I'm not a big Tweeter so I rarely talk to anyone on Twitter but you given me a few things too think about. Thanks for sharing! Happy reading!
http://thebucketlist-gn.blogspot.com
I've had great conversations with another blogger and one author and then a few conversations with some authors, just trying to get in touch for review books, or interviews. But I think only one or two remember me and I made sure I loved their books before I made contact.
I recently unfollowed one because one of her tweets said, "Scrolling, scrolling, no interesting tweets to comment on." I felt that was a bit insulting to everyone and she's not that great of an author, I couldn't finish her book. That will influence me on any future books she might write.
So, I guess her behavior will affect me if I ever read her books again. But it's their behavior, not the book that makes me unfollow. I'm always willing to give them another shot at another book. Usually. :)
Heather
Great topic!
@Amanda - Exactly. I much prefer to just every once in awhile join a conversation they have going that's not about how much I did or did not like their book.
@Gina - My Twitter usage comes and goes. It's nice to have the opportunity to talk to them at least.
@Heather - Yes, because Twitter often gives us glimpses into non-book-related thoughts, there have been times when someone I've followed has said something that made me uncomfortable. But I'm sure the same can be said for me too!
*sighs* Twitter! It baffles me, so I'm rarely on either. When I do jump on for a quick peek and I truly feel like I don't know what to say. But seeing tweets by my favorite authors, like Lisa, always makes my day. :)
I'm not a very effective networker as far as authors go. I like talking to authors on Twitter occasionally, but never about their books, or even about writing. I don't even like to request books from authors because the pressure of knowing they'll probably read my review is scary for me.
The most contact I have with authors is when I'm planning a special event. I usually let them set the tone for our relationship after my initial inquiry.
I enjoyed reading your thoughts on this. I don't start following authors until I'm sure I loved their book as well.
I enjoyed this post! I love the river of time series :) I prefer goodreads to twitter, because twitter confuses me. I dont get why anyone would tweet no good tweets to comment at. That's too bluntly mean.
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