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LONG BEACH - A contentious rift between City Hall and the Port of Long Beach over the location of a new port headquarters may, for now at least, have reached a cease fire.
The Harbor Commission on Monday will vote on a deal to buy a temporary building near the Long Beach Airport, and then look toward finding a permanent space in or near downtown.
The decision could quell two years of strife marked by what one former commissioner called Mayor Bob Foster's interference into port financial operations and peaking in recent months with allegations of illegal activity among harbor commissioners.
In 2010, Foster vetoed the construction of a multimillion port headquarters he dubbed a "Taj Mahal" and criticized another possible choice at the World Trade Center. He and other city officials have sought more control over port decision-making in recent years.
However, port supporters countered that the success of the nation's second busiest seaport lies in its autonomy from the city.
Over the past two months, the Press-Telegram interviewed key players involved in the issue and examined hundreds of pages of emails and other documents related to the port headquarters selection that were obtained through a public records request.
Whether Monday's vote will help mend the schism remains uncertain, but some say the tug-of-war has put the Port of Long Beach's reputation at risk during a time of increasing competition.
"I've been in Long Beach for 72 years and at no time have I ever known the city to get into the port's business, except now," said former Harbor Commissioner and former City Councilwoman Doris Topsy-Elvord. "And I have never known a mayor to try to direct where the money goes."
Foster issued a statement Friday regarding the port's latest plan to purchase a facility for $14.25 million at 4801 Airport Plaza Drive, which formerly housed Boeing's C-17 operation.
"If they vote to approve the purchase, the Harbor Commission is making the right and most fiscally responsible decision for their current situation and in the long term, as it should," he said.
The plan will require City Council approval because the port will have to amend its budget to make the purchase.
Foster said in an earlier interview with the Press-Telegram that it has become increasingly necessary to provide strong oversight of the port.
"I worry about the culture in the port," he said. "I think they've had a lot of money and they've been very complacent. There has been no effective oversight of them. Harbor commissioners haven't provided it and the city hasn't provided it.
"I can't do it all because I'm not there every day, but I can do enough to try to instill in them the fact that this is the people's money, it's public money, and it needs to be spent appropriately."
Foster concluded the port was spending too much, $306 million, for a new building and maintenance facility. He also said port officials hadn't negotiated properly for a better deal for the World Trade Center.
Executive Director Christopher Lytle, who took over the top job late last year, argued that the port has a "top-notch" credit rating touted by professionals who factor in the port's policy practices and finances.
"Consistently, what they've come up with is the fact that this is one of the best run ports in the country," Lytle said.
Former port Executive Director Richard Steinke, who ran the port for more than a decade before retiring in 2011, didn't return phone calls seeking comment.
City officials have privately expressed concerns serious enough to warrant the extraordinary step of adding an amendment to next year's harbor budget that requires council approval for a new headquarters.
The airing of the port's dirty laundry hasn't gone unnoticed by the international community, said the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association's John McLaurin, who has penned op-ed pieces about the growing "divisive, political and controversial" Harbor Commission meetings and about how the commission's reputation is "quickly eroding."
"Our members are fully aware and recognize the growing dysfunction of the port," said McLaurin, whose members include terminal and fuel operators.
"It is a matter of concern."
A `Taj Mahal' vision
The problems began when studies showed that the port's 53-year-old Harbor Plaza headquarters may not withstand the next major earthquake.
Since 2001, port officials have been working on getting their staff out of the building.
They saved for a $306 million administration building and maintenance facility across from their current home and pushed for higher green building standards. They even picked out the office furniture.
Foster vetoed the plan in 2010, saying the price tag was too high. However, the $53.6 million maintenance facility was allowed to move forward.
Since becoming mayor in 2006, he and the council have been battling budget deficits and pushing city staff to cut from every department, including police and fire.
"There is nobody in the construction industry that will tell you that's warranted - no one," he said. "It was a Taj Mahal; it was not appropriate."
Harbor Commissioner Nick Sramek, however, defended the project.
"The cost at that time to us did not seem exorbitant, and we had money to allocate and it was approved by the City Council," Sramek said.
World Trade Center
After the veto, port officials began surveying office buildings for their new headquarters. They settled on leasing the 27-story World Trade Center downtown on Ocean Boulevard.
Then, Legacy Partners, the owners of the World Trade Center, offered to sell the building to the port. For nearly a year, the pair worked on crafting a $130 million deal. In anticipation of the move, the port in May 2011 acquired a 5.6-acre, 659-space parking lot at Golden Avenue and West Broadway for $8 million.
Foster said commissioners initially approached him regarding the headquarters move with only one possibility - One World Trade Center.
Foster called it a "conclusion without any process" and claimed the port was paying at least $40 million more than it is worth.
"I can't imagine negotiating with a seller by giving that seller the impression, and everybody knew, that they were the only structure they were looking at," he said. "Even if you were looking for a house, and even if you settled on buying a house, wouldn't you give the potential seller of that house the impression that you had other options?"
Sramek said the port did look at other options, including the building near the Long Beach Airport, but some commissioners didn't want the site because it wasn't downtown or at the port. Driving from downtown to the airport, depending on traffic, could take 12 to 20 minutes.
Sramek and Commissioner Thomas Fields said they supported buying the World Trade Center for its proximity to the port, its ability to revitalize downtown and being able to quickly recover its investment.
Sramek said the port wouldn't occupy the whole building and that by leasing the remaining space, the purchase could pay for itself in 11 to 15 years.
"That made it attractive," he said.
But commissioners Rich Dines and Doug Drummond were concerned about security at the building.
"I was wary of underground parking and the potential for a bombing," Drummond said. "There are several entries into the building. It turned me off on it. In my personal opinion, it would cost millions of dollars and considerable staff to provide security."
Commission President Susan E. Anderson Wise couldn't vote on the project because she is a subtenant in the World Trade Center, so the vote to buy it failed 2-2.
Web of controversy
Again, port officials had to reboot their search.
They explored several options in Long Beach, including 11 Golden Shore, the City National Bank building, and 400 Oceangate, the Union Bank Building, which was negotiated by 400 Oceangate Ltd.
Controversy continued to hound the process when Drummond allegedly accused Fields and Sramek of "improper, unethical and illegal acts" during an Aug. 20 closed session about the relocation.
Fields detailed the accusations in an Aug. 21 letter to Foster and City Attorney Bob Shannon that was obtained by the Press-Telegram.
Drummond accused them of being "improperly influenced" by former city and port officials.
Those mentioned in the letter either did not return calls for comment or denied the allegations to the Press-Telegram.
Fields requested an investigation - to be made the public - into Drummond's comments.
Drummond wouldn't comment on the issue because it was in closed session, but said he apologized to Fields.
City Councilmen Al Austin and Steve Neal also called for an independent probe into the alleged allegations, but Shannon quashed the request, saying the inquiry cannot legally proceed because of privacy issues.
Shannon said he interviewed most everyone involved in the closed session and those mentioned in Fields' letter.
"I formed my own conclusions into actually what was said and it wasn't exactly the way it was framed by Mr. Fields, and that's one of the problems," Shannon told the Press-Telegram. "You have the allegations but you don't have my conclusions - nor will you have my conclusions - to what was actually said or what the other people in the room indicated was said."
Fields couldn't be reached for comment.
Sramek said there should have been some closure.
"I haven't seen any resolution," Sramek said. "The allegations are still hanging over us."
Moving forward
Kimball Wasick, senior director for Cushman & Wakefield, the realty firm handling the site near the airport, said this location is best in terms of security and cost. The building was used by the C-17 program, so it met the the Department of Defense's stringent security requirements, he said.
Before Friday's announcement, Wasick expressed frustration with the politics surrounding the issue.
"We see the process, the politics going on, with people hiring a lobbyist and having third-party representatives at the Harbor Commission meeting and keeping the pressure on these commissioners," he said.
Losing the port in the downtown will be a huge blow affecting 76 percent of businesses downtown, said Kraig Kojian, head of the Downtown Long Beach Associates.
"We would feel the impact, regardless of how long or how short they would be gone," he said prior to the Friday's announcement. "We rely on the port as an economic driver."
Meanwhile, the maintenance facility - which was originally designed jointly with the proposed administration building - is well underway and is expected to be done next year, said port spokesman Art Wong.
Even if the battle for an interim location ends, the quest for a permanent home remains.
Is it moving into an empty facility or building a cheaper, permanent headquarters, which even Foster has said he supports as long as it's cost-effective? Will it be downtown, on port property or elsewhere?
On Friday, Kojian spoke of a resilient downtown that will be there for the port, which may be leaning toward a final home in or near downtown.
He also pointed out that things could change.
"Am I encouraged by it? Yes," he said. "However, it still has to play out. Three to five to seven years from now ... we don't know what's going to happen between now and then."
Regardless of the permanent solution, port officials said they must act now.
"We have to do it," Sramek said. "It's paramount that we do it. We have to do something."
Staff writer Eric Bradley contributed to this report.
firstname.lastname@example.com, 562-714-2088, twitter.com/KarenMeeksPT


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Discover a selection of top forums lava friendship on the internet. Come to share your passion on forums lava friendship and meet other fans of lava friendship. Then, why don't you create your own forum of lava friendship ?
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We are an association of American and Russian citizens who believe it's in the U.S. and Russia's national interests to develop mutual friendship and cooperation.
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Hi, is there an application in BT3 that is designed to sniff and capture HTTP based data? for example my target will know if I use an invalid certificate in an MITM attack, so instead when they login to a webmail over SSL I dont try and intercept the username and password, but I do capture the contents of an email sent/received since that traffic is non-ssl once they are logged in. Also I would like to see the urls visited. It must be pretty simple, however I prefer not to go down the wireshark track...
thanks for the reply, URLSNARF is good, but it only shows the urls, I would like something that gives a bit more details like pages visited, and HTTP post/get data.. is there any other app for that?
Why not just use the convenient filter ability in Wireshark?
- Poul Wittig
webspy is pretty good, but probably not exactly what you're looking for
just try the remote_browser plugin in ettercap.....sure u will get it


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Brevard, N.C. - The Brevard College Athletic Department celebrated its annual Athletic Awards Ceremony Monday evening as the student-athletes of the 18 BC varsity sports as well as friends, family, members of the Tornado Club and Community and the BC faculty and staff met to acknowledge the accomplishments of the Brevard College teams and students for the 2010-2011athletic seasons.
Headlining the list of award winners was the 2011 Male and Female Athletes of the Year in Tristan Cowie and Lindsay Shaeffer and the 2011 Senior GPA award winner, also Lindsay Shaeffer. Other awards given out at the ceremony included the Student-Athlete Honor Roll and the team individual awards.
This was the first time Cowie has won the BC Male Athlete of the Year. Cowie was the 2010 USA Cycling Fall Mountain Bike Omnium National Champion in guiding the Tornados to their second consecutive Fall Mountain Bike National Championship.
Cowie won his first national championship back in 2008, taking the title in the men's cross country event and followed up with the short track title in the same year. The senior followed up this season with his individual omnium title, finishing as the silver medalist in the cross country and bronze in the short track to give the Tornados their second consecutive omnium title after Johanne Tuttle won the women's championship last year.
Shaeffer wins the award for the second time in her illustrious career with the Tornados, having taken the award her sophomore season back in 2008.
The senior from Perryburg, Ohio went 14-8, 6-2 in the conference at no. 1 singles and 14-7, 6-3 in the conference at no. 1 doubles, winning six straight singles matches during the season. Eleven of her 14 victories were in straight sets and she became the first BC student-athlete to be named to the All-SAC First Team for three straight years. Shaeffer also led the team to their third consecutive Food Lion SAC tournament semifinals, and finishes her career as the most decorated female tennis player in BC history.
Shaeffer also received the Senior GPA award, having compiled a cumulative 3.99 GPA during her time at Brevard College and she was influential in the women's tennis team receiving the Overall Team GPA award from the BC Athletic Department.
The Awards Ceremony also included special recognition of Dr. Drew Van Horn, the President of Brevard College for his time and efforts in support of the BC Athletic Department during his eight and a half years' service with Brevard College. The Tornados also recognized former BC Trustee and devout Tornados enthusiast Brian Johnson with a special media presentation with quotes from several Brevard student-athletes. The inaugural "Brian Johnson Team Champion Award", presented annually to a BC supporter who embodies the dedication, passion and devout commitment to the student-athletes as demonstrated by Brian Johnson, was presented to his wife, Betty Johnson.
Other key awards given out were the Champs Cup Challenge awards, with Women's Basketball taking home this year's Champs Cup with 404 points.
The full list of award winners:
Baseball – Randy O'Dell (MVP), Jacob White & Ron Patterson (Coaches Awards)
Men's Basketball – Josh Roper (MVP), Drew Schauss (Most Improved), Josh Jordan (Coaches Award)
Women's Basketball – Micheala Watkins (MVP), Lindsay Brendle (Most Improved), Asheley Watkins (Coaches Award)
Cheerleading – Ki'era Gash (MVP), Alexis Brigman (Most Improved), Mary Beth Criser (Coaches Award)
Men's Cross Country/Track & Field – Jordan Tager (MVP), Chris Shore (Most Improved), Josh Mower (Coaches Award)
Women's Cross Country/Track & Field – Angela Canale (MVP), Ariel Muiselaar (Most Improved), Olivia Fawcett (Coaches Award)
Cycling – Tristan Cowie & Morgan Sykes (MVP), Scott Hoffner (Coaches Award)
Football – Kelvin Jeter (MVP), Tyler Fisher (Most Improved), Michael Crumbaker (Coaches Award), Darrell Neely (John McKissick Award)
Men's Golf – T.J. Hoard (MVP), Michael Stamper (Most Improved), Thomas Rennie (Coaches Award)
Women's Golf – Alisiya Klochkova (MVP), Rebecca Schoonover (Most Improved)
Men's Soccer – Niclas Stolt (MVP), Alec Darcey (Most Improved), Patrick Urmson (Coaches Award)
Women's Soccer – Rachael Laughlin (MVP), Teresa Musick (Most Improved), Nikki Peacock (Coaches Award)
Softball – Chelsi Mallory (Offensive MVP), Martika Elmore (Defensive MVP), Sarah Carlos (Coaches Award)
Men's Tennis – Scott McCormick (MVP), Jonathon Lavelle (Most Improved), Cole Altizer (Coaches Award)
Women's Tennis – Lindsay Shaeffer (MVP), Michelle Prata (Most Improved), Claire Dillman (Coaches Award)
Volleyball – Rebecca Schoonover (Team Above Self Award, MVP), Amanda Possidente (Most Improved)
Brevard Award Ceremony Video
Brevard Senior Slide Show


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A passenger in a vehicle died Sunday after being thrown out of a car that overturned in the High Desert.
The victim, whose name was not released because relatives hadn't been notified, died at the scene on the 15 Freeway, about two miles north of Nipton Road in Mountain Pass, San Bernardino County coroner's officials said.
The driver veered off the northbound 15 at 10:54 a.m., causing the vehicle to roll over.
Reach Melissa via email or call her at 909-386-3878.
Get the latest crime and public safety news on Twitter @IECrime.


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Tigers rout Indians again
CLEVELAND -- Torii Hunter drove in three runs, Miguel Cabrera cracked a two-run homer and the Detroit Tigers dominated Cleveland again, pounding the second-place Indians 9-4 on Saturday for their fifth straight win.
Hunter hit a two-run homer, tripled and doubled as the Tigers won their seventh consecutive game over the Indians and increased their lead in the AL Central to 3 1/2 games. Needing a single for a rare cycle, Hunter grounded out in the eighth.
Detroit is 8-2 against Cleveland this season, and the Tigers have outscored the Indians 16-4 in winning the first two games of the four-game series.
Anibal Sanchez (7-5) returned from the disabled list and pitched five innings for his first win since June 4.
Cabrera and Prince Fielder homered in the third off Carlos Carrasco (0-4), who was recalled from the minors to face the AL's best hitting team.
Nick Swisher and Ryan Raburn went deep for Cleveland, which has dropped four straight.
In the eighth, the Tigers learned that Cabrera will start for the AL in the All-Star game and will be joined by five teammates; Hunter, Fielder, shortstop Jhonny Peralta and pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Detroit's Jim Leyland will manage the AL squad for the July 16 game at Citi Field in New York.
The Indians will be represented by pitcher Justin Masterson and second baseman Justin Kipnis, who had his hitting streak stopped at 16 games.
Hunter's two-run homer in the sixth put the Tigers ahead 9-1. With a chance to become the first Tigers player to hit for the cycle since Carlos Guillen in 2006 - and the first to do it in Progressive Field history - Hunter weakly tapped a grounder to reliever Vinnie Pestano in the eighth.
Sanchez had been sidelined since June 16 with a strained shoulder. With the luxury of a large lead, he was able to pitch relaxed and allowed one run and three hits before Leyland pulled him after 73 pitches.
Carrasco wasn't so lucky.
He survived his first trip through Detroit's vaunted lineup unscathed, but the right-hander wasn't so fortunate the second time around as the Tigers roped two homers, two doubles and a single in the third off Carrasco, who hasn't won in the majors since June 29, 2011. He missed all of 2012 following Tommy John surgery.
Cabrera connected for a two-run homer and Fielder followed with another drive as the Tigers, who blanked the Indians 7-0 on Friday, scored four times - all with two outs.
With one out, Austin Jackson doubled before Carrasco retired Hunter on a hard liner to center. Cabrera fouled off two pitches before launching his 27th homer into the left-field seats to make it 2-0, thrilling thousands of orange-and-blue clad Detroit fans who made the trip from Michigan.
Two pitches later, Fielder hit his 15th homer, a towering blast into the right-field seats to put the Tigers up 3-0 in the game and 10-0 in the series.
After a visit from Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway, Carrasco gave up a double to Victor Martinez and Peralta hit an RBI single.
The Indians got a run back in the bottom of the inning on three straight singles, the last an infield bouncer by Michael Bourn.
However, the Tigers weren't finished with Carrasco, adding three runs in the fourth to go up 7-1.
Carrasco didn't help his cause with a throwing error that brought home a run. Jackson hit a sacrifice fly and Hunter added an RBI double.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.


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Thursday, March 17, 2011
Social Media: There's No Such Thing as Too Early
"But shouldn't I wait for when I need to promote something/when my book comes out/when my book is popular/when I already have a following/some arbitrary point in the distant future?"
Nope, nope and nope. There's no such thing as too early.
Seth Godin famously said (the things Seth Godin says usually become famous) that for authors, the best time to start your promotional efforts is three years before your book comes out.
Why? Because it takes "three years to build a reputation, build a permission asset, build a blog, build a following, build credibility and build the connections you'll need later."
If you start when your book comes out you're way, way too late.
Promotion vs. Social
Seth's bit of (famous) advice is often applied to social media. It's great advice, and even Seth's explanation has a social component, but note that Seth is talking about promotional efforts. Not social media as a whole, which to me has no timeline at all. You should just start now.
Because if you're using social media solely to promote, well, chances are you're doing it wrong.
My new favorite catch phrase, which I have trademarked, patented, and have paid to have etched into the moon, is this: Social media is social.
It's not about promotion, it's not about broadcasting, it's not about you you you. It's about connecting with people.
Do you need to be famous to connect with people? Do you need to have a book to connect with people? No! You just need an Internet connection, dedication, an open-mind, and a willingness to reach out.
It takes time to build up those connections, and eventually, if you're providing good content or a good experience, those one-to-one connections transition into a following.
But make no mistake: It's still about making a personal connection with your audience and being a part of real lives. It's still social.
In our hyper-connected time, social media is not only increasingly how word of mouth spreads and how we connect with one another, it's almost becoming a new kind of currency.
In Cory Doctorow's uber-prescient novel Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, money has been replaced with "whuffie," a reputation-based currency that rises and falls based on what people think of you. Basically, if people like you you're rich and you can get all the best tables in restaurants. If they don't like you, an unfortunate scandal can send you to the poor house.
We're obviously not there yet (and thank goodness), but just look at the measures of "influencers" (social media buzz word for someone with a high following) that are cropping up right and left. Sites like Klout and Peer Index are hard at work trying to quantify online popularity and influence, and the idea of offering special perks to people with high influence scores is starting to percolate. The Sacramento Kings, for instance, invited 25 fans and business leaders with top Klout scores for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Now, the idea that you're going to be objectively judged someday on your Twitter presence may well send a chill down your spine, but I wouldn't read that much into it. It's more of a sign of the omnipresence and future of social media and how the ability to broadcast is a kind of currency.
Blogs and Twitter and Facebook... those are just the tools. What we're building is a network. And what was once ephemeral (reputation) can now be sort of kinda quantified.
Whuffie has basically become real.
What are you waiting for?
But aside from all that buzz about influencers and reputational analysis, let's not forget that whole social is social thing. And the thing about being social is that it's fun!
Sure, you may be an introvert like me, but you can pick and choose your experiences. You can make reach out to people, and soon enough those virtual friends may become your real friends. This is increasingly how we connect with like-minded people, and the best part is that it works.
It's really fun to do, and you can make the experience whatever you want. If you like Twitter, do that. If you like blogging, do that. If you are a Facebook maven, go for it. There's no right or wrong way to go about it and you can invent your own way if it doesn't exist.
But what it all comes down to is this: Social media is the future, and the time to start is now.
120 comments:
- Joanne Sher said...
Only one word. YES!
- March 17, 2011 at 10:07 AM
- Lisa Kilian said...
This makes me feel so much better! I've been building a presence ... basically just for shits and giggles. I hardly had a book started when I started my blog, and that was two books ago.
But the times I've had with my blog, connecting on Twitter, and getting guest post spots has been extremely fun. Glad I've accidentally gone in the right direction.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:08 AM
- G.P. Ching said...
I completely agree. I have social media to thank for my readership and have seen my following grow exponentially over the last year. Connections I've made via social networking have resulted in some great opportunities.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:14 AM
- L.G.Smith said...
I've only been blogging about six weeks. I don't even have two whuffies to rub together, but I'm getting to know the coolest people. Learning a lot too.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:17 AM
- Munk said...
Look-a-me! Look-a-Me! Look-a-me!
- March 17, 2011 at 10:20 AM
- Munk said...
I'm not kidding here folks, look-a-me!
- March 17, 2011 at 10:24 AM
- M.A.Leslie said...
L.G., if we take my two and your two and rub them together, maybe we can start a fire to keep warm.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:24 AM
- Loree Huebner said...
I agree and believe building a platform is extremely important and it doen't happen overnight. I recently waded into the blogosphere. Twitter is next. The hard part is managing my time...family, work, writing, networking. I find myself spending much more time online.
It's fun...no doubt about it. I've met some really great writers.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:32 AM
- Neil Vogler said...
"Social networking is social" -- that's good. Can I also suggest "social networking is networking" and also "social networking: is".
I kid, of course. Good stuff as ever.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:37 AM
- anvil said...
Nathan, I agree with everything you've said (I usually do, that's because I have excellent taste). But really, you expect me to believe that you're an introvert? I just don't see it.
Will be looking out for the moon-message tonight.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:39 AM
- Megg Jensen said...
I've made some really great friends through social media outlets. I don't know if any of them bought my book or not, but their friendship is more important to me. :D
- March 17, 2011 at 10:42 AM
- CMR Prindle said...
I totally agree about social media being social. Heck, I just made the author Facebook page (solely based on your earlier advice, Nathan). My problem is I'm awful at keeping up with it. I also have a personal livejournal blog which I have been sucktacular with, lately, but here's to hoping that my Big Life Change will help with that. *fingers crossed*
- March 17, 2011 at 10:44 AM
I've also learned an awful lot social networking by sitting back and listening. It doesn't have to be all about me, all of the time.
What scares me a little on social networking is that the Internet 'whuffie' is more heavily weighted to the immediate here and now, vs long term 'real life' reputation. And you can blow both in a mere moment of careless comment or criticism which spreads around the 'whuffie' world like wildfire.
Social media is a big yes for me, but I use with caution, trying to communicate within its own bounds which are right for me, learning the norms, etiquette and hazards, just like relations beyond the ether.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:45 AM
- Melanie said...
Great advice, as usual! I've recently set up a "professional" Facebook account, and have 6 fans so far (woohoo!)
- March 17, 2011 at 10:46 AM
- Melissa Romo said...
Always informative, thanks Nathan. I'm working on a novel (about to query) and I liken the entire project, including social media, to the formation of a planet. It takes time to form a center if gravity that will start attracting sizable enough chunks of dirt to form anything of a meaningful size.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:47 AM
- Melissa Romo said...
I also should add that my book lover friends in the blogosphere are my biggest motivators and take much of the loneliness out of writing for me. One of my blog friends even volunteered to be one of my beta readers, and her input was fantastic.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:55 AM
- K. C. Blake said...
I heard that advice a few years ago and I wish I'd listened. Now I have a book coming out in June and I am running around (in cyber-space) like a chicken with its head cut off. It takes a long time to build connections. I have a blog but not many followers. I have joined groups at various writing forums, but I've only met a few people this way. Thank God I've been doing Facebook for a long time and I know people on there who love the kind of books I write. :)
- March 17, 2011 at 10:55 AM
- Mr. D said...
I started my blog almost a year ago. It's a helpful reflection of the writing process, and I have connected with some great people.
What amazes me is how some of these bloggers here have hundreds, and even thousands of followers. Wow!
- March 17, 2011 at 10:55 AM
- D.G. Hudson said...
That was like a motivation session, Nathan, highlighting the benefits of being social. Thanks, Coach!
I'm comfortable blogging, because I like to share information, and writing is a lifelong passion since I discovered my grandmother's old Remington.
But. . .
I've not done Facebook for several reasons up to this point, and I'm an introvert like you, so I drag my feet at jumping in. Convincing arguments like yours, Nathan, are encouraging me to step outside MY comfort zone -- in the near future.
Question: For a writer using a pen name, what name should be used on Facebook? If the reason for using a pen name is security from harassment, that seems to be the only solution. Wouldn't the Facebook identity need to be the name you want to get known? I know you've covered pen names & writing, but can't remember if you answered that already in the context of Facebook.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:55 AM
- Cathy Yardley said...
Fantastic post. I've been calling it "tribe building" instead of platform building on my writing blog, because 1) it helps us introverts and 2) it is more about connecting with your right readers in a genuine way than "pushing" for a one-sale stand. Naomi Dunford of Ittybiz.com even had a hashtag, #MSMS, meaning "Make Social Media Socia." Definitely an idea that needs spreading! :)
- March 17, 2011 at 10:56 AM
I think social media is one of those bandwagons that anyone in business or even remotely contemplating a business needs to jump onto. Or if you're not comfortable with that -- ease slowly onto.
Remaining flexible and adapting to change will be a key factor in success. Way too often, I hear lame excuses like, "I don't do technology". My answer is always channel your inner 10 year old there is nothing to fear.
Since I am in this beginning phase myself, I like to imagine a familiar social situation -- a coffee klatch or cocktail party -- pour myself a figurative cup of coffee or a glass of red wine and begin the conversation.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:56 AM
- Matthew MacNish said...
I've got blogging and Facebook down, but I'm still a bit of a Twitter noob. I did have a blast last night with #zombieproverbs, though.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:59 AM
- M.A.Leslie said...
We finally set up a facebook page for the book and already have 30 fans. www.facebook.com/tristenmagicshop
The writer's fan page is still a work in progress. Anybody who ever said that writing is a get rich quick thing was nuts. I say its a lose your mind and get grey hair thing, but meet cool people and do what you love.
- March 17, 2011 at 11:00 AM
How do you do this if you use a pseudonym? Do you network as your pseudonym (something Facebook doesn't allow)?
- March 17, 2011 at 11:00 AM
- Hillsy said...
It's a bit like nuclear weapons then? You may not agree with them, but you need one if you're going to be taken seriously.
Of all the career dreams I wanted, I picked one where being an introverted misanthrope is about to become a death sentance. Damn! I suppose I'll have to become a Traffic Warden like the rest of us.
- March 17, 2011 at 11:12 AM
- Matthew MacNish said...
Also: So you're saying no time is too early to start making friends? Good. that makes perfect sense.
- March 17, 2011 at 11:14 AM
The real thing about social media is that you have to say something that isn't the same as everyone else. And that's what holds the intelligent people back.
It's why my blog has remained empty and my LJ is full of silly pictures and a few close friends.
Because unless you have something intelligent to say, you really shouldn't say anything at all. Because you're just saying the same thing over and over again.
- March 17, 2011 at 11:15 AM
- Felicity said...
This is great advice. I think there is also the element of community that could really help future promotions. If I've been following a particular blog for awhile and the author suddenly gets a book deal, I feel connected to that success. I'm more likely to promote for this author because I feel like I knew her when! : ) I'm happy to let others know about something I feel like I sort of discovered on my own. Build community now and it can only help you later. In fact, even if you never actually get a book deal, you will have made some new friends. That's probably a better gift anyway.
- March 17, 2011 at 11:27 AM
- Heidi said...
What are your thoughts on branding? I've heard a lot that we should all be building a presence on Twitter, blogs, Facebook, and whatever else we can squeeze in, and that we should make sure these all look the same so that people readily identify them as "ours." But that seems to require some knowledge of the technicalities of HTML and CSS.
- March 17, 2011 at 11:39 AM
- Munk said...
Hey! Who just cleaned out my Whuffie account?
- March 17, 2011 at 11:44 AM
- Adrienne said...
I can see how this is an important component, but I'm really, truly an introvert. "Social media is social"--yes, and that's why I haven't done facebook, twitter, a blog. I don't even comment very often on blogs.
As a voracious reader, I supposed that the best way to ease into this whole thing would be to focus on books.
But I do see that having a social media presence is important in this environment. I'd like to see more discussion on the subject, particularly "social media for the anti-social". :)
- March 17, 2011 at 11:45 AM
- Hillsy said...
"I remember the days when all you had to do to get published was to write a brilliant book" - Kevin J Anderson
It's not like all of us anti-social types can get together and form a club.........
- March 17, 2011 at 11:50 AM
- Terry said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- March 17, 2011 at 12:05 PM
- terrylecompte said...
Agreed. Though I like to replace "network" with "community". Sounds more social. I'm using social media to build Community Stages, Inc.
- March 17, 2011 at 12:07 PM
- Laur said...
"Social media is social"
^ Absolutely love that comment. It's getting a little old to follow a twitter account or a facebook page only to get endless waves of promotional crap sent my way. I followed you ("you" in the general sense) because you're an interesting person, not because I want to know that Blah Blah Blah comes out in exactly 5 months, 2 days, and 13 hours. Now be interesting!
- March 17, 2011 at 12:12 PM
- E. Elle said...
It's been said a million times but the blogging community is fantastic. There's no experience like it to help one connect with other writers and enjoy their encouragement and support and friendship. At least, not for me. :)
- March 17, 2011 at 12:19 PM
- Sonia M said...
Wise words! I recently joined the blogosphere and more recently joined the Twitterverse. It's beena little scary but wonderful overall. There are a lot of knowledgable, supportive folk out there. And I really like the concept of builiding a community by serving and encouraging others. Building a social media presence doesn't have to be self-serving. I think it can transform us in a positive way.
- March 17, 2011 at 12:31 PM
- Mercy Loomis said...
Honestly the who social media thing scares me. Not because it's technology or anything, but because from what I can tell, in order for the social media to be worth much to you promotion or brand-wise you have to spend a LOT of time doing it. And I'm already struggling just to make time to write.
I don't have a lot of free time. I have a full-time day job, I volunteer twice a week, I have a husband and a dog, I have to keep up with reading and the industry, and, of course, I have to write! Now I'm supposed to find time to Tweet and stay connected on my Facebook page?
I've been blogging for over a year (almost two now, yikes!), but I have few followers because I don't have the time to put into promoting it. I have 70 people on my Facebook page, but most of them are people I know IRL. (Not all, which is super cool!) But I can't afford a smart phone with a data plan, and I'm not going to do Twitter from my work computer (bad enough I'm checking your blog on work time!) so is there really a point to a Twitter account right now?
I'd love to know how you and other professionals manage to balance the social media time with all your other time commitments.
- March 17, 2011 at 12:37 PM
- BECKY said...
Agree! That's why I started blogging over 2 years ago. I was reluctant at first, but writer friends convinced me it was the right thing to do. I'm writing my memoir and already have many friends, followers, etc who have said they will buy it as soon as it's published. And BTW, I have quite a few blog/writer friends who are introverted! You wouldn't know it by their blogs, but in person...oh yeah!
- March 17, 2011 at 12:37 PM
- abc said...
Introverts unite! (but in separate rooms).
- March 17, 2011 at 12:42 PM
- Leila said...
What a refreshing take on the whole social media spectrum! If I liken social media to playing music, it's kind of like shifting from only playing classical music to trying some jazz, r&b and a bit of the blues. It's still about communication, it's just the form and shape of it shifts to allow greater diversity, enjoyment and opportunity.
Essentially, I'm finding it takes an open mind, a brave heart and a willingness to see and experience the world in different ways.
Technology is always going to continue to evolve, and it has direct and indirect effects on the way we communicate, build relationships, network, stay current with, well, everything, and connect to the world. That's a given. And it is a bit scary at times, but only in the sense of how we limit ourselves from taking up the wide range of technological opportunities available.
But the key is, as you so aptly point out, Nathan, the word 'social'. Regardless of the social media platform, we as human beings exist through relationships of all different kinds; personal, professional etc. The only difference now is how we choose to experience those relationships.
If you are genuine about your intention for participating in any aspect of the social media spectrum, your experience will be as rewarding as the effort you put in, and draw people to you.
- March 17, 2011 at 12:52 PM
- Marsha Sigman said...
Blogging is my main thing and Facebook is more family and old drunken high school friends.
I did get started on Twitter because of other writers recommending it...but mainly because of Daniel Tosh(Tosh.O). He kills me.
So I think I have the social part down.
- March 17, 2011 at 12:56 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
That's kind of my point though. It's not about promotion. It can help, but it's more about the personal connections you make.
- March 17, 2011 at 12:58 PM
- FourDoorHeathan said...
I'm a new blogger, so this post was really encouraging. I started blogging a little while ago to build an online presence and educate myself about the publishing world. For a while I was really hesitant about having something so permanent and personal on the web, but now it seems like an increasingly good idea.
Slowly but surly building up my whuffie!
- March 17, 2011 at 1:03 PM
- Rose Red said...
Loved this blog! Makes me feel better. I keep thing I'm jumping the gun but your points calmed my fears!
- March 17, 2011 at 1:14 PM
- Kristin Laughtin said...
You get whuffie points from me for mentioning whuffie.
Anyways, agreed. Even if you have nothing to promote, it's better to form connections early and will help you later when you *do* have something to promote. I know there are areas I can improve in this, but I can't deny the inherent wisdom of the strategy.
- March 17, 2011 at 1:17 PM
- Sean said...
I started my blog in November and just got my tenth follower yesterday. It's not 550 followers like some bloggers have but pretty cool just the same. The best part is my online friends don't drink all my beers when they stop by. And I'm pretty sure they are the main reason I've been fortunate enough to sell two copies of my first ebook. Now I have to go pick out what kind of candy bar I'm going to buy when the royalty check rolls in. I'm leaning towards a Mars Bar, but not entirely sure yet. Will keep you posted.
- March 17, 2011 at 1:25 PM
- Sommer Leigh said...
There's another aspect to this that I push on my College of Blogging Series - start early even if you're not *ready* or you don't think you have any thing to say because you need time to figure out what you are doing and to build your blogging voice. Go back and look at the first few months of anyone's blogs and you'll see we were all just terrible. It takes a while to hit your stride. You're like a new tv show! And while you're figuring it out, before you get a hundred followers, you can spend more time responding to the few comments you do get and bopping around the blogosphere meeting other bloggers.
When you do get lots of followers and you become a very busy, popular person, you'll miss those days when you had the time to respond personally to everyone.
You'll really miss the days when only 5 people noticed your mistakes.
- March 17, 2011 at 1:41 PM
- Dara said...
I love social media :)It took me a good year or more to really start connecting with people through blogging/commenting and using Twitter (and the latter I could STILL improve upon). I still need to work on it too since I'm not as "connected" as I like just yet. But at least I've gone through the door--I just have to make it through the room and introduce myself to more people.
- March 17, 2011 at 2:13 PM
I still feel like the majority of people who say this are leaving out a major factor: most blogs aren't very good. I've visited blogs by fellow unpublished authors and those of friends, and they're almost invariably things I'd never read on a regular basis (at least without the obligation of "because my friend wrote it").
That sounds rude, but I don't intend for it to. My point is simply that many people don't say anything interesting. Most author blogs I've seen rehash the same things without offering anything new at best, or at worst are a rehash of the writing process or little "day in the life" vignettes that, truth be told, are only interesting if you have a really unusual life or a really great voice and sense of humor.
Blogs require constant content, and more than that require constant *interesting* content. Most I've seen don't do this well. So what do those of us without anything interesting to say do? I don't want to talk about politics or issues that are important to me for obvious reasons, and my daily life is not exactly replete with things other people would actually be interested in knowing (though my dog is rather adorable).
Of course I understand that having a big following is good, but how realistic is it for anyone to really have that kind of following? Writing a novel and writing regular articles without a solid frame of reference (which I don't see myself having unless I've got a book to pitch) are two very different skills.
There are two things that I would really, really like to know before I go into something like this. The first is how many books are really sold because of blogs. I wonder what percentage of books sold are sold because readers heard about it on the author's blog, and I wonder how often people are more likely to take advice from another reader than from the author. Because if the latter is really a bigger factor (it is for me), that's important to know.
I also want to know if there are *negative* effects from having a bad blog. I saw a survey once online that actually asked this question, and many people said that they had intentionally not bought a book because of a blog. I know I've fallen into this category. I'm absolutely certain a great blog can lead to an increase in fans, but can a bad blog hurt? I have a feeling it can, but no one ever seems to ask this question, and I think it's an important one, especially when you consider the number of people out there you're competing with on the internet.
Which brings me to my final point--right now this is what everyone does. I'm all for having a website and I even imagine I would blog, but I can think of a dozen different, atypical things that I could do online to help get the word out to people, and then the hope is just that a few of those people keep on passing the word.
Would authors be better served by looking outside of the box? Particularly if you are someone like me who is uncertain of her ability to keep an audience through Facebook? Do authors get sucked into the idea that they have to follow this formula, which may or may not be a way for the average Joe to find success, and in the process overlook other methods that might be more creative and better reach the intended audience?
Sorry for the long post, but I find it a little frustrating because I see the same advice everywhere, but I also feel like this advice doesn't necessarily address all the aspects of the situation. And someone like me wants to make darn sure I don't go and shoot myself in the foot, and considering the staying power of anything posted on the internet, it seems a possibility.
- March 17, 2011 at 4:00 PM
"Because if you're using social media solely to promote, well, chances are you're doing it wrong."
Especially if you're posting photos of your well done prime rib roast on facebook. Argh! I swear I just saw this.
- March 17, 2011 at 4:08 PM
- Nick Hight said...
Wow, great post. I learned how important social media is when I found a writer called Kaleb Nation on YouTube, who has built up a following of over 60 000 people (kids and teens). You can check out my blog at www.ellipsisstation.blogspot.com
- March 17, 2011 at 4:33 PM
- Michael G-G said...
So you're the introverted genius who tagged the moon?! (Did you pay in "whuffie"?)
- March 17, 2011 at 4:43 PM
- sumanje said...
sumanje visit your blog today...
- March 17, 2011 at 5:13 PM
This advice is often given, but I think there's very little actual proof that it's effective, or if it is, which types of social media is most effective at selling books. I think it's pretty clear that blog don't sell books. I mean, how many here are actually going to buy Jacob Wonderbar? Not many. Why? We're not the audience.
Konrath might sell a few books because of his blog, but he's selling because of all the word of mouth he's getting from it, and not because people are saying his stuff is great, and that everyone has to read it--but his name's out there. He screams "look how rich I'm getting with my books!" and people say "Hmmm, people are buying his book, so maybe I should too."
I think most people shouldn't blog, because they don't have anything interesting to say. Not that they aren't fantastic writers, but I agree that having a blog that hasn't been updated in a while is worse than having no blog. I have never visited the blog of my favorite authors (if they have any), or facebook page, or looked them up on twitter. I don't think anybody does.
You hear about a book from someone, or read a review, or Amazon says "others who bought this book also bought...," or you're searching for something else and cool cover catches your eye--that's how people buy books.
- March 17, 2011 at 5:17 PM
- Anne R. Allen said...
I always learn something here. I'd never heard of Klout and Peer-whatsis, but I've just signed up. I seem to have a whole lot more Klout than Peer-whatsis, but I guess I'll learn. I find it all fascinating. Social media is really about forming tribes--groups of like-minded people. No geographical, socio-economic, or age barriers. Just people with shared interests. Love that.
- March 17, 2011 at 5:30 PM
- P A Wilson said...
I find sometimes it's difficult to think of something to say/tweet/update. What works best for me is to have a plan and make sure I consistently do something every day.
When I'm doing that, it's easier to come up with content. So, flex that social media muscle.
- March 17, 2011 at 5:48 PM
- Ashley Graham said...
Well said. AND informative. Just checked out Klout and Peer Index, neither of which I've ever heard of until now. Thanks!
- March 17, 2011 at 5:59 PM
The sad part about this in regard to writers is that, on many chatty sites, the most intelligent writers are often ignored, while less skilled writers get published based primarily on their online social connections. Even here, you tend to respond to every comment about sports, but rarely respond to many of your followers who have been contributing lengthy, well-thought-out comments for years. Since this has been a writing site for years, I always wondered why so many of those regular commenters have been mostly ignored. It reminds me of middle school where the smart, nerdy kids aren't invited to eat lunch with the cool kids. And this isn't a personal issue for me, by the way. I ate lunch with both the nerdy kids and the cool kids. :) It's just an observation.
- March 17, 2011 at 6:08 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
It's impossible to respond to every intelligent comment (which, btw, is the vast majority of comments). That's why I spotlight my favorites in This Week in Books.
And no one gets published primarily because of their social media presence, excepting SH*T MY DAD SAYS and other blog-specific books. As other people have pointed out, the jury is still out on whether social media even sells books.
Was that bait? I guess I took it.
- March 17, 2011 at 6:27 PM
Dear Nathan,
I agree with what Mercy and Kaitlyne said.
I had a blog but I quit because it was turning into a full time job. It wasn't just about the writing-which I loved-it was SO much more than that. It was a designing, editing, tweeting, updating, picture finding; comment responding; stat recording; subscription managing; post promoting; monetizing mess!
That's a ton of free work that may or may not pay off three years down the line.
And it's SO true about the content. The bar has been raised craaaaazy high for new authors, almost impossibly high, because the blogger is required to be brilliant, witty and/or fresh with every post/tweet/update (honestly, Nathan I don't know how you do it). Essentially "the industry" asks bloggers to do in one day what published authors do over several months.
I have also seen good writers go bad on their blogs. Good writing turns into posts about ailing ficus tress or slide shows about their kids/cats/iPads. Or worse, weekly giveaways for the soul purpose of boosting stats. These blogs have turned into that awful guy who nobody likes but everyone puts up with because he buys the first round of drinks at the bar.
I read over 40 books a year and I've never chosen a book because I had a social-networking relationship with the author.
There has got to be a better way.
- March 17, 2011 at 6:40 PM
- Anna said...
Off topic: No pressure, Rick Barnes, but the only consolation I will have after picking such a silly first round is if Texas goes all the way.
On topic: Thanks for the pointing out that it takes 3 years to become established. It makes me feel better about my blog rankings (even if I'm still sad about Penn State's loss).
- March 17, 2011 at 6:41 PM
- Polenth said...
D.G. Hudson said:
Question: For a writer using a pen name, what name should be used on Facebook?
Only Facebook accounts have to be a real name. Fan pages have different rules, so it's fine to start a fan page for a pen name. Your real name account will be an admin of your fan page, but that information can be hidden (it is by default, as I recall).
Once you have a fan page, you can use your fan page persona instead of your main account (for liking things, commenting, etc). There's a link on the fan page to switch between your main Facebook account and your fan page persona.
Separate names would actually make it a bit easier. My pen name is my real name, so I have to triple check whether I'm using my account or my fan page.
- March 17, 2011 at 6:51 PM
- Marilyn Peake said...
I love the internet! Here's how other people's social networks recently helped me. I read about Amanda Hocking's success through an article mentioned on Twitter, a post on your blog, and another post on Alan Rinzler's blog. So then I went to check out Amanda Hocking's website/blog. She does a lot of her own book cover artwork, but she mentioned getting artwork from another website. I checked out that website, www.phatpuppyart.com, and the artist's work is so exquisite, I'm now working with her to have book covers designed for some of the works I'm about to publish for 99 cents on Kindle. Annnnd, come to think of it, I also learned about the big boom in 99-cent Kindle books through the same sources where I found out about Amanda Hocking. :)
- March 17, 2011 at 6:53 PM
I think it's difficult to go into the online world expecting to build a huge fan base and either get a publishing contract or sell a lot of books. And I've seen people get frustrated because they start a blog or a Facebook page, and when that kind of fame doesn't descend on them, they wonder what it's all for.
That isn't what it's all for.
Some people do get attention and monetary rewards from being online, but overwhelmingly, they seem to me to be people who genuinely LIKE being online. They have fun with their blog or their vlogs or their Twitter account, and people respond to that.
I've heard people sneer that blogging writers are "only talking to other writers." My answer to that is: Other writers are very good people to connect with. Pre-internet, I longed for other writers to connect with, because I didn't know a single other person who was seriously trying to write a book. The amount of professional collegiality and mentoring I've found online has been incredible. I have also gotten book signings and conference-panel slots and discovered new publishing markets and, yes, sold books from the connections I've made online, but that isn't my top reason for being here.
I also get most of my new-book news and book recommendations online. I still read only what looks good to me, but I have definitely bought books because an online friend blogged about them or someone tweeted a synopsis that sounded interesting.
- March 17, 2011 at 7:02 PM
disagree. there is something to be said for, "Less is more." What this set of suggestions doesn't address is the risk of being perceived as pandering, and / or boring your audience / readers.
S'G's position as media guru is wholly self-serving and - what you leave out - based on non-fiction. His timing makes sense if you're trying to network your way into speaking at business conventions, but fiction? People are not interested in being sold in such a hard core way. Yes, putting yourself out there is important however, Facebook/twitter have been around for a while, and are not the panacea's they were even a year ago. Too many newsfeeds, too much information, it's all easy to ignore.
Look at Amanda Hocking: she balances her hawking of books with other blog topics. Although I don't read that genre, I have read her blog, and found her voice to be open yet not too personal. I think part of her success has been striking a balance between "knowing" her, the fact that she's selling books, and non-related topics.
In contrast, S.G's approach is akin to the post-gym -tour battery of phone calls one receives (before taking the tour.) There's something to his attempt to translate his self-obsession into other's reality ... it's narcissism squared by the net. Where is his service? What is he giving back? In an increasingly shrunken world, where resources are being sucked by the few at the expense of the many, an approach that's disconnected from even a little bit of giving back is .. nauseating.
One reason I refer back to your blog is because you actually engage people. Curiously, I find your presence in other social media less accessible or visible. I'm not sure how being an agent now tech advisor and YA author is going to pan out, but it will be a real time test of these theories. If anyone has a following, you do.
- March 17, 2011 at 7:04 PM
- Liesl said...
True, social media is important and it is the future. I wouldn't be commenting here if that weren't true. I've made some great connections through blogging.
BUT I think some writers, and society in general, seriously underestimate the value of in-person face time. There is no substitute for that. Sometimes meeting one person IN person, can do a lot more for you than "meeting" a hundred online. Let's not forget to be physically present.
- March 17, 2011 at 7:13 PM
- Marilyn Peake said...
Anon @4:04 PM,
I agree with many of your points. It's extremely easy to open up a publishing company or sell books about how to sell books to writers right now. Every time I see that an author has made it big-time selling books about writing to the throngs of desperate writers all struggling to sell their own books, I discount their success as being even remotely relevant to a fiction writer with no connections to the publishing industry. And I noticed the same thing you did about Amanda Hocking – her blog has a quiet mood, lots of blog conversation about things other than books, no hawking of her products, and a kindness through which she actually promotes other people's work. I know I'm drawn to writers' and artists' websites where there's a sense of quiet thoughtfulness and daydreaming, two important ingredients in the creation of art.
- March 17, 2011 at 7:17 PM
- Whirlochre said...
If only all those artistic cavemen had foreseen the advent of vegtarianism.
- March 17, 2011 at 7:45 PM
- kdrausin said...
Great post, Nathan! Thank you.
- March 17, 2011 at 7:57 PM
- kdrausin said...
Great post, Nathan. Thank you. Who knows when my book will be out but my blog has sure grown over the past two years.
- March 17, 2011 at 7:59 PM
- Silicon Valley Diva said...
Spot on Nathan, esp your point about being "social". I can't tell you how many authors that plug their book on Facebook & Twitter 24x7. And that's all they do. Too much!
This will not get me to buy you're book--and I buy a ton of 'em :-) it seems like such common sense.
I'm much more likely to buy a book if you engage with me, not try to sell me something.
- March 17, 2011 at 8:00 PM
- DEMETRA BRODSKY said...
I'm doing all the right things; so maybe you can take me on as a client, Nathan. Oh Darn, too late. You've flown the coop! ; )
- March 17, 2011 at 8:05 PM
- Tana Adams said...
Well said. It's a great way to meet fellow writers and learn the tricks of the trade. If you wait any longer, you might just get left behind.
- March 17, 2011 at 8:35 PM
It seems crass to me when people in publishing hawk products to writers, even if they do it in a friendly kind of way. Writers gravitate toward publishing people because they think they will help them to succeed. When those people turn around and take advantage by selling them things, that seems kind of yucky. :( I've actually seen writers who tried to make it as fiction writers, failed to sell enough copies of their books, then went on to make a lot of money by selling books and other services that supposedly teach writers how to market their books. Something isn't right about that.
- March 17, 2011 at 8:43 PM
- wendy said...
I like social media when it comes to visiting the sites of others but not when it comes to attracting people to my own. I don't have the confidence, really. I do have a blog presence and a Twitter and Facebook, but I'm not using them correctly. I appreciate the information I get through your blog, Nathan.
- March 17, 2011 at 8:59 PM
Did you know that no one sold any books before the internet came and revolutionized everything? If only "social media" had come along earlier, little Stevie King might've had a chance at a career. Might've written and sold a book or two. Well, when he wasn't facebooking, Goodreading, kindleboarding, tweeting, twatting, twerping ....
If you write books people want to read, they will find you. If you don't, no amount of social media cred is gonna help you.
- March 17, 2011 at 9:52 PM
- D.G. Hudson said...
@Polenth - Thanks for that information about pen names. Your explanation was clear and answered all the questions I have for the present. I'm glad someone heard the little question in the dark . . . much appreciated.
- March 17, 2011 at 10:11 PM
- The Lemonade Stand said...
hmmm...I'm not entirely certain where I stand in the social networking, unless you are counting Farmville. :) I've had a blog for a few years, but just 'outed' myself as a writer on there recently. So if I have a blog, but it's not always about writing/reading/publishing, then I suppose that means I'm behind schedule, right?
- March 17, 2011 at 10:51 PM
- Kristi Helvig said...
I was a reluctant joiner of Facebook and now I don't know what I'd do without it. Matthew Rush couldn't write NCAA updates on my wall, and Rick Daley couldn't leave sarcastic comments on my updates. I seriously love FB, which says a lot coming from a total introvert!
Thanks for the info on Klout and the other one...I've got to check them out. :)
- March 17, 2011 at 11:02 PM
- Susan Kaye Quinn said...
Yes, yes, and yes. More please (blogs like this!). You continue to rock! :)
- March 18, 2011 at 12:05 AM
- Mira said...
Thank you for saying social networking is social! Yes! Very true, and very clear.
I wrote a whole long post, but it got lost in cyberspace, so I'm assuming it wasn't meant to be.
But I will say that I appreciate the discussion. I have some mixed feelings about social networking,for myself, for a variety of reason, but all in all, how can I be anything but for it? I would never have come to this wonderful blog! And I have so much fun here and learn so much!
- March 18, 2011 at 12:22 AM
- McKenzie McCann said...
3 years! If I'd starting blogging three years ago, I would have been 12 years old!! Yikes. Well, that's not exactly good news.
- March 18, 2011 at 12:37 AM
Nathan said: "And no one gets published primarily because of their social media presence, excepting SH*T MY DAD SAYS and other blog-specific books. As other people have pointed out, the jury is still out on whether social media even sells books./Was that bait? I guess I took it."
No, I didn't mean that as bait. Here's what I was basing my comments on ... Several authors, myself included, were actually TOLD by well-known agents that they weren't interested in representing their novels, since they weren't in a popular genre and we only had thousands of followers on our blogs, but they would be much more interested if we developed a larger following. So, that tells me very directly that people do indeed get published because of their online presence. Same thing happens with sales for self-published books. Amanda Hocking got rejected by both agents and publishing houses until she sold over a million copies of her self-published books. Right after that, she got one of the best agents in the business and a three-movie deal.
And I didn't mean to say that the commenters you reply to don't make intelligent comments. I meant that, since most people who spend years posting what amounts to hundreds of well-thought-out comments are mostly ignored, saying that blogs are "social" isn't exactly true for everyone. It's a false type of social for most people. There have been articles written about this recently - the lack of a real social experience within social networks.
- Anon at 3:08 PM, March 17
- March 18, 2011 at 12:41 AM
great, a world in which networking means everything even more than content. This world needs to become less of a schmooze-ocracy than it already is, not more
- March 18, 2011 at 1:04 AM
I just wanted to hit on something Anon said. My biggest problem with social networking is that it feels so insincere. I'm not an old fart who isn't technologically compatible--I'm great with computers, love the internet, and I'm in the demographic that should be embracing this.
I've been involved enough to know that it leaves me longing for the days when people would email and carry on meaningful conversations. I frequent message boards, but the only people I consider "friends" on there are those I've started emailing and talking to on the phone.
The lack of personalized attention and sincerity has always been one of the big negatives for me. I hear other people saying that it's a great way to get to know people and stay in touch, but every time I've tried, it's felt very...false.
Maybe that's just me.
- March 18, 2011 at 1:42 AM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Well, I think a possible misconception may be that it's true, you're not really going to be able to interact with everyone who stops by your blog on a personal level. So on the one hand it could feel insincere if you're judging it on that basis.
But you can make those connections. I've made really good real life friends with people I met through other blogs and through this blog. So from that standpoint it really does work. And Kaitlyne, it sounds like it's worked that way for you too, right?
- March 18, 2011 at 1:47 AM
I'm glad that all worked out for you. :) I don't think that's the same type of experience most people have, though.
- Anon at 3:08 PM, March 17
- March 18, 2011 at 2:53 AM
- Libby said...
I started my blog now, I'm not even on chapter one of my novel. But I do also send out a lot of short stories and plays and I wanted somewhere potential theatres/publishers could go to see my work which I post every Friday. I don't plan to build a readership quickly, but I do hope to have one some day...
- March 18, 2011 at 6:31 AM
Totally agree with Anon 11:53. Agents and the like have 'great' relationships with their readers because the reader is hoping to make a business connection. Regular Joes aren't going to have the same following because they can't offer the coveted keys to publishing.
- March 18, 2011 at 7:53 AM
- sofiaromualdo said...
Thank you for this wonderful post. It's easy to get overwhelmed with all the possibilities that social media offers, specially if you're an introvert (as I am too!). This post is a good reminder of what's really important: the people and the connections we build.
- March 18, 2011 at 9:02 AM
- Alison Barber said...
Maven... good word.
- March 18, 2011 at 9:06 AM
- Mark Cecil said...
i don't know if i really agree with what's being suggested here. i mean, sure, now is the time to start blogging. also, now is the time to get in shape. and now is also the time to start eating right. and furthermore, now is the time to call your parents because you haven't in a while. and now is the time to take that trip to africa. and now is also the time to really push yourself at your job. and now is also the time to read those classics you haven't read, which you will do later tonight, because now is the time to pick up the kids. and now is also the time to start leaning japanese, remember that? so you will definitely learn japanese soon, but now, precisely now, is the time to do your laundry, right after you read a blog post, and then comment on it, which is what you have to do right, RIGHT now. and...so on.
from what i can gather, if you're going to be a writer, write a great book. no one disagrees on that. NO ONE. write the best possible book you can, and make that number one two and three on your list of three things to do. for those of us with full time jobs, with kids, with wives, with friends, with all sorts of time constraints, you simply have to prioritize.
i'm not saying social media is a waste of time. i'm not saying it can't help. i'm just saying amid the great and endless clamoring of life's demands you have to prioritize. For some, it's about getting known, getting an interview, being considered an authority on this or that, gaining Klout, passing a thousand twitter followers. For others, there is something majestic and sacred in the pursuit of great writing. If you believe in that majestic pursuit, as i do, and you do what that belief requires of you, then the rest of must and will take care of itself.
but ah....i could have been working on my book the whole time i was writing this post....
- March 18, 2011 at 9:15 AM
Amen Mark, AMEN!
- March 18, 2011 at 9:22 AM
- GhostFolk.com said...
Nathna, Nathan, Nathan...
The real question is whether the person you are on f/b or twitter is really you. Most people think it is when they're doing it. But most pyschologists will beg to differ.
Understanding the above is the future. Social media is yesterday. I'd rather go to lunch.
- March 18, 2011 at 9:57 AM
- GhostFolk.com said...
Oh, I hope that didn't sound rude. I only meant to differ. :-)
As for too early, I would say in most cases you are right. But there is a too-early if you are trying to create and/or build "brand" through social media. Your personal and professional "brand" may change radically from the time you begin using social media to become an online known entity.
A wrong brand could actually be damaging. Better no brand at all.
Say, you spend a few years branding yourself as an erotic novelist. And, say lots and lots of people interact with you through social media as the same, while you work to make professional and social connections to get your first book published by one of the Big Six.
Then, say an editor offers you $50K to take out the naughty parts and focus on the thriller aspects of your most recent work.
You know what happened to Saul could happen to you. You might want to run for the state senate next year. How often can you change your name?
- March 18, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Social is fun...only if you're social.
There are people who are good at social media. They were the popular kids at school. They're the ones in the middle of the crowd at every party, the ones who can make friends standing in line at the ATM. They're the ones who know everyone who works at their company -- all 20,000 of them. They're good at social media because they've been doing it all their lives. They're wired that way.
For a lot of us, social is at best hard work and at worst a form of torture. Like painters and sculptors, we engage in a solitary artform because it fits our personalities and our strengths. After all, if we could sparkling conversationalists who could maintain networks of hundreds or thousands of people, we'd be agents, not writers.
It's not like we can even be ourselves in the social-media universe. We have to be interesting, witty, original and engaging in order to draw strangers to our blogs/Twitter feeds/websites. We have to be a character we've made up, and be able to "make friends" with characters other people have made up. As Jen P. noted, God forbid you should ever slip out of character. That's a lot of sweaty hard work for many of us. And it pays not one dime.
I'm not a technophobe, I'm an unrecovered introvert. I view social media the way I did dances in high school -- yet another way to feel awkward and uncomfortable and inadequate, the ultimate revenge of the popular kids. It's going to be hard to change at this late stage of my life.
- March 18, 2011 at 11:08 AM
In response to the question, I'd have to say I don't know. I follow several industry blogs and one that's just for fun, but I couldn't call any of those people friends. The online friends I've made were through message boards with PM systems in place and then, after a few private conversations we'd exchange email addresses and what not.
Your blog is one of my two favorites. I've learned a ton from it and it even helped me land an agent. You're funny and clever and I often share things you with my boyfriend just because I know he'll get a kick out of it. But I still wouldn't expect you to know who I was other than perhaps recognizing my name as a result of the comments I leave, and I've been here for more than a year. Even if you remembered something specific, it's not the same as knowing me. I have a bit of insight into you because I read your blog daily, but you don't have the same levels of insight into me.
The more followers one has, the more that's going to be true. When it's just a few, you can easily develop relationships, but if you have a hundred thousand people following you, it's going to be impossible to develop that with everyone. I feel that social media gives the illusion of relationships more than the ability to follow through. It's very one-sided. And maybe that's okay. Maybe that's what people are looking for.
I admit, I might be very off the mark with this.
- March 18, 2011 at 12:09 PM
I think Lance has a good point. On one hand, I'm more comfortable online than I am in a crowd of people (I'm rather shy in person), but the interesting thing you said is that we have to be a character rather than our true selves.
I'm not sure I would have said it that way, but I will say that I'm much more comfortable with the idea of actually being a character than with being myself. I'm a private person and I am cautious with details that I share. On the other hand, I think creating a Facebook page for a character from my book would be hilarious and fun. My favorite author does this sort of thing, and I've always thought it was a blast.
I'd do that in a heartbeat. That's kind of what I meant earlier when I referred to thinking outside of the box, though. I'd like to have fun with this sort of thing, and I'd have a lot more fun with goofy things like that than with maintaining a page about myself.
- March 18, 2011 at 12:16 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
I definitely agree that blogs can transition from a very one-to-one relationship into more of a broadcasting relationship. After a point it just becomes impossible to maintain those one on one conenctions. That part I definitely can agree with. I'd still say it's about making a connection with people, but the nature of that connection can be, as you say, a bit one sided.
But wow, I really disagree both with the idea that people who use social media were all the popular kids in high school or that you have to be some sort of hybrid character. The Internet can smell a lack of authenticity a mile away. The best bloggers are themselves. It may be a somewhat censored version of themselves or people may invent a bit of a character, but that's true of any public face we put on, whether on the Internet or "real" life. At the core I think you really can get a sense of the "real" personality of the best bloggers.
- March 18, 2011 at 1:19 PM
I don't think the qualities that make a good blogger are necessarily the same qualities that make a person popular. Don't get me wrong. I think Lance had an interesting point concerning the concept of the person who we are online is a bit of a face, and expanding on that.
I'm not particularly comfortable in groups of people, but I have no problem interacting online. I think having a bit of separation and time to plan and think about responses actually makes it *easier* for people who are socially awkward to communicate online. I also think that in order to have a good blog, etc., you need to be someone who writes well, and that has nothing to do with popularity.
I definitely agree with you on that one.
- March 18, 2011 at 2:49 PM
I also wanted to say that maybe something worth adding to the list of encouraging a good following is being gracious in the face of dissenting opinions.
One of the things that I love about this blog is the way you discuss issues with people who disagree. It's professional, non-confrontational, and never alienates. I always feel kind of bad disagreeing because you're such a nice guy, but I also know that you won't get upset or argue (in the negative sense of the word) and that's pretty awesome. It's a place where we can have actual discussions about complex issues.
I was just thinking about this because of a link I saw on another blog recently to a woman who was in hot water for arguing with her followers after making some rather contentious remarks. You are a great example, and I really think creating the kind of atmosphere you've created here goes a long way. Just wanted to add that. :)
- March 18, 2011 at 2:57 PM
- R.D. Allen said...
But if you don't have a book to talk about, and you're not a published writer, then what do you have to link people to you? What could possibly set you apart from the millions of wanna-be authors out there?
Personally, I think an author trying to network before they have anything to offer is a little ridiculous. That's why I'm not more active on Facebook/Blog/Twitter.
- March 18, 2011 at 3:01 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Hey thanks, Kaitlyne! I honestly think a lot of that is that I've been very lucky to have regular commenters who set a great tone for the discussion, and I'm very thankful for that.
- March 18, 2011 at 3:18 PM
I feel like we should totally have a group hug now lol.
- March 18, 2011 at 3:21 PM
Once the realization sets in that Social Media is not something to fear(my own personal past issue), the info is great advice. Thanks as always for great info. And is the Twitter something you call or a type of messenger bird service and I can't find this Facebook at B&N.
- March 18, 2011 at 10:11 PM
- marion said...
Wow! This got everyone talking!
1. What's whuffle?
2. Dee, I want to buy Jason Wunderbar--thanks solely to the blog, which shows that Nathan is certifiable! Crazy kid books are about my speed, these days.
3. Abc--love the comment about "Introverts unite, but in separate rooms." LOL!
4. I've been on Facebook, just for my friends, for several months. Just started my blog a week ago. Trying to find the focus--or maybe the blog doesn't need a focus.
5. Nathan, can we please have a session where you & your bloggie friends share what they did to get a blog following?
- March 19, 2011 at 5:27 AM
- marion said...
Y'all, ignore my comment #1. Since whuffie was defined in the blog post. Duh! I can read, and I can spell--sort of!
- March 19, 2011 at 5:29 AM
NO! DON'T LOOK AT MUNK! LOOK AT ME! J. T. SHEA! Oh wait... I don't have a picture... blast... must get better looking picture than Munk's, with bigger hat...
Anonymous 3:08 pm, you're right! How DARE Nathan be so interested in sports! Particularly games involving balls. If they gave every player his or her own ball it would stop all the arguing and fighting.
I mean, Nathan behaves as if the whole damn blog belongs to him! Oh, wait...
- March 19, 2011 at 6:01 PM
- Edward said...
Agree with the board that there is great benefit to all things SN&Blog. Still gaining info, and hope to put it to use soon. Thank you to all for the great info & yes, I agree it general rudeness to comment as if the only one in the room. Apologies and, I am grateful for each and every helpful tidbit shared by all.
- March 19, 2011 at 9:03 PM
- Edward said...
*forgive the comma placement in above post.
- March 19, 2011 at 9:05 PM
- marion said...
Me again. One step behind as usual. Found Nathan's Nov. blog post: Seven Tips on How to Build a Following Online. Very helpful.
How do you connect with writers in the blogosaphere? I sent an e-mail to my writer friends. I put links on my Facebook page, but most of my FB friends aren't writers. Anything else?
- March 19, 2011 at 9:36 PM
- Jamie said...
Great post. I'm forwarding it to my husband who's just getting into social media to promote his law-related business. Thanks.
- March 20, 2011 at 5:35 PM
- Edward said...
I have a question about blog vs. website. I am wondering if anyone could give me advice which of the two is the better route. I know the blog provides more interaction, but if a person cannot update frequently, on a blog, would a website be a better option? Along with an SN presence as a sort of bonus, if needed. Thank you, and sorry to be so late to the conversation.
- March 20, 2011 at 11:24 PM
- Meghan Ward said...
So glad you wrote this post, Nathan! I felt a little uncomfortable creating a Facebook "Page" not having a book yet published, but I think it's important for writers to get over those fears and just put themselves out there. It's the way of the future. And Doctorow's book sounds great. I'll have to add it to my (long) list of books to read.
- March 21, 2011 at 2:36 AM
- Ray Anderson said...
Do what's fun and what you're good at. But If you are trying to avoid social media, you better be writng the greatest book ever.
- March 23, 2011 at 11:33 AM
- clarionj said...
Thank you for this reminder. I know I should have started years ago, and knowing this, I should definitely get on the ball now! I agree it's about socializing, interacting. Word of mouth goes a long way!
- March 24, 2011 at 12:00 PM
- Ishta Mercurio said...
"Whuffle" sounds a lot like the stock market.
Also: (and I haven't finished reading the post yet, so I might eat my words in a few minutes) I think a lot of writers feel good about waiting to start building that presence because blogging, facebooking, and tweeting take up time. And when you're working a job, raising a family, managing a household, and trying to write, polish, and submit a novel (which involves hours and hours of research on top of the writing, revising, critique group participation, etc.), the thought of losing even half an hour a day of precious writing time is just scary. What's the point of social networking (in order to build those connections to make it easier to market your book, etc.) if you never finish your book?
Now back to reading the post.
- April 6, 2011 at 12:12 AM
With any luck I won't ever have to jump aboard the "socialist mediocrity" bandwagon. Now, I may be way too young (~18 yrs) to be so cynical about this, but as an aspiring author myself, I simply don't see the point of blogging, twitting, AIMing, whatever, about completely unrelated topics or stream-of-consciousness rambling when what you want (or should want) readers to be interested in is the content/quality of what you've written in print.
I would also wonder if a publisher or even an agent, while they are people too, might even totally reject a writer based on public credibility (or liability, as the case may be) regardless of the quality of his/her submitted work -- the same way top-notch colleges are checking out applicants' social networking pages and weeding out the beer-pong/Girls Gone Wild group from the college-worthy caliber. Publishers and agents probably check these sites in a similar way as campus recruiters to make sure the next War & Peace they've got in their hands isn't by a real-life fanfic freak in a skimpy Sailor Moon outfit...named Bluto. :-O
The writer needs to be the writer, to concentrate on his/her book, and not try to cover all bases as the blogger/BoobTuber/Twitbooker/networker/tinker/tailor/soldier/spy, but "all your bases are not belong to you" (deliberate use of bad grammar in reference to a meme). Otherwise we wouldn't have a need for PR firms, ghost writers, marketing experts, etc. The sad catch-22 is that new writers by and large can't afford these amenities and are all but obligated to put their hearts and souls (and hours a day) into these "personality platforms," but when it's all said and done, the writer gets bought and sold while the book doesn't earn back a dime. :-(
- July 14, 2011 at 9:51 PM
Believe it or not, this blog post was recommended to me by a postgraduate writing lecturer to enthuse me about getting into social media. I didn't altogether buy Nathan's premise and having finished reading the comments, I'm even more convinced that while social media might work for some, perhaps many, I can't think of anything more dispiriting and poisonous to my own aspirations than spending hours writing messages in bottles to fling into a sea of indifference when I could actually be writing something I believed in. I don't care if no one reads my book, because it's still an actual BOOK, goddammit, but if no one reads my blog posts, FB posts, tweets or whatever the hell it is we're all supposed to be doing 24/7 to build a profile and whatnot, that's just so much wasted effort. And if they do read them, it's still so much wasted effort. Life is so, so short. I'm damned if I'm going to neglect my writing because I was spending so much time on marketing. Which is what it is, whether you've got a book yet or not; you are the brand, or so they tell me. Even writing that makes me feel a little bit nauseous. Thanks, Nathan, but I agree with everyone who disagreed with you. Call me naive, but I still like to think there's something noble and beautiful about being a writer. Books aren't just a product. I went on to Facebook about five years ago to keep in touch with friends from work after I lost my job and moved away, and within a week I stopped because when my old friends from real life became my new friends on Facebook they stopped being the people I knew; they were relentlessly dreary, boastful, hypercompetitive narcissists and I couldn't stand being around them.
This will probably be the only blog comment I ever write, and I'm not even sure why I bothered...
- June 28, 2016 at 6:20 PM


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Ehlo, i'm on a big question...how can I install GNOME (with or without KDE3) and keep with the 'Backtrack' menu.
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Anyone had a solution to this question?
You willl have to make the menu by hand for your self.
exist some list of menu from backtrack menu?
Its actually really easy to install ubuntu and add BT4 repos to it and install all tools. then you will have gnome and BT4 tools.
Clearly you do not use a lot of the tools in backtrack because I can think of about 30 right now that would not work on ubuntu
I use mostly aircrack-ng, wireshatk, ettercap, arpspoof, etc tools. Yes there is a few tools that I was not able to install ti ubuntu. What are those tools.
Of course I have also BT4 on my laptop, so when I really need those tools I can just boot to bt4.
1. Install Ubuntu
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Last edited by Archangel-Amael; 04-30-2010 at 08:45 AM. Reason: This option is not supported here.