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Do you know the uneasy feeling there’s something everybody but you understands or has or is doing? Gurus say fear of missing out, or FOMO, is one reason this week’s blog post title makes you more likely to open it. Another is that social media algorithms pick up on keywords denoting urgency. If you came here via social media, the keywords may deserve credit for the link showing up in your feed.
Did the goofy title work? Data from Weebly and Facebook will show whether traffic goes up or down this week. Articles online debate the best time of day to post on various social media sites. I cringe at the very idea. I’d so much rather write, trust you to read what strikes you as interesting, and respect your choice to skip the rest. A Peanuts cartoon shows Snoopy on his doghouse, typing a letter about the novel he just completed. It’s so good he won’t even submit it; the editor or publisher can come and get it. What a delightful fantasy! Who wants to spend half their time promoting their work, as authors may in order to reach an audience? Why do so many choose a profession where they’ll spend half their time doing something they dislike? Volunteering for not-for-profits, I’ve had assignments that involved fundraising or sales. On a good day a switch flips in my mind and suddenly it’s no longer about pushing a product. It’s about hospitality in helping people connect with something they want, whether it’s a glass of wine or a way to support a cause they value. On a good day as a writer, reaching out to readers isn’t about goofy blog titles. It’s about extending an invitation to connect. As I wrote a year ago, connections are what writing is all about.
14 Comments
Jan
6/26/2017 07:55:54 am
It made me look, and while I was here I read a couple more. I appreciate how you can say so much in so few words.
Mary
6/26/2017 08:05:35 am
Lisa
6/26/2017 08:52:27 am
"Extending an invitation to connect." I love that. Thank you. 6/26/2017 09:31:45 am
Ha, Ha. I thought what is this all about? I always enjoy reading what you are thinking.
Rhonda Peterson
6/26/2017 11:39:51 am
Ditto on Jeri's comment on enjoying reading what you're thinking. On this one, though, the subject line made me hesitate and wonder whether your account had been hacked! Rhonda, too true, it's exactly the sort of title for a hacker or spam who just wants people to open it. Fortunately, the email notification that goes out to people who signed up for "Get Updates" on this website (or just asked me to be added to the list) is sent by me personally each week, not automated, so should be relatively hacker-proof. 6/26/2017 03:25:27 pm
Limited time exclusive. Today only. That sense of urgency from someone I know tells me: OPEN THE MSG NOW! Without that sense of urgency, I most likely would have waited a day or so b/4 reading it. We live at a pace far too fast and are forced sometimes to prioritize "events" That was excellent salesmanship (or saleswomanship).
Walter, thanks for the affirmation. I don't really disapprove of sales so much as I'm shy about it and don't want to put people off. That's where thinking of it as invitational helps.
Rhonda Peterson
6/27/2017 10:07:05 pm
I hope it's OK to comment on your comment to someone else, but what you say about first lines made me think about the fact that, despite having many beloved novels, there are only three whose first lines I remember--Tale of Two Cities, Little Women and Pride and Prejudice. It would be interesting to do some kind of poll to find out how many other people have first lines they remember -- and then to try to figure out why those first lines!
Rhonda, absolutely, comments on comments are wonderful! Five that stick with me are Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Rebecca, and two for which I haven't read the book: Moby Dick (despite several attempts), and Anna Karenina. Had to look up the opening to Little Women. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI'm a historian who writes novels and literary nonfiction. My home base is Madison, Wisconsin. Archives
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