Social media can be overwhelming to someone who is entering the writing/publishing world later in life. I’ve been involved in social media for more than a decade and keeping up with the never ending stream of changes and updates is a challenge! One has to be prepared to never feel as though they’ve conquered it, because as soon as you do, it changes!
EVERYTHING KEEPS CHANGING!
The rapidly changing landscape of social media, the internet itself and technology in general is a fast paced environment and one that is defined by rapid change. This is not the type of environment most of us grew up in. If you’re over fifty, and especially over sixty, you spent in a majority of your life navigating a very different world. Some of us have adapted, more or less, others have no interest in even trying. And, that’s okay! We are who we are and hanging on to a little bit of the world as we knew it isn’t such a bad thing – for anyone. A quieter, slower environment has its advantages!
WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT?
What’s really important as a late blooming writer is deciding what you want from your writing experience. For most writers, social media belongs at the bottom of their list of priorities except when it comes time to market their writing. Take time to think about your writing goals, write them down and pin the list somewhere where you can see it often. When external demands threaten to derail your writing efforts – including social media – return to this list or a reminder. It’s easy to lose ones way.
MANAGE SOCIAL MEDIA
If you are writing for your own pleasure without concern of publishing, social media may derail your efforts by constantly pulling you away from your writing. You may even get to the point that you think you don’t “feel” like writing. I know I have been deluded by this turn of events from time to time. The more I write, the more I want to write. The more I procrastinate, or avoid writing, the harder it is to sit down and get started again. So do what you can to institute some structure into your writing schedule, putting writing at the top and social media at the bottom. Write first.
If, on the other hand, you are serious about getting paid for your writing and/or publishing, social media will rise up a bit on your list of priorities. Social media is a marketing tool. It is a tool to be managed and used in support of your writing, not as an end in itself. This may sound like splitting hairs, but keeping it in perspective is essential. It is not something to be feared, but something to be used.
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Dorothy Sander is a professional freelance writer, writing coach and marketing and social media specialist for late blooming writers. She began her writing career at the age of fifty and since that time has published thousands of articles online and off and self-published two books. She loves helping other late blooming writers fulfill their writing dreams through individual coaching, support groups and workshops. For more information contact her directly via email: LateBloomingWriters@gmail.com
