Documentary in the works on Net Neutrality. Worth watching NOW.
I like MySpace. Really, I have nothing at all against MySpace.
As a matter of fact, I have 2 MySpace pages. One started out as a place to promote my books and other projects but it has quickly turned into a personal page linking to my real-life sisters, real-life friends as well as favorite musicians, authors, magazines, products and random acquired "friends" who wanted to connect and seemed interesting.
The other page is brand new and my attempt to have an actual promotional page that isn't personal in nature to go back to my original goal of promoting my books and projects. Haven't had time to update that one yet so it hovers in cyberspace half-baked.
I have also helped author Pam Houston set up her MySpace page. And it was while I was working on another author's site that it occurred to me: MySpace doesn't promote authors in the same way it does comedians, musicians and filmmakers.
This is really a missed opportunity for MySpace although looking at their top nav tool bar, it would be a tight squeeze to fit Books in there. Still, it is manageable and could be a great new way for people to connect to their favorite authors and authors to connect with their fans.
Right now, there is a massive number of authors - including authors published by major publishing houses - with MySpace pages. They are all but hidden without the same kind of promotional push given to comedy, music and film. I just wanted to voice my opinion on this topic as both an author and a Web wonk.
I hope MySpace will finally see the light and realize the people who love books and reading and the people who love writing are all on MySpace trying very hard to connect. MySpace, make it easy for us, will ya?
Technorati tags: myspace book author pages pam houston aliza sherman
I'm finally checking out Twitter. Does that qualify for Late Early Adoption or Early Late Adoption? Or am I just so far out of the loop that I'm relegated to total Newbie status?
In just a few minutes, I was able to link with (add as friends) some of the finest minds in New Media (is it still called that today? Probably not. Note to self: Moving to Alaska means not knowing the lingo anymore).
Anyway, the site itself - while simple in premise - does take some convoluted navigating through the FAQ to figure out how to make things work. The instructions almost make sense but then don't. Still, I was eventually able to hook up my mobile phone to receive messages and finally figured out how to post on the Web site (it is easier to understand the instructions for posting via phone than the site). But no matter, I was in, on and Twittering.
Living so far removed from the happenings and goings on in the industry makes for an interesting contrast. Everyone else is coming back from conferences, going to meetings, doing deals. I'm twittering about my baby, the temperature (started around 15 degrees below zero today), and trying to get work done with said baby.
All in all it was a fun first day on Twitter.
I did, of course, shut off the phone text message feature and unsubscribed from Googlenews. After 2 messages, I was already sick of it. I'll just Twitter on the Web. Twitterific!
Do you Twitter?
I'm checking out all sorts of social networking sites, mostly just for fun. Right now, I'm finding the most useful from a business standpoint is LinkedIn and the most useful from a generally social standpoint relevant to my personal life is Maya's Mom.
What I like about LinkedIn:
1. I'm actually finding people I want to reconnect with, especially from the old New Media days.
2. I'm finding people I'd like to network with from a business standpoint - helpful connections for my current work.
What I like about Maya's Mom:
1. It is easy to use and intuitive so I don't have to waste time trying to make sense of it.
2. It allows me to import my personal blog so I'm not blogging all over the place with different blogs.
3. I am actually joining groups on topics that are of interest to me (baby wearing, baby sign language, work at home moms, etc.). I'm actually posting and following threads - something that my fuzzy brain finds challenging on any other online moms' forum.
4. It emails me a daily digest of any relevant activity in my groups and with my account. This draws me back in to the exact location something new has occurred.
5. You can only do a limited number of things on it - it isn't trying to be everything to everyone with every bell and whistle it can throw out there. It feels more focus and directed to me making it easier for me to handle it, even after a challenging day juggling all the parts of my life.
Like LinkedIn, Maya's Mom is only as good as the effort I put into interacting with it. The more I connect with others, the more I post, the more benefits I get back that are finely tuned to my own needs.
While I am still futzing around with MySpace a few minutes each day, I'm not feeling any kind of community connection there - it just seems to disjointed. I'm enjoying uploading videos of the baby on YouTube but not really forming or participating in community there.
Right now, all the rest of the sites are just not grabbing me, not compelling me to participate or driving me totally insane trying to figure them out or remember how to do things on them. I've got mommy brain - be obvious and intuitive or I'm out of there.
What are your favorite social networking sites, and where can I find you?
I decided to fill out this survey. It took longer than I initially thought but it was interesting enough. Not sure how this will help more women become successful published authors, however, I'm curious to see when the results are in and report is completed.
FROM A PRESS RELEASE:
Over the past 52 weeks, fewer than 15 percent of the books on the
New York Times non-fiction bestseller list were authored by women. Industry
experts estimate that nearly 70 percent of non-fiction books are purchased by
women. This disparity led Content Connections (www.contentconnections.com) and
eWomenPublishingNetwork (www.ewomenpublishingnetwork.com) today to launch a
national, comprehensive study on the reading, recommending and book buying
habits of women.
The study also investigates the factors that can help more women become successful, published authors. The "Women and Books 2007 National Study" is available online from March 8th, International Women's Day (since 1909, a global day to connect women around the world and inspire them to achieve their full potential), through Mother's Day on May 13th. Women from all walks of life are encouraged to participate.
The survey can be found at www.WomenAndBooks2007.com The survey focuses on non-fiction books that female readers buy for themselves, give to others, and receive from family, friends and professional associates. It also explores the factors that influence women's decisions to buy, give or read a book.
"We are interested in hearing from all women who read and talk about non-fiction books, especially those who can envision themselves as authors -- from top-level managers at Fortune 500s to stay-at-home moms," said David Brake, co-author of the survey and CEO of Content Connections Inc. "With 152 million women in the U.S., we think they're woefully underrepresented on non-fiction bestseller lists."
"The purpose of this survey is two-fold -- to understand how women choose to buy and give books, and how an understanding of the publishing process may be hindering aspiring women authors in their quest to get published successfully," added Jan. B. King, the other survey author and founder of eWomenPublishingNetwork. "It is only fitting that we launch this survey on International Women's Day so women's voices can be heard and create a lasting legacy in books."
The "Women and Books 2007 National Study" will help:
•Publishers focus on the unique preferences, needs, and behavior of female
book buyers.
•Booksellers better understand how and why women buy and recommend books.
•More women adopt a successful strategy for becoming published authors
Every participant will receive a complimentary copy of the Women and Books 2007 Report, and will be entered into a drawing to win one of twenty $100 specialty retail gift certificates to be awarded after the close of the survey. Study results will be announced during Book Expo America, held in New York City from May 31st to June 3rd, 2007.
To complete the approximately 25 minute "Women and Books 2007 National Study" go to www.WomenAndBooks2007.com
About Content Connections:
Content Connections (www.contentconnections.com) is an independent publishing
services and consulting firm. Each year they implement hundreds of surveys,
focus groups, and organize online review panels for some of the largest
publishers in the world. They are dedicated to helping authors and publishers
create content that connects.
About eWomenPublishingNetwork:
eWomenPublishingNetwork (www.ewomenpublishingnetwork.com), the number one
resource and advocate for successful, women authors, helps women who want to
become non-fiction authors write marketable books, and women who are already
authors create spin-off or additional products and promote them effectively.
Do I really have nothing meaningful to blog about anymore? Is everything I have to say relegated to baby, post partum, motherhood stuff? I have totally lost my identity as an expert in anything. But I do like my American Idol.
Here are my reviews of the first 3 weeks of the Top 24 competitions. These are my impressions a day or two after viewing the shows the first, SECOND and third weeks. Hope this isn't too confusing. Hey, it is coming from the heart...
Alaina - forgetable - SO SO SO BAD. - History
Amy - forgetable - STILL NOT GOOD - Isn't she history, too? Can't remember.
AJ - forgetable - CAN'T REMEMBER. Okay performance. History.
Blake - Who? - COOL PERFORMANCE. I'm liking this guy. Not going to win but enjoy him.
Antonella - I like her look. TOO BAD SHE SUCKS. Naked girl gets another chance. The power of nudity on the 'Net. She should go next week.
Gina - nice girl, not wowing me. BIG LUNGS, IMPRESSIVE FOR A WHITE GIRL. I like her but she has a lot of work to do to not get booted soon.
Brandon - I like him. WEAK FIRST SONG. Getting weaker all the time - too bad. He's nice looking with a smooth voice.
Chris Timberlake, I mean Justin, I mean... ENJOYED IT. I'm getting a kick out of this guy. Won't win but he's fun to watch.
Haley - can't remember her - JUST PLAIN BAD. Is she still in the game? Can't picture her.
Jordin - I like her. GREAT FOR 17. I think she'll be in the top 6 or 7 if she keeps it strong.
Chris - FUNNY! I bet he'll win because of his winning personality. STILL LIKE HIM BUT NOT AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE. Still like him and I don't think he'll be going right away, but won't win.
Jared - not sure.
HE WAS OKAY. Liked that face move. He's good, I guess, but not wowing the socks off me.
Lakisha
- Love her! LOVE HER EVEN MORE! This was a weaker performance for her -
not a Big Lakisha Day this time around. But she'll be up in the top 6.
Leslie - freako. NOT GOOD. Missed her performance but clearly she is bitter and wacko. History.
Nicholas - forgetable. NOT GOOD. Who is this one? I think he was history.
Paul - memorable because of the Asian thing but no. JUST OKAY. History.
Melinda - no - POWERFUL - SURPRISED ME. Funny Valentine rocked the house - this gal is GREAT. But I still don't think she will win. Maybe top 3? Possibly top 2?
Nicole - No. I THOUGHT HER PERFORMANCE WAS A NIGHTMARE. I've forgotten her - I think she might be history.
Phil - Nice voice. NOW I CANNOT REMEMBER WHICH ONE HE WAS. Forgotten him - is he history, too?
Rudy - Or was it Rudy that has a nice voice? Get Rudy and Phil mixed up. IF HE WAS THE LAST ONE, HE WAS OKAY BUT MAYBE THAT WAS PHIL. Is he there or history?
Sabrina - not without a nose job - GREAT JOB. Missed her performance other than on voting night but still think she can carry her own against the awesome black women.
Stephanie - good, but don't think so. GREAT WAY TO START THE SHOW BUT OTHERS BLEW HER AWAY. She'll hang in for top 8, maybe top 6. Too conservative to win it all.
Sanjaya - token Indian. COMPLETELY LAME...BORING. Get rid of this guy, will you?
Sundance - don't remember his audition but his Hollywood stint sucked. BETTER THAN HOLLYWOOD BUT JUST NOT IMPRESSED YET. He's okay. When he get's down and bluesy, great, but we don't need another Taylor Hicks who I thought was a big mistake as last season's winner anyway.
