Is Now Really the Best Time Ever for Writers?
If you’re a writer, I’m sure you’ve been told that now is the best time ever for writers. I’m sure you’ve been told that we have control over our destinies like never before. And I’m also sure that sometimes, maybe a lot of the time, it doesn’t feel like it.
It feels like we’re in a war zone, with everyone fighting over the same territory, and the good guys and the bad guys often look so much alike we can’t keep track of who’s who. Most days, you’re too tired to even try.
At least that’s how it was for me.
Just over a year ago, in April 2011, the blog I ran with my co-writer Lisa Hall-Wilson got exactly 1,017 page views. We’d been blogging six months, and to think we were nowhere near the 10,000 monthly page views agents consider a solid platform was depressing. Worse, we didn’t know how to get more readers.
At a conference that month, we got a free 15-minute consult with a social media expert.
He asked me if I was on Twitter. Of course I was on Twitter. What I didn’t tell him was that I had five followers, and that two of them were relatives.
“Are you using hashtags?” he asked.
I nodded, praying he wouldn’t ask for details.
You see, I didn’t even know what a hashtag was. I didn’t know how to use Twitter. And I was scared because I didn’t know how I was going to find the time to do all the social media things I just found out I needed to do alongside blogging, and improving my craft, and finishing our novel. Oh yeah, and spending time with my husband of seven months, being the main earner for us while he waited for his permanent residency to be approved, and housebreaking and training our new puppy.
I wanted to cry. But after a lot of coffee and even more jelly beans, I sat down with Google, determined to figure out Twitter if it killed me. And I was sure it would.
I ended up on the blog of someone named Kristen Lamb, who explained what a hashtag was. She also talked about this #MyWANA thing. She called it the Love Revolution and wrote, “The Internet can be a scary place if you are doing this by yourself. Well, now you don’t have to. We are going to be your adoptive Internet family….your Twibe.”
I felt like Kristen really got it. WANA means We Are Not Alone, and it’s founded on genuine relationships rather than marketing tricks.
I read her archives, bought her books, and followed her advice, and by June 2011, our Girls With Pens blog got 2,299 monthly page views. My co-writer started reading her blog. In July, we jumped to 3,723. The WANA ways worked, and I was enjoying my time online more than ever before.
If all I could say about the WANA methods is that they work, that’d probably be enough reason for many writers to want to learn them. But for me, personally, WANA is also about more. It’s about being able to both succeed in my career and be the kind of person I want to be. Too often we’re told that we need to compete with other writers to succeed. We need to beat others in order to win. We need to do it all. That’s not the case.
In the three-part opener of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s second season, the planet Bajor is on the brink of civil war thanks to an insurgent group known as The Circle.
Benjamin Sisko, commander of the Starfleet-controlled space station orbiting Bajor, brings important information to the general of the Bajoran military about who might be supplying weapons to the insurgents. It’s helpful information the general needs in order to minimize the amount of Bajoran blood spilled.
Afterward, Sisko asks a favor. He tells the general it would mean a lot to him to have Major Kira returned to her position as the Bajoran liaison officer to the space station. (Kira was replaced against her and Sisko’s wishes a few weeks earlier.)
The general claims he can’t do anything about getting Kira reassigned back to the space station and turns away. But then he stops. “Commander Sisko, you told me about the Kressari before you asked the favor regarding Kira. You could have tried to trade that information for the favor.”
Sisko smiles. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“I’ll remember that about you.”
Sisko helped the general with no guarantee he’d get anything in return. He didn’t even try to get anything in return.
He did what he did because it was the right thing to do, and because it showed the general the kind of man he was. Later, when success or failure came down to the general believing Sisko’s word and helping him in return, Sisko’s earlier actions made all the difference.
WANA helps writers do the same thing. We give first, expecting nothing in return, because it’s the right thing to do and it’s the kind of people we want to be. And someday, when we need them, all the friends we make will be there for us.
Why am I telling you what WANA and Kristen have done for me? Well, in February of this year, I was invited to be part of a new project by Kristen and her business partner, Ingrid Schaffenburg, called WANA International.
In her launch post on Monday, Kristen explained the six problems writers face today, as well as how WANA International can help.
WANA International offers online classes for writers and other creatives in craft, technology, social media, lifestyle, and business. As much as I love conferences, they’re no longer the best way for writers to learn because of the cost and travel required. Plus, because of the way conferences have to be structured and scheduled, you often end up spending time in classes you don’t necessarily need or want, and missing out on ones you do. WANA International solves those problems by bringing live classes to you, and if you look, you’ll notice that our class times don’t conflict with each other so you’ll never have to miss one class to attend another.
I’m very honored and excited to be among the 40 instructors offering classes. My first course is a 90-minute webinar on Getting Rid of Boring Blog Titles Once and For All.
You can find the list of the other classes I’m offering in July and August here. Classes for September and beyond will post soon. If you have questions about any of my classes, send me an email at marcykennedy [at] gmail.com, or leave a comment below.
For more about WANA International, WANATribe (the new social network for creatives also launched on Monday), and why they’re desperately needed, read Kristen’s Monday post and visit the WANA International website.
And To Celebrate the Launch, We Also Have Prizes…
Anyone who signs up for a class in June can enter to win some amazing prizes donated by WANA International instructors (myself included).
In the spirit of WANA, my co-writer Lisa Hall-Wilson and I are also offering something special to our readers to celebrate the launch. We’re giving away a 1,500-word critique to two people. Each winner gets a critique of the same piece by Lisa and I (so you actually get two critiques if you win).
To enter, all you need to do is share a link to this post and then leave a comment below letting me know you’ve done so, and telling me if you think this is the best time ever to be a writer. To get your name in the hat twice, head over to Lisa’s blog and do the same! Entries close at midnight EST on Friday, June 8th.
And for those who are wondering, I do believe that this is the best time ever to be a writer 🙂
Creating the well-rounded artist « Natalie C. Markey
Jun 06, 2012 @ 10:16:15
[…] Is Now Really the Best Time Ever for Writers? By author Marcy Kennedy […]
Jun 06, 2012 @ 07:57:53
good luck in the new venture, Marcy. I know it will be a big hit.
Jun 07, 2012 @ 14:01:44
Thanks, Louise 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 08:53:07
Congrats to your new adventure, Marcy. I know you’ll be great. WANA’s method is so simple, and yet, people struggle with it. I love featuring other writers and bloggers and prefer to talk about them rather than myself. That’s why my book launch is going to be tough. I don’t want to spend an entire blog tour telling people why me and my book are awesome. I’d rather talk about eating, lol.
Giving back and supporting other writers has made a huge impact on my blog and in my writing. It’s great to have a support group of people who genuinely care about your success and struggles:)
Jun 06, 2012 @ 16:47:23
Stacy, you DO give a lot back to other writers and bloggers and when you do your book tour, we are all going to enjoy returning the favor. 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 16:52:38
I agree with Jenny. You’re such a genuinely nice person that we’re going to want to hear all about you and your book when you launch, and I’m sure that you’ll find a creative way to also make your blog tour about giving.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 08:59:46
I have been feeling the same way about this. It seems like the best time to be a writer was in the 90s. Right now seems like the in-between time and things aren’t yet figured out. I keep telling myself that the good thing about not being published yet is that things will hopefully be more figured out by the time I get there. 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 16:54:18
You also have the advantage of being on the right track in the way you’re building your platform. You’re building relationships so that it won’t matter what changes about publishing. When you get to that point, whatever your options are, whatever route you take, you’re going to have friends who are super excited and telling everyone about your book.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 10:08:31
Marcy, I am sure you are going to be a fantastic instructor. WANA is very lucky to have you!
“We give first, expecting nothing in return, because it’s the right thing to do and it’s the kind of people we want to be.”
That’s always been my feeling – it’s not about reciprocity, it’s about doing good to do good. 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 22:52:13
I think this is why you and I often see things alike 🙂 It’s a good motto not only for writing but also for life 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 10:12:02
Very nice post, Marcy. You’ve had some amazing success with the WANA Way. I believe we all have. Kristen’s methods work. And what I like to spend my time on is: Do What Works!!
Good luck with the new classes!!
Jun 06, 2012 @ 22:55:22
Exactly! So many of us are basically walking advertisements for the WANA way because it really does work.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 10:31:13
I wish you the best Marcy! 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 22:55:35
Thanks 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 10:34:25
What a success story you and Lisa are, Marcy! Chills are still lingering on my arms. 🙂
I love your point about giving without anticipated gain in return. That’s such a key, I believe, in blogging and in life.
I feel blessed to be sharing the WANA experience with you. Your courses sound AWESOME!
Jun 06, 2012 @ 20:04:35
Exactly.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 22:56:28
Thanks August! I’m so excited to be walking this new path with you as well 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 10:41:11
Marcy, I too believe its a great time to be a writer. The best ever…and the hardest and most time consuming too. 🙂 Its about building one connection at a time and reaching one reader at a time too!
Jun 06, 2012 @ 23:01:10
I think you just said it perfectly. Before there was a large amount of luck involved, but now hard work and perseverance will eventually win out.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 10:42:37
p.s. I tweeted! Great prize to win!
Donna Galanti @DonnaGalanti
Is Now Really the Best Time Ever for Writers? – http://bit.ly/KQAbvA via @MarcyKennedy
Jun 06, 2012 @ 13:20:12
So excited for you and this new venture. You’ll be great. I love being part of the WANA revolution.
Good Luck!!
Jun 06, 2012 @ 23:09:59
Thanks! I’m so glad we met through Kristen’s blogging class. I think we had absolutely the best group 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 15:16:34
Amazing…you see, I opened an email from a writer friend this morning, and there was an invite to this new organization. I had no idea that you were involved!
I’ll be checking out more on the site. Hmmm. I think I need to take the twitter class, as I don’t even have a twitter account! Ha! Much success to you all – and I hope to learn from your experiences.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 23:08:01
If you’re not yet on Twitter, the Twitter course would actually be perfect for you. It’d remove the learning curve, and give you the support of your classmates to get your started 🙂
WANATribe is going to be really great I think because it’s a safe place for creatives to hang out together with people who are like us. One of the best features is the “main chat” where it’s basically like a big cocktail party with everyone mingling and chatting.
Make sure you send me a friend request once you join!
Jun 06, 2012 @ 16:26:28
Love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing it. 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 23:08:21
Thanks for stopping by, Bonnie 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 16:48:29
Are you and Lisa doing what I’m doing and thinking, “Pinch me, because this is SO DANG FUN??!”
Jun 06, 2012 @ 23:09:10
Totally. And there’s a happy dance thrown in for good measure. If I had a tail, I’d be wagging it 🙂
Jun 06, 2012 @ 18:28:39
Oh, Marcy! Maybe there is a reason I missed the deadline for the class I was planning on signing up for this month. I really need help with titles. Hmm. And I need to get more active in the tribe. Time. Ugh. I am trying to work with a young one sitting next to me going crazy with kitty videos on the iPad. That’s not distracting. LOL.
Jun 07, 2012 @ 14:03:51
My activity there has been slow as well right now since I’m adding it in when I’m able.
Kitty videos – how would that be distracting at all? 😉 Moms are seriously superwomen.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 19:01:32
It’s been a year since I read WANA, and 8 months since I took the class (for the second time). I’ve made some wonderful friends there, and yet… I still haven’t figured out how to forge those relationships in the scant amount of time I have each day/week. Hope your class goes well – I know your students will thank you!
Jun 07, 2012 @ 14:05:10
Thanks, Jennette 🙂 When I do my Twitter class in August, one of the things I’m going to try to do is make sure I give tips specifically for people who might only have 10-15 minutes a day for Twitter.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 20:01:30
What an exciting time this is. Marcy, you’ll be a great instructor and I’m on WANAint everyday! What a great place.,
Jun 06, 2012 @ 20:03:30
P.S. forgot to say, I shared a link too.
Jun 07, 2012 @ 14:05:58
Thanks 🙂 Have you tried the main chat? I love that everyone who’s on can just mix and mingle there.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 21:11:16
I agree, now is the best time for writers. Anyone can put their work out and by their own efforts succeed. Compared to the previous two thousand plus years it’s brilliant.
Good luck with the classes.
Cheers!
Jun 07, 2012 @ 19:05:56
I’ve never liked situations where there’s a lot of luck involved. I’ve always preferred activities where if you work hard, you reap the rewards. I think that previously a lot of a writer’s success (or lack thereof) depended on luck, but now we have a lot more control, and hard work and perseverance will eventually get us where we want to be.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 21:35:18
How very cool you’ll be one of the instructors! I will definitely check that out. I would have no clue how to go about building a platform if it weren’t for Kristen Lamb and WANA. The connections and support I’ve found there have been simply incredible! Still finding my way through the techno-jungle, but I find it’s not nearly as scary as I thought it was, just a year ago. While I’m not as consistent as I want to be, I’m getting better. I’m also getting the hang of writing within my topics and my hits are growing. Yay! Not too bad for someone who couldn’t imagine blogging, let alone the mysteries of Twitter just over a year ago. Way to go, Marcy! I’m sure you will rock it as an instructor!
Jun 07, 2012 @ 19:24:09
I’m really excited about being one of the instructors. I love to teach, and WANA International allows me to use the experience I gained the hard way to help ease the learning curve for others.
Jun 06, 2012 @ 22:55:36
Hi Marcy! I’m excited for you and your foray into WANA International. Hopefully, I’ll be joining you later on this year. But I have to finish my WIP first. You know, so I reslly sound like I really know what I’m talking about! 😉 May your classes be full!
Jun 07, 2012 @ 19:25:09
I can’t wait to hear what your classes will be about 🙂 Part of what makes WANA International so great is the great people I’m taking part in this with.
We Are Not Alone . . . Are You? | Marcy Kennedy & Lisa Hall-Wilson
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Update #15: Time to Query! « Rebecca Enzor
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Jun 07, 2012 @ 16:35:11
I’m just so excited about this new venture, especially the classes. It’s such a great resource. Congrats, Marcy!
Jun 07, 2012 @ 19:26:33
I got to watch the classes slowly being added to the WANA International site before it went live, and I got more excited with every class that went up because of how it’s going to serve writers and other creatives. This is something that wouldn’t have been possible for writers 15 years ago.
Jun 07, 2012 @ 18:45:27
Congrats on becoming an instructor 🙂 All the classes sound so useful.
One idea for the Twitter class is brainstorming concrete Tweet ideas. I still suck at being conversational at Twitter. I have my 100 words to mine but I haven’t been able to turn them into concrete Tweets.
I Tweeted a link to this post but realized after posting that it lacked a hashtag. Meh. Late night posting is a bad habit of mine.
Jun 07, 2012 @ 19:31:07
I’ll definitely be walking people through how to start and join in conversations.
No worries about forgetting the hashtag. I think we’ve all done it 🙂
Jun 08, 2012 @ 11:04:18
Marcy, I am so looking forward to your classes, and Jenny’s, and Kristen’s and, well, shoot, everybody’s!
My first reaction to your post was that earlier times were better for writers, but as I read, I realized you are right. I have met so many wonderful, supportive, writers–how could this not be the best time?
I posted your link on my Facebook page, and I think I might be the writer friend that Nadja Notariani mentions above–I did send her the invitation, but someone else might have beaten me to it! I definitely want to spread the love!
Jun 08, 2012 @ 11:55:39
I know you already saw my post, but I wanted to put it here for the contest 🙂 http://rebeccaenzor.com/2012/06/07/update-15-time-to-query/
Jun 10, 2012 @ 10:30:57
I kept seeing “WANA” everywhere on Twitter & wasn’t sure what it meant, so thank you for clearing up this little mystery for me! I’m heading over to all the links you supplied herein to check everything out. 🙂