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Screenshot of “Garys Social Media Count” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I wrote a post, Do You Use Social Media, for authors on the blog 4RV Reading, Writing, & Art News to which I contribute articles. I posted a definition of social media and mentioned network media.
That definition is Social Media is any online form of communicating, which individuals employ; including blogs, and microblogs like Twitter. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ are social networking sites, of which there are many, and are a demarcation to “industrial media,” refering to radio, Television, and film produced by professionals in these areas of media.
With many large corporations adopting social media, many small businesses wonder how they can compete on social media sites. Social media is an equal opportunity site; anyone from entrepreneur to small business can have the same presence as anyone else.
The problem with some accounts is that they spend time selling, and not building relationships. It’s called Social Media because it’s about being social, not a sales pitch site.
Who are you on social media? This is where your bio comes into play. Without a complete bio, or posts you’re not likely to get many followers, including me.
Social media is about engagement. People must get to know and trust any brand or individual before they are willing to purchase any product or service from you.
Social media sites are a place to share information your followers can use and share with their followers if it’s relevant to them.
When using micro-blogs where characters and spaces are limited, it doesn’t mean you should use internet language rather than using proper language. If you post on Twitter, you can use a program such as Twitlonger, which allows you to post more than 140 characters when using Twitter.
Using the Web is not a place to be lazy when writing. It can be a place to work on improving your writing. Your written communication skills are in front of the world and speak about the author.
Social Media and Networking sites are one way of many for people to learn about what you have to offer by being engaging and personable by sharing information. The main idea is to be available to help people and create relationships because word-of-mouth is still the best form of marketing, which every business, entrepreneur, and author needs to succeed.
Robert Medak
Freelance Writer, Blogger, Editor, Proofreader, Reviewer, Marketer
Find me at http://xeeme.com/RobertMedak
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Why am I calling this post Writing 101?
I am about to tell you, but first I want to add my favorite quote by Mark Twain, “The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is that you really want to say.” Working as a freelance writer, Twain’s quote speaks to me as no other quote does.
Think about what the quote says. It tells me that I need to get the words down, then edit later to make the copy (Matter for printing, exclusive of graphics) that I post, ghostwrite, or article I write. I also follow three rules when I edit,
- Is it cohesive
- Is it coherent
- Is it readable
This may sound simplistic, but try writing this way. You will find that it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Readable copy is something written that will engage the reader, not just something to kill time, but truly engage the reader.
How do you engage the reader?
You engage the reader by delivering on the promise of the headline and subtitle. There must be relevant information that engages and informs the read about what the headline says if you are writing and article, and the premise of a book is to deliver according to the title.
If you’re writing an article or blog post, it should be the best work you can do. Any information you offer to your reader is something they have searched for, give it to them from an objective standpoint unless there is a reason to offer an opinion, like a review. When writing a product review, you have to give both the pros and cons. If doing a book review there are other standards, never give the story away, but do give an honest objective review of the style, story, and characters.
I am asked, “How do you prepare for writing?” This has been my answer.
- Be prepared
- Get the words down
- Have someone you trust read it and offer suggestions
- Edit it, or have an editor do it
- Always strive to improve your writing
- Never settle for less than your best
Robert Medak
Freelance Writer/Editor/Reviewer/Marketer
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If writing were only as easy as many people think it is. This post is about Tone.
What is Tone in writing?
You will probably get as many different answers as the number of writers you ask.
Tone in writing changes with the writing.
- Tone can be conversational, meaning as though you are talking to a friend or loved one.
- Tone can be informative.
- Tone can be educational.
- Tone can be a narrative.
Your choice of tone depends on what you wish to convey as you work on a specific project, just as style and word choice will alter if you are writing a report opposed to a story.
Tone becomes more about attitude and experience when writing for an audience. If you attend church, is your attitude the same in church as it is outside of church? I think not.
In the normal usage of language most people use contractions, (i.e. can’t, isn’t…etc.), meaning less formal language. Dialogue in stories should reflect the language used by the characters. In a period piece, the language might be more formal.
Tone also applies to the audience you’re writing for. You would not use the same tone for clergy as you would business writing.
There are many types of tone. I have listed some above but there are also humorous, envious, pessimistic, and optimistic. It is up to the writer to choice tone and the audience they are writing for. The audience does play a part in the tone chosen by the writer.
The main thing a writer needs to do is check their ego at the door and write more for themselves.
If you don’t write for yourself first, then whom are you writing for? I mean, if you enjoy science fiction, would you write a romance novel. This is writing for yourself is about, writing what you like. If your writing is well conceived; and well written your audience will find you.
Think about what you write, and why you’re writing it.
Part 5 will be about Tense.
Robert Medak
Freelance Writer/Editor/Reviewer
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