How I learned Friends are better than Marketing and Money
- May 14, 2014
- 2 min read
When I first announced on Twitter that I was going to edit an anthology called Amazing Adventure Stories, I didn’t really know what I would get, or who I would find. I thought an anthology would be a great way to cross-market my John Webster stories and novels. I would be able to tap into other writer’s followers and introduce them to my writing. I thought I was so clever! What I found was more valuable than a great marketing platform: I found an incredible bunch of writers.
I was reminded the other day by a director friend about how I used to be very resistant to social media. In fact, he was the one who got me on Facebook. I wanted to be that cool reclusive writer like J.D. Salinger or Thomas Pynchon. I didn’t want to worry about all that marketing and promotional stuff. I thought my writing would be able to sell itself. I was not so clever back then. I didn’t want to follow the masses online, flogging my wares. Luckily, my friend persuaded me this was a foolish notion and, as most of you can attest from the amount of time I spend online, I am very active on social media.
The biggest reason I’m online is I’ve found a great community of fellow writers, people who I didn’t know very well even a year ago, yet now find myself confiding in and getting advice from. I love how close we all are, how we go through the same triumphs and troubles. They are people I can rely on.
Not long ago I was having a bad day and I reached out to a writer who I met while putting together the anthology. She was very patient and listened and gave some great suggestions. I was so thankful to have her as a friend! Then days after she was having a bad day and I liked to think I made her day a little bit better.
I created a Facebook group just for the authors in the anthology and I'm surprised at how everybody has become close, almost like a family. It's really amazing to see and we're already talking about a second anthology!
I suppose what I’m saying is I don’t care if the only person who buys this anthology is my mother, I have made invaluable connections and friendships along the way. And I’m not talking about industry connections or people who will help me reach James Patterson-type success. No, these merry bunch of writers are people who I can have a coffee with (or a beer) and they will be friends after we’ve finished marketing the anthology. And really, isn’t that the most important thing in life?
Written by Joel Mark Harris
I am a writer, journalist, and film producer, please check out my latest book Shame the Devil here
Comments