Caren Johnson Literary Agency

by Jennifer Echols

Lots of people tell me that I seem to be everywhere on the internet. That’s funny. I don’t feel like I’m everywhere. I would love to surf the web all day, but I just can’t do it and still work my job and write my novels.

That said, I’ve been online long enough, and I’ve participated in enough writing communities, that I do have a lot of pages set up for myself in different places. And I think this is very important for writers—especially new writers whose publishers might not have huge advertising budgets set aside for them, or prepublished writers who are networking and learning.

I’m not aggressive online. I don’t go out and try to recruit new readers. I actually can’t remember the last time I friended someone on MySpace who didn’t friend me first. But whenever I go about my business in the cyberworld, I make it very easy for someone to follow my trail back to my web site, where they can find out more about my books. Build it and they will come.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve enjoyed a book and tried to look up the author online to find out more and view the backlist, only to discover that the author had no web site, no MySpace page, no nothing but perhaps a few mentions on a review site or two. In this day and age, what are these people thinking? Truth is, lots of readers will never come looking for me on the web. But if they do, I’m here with all the info they want. If I weren’t, I would be passing up an almost-free advertising opportunity.

Here’s a run-down of my little planet in cyberspace.

My web site: www.jennifer-echols.com. If it looks like I built this page myself, I do not want to hear it. You will find much prettier web sites that have been professionally designed, but you will not find a web site with easier access to pertinent information about the author’s books.

MySpace: www.myspace.com/jenniferechols. Basically I just have a description of my books here, and a link to my web site. I have blogged and run contests here before, and I do get a lot of private messages from readers. I think a lot of YA readers find messaging an author on MySpace less intimidating than sending an e-mail.

LiveJournal: jenniferechols.livejournal.com. This is where I feel most at home, posting comments about trying to be a writer and live a life at the same time. Most of my friends here are writers too. My profile page provides a description of my books and a link back to my web page.

Blogger: I’ve started two group blogs for authors in the lines I write for: www.simonpulseromanticcomedies.blogspot.com and www.mtvbooks.blogspot.com. Group blogging is a great way to make readers aware of you and your books without having to post very often. Again, my profile page tells people what I want them to know and invites them back to my web page.

FaceBook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=619987057. Unlike the other pages, I’m pretty sure you can’t view this one unless you log in. I’m new to FaceBook and I’m not sure exactly how it works yet. People keep friending me and inviting me to be a vampire. But hey, if they want to bite me, I’m available. That’s how I play this game.

Note that for all my blog profile pictures, I use my latest book cover. Every time someone sees my icon in a post or someone else’s friend space, they become more likely to pick up my book when they encounter it in a store.

Also, when I make a comment on someone else’s blog post in any of these worlds, I always log in so readers of the post will see my book cover and possibly follow me back to my own blog or my web page. Unless I forget.

See, I try not to take all this cyberstuff too seriously. Some people can post a hilarious blog every single day and still have writing energy left to expend on their real work. I am not one of these people. To me, blogging is a lot easier than writing novels, and if I’m not careful I’ll waste a lot of time on this. Like cross-stitching. I had to stop cross-stitching cold turkey. So I only post on my Blogger group blogs once per month each. I post to LiveJournal when I have something to say. And I comment on other people’s blogs because I consider them friends, even if I’ve never met them.

Last but not least, I’m participating in my publisher’s blog event through March 24 at www.pulseblogfest.com. Wow, Simon Pulse has really been advertising this event. When they asked how many questions I’d like to answer between one and seven, of course I maxed out with seven. I am no fool. I get to be on the same blog as Judy Blume! Through no special effort on my part.

That’s my laissez faire introduction to the internet. So friend me, link to me, post on my posts. I’ll get back with you…eventually. But I will get back with you.

Tell us about your experience in online communities. Are you a member of any blog groups that I haven’t mentioned here? Any there any you recommend we join or avoid?

Jennifer Echols