Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Why is a thriller writer creating a blog about social media?

I live in Dublin, Ireland. My 1st thriller, The Istanbul Puzzle, came out Jan 19 in the UK. In 2 months it has sold into 8 large publishers across Europe. Within the next year it will be published in 20 countries. The Istanbul Puzzle is the 1st in a new series of contemporary mystery novels. My publisher is Harper Collins. It is available (click here) with free delivery to the US of A, UK and most other countries in the world.

I am writing about social media because:

1. Social media helped me out of the slush pile.

2. I've been interested in technology for as long as I can remember.

3. I've worked for software (SaaS), hardware and IT services companies over twenty years.

I won a 3 book contract on the strength of my writing, but also because I had built a successful blog, had 5,000 Twitter followers and had created short book trailers you can still see on YouTube.

I now have 30,000+ followers including a sizable presence on Google+, Goodreads, Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

I am creating this social media blog for 2 reasons:

1. I believe social media is going to change the world in the way the PC did 20 years ago. It is forcing us to be more open as individuals and organisations. Openness is the oxygen social media needs to survive. It will also allow people and organisations opportunities that in the past have not been available.    

2. Because the craft of writing provides real techniques that can be used by people who want to succeed in social media. Building engagement, followers and creating interest in what you write are things that popular writers have always had to do if they want to succeed. I spent 12 years learning this craft.

Please follow this blog if you want to stay in touch with the progress of what will eventually become a comprehensive guide.

And all the best with your own social media. I want to see what you are doing and hear what you think of my efforts. On the day this blog was launched publicly it got 400+ viewers. It's a good start. All the best. Laurence

7 comments:

  1. I will be following your blog with interest. This ordinary person is seeking some extra ordinary spark for inspiration. Good on your perseverance and your first publication.

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    1. Thanks iMerlene. Once you are on the road there is no going off it. It may be a long journey, but the best of the fun will be the journey!

      12 years writing every day passed like a dream. Which recession is this again?

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  2. You just answered the question I had in my head. "Why is he writing a blog on social media"
    I have got my answer and some inspiration to keep on writing:)

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    1. Good luck with your writing Sneha and thanks for all your support and comments. If you want to send me something to look at my email is lpobryan@googlemail.com

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  3. Thank you for creating this blog! I too am a fan of social media. I'm a PhD student in Ireland and have an academic blog: http://americasstudies.com/ Blogging has been so helpful in connecting me with other students and academic who share my research interests. Using twitter and facebook in tandem with the blog helps me to share my work with my colleagues and those who are interested. I also write satirical poetry and since putting it online I have gotten great feedback and support from other writers and readers. This has given me confidence to keep writing and continue using social media to get my name out there and maybe someday see a book published! http://poeticsatire.wordpress.com/

    Thanks again and I look forward to reading your posts! I'm teaching a workshop on academic blogging and social media integration next week and it's blogs like this and stories like yours that help me to encourage others to use social media successfully.

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    1. Thanks Donna for your comment and the link to your wonderful blog.

      I almost got lost in it, it was that good!

      Stay in touch and all the best with your work.

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  4. Laurence, I'm guessing that readers of this blog will also be interested in tools you can use to monitor social media channels. One that I have used for a number of years to monitor RSS feeds is a website called Netvibes. I do not currently use it to monitor Twitter since I found it too distracting. Those who would like to keep a close eye on Twitter and Facebook simultaneously might be interested in a new "app" that Netvibes announced today: http://bit.ly/H2kdOB

    I do not have a financial stake in Netvibes. I pass this on just in case it is of any interest to your readers.

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