Following Your Dreams: Nature or Nurture?

Lately, I have been watching a lot of Ted Talks and YouTube videos on how one finds their purpose and lives their fullest life. We are told at an early age in life that you can be whatever you want to be. In some ways I think this is true, but what happens when fear gets in the way of your dream. If you are like me there has been SEVERAL times where I had a lot of dreams or goals that I wanted to accomplish. I started to write when I was about 13 years old. First it was poetry, then I essay and I soon graduated to short stories and full on novels. It was a talent that I realized I had. I was someone who could tell amazing stories through words. Pretty fascinating stuff, right? When I turned 18, my dream was to be a nurse. I wanted to help people heal and get better. My mother went to school for nursing and I was inspired by her drive. It was short-lived because addiction became her focus. Then, I realized nursing wasn’t the way to go. Don’t get me wrong, I tried, I went to community college and took an anatomy and physiology class. It scared the crap out of me to learn that I had to memorize every bone in the body. That’s a lot of bones. I panicked and asked my mom for help. Not only did she know all of the bones, but she knew what bone helped what. Clearly, that was her dream and not mine. Then, later on I wanted to be a shrink. I was always told that I give great advice and that I was a trust worthy person. My mind was focused and I was a great listener. One of my professor’s  Ms. Brisel taught psychology 101 in a way that I had become fascinated and knew I was getting into the right field. So, what did I do? I got a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science. Guess, what? Til this day I STILL don’t use it. I tried to find a job in that field, without experience, no one will give me a shot.

Now, I’m about 23 years old and I feel like the biggest failure known to man. I went to college, got the degree and couldn’t find a job in the field. My mind was starting to play tricks on me telling me I’m stupid and that I wasted money on a useless degree. I believed it. So, I did what any other person would do who was trying to find their way, I went back to school. First, I majored in Master’s in Social Work. I’m like yes, I am going to be a counselor! This is my time to shine and help people. Within the middle of the first semester, I put on academic probation and was flunking out. I had never told anyone that, until now. My life as I knew was in shambles. I had been a professional student for so long that I wasn’t able to find a secure job. Oh, did I mention I had just moved to North Carolina on a wing and a prayer? I had about eight thousand dollars saved and me and my friend just left. I wasn’t getting a job in Delaware so I figured I’d try my shot somewhere else. Somewhere where I wasn’t reminded of my failures within myself, my family, the friends I thought I had, the men that disappointed in life. I needed out. When the advisor told me I was flunking out of graduate school, I didn’t want to quit. I mean, I didn’t want to keep that major, but I didn’t want to quit. There I was sitting in my new 2 bedroom town house with no furniture or food, just electric, I started to write a new book, which was my third book. I did some research on new schools and found FullSail University. It was a film school that was located in Florida and I could go online. The options for majors were very long and then it found me. What was a release for me majority of my life was sitting there, it was creative writing.  I could get my MFA in Creative Writing. It was still my Master’s degree and I was still in school! Woo hoo! The phone meeting with an enrollment counselor went great. The program was for a year and I would be finished. The following year I had my Master’s in Creative Writing. Due to money issues, I was unable to go to the graduation, but I still passed. I learned to write everything, films, games, TV Pilot, Animation. I graduated with a 3.5.

Although I got my Master’s I still wasn’t able to find a job in the field. It seemed I had to relocate to California or New York in order to write. My advisor told I didn’t have to move, but yet, I still wasn’t finding THE job I wanted. I wanted to write for a company or network. But, in all honesty, I wasn’t able to find my niche. It’s that way still. I’m so versatile in my writing that I can’t stick to one genre. But, then again, why should I? I’ve dabbled in journalism, magazines, blogs and even proposals.

Now, it’s 2018 and I’m still not writing  for a company or network. I’m still trying to find my niche. But, in between that I’ve written several books and ghost wrote a few as well. I have written many screenplays, treatments for shows and TV Pilots. It’s all in what I call (the vault), saved on my computer and USB drive. I won’t give up. My dream is to work as a writer of some sort and I will do just that. Monday I start a new job working as a customer solutions specialist. I’m going to be the best employee that I can be until it’s time to work that dream job.

As I was thinking about my topic for today I thought about something DeVon Franklin said his book that I’m reading, ” The Hollywood Commandments A Spiritual Guide To Secular Success.” He said, ” You have to be able to carry the crown, before you can wear one.” It resonated with me because he talked about who he wanted to work in entertainment and every job that he had before he got his dream job and eventually starting his own company, prepared him to be where he is now in his life.  I believe this job I’m starting on Monday will do the same as well. Now, even though I am starting a different job, I still applied for writing jobs everywhere. I am thankful for my new job and I will serve there to the best of my ability. Who knows, I may even get to be a technical writer at my company, if something else doesn’t come along. DeVon states, ” you have to realize that you must start at the bottom in order to make it to the top. ” Or one must pay their dues. Another mentor that I’m following is Evan Michael and Laura Berman Fortgang. Evan said, ” Explore your options and find out what your purpose isn’t or what you like doing. It can only happen with experience.” He talked about trying snow boarding, salsa dancing and really enjoyed it. He said you won’t know what you don’t like to do if you don’t try it. It’s okay to explore because your purpose will find you. The bible says, ” Your gift will make room for you.” I wholeheartedly believe that. Laura said, ” A lot of people have a lot of ambition based on what they don’t want to be in their life i. e  their parents, a statistic.”  Career satisfaction doesn’t come from what you do, it comes from who you get to be while doing it. The beauty is who you get to be is the real you.”  The more I read these books by DeVon Franklin and watch videos like Evan Carmichael and Laura Fortgang, I realize that I am where I am supposed to be right now and I will be a writer because it is what I want to do. Dreams are what you make them to be. Some are born with them knowing what they want to do and some are learned by life’s experience. Is your dream nature or nurture?

Can Rejections Ruin Your Confidence As A Writer?

This Is Deep…

As a writer, it is hard for others to see your work the way that you do. I mean, how many no’s can we take? J. K. Rowling took a one too many no’s before she got her yes. I tweeted Angie Thomas, ( author of The Hate You Give) and she gave me some sound advice. She said, ” All you need is that one yes.” But, it seems with the more rejections we get as a writer, the less excited we feel that our yes will come. With writing, can the rejections ruin our confidence?

Okay…

Growing up as children we all hated the word NO. So, it is only right that as an adult we still do not like the word, especially when it comes to something we think is so perfect like our writing. I will be honest, in my lifetime, I have given up on my writing abilities three times due to rejection. There was one time I was querying agents for a book and I did not understand why I was getting rejected. Once, I did my research the correct way and not listened to what other writers were telling me, I realized why. My stories were not aligned with the correct word count.

Once I realized my wrong doing, I self-published all of my books. For a while, the ,money was great, but after a while, the money stops. Then I felt like I had exhausted all possibilities to make money from this way. The more writing I was doing, the more I felt that I had to re-invent myself in some way. Now, I have a completed book that I want to be published the traditional route. The process of getting an agent is tough, but it will be worth it once I get my yes. This experience is damping my spirits just a bit, but I am not going to give up. I said to myself, ” My stories are not good and I am throwing in the towel.” Then, I had someone inbox me via social media and asked me when was my next book coming out. The message that the young lady sent me was HOPE. In that moment, I realized that I could not writing or telling stories. They were in me and it is my duty to share it with the world. Never give up, keep the confidence and the faith. You are a writer.

Want A Paid Writing Gig?

My fellow writers! I have a GEM for you! I know how we writers want to make a living writing or at least be appreciated for what we have to bring to the table, right? I came across this online paid magazine by networking right here on wordpress. I started to read other’s blogs and BOOM there it was! Yes, I am talking about this banner right here:

This is totally legit! I even signed a contract and met other writers for the magazine as well. This is a new magazine and I must say that I very excited to accept the position of a columnist! My areas of expertise will be for Bookish News and Reviews, Writer’s Life and Fashion & Beauty sections. I could not be more proud to be a part of a great magazine. If you have more questions please do hesitate to email the editor at EDITOR@CONSCIOUSTALKMAG.COM.

My Thoughts:

If you look back on my  What’s On Your Writer’s Bucket List?  back in 2013, I stated that I wanted to write for a company. I did not specify what type of company because it could be anything. I have been a contributing writer for a few magazines, but never having my own column(s). This opportunity is so exciting for me. You have no idea. I want all of my writer friends to join in on this venture with me if you are interested and have the time.

You Are Not Your Struggle

Happy Sunday!

As I was reflecting and thinking about my life,  wondering where I want to be, this topic came to mind. There are many of us who are struggling, and feel like we don’t know where to turn or what to do with our lives. Trust me, I’ve been there and I’m still there.  Struggle doesn’t last always even though we fill it might. This can be affecting your personal, work, or even relationships with friends and family. Don’t allow it to get your down. The rapper T.I states, ” Tough situations don’t last, but tough people do.”   When I read his quote in an interview, I thought, ” He is so right! I am wallowing for nothing.”

The above picture reminds me of where I am and possible a lot of you are. You notice the man with the briefcase as he’s walking. He has a goal, somewhere to be! He’s not looking backward, even through his struggles are following him. He is still pressing on, so why can’t we? What is it about us as people that focus on not being where we want to be instead of appreciating where we are headed? This made me think! Here is what I came up with.

1. Other Influences – We live in a society today where the media is booming with successful people. It is almost like successful people are throwing in our faces that we are not where we want to be. We focus on that and feel miserable. Well, not anymore! If we focus on what is important and just our goals, we will strive forward.
2. Telling Our Goals –  Before you judge me with this one, please hear me out. Now, there is nothing wrong with telling someone who has their best interest for you about your goals. But, when you expose it to everyone, everyone does not have your best interest at hear. I know what you must be thinking, ” Who cares what people think?” Actually, some of us do. We as people need gratification and praises of other people, other wise we would do what we choose without having to tell anyone. My point is everything in our lives is not for everyone. Some people want to see us fail and not succeed sadly.
3. Monitoring Others  – I used to focus on what my friends and other people that I knew was doing. I was envious of their success and them doing things that I wanted to do like travel, write for a major corporation, even down to marriage and children. Focusing on them was taking me off my square for me to be happy. Don’t allow this to happen. Be happy for your friends and associates. Your time will come. When it comes, it maybe even better than what others had going on.

It’s been said by many people that our struggle is what keeps us going. People are often stagnant when they are comfortable. Could their be truth to this? I think it depends on how bad the person wants to be their best selves. The picture above really captivated and resonated with me because the ball in chain is holding him back, but he is moving through this struggle. It’s almost as if his struggle is keeping him coming. Being able to move on says a lot about your character. Don’t sweat the small stuff and I know it maybe hard, but try no to worry about things that are out of your control. Life is too short. Work with your struggle, do not become your struggle.

Dream Deferred

At times in life, our life shifts into different directions that are out of our control. Today I experienced a shift that totally not only knocked me off my feet, but again the wall so hard that I can’t move. Trying to find a job in the writing and research field is hard enough ( hell, a job period), but finding out that you can no longer get the education to continue to try to be on the way of success is a hard blow. I found out that I can’t finish pursuing my PhD. On this blog, I like to keep it real with my readers and give it to you straight no chaser. I know that set backs and things happen. I also know that it’s not the end of the world and I will be able to finish, but right now, in this moment, I feel like someone has taken my air supply for me to breathe. Due to financial reasons, I am unable to finish school at the moment. I know that many have been where I am, and even more have experienced this same situation, but this is my current reality. The reality that I feel like I’ve failed. Parents raise their children to follow the directions, law and get a good education. I have done all of that and yet it seems like it was for nothing. Being a PhD student has taught me a lot about myself and to endure patience in the inevitable. Even though I only have 3 classes until I start writing my dissertation, I guess patience is something I still have to endure before I am able to go back to school. Ah, the irony!

Not working in a field or job that is tolerable is the worst kind of agony that I don’t wish on anymore. At first it’s like, ” Okay, I’m going to be fine. I have a savings that will hold me for a while.” Then it turns to, ” Holy shit! I’m out of money, what am I going to do?” The unthinkable of not wanting to feel even more like a failure or lame you turn to those parents who taught you how to make it on your own and tell them not only have you failed, but school is deferred. It’s something like a hard blow to the head on the way down to the floor. Now, I’ve never been hit in the head, but I can imagine the pain that comes with it. I know some of you may be thinking, ” It’s not the end of the world, you will go back when you get the funds.” I hope that does happen. Its just an initial shock. I’m still struggling to find work and I’m no longer in school. I have to take a leave of absence for a while just until things change.

This is currently how I’m feeling. Determine what the next step is for my life, if there is a next step to take. Im doing all I can by applying for jobs everywhere on a daily basis. My dream of successful writer is still in the works because I am writing or at least I will be. I opened up a manuscript that I had started and read it. It’s a love story and yet I just keep staring at the chapter 3 mark. We will not even go there in the relationship department. Granted, I want to be happy and have a successful relationship that will lead to marriage, but right now I don’t know if I’m coming or going. I just keep asking myself, ” Why do good people get the shittiest hands in life?” I understand the concept of life happening and things are never perfect, but it’s like every time you turn around it’s always something. Well, I think I’m done turning. What can happen if I stand still? Oh yea, nothing, lol. At least if I’m turning, I’m moving, right? Prayer has been my best friend and my journal has been my right hand. In due time I will have a good job and school will resume. The dream is not put off, it’s just a dream deferred.

Excerpt: I’m Your Angel By Krystol

 

Coming in August of  2017

Here is an (unedited except)  of my next project. Feel free to give feedback in the comments!

 

“ Angel! I can’t do this with you right now.” I yelled as he was driving through old Baltimore Pike.

“ Miracle, I told you that I was sorry. How many times are you going to continue to punish me?” He yelled back.

The snow was coming down hard and he was speeding. I was scared and my heart started to panic.

“ You had her pussy smell all over you!” I barked back.

“ Mamita, I don’t want us to get a divorce. I am going to get help.” He said.

“ Angel, you had the last time. Just tell me how many more did you fuck?”

“ Miracle, it was just the two times and that was it. I love you and I’m committed to you.” He retorted.

“ How are you committed to me when you fucking cheated twice. We aren’t in high school anymore, Angel.”

I started to cry.

He hated when I cried.

We stopped at a red light and I looked out the window at the Christmas lights. Christtmas was my favorite holiday of the year.

“ Look. I love you. We are not getting divorced. This marriage is going to work and it’s going to last. We had vows, Miracle.”

“ Vows that you broke. Just tell me why? Is it because I work so much?”

“ No. Baby.”

He sighed.

“ She came on to me in the office. I told her I was happily married. We had the Christmas party last year and both were too drunk to drive. She kissed me. I called her Miracle and she played along with it.”

Tears started to roll my down my eyes even harder.

“ Since you were drunk the first time, how the fuck did it happen again?”

This go round I was furious. I wanted to grab the wheel and make him feel the same pain that I am, but I couldn’t kill us.

“ Miracle. Please calm down. I don’t want your asthma to act up.” He said trying to hold my hand.

“ Fuck you and your damn asthma.” I yelled.

“ Please stop crying.” He said as tears started to stream down his eyes.

“ We don’t need this shit.” I said.

“ Who the fuck is we?”

Cars started to pile up behind us and were blowing the horn.

“ Angel, I’m pregnant!”

Before I could say anything he stared at me and his foot hit the gas on the car.

“ Angel, look out!” I screamed.

I could hear the crash, but after that it all went black.

***

Stephen King ( my favorite author)

Thoughts and Tips: I wrote this prelude with the thought of NEEDING a dramatic beginning in order to grab my readers attention. I hope I did a good job. My style of writing is to always have a problem with a solution. I like to write about things that people can relate. My love is YA then Adult or New Adult as some readers may say. The names Miracle and Angel came to me because I used to have a big crush on someone and I always called him my angel. He never knew that, but it always stuck with me. I look forward to see what Angel and Miracle are going to become. Do you?

 

Promoting My Latest Book

I had a story to tell and I was told to tell this story. So, here it goes! I noticed that my writing style was shifting about 4 years ago. I was reading more Stephen King and different psychological thriller books. Before you knew it, I was hooked! Yes, I had to try my hand  at another psychological thriller. Trapped is a book that will take you to a different place in life. We met Candice who  is a girl trying to live her life and want the best of it. Her parents  look like the part, but at home, it’s a different story. Being an only child, most kids needs attention or someone to play with. Candice had that in her best friend Damon. At home, things were SO rocky because Candice was dealing with a great deal of physical and emotional abuse that it took her emotions to a different place. Have you ever in life wanted bad things to stop so that good can come in and do damage in the best way?  Candice archives just that! Well, sort of.

I really enjoyed writing Trapped because I was able to have a different story to tell. In life we want to win so bad that we will do anything to make it happen. At times I was Candice. I know what’s it like to want love from someone and they don’t see your existence or choose to not go there for whatever reason. But, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Readers who love the written word, if you are into psychological thrillers, give this one a try.

Synopsis:

Nineteen years old, psychology major, Candice Hertz worked hard on her studies. After losing her father to cancer, Candice decides therapy would help with her loss. The therapy session turned into a nightmare. While reliving her past, Candice recalls the traumatic experience of being physically abused by her father at age twelve. Unable to deal with the memories, Danielle, another memory appears and become who Candice can’t. Danielle becomes Candice’s vehicle for revenge on those who caused her pain. Will Candice be cured from Multiple Personality Disorder or will she remain trapped with Danielle forever.

Pages: 314 pages

Copies: Paperback and Kindle

About The Author:

Krystol Diggs, the award winning published author & writer for multiple news & magazine outlets, has captured the attention of readers around the world with her thrilling & captivating stories of love, loss, and life. Krystol, of The Krystol Meth(od) has written numerous books & screenplays, including “Through Her Eyes”, her first book published in 2008, and “If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It”, a screenplay that won 2nd place in the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival Screenwriting Competition in 2014. You can find Krystol in 2015 getting her Ph.D in Educational Psychology at Walden University, highlighting as a Reporter for CNN iReport and releasing another published book titled “Trapped” and adapting a property for the producer of the film ” I DO, I DID”, Cherie Johnson.

Purchase:

https://www.amazon.com/Trapped-Krystol/dp/1503350681/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1486353848&sr=8-2&keywords=Krystol

Was 2016 A Hit or Miss?

Man oh man!

You know? This year has been a struggle, but I have learned so many lessons from it. There were more misses then hits, but that’s okay. This year has taught me so much about myself and what I deserve in life. In order to grow and move forward you must have to know where you have been to get to where you are going. That last sentence might sound like gibberish, but here me out. This year I have felt all over the place with no direction in all aspects of my life.

Writing

For 2016, you would think that I was bi-polar when it came to my writing. I was so up and down about the craft. One minute I was enthused about finishing a project and then the next I made excuses for why I wasn’t writing. I had things to say like life got in the way, or I’m focusing on school or getting a job. Don’t get me wrong, these are somewhat valid reasons, but if writing is my life I need to make time to do everyday. However, I did participate in Nano and finished. This experience was a rewarding one because I never finished Nano. I even published the book!

Blogging

Let’s face it. This blog took a major back seat this year. I feel so bad for it too. My YouTube channel was booming and I lost this blog. It is good to be back and have some perspective of what  want to do for 2017. I think it was hard to figure out what to blog about. I am not just a writer or student, but I also love to read as well. I will consider this my website more so than a blog even though I will still post. I want to sincerely apologize to all of my followers for my inconsistency.

 

Love

Shall we even go there? Man, this area of my life is so misconstrued it’s not even funny, lol. You guys know that I have tried to have relationships and it was just not successful. The last guy was a fluke, just like the ones before him. I tried online dating and it is just unsuccessful for me at the time. There are two people that I know who have met their husbands on online dating sites. what I am finding is that I am not meeting real, mature men. The ones that I am meeting are very immature, some even slow and others just not what I want. When men become men, they should put a way all childish things. If you are over 30 years old and the first thing you want to do is come to a woman’s house and not even attempt to court her, GET YOUR LIFE.  I am so over it, lol. Yet, I have hope that the right man will come around sooner rather than later.

Reading

I am so happy.  I read a lot this year and even completed my Goodreads reading challenge! My challenge had 30 books, but I surpassed that and read 50. There were so many new authors and books that I’ve read. Check it out.

 

School

This battle is an ongoing one. Classes are going well and I am passing every one that I take.   However, I have hit my max with loans. What does that mean? It means that I have no money for school. I can qualify for a GradPlus loan, but there are somethings on my credit that need to be paid before I can do it. I still have hope because I am 4 classes away from starting my dissertation. I will finish!

No matter what happens next I will continue to give it my all. I will not give up and keep the faith because I know that God will prevail. He knows my heart and my desires. I look forward to what’s ahead. Bring it on 2017! I will not have more hits then misses in the new year.

How social media can enhance or destroy your writing career

Happy Friday, Readers!

Today I wanted to talk about social media. This morning I woke up early and saw so many female’s profile pics showing tons of cleavage. This sadly, grosses me out. I mean, yea, it’s your page and you can do as you will, but what are you REALLY portraying by putting yourself out there like that? Anyway, that’s what made me have this topic for today. But, I want to discuss how it can affect your writing career. Now, as a writer, we depend on social media for everything! I’m going to talk about the Do’s and Don’t’s of social media in MY opinion. Now that I have a manager for my writing, I have and we discussed it collectively the content that goes on my page now.

First things first Facebook…

I had over 2,000 FB friends and now I’m at a whopping 870 friends. Why? Okay, I’ll tell you. My ultimate goal is to write for a company or network. I have said this before many times in my blog. It can be writing for TV, Screenwriting, even copywriting. Okay, back to my point, so, I want to be a professional as I can on my Facebook page. I delete people who don’t interact with me at all on some level. Plus, if you have content on your page that I’m not okay with, I will remove you as a friend also. It’s about putting yourself out there in a professional manner. Employers, producers, or even directors may want to look on my page and see what my content is like. I know it’s not right, but they can judge me based off of my social media.

Do’s

1. Write quality content that will engage conversation among your FB friends- For me I think this is important. Always writing good copy will help people not only learn more about you the person, but it’s great conversation also. I post about a lot of things, writing, funny stuff, and things that can be debated on.

2. Get to know other writers- I’m great with this. I have added a lot of writers (mostly screenwriters) on my page. I don’t add authors too much anymore on my page because I feel that authors need to add readers and not other authors. It’s nothing against them, but 9 times out of 10, I won’t purchase your work because I’m promoting mine, which leads to #3.

3. If you’re an author, promote your books- Yes, authors, this is your page, flaunt what you have! If you have a published book, let people know about it. Put it on your Facebook page about twice a day. Write content that has to do with your book. For example, when I was heavy into writing novels, I’d post a discussion question about something in my book such as cheating. One of my characters cheating on his spouse. I asked, ” Why do you think men cheat?” I had at least 30 comments. Once I felt the comments were enough, I them posted a link of my book with content that stated, ” See why the cheating happened in this book.”  I got a few more sales off it.

4.Interacting-  It’s great to interact with other people on your page. Ask them what movie they saw, or latest book they’ve read. I like to talk to FB friends who may not reach out often to me just to see how they are doing. Trust me, your lasting impression with them will be a good one.

5. Current Projects- I always talk about the current project that I’m working on. It not only keeps me motivated to finish it, but it lets other writers know, I’m always writing. I may motivate someone to get in gear with their projects.

6. Take advantage of the writing groups. Avoid the ones that have a lot of spam in it. You know the ones  who just post their work a million times. I honesty, don’t join groups that have over 300 people in it. If a group has 6,000 or more people in it, I know I’m not going to do well in the group. It’s too crowded and everyone spams their “businesses” in the groups looking to make money instead of interacting about the craft of writing.

Don’ts

1. Social Media Drama- Don’t involve yourself in Facebook arguments. As a writer, it not only makes you look unprofessional, but you never know who is watching you. Remain professional at all times. There may be a producer who is currently reading your script and they just to happen to type your name, phone number or email address to find your page. If they see you involved in frivolous activities, they wont’ want to work with you. Next thing you know, they emailed you passing on your script and you have no reason why. But, they looked on your Facebook page and saw you arguing over something. ( People always watch when you don’t think they are).

2. Don’t post negative content- I know you may be thinking what’s negative content? Negative content is something like bashing another writer on your page or using profanity on a post. If people read the negativity, they will think this is how you are personally. I get that sometimes people like to post their frustrations ( I used to), but as a writer of many mediums, I want to be take seriously. Everything isn’t for everyone.

3. Don’t post revealing pics- Whether you are male or female, be careful with the pictures you post. No one wants to see a body part that should indeed be covered up. It makes you look bad. As a writer, sometimes our first impressions are our only impression on social media.

4.  Don’t post unedited content- As a writer, it’s important for us to proof read our posts before we click send. I have to always remember to do this. Sometimes I’m in my zone and just click the button.

5. Don’t over promote your work- Once you promote something whether it’s a film or novel a couple times out of the day, let that be it. When you post your work too many times, it shows that you are desperate for sales, want badly to be paid attention to, and it just looks bad. It makes you look like a spammer instead of a writer. We writers don’t really like being in the lime light that much.

LinkedIn…

There isn’t many Do’s and Don’ts on Linkedin in my opinion because this is strictly a business site. It’s very different from Facebook. Most people know how to be professional on this site. But, I will say this, as a writer who joined many groups on LinkedIn, ALWAYS post discussions that have to do with the room’s name. For example, if it’s a writing room, you wouldn’t post about sports. I have done that a few times and my account was on probation.

1. Post good content- With Linkedin ALWAYS post good content. This site ANYONE can find you just by typing your name. You’re exposed to the world and can’t be private. Especially future employers, producers, directors, etc.

2. There are many executives, screenwriters, directors, and producers who are all on LinkedIn, trust me THEY will find you if they want you and look at your content. This site is VERY important for writers. But, BEWARE there are tons of scammers around. Well, on ALL social media sites, make sure you vet people. Ask your writing friends about someone, trust me, we writers we meet lots of people on social media sites, if a writer has been burned he/she will tell you.

3. Take advantage of the site-  Mingle, add people in the industry, talk to them pick their brain as to how they got started. Did you know that jobs are even on this site, and the hiring managers are too!

4. Quality Content- On your profile page make it look very professional. Post your success’s and accomplishments. People will look and admire your success thus far and they may want to work with you. If you are a screenwriter, add your loglines to your completed screenplays. I have gotten tons of script requests because of it.

5. Be kind, professional, and NEVER argue on social media. It’s best to not say anything then to keep drama going. I can’t stress this one enough.

Twitter…

This one is tough. There are MANY Do’s and Don’ts that involve twitter. But, I know you have seen celebrities show you the don’ts. Kevin Hart, Mike Epps, The Kardashians, etc.

1. Never tweet negatively back and forth.

2. Tweet good content about writing and add hash tags where appropriate.

3. You only have 140 characters, use them for good.

4. Interact with your favorite authors, actors, directors, and producers. Everyone has a twitter account nowadays and they tweet back too.

5. If you want to contact people directly like a famous director or something, they have their contact info on their page.  ( I used to talk to Syd Field ALL the time about screenwriting before he died.)

6. When it comes to followers, follow those who are doing what you want to do or better. Don’t get me wrong, I love my celebs, but there usually don’t respond back (very few do) and they don’t care about my writing career. They can’t help me anymore than the next person. Sure, they may can give you advice, but they won’t fund or take your script to their agent, etc. ( Maybe a few will if they are that nice).  But, I have heard stories of writers making GREAT deals via twitter. A few people tweeted themselves to a book deal and someone even sold their script via twitter. Hey, it does happen. Be determined and keep your eyes on the prize!  I deleted 500 followers who I don’t tweet too or have nothing to do with my career choice of writing. Now, they are some people I still follow because I support them. I follow very few authors on twitter because of the statement I mentioned above.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHAT KIND OF CONTENT DO YOU POST? LET’S TALK ABOUT IT BELOW IN THE COMMENTS