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The Perfect End Track for Dancing in the Purple Rain

Recently, I was conducting my normal search-term-see-what-comes-up practice for my novel Dancing in the Purple Rain. I run these random searches regularly to test both my SEO and my GEO, making sure that I have things working the way they should be for discoverability. It's also my chance to see if there is anything new being associated with my work that I need to be aware of.

Well, in my most recent search for Dancing in the Purple Rain, Google's Gemini system (its AI-powered search response) came up with the common association with Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution, but it also included links to my book page on my website.

The fact that the AI-powered response is linking to my book is a good thing, because it means that I've done something right in setting up my page information. But in the links below that, there was a hidden gem that I knew nothing about.

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Want a following? Complete your profile!

I struggle to believe that I need to write a post about this. To me, it's 100% intuitive and would seem to be a logical progression of setting up social media accounts. Yet, the number of "followers" that I'm getting through various social media sites who are…

Well, I don't know what they are because they haven't completed their profiles.

In today's post, I want to discuss the things that I look at when trying to decide if I'll "follow back" (or "accept the connection") with anyone on social media… and it all starts with the profile.

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When Writing Group Dynamics Become Toxic

Group dynamics are constantly shifting. If groups are open to new members, the way certain personalities work together needs to be considered. But life experiences can also alter the way members interact.

It's rare for any group to remain static. Most of the time, the shifts in dynamics are evolutionary and easily navigated. However, there are times when the shifts are negative, ultimately resulting in a toxic environment. And these toxic shifts are not so easily navigated.

Writing groups are not immune to these shifts. But like many groups that are made up of those pursuing similar professions (and even the amateur writing groups can be considered a professional group), how we approach any shifts in group dynamics is a measure of our character. The influence that we have over the positive nature of the shifts will also be a function of our administrative connection to the group.

In today's post, I want to explore our options when group dynamics become toxic. We'll consider when you might be in an administrative position, but we'll also look at when you are just an attendee.

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No need to post everyday

Recently, I saw an image on my social media feed that was trying to sell a set of social media templates for writers (templates supposedly designed to help writers sell books). But when I saw the image (and its caption), I had an instant negative reaction. The marketing tactic involved felt like it was trying to sow fear, insinuating that if you don't post every day, you'll never sell books.

The caption:

Every day you don't post is another day your perfect reader doesn't know your book.

My reaction based on experience:

Your perfect reader won't care if you don't post every day. They won't care if you post only once a week. In fact, they won't care if you decide to go social media dark completely. But they will care if you come across as a bot that is only trying to sell them things, ignoring the opportunity for genuine connection. They will care if you are treating them like a transaction.

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What to Focus on: Writing or Marketing?

For years, I have struggled with finding the balance between writing and marketing. If I don't do any marketing (of books or services), I find myself relying almost entirely on word of mouth… and I quickly find myself in a famine season. But if I spend my time focusing on marketing, then no fiction writing gets done… and the only writing that I seem to be able to do is nonfiction.

I often feel like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.

And depression sets in because the joy of why I'm doing this gets sucked away in the money woes.

But there are a few things that I've recently heard (via podcasts, blogs, and accountability sessions with writing buddies) that have helped me to rationalize these time management woes and helped me to realize that I've never been one to follow the models of others.

I need to stop stressing about certain things, accepting that my brain works differently to others, and focus on what really matters to me.

It's time to give myself permission to embrace a simplistic style to marketing, leaning more into word of mouth and a long-tail to the marketing game.

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