Writers Beware:
Don’t Burn Digital Bridges

When my family goes out of town, I pick one project to tackle while they’re gone - not because I miss them but because it is nice to complete a project without a peanut gallery hovering nearby with advice and commentary.

Last week, I had the house to myself and boxes of books which hadn’t been unpacked since we moved in five years ago. I spent the better part of a day sifting through old college textbooks and writing guides. I pulled out an almost antique version of Writer’s Market and was surprised just how much had changed in the world of writing in less than two decades.

The digital age has made the business world of writing so much more readily accessible to the average writer. Queries are emailed (with rejections and acceptances arriving in minutes sometimes). Manuscript requests are uploaded via PDF or Word file, eliminating the cost of mailing heavy stacks of paper across the country. And with the explosion of social networking, agents, editors and writers can now interact in a much less formal atmosphere.

But writer beware. This has an upside and a down side.

Here are five tips to help you benefit from the digital age without burning any bridges:

TWITTER IS GREAT FOR NETWORKING, NOT SPAMMING

Twitter is on the cutting edge of the social networking frontier, and the opportunity to follow editors and agents and understand the business of writing is more accessible than ever before. Following an agent’s feed can help a writer get to know a little more about that agent. What a great advantage that knowledge can be when it comes time to write a query letter. Mentioning a previous tweet might garner a second look on your particular message.

But Twitter can also be a quick bridge-burner if we let down our guard and fail to respect boundaries. Spamming an agent or editor with direct messages or constant replies to their tweets will definitely make a writer stand out in the crowd, but it will also likely end with the writer being blocked from that agent or editor. Such behavior could even burn a bridge for future projects as well. As the saying goes, “Tweet others as you would like to be Tweeted.”

FOREGO OFF-COLOR JOKES, POLITICAL RANTS ON FACEBOOK AND BLOGS

With the advent of Blogger, Wordpress, and a multitude of other free blogging websites, everyone and their dog has their own personal blog (yes, even a few dogs). In fact, I have four blogs which address very specific niches of interest. Blogs are free, easy to manage, and a great way to create a platform for a particular subject or genre.

This past election when emotions were running high, several of my writer friends and I discussed the minefield that awaited the writer who chose to delve into political territory on their personal blog. The consensus was unanimous - free speech is well and good, but circumspect writing which avoids polarizing responses is still the best approach for a writer trying to get published. So save the political speeches, dirty jokes, and personal details which might make others uneasy for Thanksgiving Dinner and wedding receptions. Put your best foot forward, remembering that whatever we write online is in perpetuity thanks to archived internet searches.

MAKE USE OF FREE EXPERT ADVICE ON FORUMS, BUT DON’T GET DEFENSIVE

A new visitor to a writing forum I moderate recently asked the advice of members. He asked a valid, although obviously newbie, question. The outpouring of advice was direct and helpful. But innstead of thanking the members for their time and advice, our new visitor proceeded to use foul language and tell those members exactly why they weren’t anyone special at all. He left angry (and banned from the site thanks to his use of strong language) - but he also left a sour taste with any who tried to help him. Should he have needed an answer to another question in the future, he likely would not find a friendly audience on that particular forum.

Sometimes advice feels harsh, but it often is what we really need to hear. Of course, most forums allow members to remain anonymous, so all advice should be taken with a grain of salt. In many instances, a bit of research will help us decide if the advice of a particular forum member is indeed backed up with experience. If it is, take heed. It’s probably worth a second look - whether it feels good or not. And keep the angry replies in the trash bin. You may just need to ask a new question in the future - so why burn a bridge over a momentary surge of hurt feelings?

BLOG, TWITTER, FACEBOOK - A MEANS TO AN END, NOT THE END PRODUCT

More and more, publishers and agents are making their selection of new clients not only by the quality of the query and writing but also by the depth and strength of the writer’s platform and ability to self-promote. It’s a tough game, and only the heartiest are worth a gamble - so make sure you are among the heartiest. Build up a portfolio on your blog, generate a following on Facebook, and use Twitter to network with others in the writing industry. But just as importantly, remember that these are tools for your end product - the published piece that brings in pay. Don’t get lost in the world of social networking until you’ve spent all of your time Tweeting and commenting on photos with nary a completed project to submit to an editor or agent. Keep your eye on the prize - networking is a tool, so use it wisely.

EVEN ONLINE, IT’S PUBLISHED: SO EDIT, EDIT, EDIT

A friend who is an editor recently shared her experience with an intern that offers a good lesson for all of us. This particular intern was earnest. With constant assurances regarding her commitment, zeal, and love for writing, she wriggled her way into the good graces of my friend, only to blow all of that credibility when her Facebook profile revealed posts with less than stellar grammar or spelling. Sure she was off the clock, and yes, Facebook is for friends to socialize. But it is vital for everyone to remember that if you are going to add anyone who may one day be in the position of judging your work, you should also make sure that your posts - even short comments - are edited and showcase your brilliant use of the English language. I personally love to cut it up with my friends on Facebook, but in the back of my mind, I always remember that agents, editors and other writers are also reading those posts.

I recently wrote a guest blog for Editor Unleashed about why I think it is a great time to be a writer, and I firmly believe that being part of the digital age is one of those reasons. We have more access, more resources, and more markets than ever. And with a bit of wisdom and restraint, we can use our new digital tools to propel us to heights never possible before.

Lisa Abeyta is an award-winning writer, columnist and writing teacher. Having sold hundreds of articles to national and local publications, she also provides copywriting, web-copy, and other writing services to private and corporate clients. She is active in several online writing communities, moderating forums and providing guest articles on freelance writing. Lisa also serves as a guest lecturer, speaker and teaches writing to both adults and students.

Join Lisa in a live 4-Wk Webinar to learn to hone your niche and find the right market for your work, write a good query letter, polish your work and follow up on submission to land the job! How to Get Paid for Your Nonfiction Writing: A Beginner's Workshop: July 25, 2009 through August 8, 2009 at 10:00am www.writerseducation.com