The Lonely Writer’s Companion

As anyone who’s sent me a post or message on Facebook knows, I don’t go there often, and I post even less. As for my Twitter account…well, I can’t remember the last time I logged in there (or, now that I think about it, my login). Then there’s my Google+ and LinkedIn accounts, plus SheWrites, and, and, and…

There are two reasons I don’t keep up with all this stuff. The first is that I’ve got way too many other things to do—a book that’s due in May, an editing queue that’s taller than I am (yes, you jokers, I know almost everyone is taller than I), revision of one of my own novels plus writing another, a new short story, and this column, of course. And that’s just the writing part of my life—there’s also the house, the garden, the dogs, the bills…

The second reason I don’t keep up with this stuff is that I often can’t think of anything I want to post. Another sunny day in New Mexico? Yeah, so what else is new? Dogs being silly? Of course they are—they’re dogs. Flying to see my mother? A monthly occurrence. Post any of it? Bor-ing.

And yet, when I do wander onto Facebook (Disclosure: My main reason for doing so is to check on my adult daughter when I haven’t heard from her in a few days), I see all of you—that’s right, writers: you—posting and liking and commenting and sharing (hereinafter referred to as P&L&C&S). Aren’t you writing, for heaven’s sake? Or, if you are, don’t you find your focus interrupted when you stop yourself to P&L&C&S?

I asked a number of well-published writers to share their thoughts on this. They’ll go unnamed, because I’m not quoting them verbatim. The first I asked said she considers Facebook her social life—it’s her connection to an outside world she doesn’t often get out to see. Another said it’s her platform, her way of connecting with her readers. In fact, quite a few offered variations on this second theme. But when I clicked on their connections, in an admittedly unscientific survey, I found mostly other writers, most of whom are doing precisely the same thing. Yup: P&L&C&S.

Am I missing something? Is it possible to P&L&C&S and do our real job—writing—as well? Do the frequent interruptions to your train of thought derail you? Or do you equate P&L&C&S with staring out the window—a way for whatever’s in right brain to sneak over to left and so into your manuscript? As the apparent minority who finds Facebook et al intruders rather than friends, I’d love your thoughts on this. Please join the conversation (or start one) at Authorlink’s Twitter and Facebook.