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The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Facebook

Facebook

Too Much Social Media?

By Steve Laubeon October 25, 2021
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The following article appeared in Forbes Magazine in June of this year: “Americans Spent On Average More Than 1,300 Hours On Social Media Last Year.” In the article it said:

Last year, driven in no small part by the pandemic, Americans spent more than an average 1,300 hours on social media according to a new study from Uswitch. Facebook led the way, where Americans spent an average 58 minutes a day on the app – or 325 hours a year.

I wrote a blog post on this topic in November 2009 when studies showed users spent 72 hours a year on Facebook. Think about that for a second. In a little over a decade the hours spent on this particular platform has quadrupled!

I don’t want to join the predictable throng saying how dangerous this is. I suspect most of you have common sense and understand that already. Facebook and other social media are a wonder of technology and allow for unique ways to connect. We have also written here about the importance of platform and specifically showing engagement with your readers is of particular importance in getting the word out about your ideas and your book.

However, not all writers are full-time. Some must juggle day jobs or home-life responsibilities around their writing. So let’s say the average writer is cramming 20 hours a week of actual writing into their craft.

Thus if you are a writer AND you “Facebook,” this would mean the average writer is spending nearly a month’s worth of work time on Facebook or other social media.

In 325 hours, a nose-to-grindstone writer could produce 50,000 words on their next work-in-progress (that is about 1/2 page per hour). A motivated person could memorize the Constitution and the Epistle to the Galatians. An avid reader could consume at least a dozen of their favorite books.

Don’t get me wrong. I know there are tremendous benefits for the author in connecting with readers via social networking. And I’m not criticizing Facebook or Facebook users. My concern is with the amount of time authors spend on something other than making their next book a masterpiece.

Social media or social networking is something being “added” to our lives. And if something is added, something is usually subtracted. My question is, “What has been subtracted?”

An entire generation is growing up with social media as something embedded in the fabric of their lives. Not an addition. The irony is that in their case, subtracting now means subtracting social media! Not adding it.

It is also true that some of us have “addictive” personalities, and the snare of social networking can become an addiction if one isn’t careful.

It is also true that if we didn’t have social media, it may be that we wouldn’t spend the extra time writing. We’d find some other distraction to avoid having to write! (Like sorting your bookshelves by color.)

Next time you enter the social networking world, time yourself. Then ask if it was beneficial to you personally, professionally, spiritually, emotionally, or otherwise. As with all things, use common sense, discipline, and moderation. I’ve heard there are software programs (article about a few linked here) that can help by literally turning off your access after a certain period of time.

It will also keep your agent or your editor from posting a comment on your feed like “What are you doing here? You are on a deadline!”

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Category: Social MediaTag: Facebook, Social Media, Time Management, Writing Craft

What the 2021 Facebook Changes Mean for Authors

By Guest Bloggeron February 22, 2021
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Thomas Umstattd, Jr. wrote this post as part of his podcast at AuthorMedia. I asked permission to make it available to you as well. This is extremely important to understand for authors and publishers trying to use Facebook as part of their marketing efforts. Check out the great work Thomas is doing to help authors navigate the labyrinth called “publishing” at AuthorMedia.com. …

Read moreWhat the 2021 Facebook Changes Mean for Authors
Category: Marketing, Social MediaTag: Facebook

Ten Commandments for Working with Your Agent

By Steve Laubeon November 9, 2020
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By request, here are my Ten Commandments for working with your agent. Break them at your own peril.

Thou shalt vent only to thine agent and never directly to thy publisher or editor.
Thou shalt not get whipped into a frenzy by the rumor mill fomented by internet loops, groups, Facebook, or blogs.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's success. Be content with thine own contract.
Thou shalt …

Read moreTen Commandments for Working with Your Agent
Category: Agency, Book Business, Get PublishedTag: Book Business, Contracts, Copyright, Facebook, Get Published, Internet Usage, Marketing

What Makes You Click?

By Steve Laubeon April 29, 2019
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Below is a visual representation of some astounding statistics regarding Internet usage. A little more than twelve years ago I wrote a chapter for a writing book on how to use the Internet for research. I re-read that article recently...umm, Google didn't even exist back then (founded in September 1998), much less Wikipedia (where the jury is still out if is a reliable source for verifiable …

Read moreWhat Makes You Click?
Category: Branding, Marketing, Pitch, Pitching, PlatformTag: Digital Books, Facebook, Internet Usage

Your Money is Your Business or Keep a Lid on How Much Money You Make

By Steve Laubeon March 5, 2018
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How much should author friends reveal to each other about contracts or other business dealings when they have business with the same publisher?

I think it is a huge mistake to reveal the amount of your advances to other authors. This is similar to finding out the salary of the co-worker in the office cubicle next to yours. When I was a retail store manager we had major problems when salaries …

Read moreYour Money is Your Business or Keep a Lid on How Much Money You Make
Category: Book Business, Career, Communication, MoneyTag: Book Business, Contracts, Facebook, Gossip, Money, rumors

Bland on Facebook?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 2, 2017
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Recently I posted a photo of roses my husband had given me. One of my daughters said, “Mommy, you know you’re desperate to be noncontroversial when you post a picture of roses.” She has also observed that part of my workday is posting “noncontroversial” updates on Facebook. Guilty as charged. But why? Why not be exciting on Facebook? Here’s why: I try to represent my faith with my words. I’m far …

Read moreBland on Facebook?
Category: Career, Marketing, Social Media, The Writing LifeTag: Facebook, Social Media, The Writing Life

Unpublished and on Social Media as an Author? Why?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 18, 2016
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It’s hard to get through a week without seeing at least one article on platform. Well, here’s yours for the week! We agents ask authors for a platform, but I have found that unpublished authors wonder how or why they should show a professional presence on social media. That question is understandable. Without a book, what is the author promoting? Promoting Yourself? Yes, you are promoting …

Read moreUnpublished and on Social Media as an Author? Why?
Category: Book Proposals, Branding, Career, Communication, Marketing, Social MediaTag: Facebook, Platform, Social Media, Twitter

Arguments to Abandon on Facebook

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 8, 2015
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The expression “choose your battles” is a good one, especially in this time when authors must use social media to engage with potential readers. In fact, at a recent author gathering, one mentioned to me that she abandoned Facebook because she was tired of negative comments. I can understand that. Life is stressful enough without reading political screeds and pointless debates during …

Read moreArguments to Abandon on Facebook
Category: Career, Communication, Platform, Social MediaTag: Facebook, Social Media

Why You Shouldn’t Be Depressed by Facebook

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 29, 2014
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Lately I’ve been seeing articles about how some people find personal status updates on Facebook and other social media depressing. Apparently people put on their best “faces” so their lives seem better than yours. Most of these articles aren’t written from a Christian perspective, so they ignore the fact that most of us ask for prayer through social media. Truly, this is a …

Read moreWhy You Shouldn’t Be Depressed by Facebook
Category: Book Business, Career, Social Media, TamelaTag: Facebook, Social Media

My Amazing Fake Day

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 24, 2013
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I've been intrigued by some blogs and articles about how Facebook makes people depressed because everyone else's lives seem so perfect. I hope that no one thinks the sum of my life is reflected in two recent Facebook posts that my uncle killed a bear on our family farm in Southern Virginia and here in Northern Virginia, we are host a family of walking stick bugs. I took great comfort in the …

Read moreMy Amazing Fake Day
Category: Communication, Craft, Humor, Social Media, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Facebook, Humor, Social Media, Twitter
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