Wednesday 28 October 2009

What to do?

Is my secret life about to be disclosed?
A close family member who knows nothing about my writing "hobby" has invited me to become their friend on Facebook.
I don't use Facebook much but I have been told more than once that I should especially if I want to publicise myself as a writer.
It would cause massive offense if I didn't say yes.
Hhmmm, what to do?

10 comments:

Karen said...

Ooh heck, that's a tricky one. I'm a member, but don't go on there very often...I've been tracked down since by people I'd rather forget to be honest!!

Is it possible to join under a psuedonym? Also it's possible to "switch off" when you're online so other people don't know you're lurking.

Hmmm. Good luck!

Fiona Mackenzie. Writer said...

I have two facebook accounts. Could you do the same? Use one for your writing head and one for social?

Paula RC said...

Be true to yourself... I'm not that keen on Facebook or any other blog. I only have time for my main blog if I'm going to give my writing any quality time.

Please pick up an award from my blog for your kindness and support, Colette.

Anonymous said...

Fake facebook account?

Colette McCormick said...

I don't know about a fake facebook account Karen. I don't know enough about it to be honest.
How does that work Fia. Are you yourself on both?
You shoul always try to stay true to yourself Jarmara. Thanks for the award - I'll pop over and pick it up.
I guess that fake facebook is a bo go Anton.

Sheila Norton said...

I only started Facebooking recently Colette, but I find it quite useful for keeping in touch with friends & family - particularly friends who I don't often see. I get their snippets of news and can respond if I want, ignore them if I don't. You don't have to tell anyone on Facebook that you're a writer if you don't want to. I only have people for 'friends' who I actually KNOW, so I don't particularly use it as a writing PR tool - except perhaps for things like my book signing etc where it's handy for letting people know, and they can forward details to THEIR friends. Try it - you don't have to visit it more often than you want to! xx On the othr hand I don't think people are offended if you just say you haven't got time to start Facebook.

Anonymous said...

Here's a bit of an idea. It might take some faffing with the configuration, but...

Can you arrange your facebook privacy and friends' groups settings in such a way that only people you choose can "see" your writing-related things? I haven't fully thought this through but you could create a friends group called (say) WritingAssociates and populate that with the people you trust. Then make writing-related stuff visible only to that group.

Sorry that's a bit vague but I'm thinking out loud.

Colette McCormick said...

Thinking about it Olivia and being honest I don't know what I was worrying about. Maybe it was the shock of the invite.
Captain - I can't be faffing with anything - it always leads to disaster. Thanks for your invite BTW

Editor Cassandra said...

There's a setting that means that they're technically your friend, but they can't see any of the information you don't want them to see. it's some sort of limited listy thing. Or you can create a facebook fan page for your writing and keep everything there, that's what I do!

Also, thank you for visiting my blog on Tuesday for Cally's interview!

Cassandra

Colette McCormick said...

Not a problem Cassandra I'm sure I'll be back there sometime. Thanks for he info about Facebook but I'm coming round to the idea that what will be will be.