This is the part where I struggle. Sometimes I want to share something exciting (for me) I am involved in but don't want to have a self-promoting attitude. As Much-Afraid learns in Hind's Feet pride is a tricky fellow, often beautiful to the eye and charming to the ear.
On the other hand, I love hearing exciting writing news from others. It gives me a thrill to hear about an author's newest release, a great review, or an award. I love to cheer along with them.
I would love to hear from other published or unpublished authors what is your opinion on what we should share...and what we should keep quiet. How do you make that decision? How do you walk that line between pride and marketing?
Posted by
Julia M. Reffner
3 comments:
Julia, Such good questions ~ ones I'm not sure I have answers for. It really is hard not feeling like you're promoting yourself when you share, at least for me. I have to remember it is Christ I'm promoting and not just my books, always trying to edify Him in all that I post, etc. I do pray about both book writing and blogging to screen against the ME-ness that comes across.
I do stay away from mentioning awards, contests, or things like that but other authors do that and I don't blame them. It's just not for me. Since I have a hard time even blogging and sharing anything about myself at all (putting my books out there is tantamount to letting everyone read my personal diary), I tend to stay on the reserved side of sharing. YET I think blog readers only identify with us if we're transparent and real:) So it's a fine balance!
I never talk about book deals, gripes about the publishing world, or anything of that nature. Hope this helps. I know there are many opinions and mine is just a small one. I'm still learning so much. Bless you for asking:)
Thank you so much, Laura. I was really hoping you would weigh in on this :). I'm hoping I can work on these things in my attitude before getting published (then again, its a lifelong process, isn't it?).
Mary DeMuth wrote a great post recently about how much of our own selves are we willing to share. I admire her as one who has put so much out there. Really touched me. Sometimes I struggle as I feel like God calls us to be more transparent than I want to be :)
Julia ~
I wrote a post titled "Shameless or Shameful?" with nearly the same question.
I suppose we are like the moon. We should draw attention to ourselves, of varying amounts, as we shine for the Lord and reflect Him in everything.
As for how to appy that? *sigh* Just keep Him at the forefront is all I can think to do.
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