Countdown to Publication - Are you the right type? 9 days (or 20 days)

Greetings from the girl who officially has had one two three pub dates.

This week, there has been a resurgence of articles about authors lauding their friends and reviewers not being critical enough because of connections via social media. Of course, writers everywhere struggled with this after reading — we all have war stories that speak of the contrary. Many saw the tweet from an author who promised she would write a scathing review of another's book. There's not a person I know that can't point to their scraped knees and bruised egos, disillusionments and perceived betrayals. But as my friend J. said today, and I agreed, there are just as many stories of amazing and wonderful things happening because of our connections to each other. Community is a good thing. Support is invaluable. Things seem to balance out eventually.

Everything has its season.

While no one knows where this new direction in publishing will lead us, here is what we do know after a few years of analyzing and dissecting: 1. You're required to do a job that you haven't been trained for—promotion. 2. It requires a completely different skill set than writing a book. 3. If you master the skill set or are born with it, you are rewarded in many ways. 4. Though you have to do it, it may not come easy. 5. If you're not careful, it can make you feel like you'll never succeed in this environment.

Why? Part of the answer might lie in the secret sauce. What is in the secret sauce? Just ask an ENFJ.

I'm talking about the Myers—Briggs Scores as they relate to writers in social media.

I recently took the test (I'm on the E-I border, and am not the lauded ENFJ) and did some quick research. Here's what I found: ENFJ's are good at everything: FB, Twitter, etc. ESFPs are better at Facebook than Twitter. And then, there is my beloved LinkedIn (everyone knows why they're there — I like the straightforward approach to engagement). It's affirming to be able to quantify this on some level. If spinning PR pirouettes across the online tightrope doesn't come naturally and even makes you cringe at times, it shouldn't make you suspect or mean you're inept. You just might be better suited for another forum.

Does the current environment reward writers with a specific personality type? Is this a passing trend? Will there be a revolt and will the ISTJs inherit the earth? Will there come a day when you can once more sink into the quiet of your work, delighting in the muse and in the process of creation and still hope to be read?

We all know that the support of community and connection feels good, pure and simple. Reaching out to readers and enjoying feedback is inarguably helpful. But I wonder — five years ago, no one would have believed that authors would be working to create tweets of 140 words or less. What might a decade hold? Two decades? One day, scientists predict, telepathic communication will be our main gateway. Then the quiet ones, the ISTJs will be in demand because they appear to be masters of the pure pursuit of craft. They do their work under the radar, allow others to concentrate, and perhaps they've developed super focusing powers in the absence of noise.

The trick, I think, is to figure out where your personality strengths are and then use those in aptly matched forums. If you're not an "E", but can hire an "E" to supplement your efforts, do so. That way, you get to do what you really love, what you're good at, and perfect your own secret sauce.

Warmly,

Ilie

Ilie Ruby is the author of The Salt God's Daughter and The Language of Trees, as well as two children's books. She has written for the New York Times and CNN, and lives in Boston.

Tags: #coundown, ilie-ruby, salt-gods-daughter

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Comment by Annette Hanham on August 22, 2012 at 3:23pm: Coming from an entirely different perspective... I would like to share that when I was nearing the end of writing my book 'Dry Your Tears' (which is currently in the hands of the designer), I had a major 'writer's block' which I couldn't seem to push past. I finally had a session with a woman who channels an Ascended Master (from the realms of Spirit) and learnt how in a previous life-time ( actually in several) I had lost my life because of the controversial material I had written and sometimes published from my own printing press! I mention this becasue I believe many of us have unconscious, deep-seated fears about speaking out, owing to many life-times of persecution. To write is one thing, to stand in your power and speak out through publishing is quite another! No wonder we get the wobbles when it comes to self-promotion but at least we don't have to worry about losing our head these days!

Comment by Brie Gyncild on August 20, 2012 at 2:16pm: As an ENFJ, I found this post very encouraging. :) But I also want to let introverts know that not all extroverts have it easy. I'm off-the-charts E, but I loathe self-promotion and I, too, am anxious whenever I post a comment on a blog or website. As an extrovert, I do feel the need to share my every thought, but I thrive on hearing more from *other people* and am stymied when in a position that requires me to impress someone with what I've accomplished or what I'm capable of. I prefer to let my work, whether paid or volunteer, speak for itself. So I'm not looking forward to promoting books. (Thus far, I've mostly written work-for-hire projects, so I'm not on the hook to promote them. I prefer that.) And I greatly admire those who can both write great things and also manage to get the word out about them.

Comment by Donna Ashby Moore on August 19, 2012 at 3:25pm: I'm not a marketing major. I simply write. I love to write. But now, it appears, we who are technology-challenged, must learn social media in order to sell our work, not only learn, we must exceed in navigating and promotion. It isn't fair. One's work ought to earn the contract, not how many FB fans or T followers a writer collects.

Comment by Margaret Brown on August 19, 2012 at 5:27am: Ilie, you have presented some very good information. I am new to She Writes and want to let the community know that I am eager to receive queries from She Writes members regarding potential editorial coverage in Shelf Unbound book review magazine. Introverts welcome!

Comment by Kathryn Meyer Griffith on August 17, 2012 at 10:39am: Ilie,

my original comment was actually addressed to anyone here who hates and dreads the marketing side of pushing our books, because, let's face it, most writers (myself included...or at least in the beginning...over the years I've slowly become less afraid of mingling with the masses and promoting...advanced age, I imagine...you stop being afraid of a lot of things as you get older - believe me) are introverts. Then I made a direct reply to Deb and Carol at the end of it. Ilie, I, too, used to be sooo afraid of public speaking/promoting/blowing my own horn, so to speak, for my writing...but as 40 years clicked by and my books continued to be born (with many birthing pains, rejections, triumphs and experiences) I have grown bolder. I have gone through so much as a writer. I feel, finally, I have the right to call myself a writer and to brag. And the social media of today is perfect for that. Ha, only took me 4 decades. I'm fairly new to this forum, but am really enjoying it. Thank you for your series of posts! Kathryn Meyer Griffith www.myspace.com/kathrynmeyergriffith www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith rdgriff@htc.net

Comment by Claude Nougat on August 17, 2012 at 2:40am: Fascinating question and love the comments too! I note most comments are from self-declared introverts (of which I'm one too!). Could it be that writing fiction is essentially an introvert's favorite activity? Because book promotion online and in the physical world is surely not a writer's favorite activity!!

Comment by Ilie Ruby on August 16, 2012 at 10:24pm: Sandra, that is a brilliant idea! Myers-Briggs match.com. So interesting that you brought that up because I was just talking to a blogger friend who I actually met on Twitter of all places, because I tweet at night (when no one is there and it's so nice and quiet LOL). Anyway, we met a couple of years ago -- we're going to do some work together. Timely.

Comment by Ilie Ruby on August 16, 2012 at 10:21pm: Kathryn,who was this addressed to?

Comment by Carole Avila on August 16, 2012 at 9:30pm: Kathryn Meyer Griffith,

You're the third published author I've read within the week who recommended going the Amazon self-publishing route because e-books have proven more successful than not with the right promotion and marketing. I'm a marketing major, a degree I've chosen to pursue to help in my writing career. If the publisher looking at my work right now doesn't bite, Amazon is my next stop. Thank you, and to Ilie Ruby and all who replied to her post, sharing valuable insight and information.

Comment by Sandra Suminski on August 16, 2012 at 9:11pm: VERY interesting post. I'm an INFP and am only recently crawling out from under my rock. It's ok for the moment but deep down I wonder if I can sustain it, and I know to be successful in the current environment one has to. I'm very intrigued by the notion of complementary qualities. Wouldn't it be great if everyone wore a badge and you could go shopping for your deficit quality? Of course I'm mostly kidding, and those complementary partnerships most often emerge organically, but isn't a Myers-Briggs match.com kind of scenario intriguing to think about?