Dan Blank, Author at WeGrowMedia - Dan Blank

We Need to Preserve the Stories We Create in Social Media

Social media has turned us all into storytellers. We create them one Tweet, one status update, one Flickr upload at a time, sometimes not even realizing the stories we are crafting.

I love this new form of storytelling, but I am concerned that these stories are too fragmented, too dispersed, and too fragile.

For example, last year I shared a story of how I unearthed a town’s history by posting photos to Facebook, and then aggregating the comments people shared. You can read it here. This is one example, the photo I took of a faceless abandoned house that I’ve driven past for most of my life:
A white house in Howell, New Jersey

And these were some comments people shared on Facebook:

“Rosie dean owned it before all of you were born it was her house and ice cream place.”

Another person added:

“My dad owned a gas station on the other side of the street in the 60s and this house used to be a hamburger place. Do you remember the 19 cent hamburger sign, it was up until the late 70′s, early 80′s, I think. I remember my dad telling me that the owner’s wife lived there until she died and shortly after her death, the sign came down.”

My concern is this: what happens in 3 years or 8 years when Facebook makes a business decision that changes these photos or their comments. What happens when someone who commented deletes their account, or passes away. What happens if I move on from Facebook, and let these photos and comments languish?

The amazing ways that social media allowed us to share, to create stories, is also the same thing that endangers them. It’s very easy to create, but too easy to forget.

On the one hand amazed and in awe at what is being created on YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and Twitter. Not just the repository of content, but the social interaction. It’s truly incredible, and it is creating stories in a new way.

So my question is: how do we preserve these stories, these interactions, this content. It is a unique thing, and it is ephemeral the way it is currently structured.

My friend Carrie shared the most incredible link with me the other day. It was to a short online documentary, at the crossroads of everything I am talking about here.

It is a documentary of a town in Canada. The Wikipedia entry recaps it best:

“The town of Pine Point was built by [a] mining company, and when the mine closed the town was demolished and abandoned.”

This is the town in its heyday:
Pinepoint
Photo courtesy of Laura Kenig and Richard Cloutier

This film is at the crossroads of history, of sharing online, and of preserving it. This is the video:

Welcome to Pine Point.

The documentary tells the story of this town – through photos, interviews, videos. How it came to be, what it was like to live there, and how it came to its demise. Literally, the town was torn down, and left as a barren wasteland with no signs of its previous existence except for some crumbling pavement. Wiped from the planet.

This film came about when it was discovered that a former town resident, Richard Cloutier, had created a website where he was cataloging the world that was Pine Point. He was collecting and sharing photos, stories and other updates. It is called Pine Point Revisited.

If you go to the “About” page of the documentary website, it says:

“This was supposed to be a book.”

But in this case, a book is not a living breathing history that can still be in the process of being created. A book is a stagnant record. But the website is something that is still becoming.

This is ongoing, contributed to by many people sharing photos, stories, videos and curated by anyone who cares enough to spend the time. Here are some of those photos:

Pinepoint
Photos courtesy of Al Gordy, Brian Green, Marisa Ma, Marius Mellaart and Richard Cloutier

We need more of this: capturing complete stories – those that tie together the many different parts being scattered across social media.

Stories unite us. They tell future generations about the times and places we lived through, and the many faces that lived there. They tell stories that might seem small and insignificant, but are profound to the people who lived through them.

I urge you to watch Welcome to Pine Point and to check out the Pine Point Revisited website. They are incredible examples of what the world tried to wipe away, but was resurrected by the efforts of a few caring individuals. This, like most great stories.

-Dan

How to Extend the Value of In-Person Events with Social Media

The traditional way of meeting others at writing and publishing conferences and events doesn’t always work. At large events, you are a face in a fast moving crowd. Many conferences are heavily programmed, with 2-12 sessions to choose from per time slot. Ideally, a good event is a well-attended one, but the side effect is that it’s harder to chat with people at large events unless you are very social, or have an established network.

So today I want to explore how you can get more out of in-person professional events by using Twitter and blogs. The funny thing is, some of these tactics work even if you aren’t at the event.

The publishing world recently had a bunch of back-to-back events, most of which I attended: Book Camp, Tools of Change, Writers Digest Conference, Digital Book World, and AWP. The tips I am going to share are things I observed others doing: savvy, smart, useful things. From memory, these are some things I saw from the following folks: @VirtualDavis, @TheWriterMama, @Porter_Anderson, @JaneFriedman, and @RonHogan, but there are certainly others I am forgetting.

Each of the tactics below helped put the person who used them closer to the center of the conversation, helped others get more value out of the event, and connect people to each other. And of course, there work helped make the event itself a success. Huge benefits for everyone involved!

Follow Twitter event hashtags for weeks before and after the event.
When Tweeting about an event, use the official Twitter hashtag for that particular event. For those I recently attended, these were their hashtags: #dbw11, #awp11, #wdc11, #toccon, #book2, etc.

People begin following these hashtags well before the event starts and well after it ends. This is your chance to begin getting value out of the event and making connections before you ever set foot in the room.

Before the event, share your anticipation, how you are preparing,
and ask questions. After the event, share your takeaways, and links to recaps and presentations that people post.
Create a blog post before the event about why it is valuable.
In-person events have a life long before and long after the time you are there. People are planning to attend, to speak, and anticipating who will be there, and the value they will receive for their investment in travel, their time, or the cost of the event itself.

Begin writing about the event weeks before it happens, letting people know why you are going to it, speaking at it, or looking forward to hearing about it.

This helps start conversations, it helps promote the event, and begins to set expectations for others attended or interested.

Even if you aren’t going to the event, you can do this. Since you will be getting real-time reports while the event happens, this is your way to get into the conversation.
Use hashtags and @names liberally.
Twitter is not a broadcast medium – engage with those who are attending the event, who are like minds. Share the work of others by using their @names, talk to them directly, and ReTweet your favorite Tweets. It’s up to you as far how far you take this, you want to find a balance between being present, and being overwhelming!
Create a guide to the event – what sessions you are attending and why.
I seem to remember @JaneFriedman doing this for AWP, which was INCREDIBLY helpful for me. AWP is a huge event, and I only had 1.5 days there, with dozens and dozens of options for sessions to attend. Jane laid out the sessions that she was attending for each time slot. I have an incredible amount of respect for Jane, so her schedule became my schedule for the times I could attend a session.

It is this type of filter that social media gives us – a personalized take on the event
Create a blog post after each session – what you got out of it, who was there.
Plenty of people give recaps of the events overall (and I love these), but it can be very helpful to give specific recaps and details for each session you attended. I believe Christina Katz did these – and they were very helpful because they helped spread the message of individual speakers, and for those who weren’t in attendance, it gave them a more granular view of the value of particular session topics.
Create recaps quickly
There are more people Tweeting from events and doing recaps via blogs. Quality is of course the real value, but if you can also match this with speed, then you get people who couldn’t be in attendance talking about sessions hours after an event – while it is still happening, instead of waiting days later to hear about it, long after it’s over.
Build relationships early
At an event, oftentimes there are people you want to meet, maybe they are speakers or attendees, but you don’t always get the opportunity to do so during the event. Maybe there are a precious few moments to make a connection, and it’s hard to always relate the context of who you are so quickly.

With Twitter and blogs, it gives you a chance to get on their radar early, to make connections early, to extend the value that meeting at an event (before, during, and after) gives you.
Share photos
Lots of people Tweet about an event, but not as many share photos, showing you exactly what the sessions looked like, and seeing the faces of people who are there. This gives people more context, and makes everything a bit more personal.
Focus on people, not just topics.

YES, we learn a lot at events, new ideas, new examples of what works and what doesn’t – but making real connections to others is often he reason people get on a plan or take 3 days off work. So when sharing the event, use photos of real people, using their names, quoting them directly. Help promote people, not just ideas.
Look for quotes that are shareable.
I don’t want to reduce the world to soundbites, but there is a value in finding a brilliant shareable quote that gets someone’s message across. You see these happen via Twitter… someone shares a great quote, and it spreads like wildfire, being ReTweeted by dozens of others.

And of course: ReTweet quotes that others share. You see relationships build on Twitter, just by people sharing each other’s thoughts.
Create HELPFUL content for others.
Look for opportunities to help others. If many attendees are traveling to a new city, create a travel guide, if you know a lot of attendees have never been to an event before, create a primer on how to get the most out of it. I’ve seen people do this via video, blogs and photos. @FuseEight once did a great video going through the ‘swag bag’ at event – and giving tips on how to get through registration quickly. These seem like little things, but they help people go from ‘outsider’ to ‘insider’ before they event arrive.

In December, I attended the first Book Camp event in NYC, which uses an unconference format. For the second Book Camp in February, I shared a photo recap of the earlier event to give people a taste of what the event – still unusual in its format – would be like. I had someone come up to me at the event and thank me for that – it gave him proper expectations for the day.

Even a guide to the best coffee at an event would likely be welcome to many!
Know people’s Twitter names ahead of time.
Know who is going ahead of time, know their Twitter names and be prepared to use them. I watched @RonHogan do this at one session at Book Camp – he pretty much knows everyone in publishing – and it was neat to be at discussion, following it on Twitter, and see him spout of a ton of Twitter names of all the folks sitting around him. He so innately connects the in-person world to the social media world, and doing so brings the conversation to another level.

Maybe you won’t know the Twitter names for everyone at an event you are going to, but at least know the names of the speakers for the sessions you are attending. The more you prepare, the easier you will find it to create more value for others.
Extend the value of an event from days to weeks.
With twitter and blogs, an event lasts weeks before and weeks after. How you engage with an event online can do a lot to make new connections, help create useful content for those attending and those who couldn’t, and yes, even raise your profile among those in an industry.

-Dan

Our Effect as Writers and Publishers: Creating the Future

I LOVE working with writers and publishers. This is the heart of my business, and how I tend to spend most of my waking hours both personally and professionally.

The news of Borders closing 200 of its stores was chilling to many, even if it wasn’t surprising. I visited a Borders the other day that is to remain open, and it had me considering many things about the state of the publishing world.

Mostly, it has me considering the role of creators vs destroyers. To clarify: this isn’t really a role, it is an EFFECT of our work. And our effect can only be measured AFTER the fact, not with intention. No one within Borders intended for this to happen. Yet, it did. Undoubtedly, a few months down the road when the restructuring is complete, Borders will come out with a rosy picture of how successful the restructuring has been, and how it has put them onto the path for success.

But that won’t undo the effects on communities, authors and publishers.

For those of us in the publishing industry, what does this leave the next generation? What is our role in helping to find a solution that ensures our communities have access to information, to great works of literature, to writers, readers, and everyone who ensures their work is shared to the world?

Every day, we shape the future of publishing. The future of writing. The future of reading. The future of connecting people to ideas and each other via the printed word – whether that word is printed on paper or screen.

This is a profound responsibility. SO much bigger than ourselves.

Who can do this? You. And me. And everyone we know. WE are the best resources to help create a positive future for all the things that books enable.

This shift in publishing – this is a weight on all of our backs. We may not each be responsible for the problem, but we are responsible for the solution. That we each must come together to do our part to help the whole.

Every day, I listen to so many smart people in publishing, so many passionate and inspiring people. And I simply hope that their attitude is infectious. That each of us can play a small role in building, not in tearing down. In helping, not in carving our own pieces of the pie.

Last year I discovered a little community whose time had passed. I snapped photos, and hung onto them, never sure in what context to use them. But this week, the photos have been on my mind, so I thought I would share them.

Below are photos of a small summer lake community that has fallen into disrepair. In some ways, the photos are haunting. Not because of anything supernatural, but because I can’t help but wonder why this happened. As I look at these derelict houses, I ask myself, what if each person who stayed there applied another coat of paint, fixed a broken window, repaired the roof. What if they cut back the weeds that began eating away at the foundations. Instead of relying on a single owner to take care of it all, what if individuals took small measures to help the community.

These photos are a metaphor, a small representation of what happens when we don’t collectively take care of things. I have been holding on to these photos for a long time now. I think they are a sort of Rorschach test – you see what you want to see. This week, the photos make me think of Borders and it’s effect on publishers and writers. I consider the current state of the publishing industry, and actions we can each take to ensure it has a vibrant future.

Here’s the story of how I found and explored this place:

While driving, I noticed these empty houses hidden behind brush, and decided to stop:

It turns out, they are what remains of a small summer lake community from the early part of the 20th century. Made up of at least 8 houses, most are now in complete disrepair. I explored them, trying to peak into a time gone by. You can practically see the decades when you look at these houses. I ventured behind them:

The houses get progressively worse in condition. Some seem to have had people living in them not to long ago. Others have been falling apart for decades now. The first had simple broken windows, the start of what will become much greater disintegration of what they once were:

The second seemed as if its roof would soon collapse.

The third is when things started to get more interesting

You can see right through it, from the hole in the back to the front door.

What was once a standing shower is literally falling out of the house.

Another building, in better shape, but likely not for very long. Cinder blocks hold up the back corner of the house.

This house was like a decomposing dollhouse, one entire side was missing. To the right you see the kitchen, to the left, the bedrooms.

The polka dot curtains still hang in the kitchen, and the front door is still chained shut (see top left corner of door.) How long ago was the chain set? How many decades have passed since then, since the entire side of the house fell off?

The backside of the same house shows it being held up by a few carefully placed 2×4’s. Incredible.

Odd to be looking into a window of a house, only to see through to the other side.

This house looks as though it belongs in Emerald City

There is a phrase I hear a lot in the startup community: “fail early and fail often.” I have nothing against the phrase, but when large organizations such as Borders begin to stumble, when doing so has such a big effect on publishers, communities, writers, and readers, I begin to think about the EFFECT of failure.

The phrase “fail early and fail often” assumes that there is the ability to carry on after the failure, hence the convenient addition of ‘often,’ as if there are unending resources, motivation, and ability. But sadly, this is not often the case. I believe in learning from failure. But I’m not going to pretend there aren’t casualties well beyond the person or entity that failed. That is why Borders is on my mind. How it affects everyone else outside of Borders.

For background on the Borders situation Jim Milliot at Publishers Weekly created a few good articles:

-Dan

Is My “Build Your Author Platform” Course Right For You?

Registration is now open for my 8 week online course: Build Your Author Platform. The class is nearly full, but I wanted to share some more info as to who this class might be for, in the event you are considering registering, or know of someone who might be right.

This course is for:

Passionate writers with vision
So much of what I teach is about focusing, researching, defining – and then connecting it to the world, to a real community of people. A bit of uncertainty is absolutely expected for any student – that you may need help honing your brand, understanding how to communicate the value of your work, or identifying the audience who it will best connect with. This course does help clarify a lot about an author’s brand, their work, and their community – and help make it all a reality. But that vision and passion, that is what I hope the writer to come with.
A writer who wants to connect their work and vision with the world
Someone who is not afraid of technology – you are comfortable with a mouse, and the idea of actually interacting with people online. You need not be an expert by any stretch, but if you want to spend as little time online as possible, it will be harder to engage your audience, which is something I am passionate about. Many writers I know are apprehensive about social media, and unsure of how to use it best. That is absolutely fine, I review the value, and specific steps to get on board. But the writer must have an innate desire to connect with readers.
A writer looking for a framework for success
The success of a writer is not always a plug-and-play solution – ONE secret button to press. It is about establishing a process to create great work, and connect it with others. That the writer is willing to invest TIME in building their career. This course presents a valuable framework by which to expand your writing career, and to do so with your existing resources.
A writer who is focused on building a long-term writing career
This course does cover specific tactics to get the word out about your work in the very near term. But overall, it addresses the needs of someone who is committed to their work and their audience for the long haul – that they are interested in building a viable career, not just marketing a single book.

Do you have questions about the course? Check out the course details and registration page.

I am incredibly excited for the course, it is something I have poured my heart into, and am constantly thinking of ways to make it even better. If you think it’s right for you, please don’t delay registering. Registration officially closes on Wednesday February 23, but I may need to close it early if it fills up. I want to keep the class size to a reasonable number, to ensure I can provide as much value as possible to the students.

I also recently announced a bonus to the course: Guest Lectures!
As a bonus to the regular course material, I have arranged for a few guest speakers during the course, including Jane Friedman, Kevin Smokler and Justine Musk. These are super-smart and passionate people on the topic of building your author platform – an incredible resource to have them as a part of this. I hope to add more guest speakers (my ideal is one per week), but these three are confirmed.

Thanks!
-Dan

Are You Starving Your Writing Career? Here’s How to Nourish It.

I have been thinking a lot about how we each invest in our future. I just launched a course for writers called Build Your Author Platform, and when one of my students signed up, they included this note with their payment:

“I’m using every penny I earned last year on my writing to pay for this course–as an investment in my future.”

As I built this course, I spent a lot of time considering the value of what I was offering, and the appropriate price. I definitely feel the course is of very high value, but I’m not going to pretend that $795 is nothing short of an investment for most people. And this is something I take VERY seriously – respecting this investment, and the sacrifice and motivation that comes with it.

So today I want to talk about how we invest in our careers. And more often, how we don’t: how we starve our careers. How do we do that? Here’s a just a few ways:

“I’m Too Busy”
We live in a multitasking culture, where most people are juggling their job, family, home, hobbies, and other obligations. So we find solace in describing how busy we are, in how much we are sacrificing already; that there is no room to invest time in something like a writing career.

“Someone Else Took My Idea”
Your clever idea is not the only thing that will propel you to success. If you have an idea, and someone else has released something similar, don’t fret. A great idea is one part of the equation, but it takes hard work to make it a reality. It is those who persevere despite obstacles like this that create something that people love. Consider how you will create a work that is of unique value, even within a crowded marketplace. Do you think JK Rowling looked at the thousands of other wizard and fantasy books on the market and said… it’s already saturated, why bother? Honestly, the world would have lost something if she did.

Waiting for Someone Else to Make it Happen
I am a huge believer in working with others to make your dreams a reality. But that doesn’t mean that you are sitting idly waiting for the phone to ring, that you feel that unless that one right person gets your project in their hands, that you alone are powerless to push it forward. You have to do that, slowly, without fanfare, day after day.

Clearly, there are many other ways that we sabotage our own success. We hide behind empty quotes from movies – things that make us feel as though we are justifying our lack of progress, but that really represent a journey that has stalled.

So then, how does one nourish their career? How do you move beyond the challenges that we all face? Here are some ideas:

Invest in Being Open to New Ideas
Too many people feel they know everything. Sure, we have all ‘been around the block’ – we all have skills, experience and value. But sometimes, a little new information can reframe the opportunities before us. Don’t assume that something new isn’t for you. It can be easy to make pithy comments about new trends, disregarding them outright. But doing so can rob you of the possibilities of what that new thing can bring – perhaps something positive. The goal here is not even the knowledge itself, it is to approach the world with a sense of openness. Being jaded is so out of style.

Invest in Connection
It’s incredibly how much of success is filled with kind-hearted souls giving you that helping hand. This is why I am such an advocate of social media, such an advocate of taking people out to lunch. Your precious idea will not become a success if you covet it and don’t connect it to others. It will be built on the good will of others. Too many ‘brilliant ideas’ die a lonely death.

Invest in Structured Learning
Commit yourself to a process that will move you forward – something such as a class or workshop. Yes, I have a course to offer writers building their platform – but so do many others. If you learn best this way – with a group, with an instructor, with a structured curriculum, find one that works for you and make the investment.

Invest in Motivation
This is the scarcest resource on earth – the motivation to make things happen. It breaks all other barriers. Do you feel you don’t have any time to get to your writing? The motivated person finds time. Everyone else doesn’t. I know it’s hard to be positive all the time, hard to make time to do one more task. But often, it is these little things that separate those who do, and those who don’t.

Invest in Yourself, Not Objects
It’s easy to feel that some shiny new object will make us whole – that it is the missing puzzle piece to get us on track. But instead of buying stuff, invest in creating a path connecting you from where you are to where you need to be. This means investing in the things inside of you.

-Dan