Facebook Critiqe

 

This class assignment was to check out three author Facebook pages and chose one to critique. The three authors that I chose were Dan Brown, Anne Patchett and Elizabeth Gilbert. I chose to critique Elizabeth Gilbert, because I am a diehard fan of hers!

I personally enjoyed her photo albums. She has many pictures ranging from snapshots of her cats, her writing room (which is beautiful), friends, Bali, and much more. The photos captions are quite detailed and a joy to read.  

She is diverse in the way that her page does promote her books, but it is not only about her books. She shares much about herself.

I did not get much out of the page itself, because it seems to be overdone with “happiness jars”, which at first is intriguing, but after so many jars I began searching for more, which I did find in her photo albums. The albums are where I discovered the most information about Elizabeth, such as her love of animals, and close friendships with Anne Patchett along with other tid- bits. Her captions of these photos are done in a down-to-earth tone of voice, and showed off  her sense of humor. She does respond to comments, although not consistently.

Overall, as a fan I would say that Elizabeth Gilbert covered all of the basic elements of an author’s Facebook page.

Gilbert, E. (2012). Facebook.com Elizabeth Gilbert. Retrieved October 28, 2012, from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GilbertLiz

 

 

Never say writer's block?

I think that we have all been there at one time or another. I have probably been there more than you, or maybe it just feels like I am always stuck.

Justine Tal Golberg helps people to write. Check out her Youtube video where she explains what writer's block is, and a few tips on how we can get unblocked.

Writer's Procrastination

 

Here I am in the blogosphere with my very first blog. Now what do I write about?  Insert procrastination here! Procrastination inserted!

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Yesterday, I went to my favorite shop Barnes and Noble. I opened the doors and inhaled the aroma of Starbucks coffee while looking at the display of newly released books. I got excited knowing that I would soon be getting my fix, much the same way a junkie must get excited to see his drug filled needle.

 I instinctively walked over to the section that held the books that are written for writers (This section is much too small.) My fingers ran over the binders as I read the titles. My heart dropped. I have most of these books. Was there nothing new? Then I found it, the perfect book for me, Around the Writer’s Block, Using Brain Science to Solve Writer’s Resistance, by Rosanne Bane. Under the title it said; Including, Writers Block (yes. yes, I’m blocked), Procrastination (yes, this is me), Paralysis (how did she know?), Distractions (damn cat!), Postponing, Perfectionism, Self-Sabotage, Excessive Criticism, Overscheduling, and Endlessly Delaying Your Writing.  Wow, this Rosanne Bane understands me. I greedily grabbed the book and grabbed a coffee just as greedily, and knew that my habit had been satisfied, at least for a week.

As I was flipping through the pages of Bane’s book I realized that if a book has been published about writer’s procrastination then I must not be the only one out there with this debilitating problem. In fact, there must be many writers with this problem. It consoled me to know that I was not alone.

I settled in at my desk, turned my computer on (because I knew that there would be writing prompts) and I opened Bane’s book.  Chapter 1 (this is as far as I have read) Bane writes about writer’s resistance, how it is normal and how she has proven practices to overcome writer’s resistance. She can get us procrastinators/resistors into the writing habit.  This Rosanne Bane is awesome I thought to myself. I got to the end of chapter 1 where my first writing prompt or challenge as Bane calls it. I closed the book, positioned my fingers over the computers keyboard and……….Nothing.  All this nothingness made me hungry. I went to the kitchen and got some lunch and never did return to the writing challange.

I know that there are people who can relate to my problem. How do they get over it?

At least I should give myself credit that I did finish this blog post (OMG is anyone going to read this?) I finished my bio too. But these are things I have to do in order to pass my class. If only writing a book could be a class. I could write a book if it depended on a grade. Good idea!

 

Bio

I am a SNHU online student majoring in English/Creative Writing Fiction. Writing has been my passion and dream since I was 12 years old. at which time I sent a query letter to a publishing company about a story that I was working on. The story was set in the year 2020, a time that the earth had become overpopulated and people were being shipped to live on another planet. I amazingly recieved a response from the publishing company stating that they would read my manuscript when I finished it. I never did finish it, because not only am I a writer, but I am the worlds best procrastinator.

So, while I write, procrastinate, and study writing, I also work as a home health aid, caring for people who physically or mentally are unable to care for themselves. This work is as rewarding as writing is.

I am a breast cancer survivor. I thank God for every healthy day that I have.

I live in Massachusetts with my husband, son and an array of animals, including a chocolate lab who has recently taken to non stop howling when I leave him.