Samhain Publishing

I recently blogged about a flood of e-mails I receive from a Yahoo group to which I belong. Switching it to Web Only didn’t work, but I think I finally worked it around so I’m only getting Special Notices.

Yes, it did take me several months to a) finally get around to doing this and b) figure it out. There’s a reason I’m not an IT kind of person.

But as it dawned on my how annoying this flood was, I started to look around at all the e-mails that I get. Very few individuals actually e-mail me, but I receive, not counting this particular group, well over 40 e-mails a day from various legitimate entities and groups.

A few months go, I went on a cleaning rampage and unsubscribed from about 2/3 of the Yahoo groups on my list. I also abandoned my MySpace, Bebo and Ning pages. I haven’t outright deleted them – I probably should – but I haven’t posted to them in months.

I know. Some of you are horrified. But what about the promo opportunities I’m missing, you cry. You may be right. If I kept up those pages, I might have more readers. But at what cost?

I have enough problems staying off the internet, thank you very much.

I still belong to 22 Yahoo groups.
I have accounts on Goodreads and Librarything, but I keep forgetting to update them.
I write on my personal blog about every other day (not counting the time I took off for my holiday).
I write about mythology for Beyond the Veil, a group blog of Samhain paranormal authors. Rather shamefully, I’ve neglected my last two dates, but I’m determined to keep up from now on.
I take the time to read up semi-regularly on industry, editor, agent and author blogs so I’m never far from the latest Romanceland kerfuffle.
I randomly guest blog in other places.
And I’m addicted to Romance Divas * (see below for more info.)

But now I’m supposed to add Facebook and Twitter and belong to 18 other message boards and God knows what else to my list?

Umm, no.

Thank you, but no. Not in this lifetime.

I’m ADD. Avoiding as many distractions as possible is a survival mechanism for me. As a result, I’ve pared down a lot of extra things in my life. I only volunteer for a limited number of things, thereby reducing the chance that I’m going to forget them. It doesn’t always work, but I try. By the way, I’d like to point out that not only am I here today, I’m here on time. I am unbelievably impressed with myself right now.

I also write slowly and inefficiently. I’ve tried every way there is to light a fire under myself, but it hasn’t worked yet. The words come, but like treacle.

Plotting, Fast Drafting, BIAW, NaNoWriMo. Nope. None of it works. Maybe if it did, I’d have more time to promo and chat and talk with all the wonderful people who are out there on these lists and boards and networking sites.

Of course, then I’d also have more time to clean my house, iron my husband’s shirts, and be president of the PTO. Since none of that is going to happen this side of the Rapture, I’m going to have to stick with writing.

So please come by my blog, or Romance Divas, or Beyond the Veil, but don’t look for me in too many other places online because I won’t be there.

Oh, and if you do see me, tell me to get the hell offline and go write!

• Now, after all that, I’m going to link to the Romance Divas NOT GOING TO CONFERENCE CONFERENCE. While all the glitterati will be rubbing elbows with each other, those of us left behind can rub cyber elbows and learn a little at the same time!
  

Our very own Laurie Rauch will be giving a workshop from the hotel bar about Workshop on What Happens After the Contract (aka Editors are People Too!)

There will be plenty of other workshops and Q&As on topics ranging from character and world-building, to historical accuracy and web design. Not to mention, some spankin’ giveaways and prizes!

Registration is free, but you do have to join. Come hang out with us for four days of great learning and, dare I say it, networking, from July 30 to August 2.