For the last couple of days I’ve been playing around on Google’s new social networking site, Google+ and I have to say, I’m liking it a lot. Right now my favorite features are the instant photo upload from my Android phone and the way you organize everyone into circles. Some people might be in multiple circles, say, friends, family, writers, poets. Some might be in one all their own, like techies. You can choose to send your post out to everyone at once or just select circles. Another plus is that you can also post something and include someone via email.

Hangouts are a cool integrated video chat that worked great for me.

The UI is clean and intuitive. I think you have more privacy controls than on Facebook.

Right now it’s a small population but I think it will keep on growing, especially when Google formally opens the doors. For now, if you have a Google profile set up and you want to come play, send me your Google email address and I can open a door.

Oh, and they also have a vanity url. I grabbed mine right away.

http://gplus.to/susantaylorbrown

Saturday Lynn Hazen and I taught another class on Social Media for authors, this time an all day event at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.

We had a full house (almost too full as it was tough to get between the tables so we could help people) and I think everyone had a great time and hopefully learned a lot. Quite a few people set up their first blogs while right there in the room with us and I think they were a bit amazed at how easy it was. I am still trying to figure out what to tell people about the differences (minus java script capability here on LJ) of the various platforms and why you should choose one over the other.

Hats off to all your fearless people who took the class and then took the plunge into the the social media madness.

It is still such a HUGE topic to try and cover in one day, especially with so many people at different stages.

I think I am going to set up a local social media "drop in" clinic sort of thing, maybe once a month, where people can bring their laptops and work on a particular aspect of their own social media system with my help. If you’re in the Silicon Valley area and this sounds interesting to you, leave me a comment and I’ll add you to my notification list.

If you are looking for more info online, don’t forget to check out the new blog in town, The Happy Accident, where Greg Pincus, aka Gottabook, encourages you to play in traffic and set yourself up for the "happy accidents" that often occur with social networking.
 

I’m building some handouts for my class on Social Networking for authors tomorrow and thought it would be good to have some quotes with links to various people. Please answer any of the questions below with links to your various online homes and I’ll share them with the class. Let me know if you’re a writer, reviewer, libraian, agent, editor, whatever.

Example:

Why do you blog?
Susan Taylor Brown – writer
http://susanwrites.livejournal.com
I love the community support I get from blogging, being able to share the ups and downs of this crazy business and realizing that I am not alone. I like being able to share what I know about the busines with others.

Why do you Twitter?
Susan Taylor Brown – writer
@susanwrites
I love the way I can get instant answers to just about any question, stay on top of the industry news and connect with other writers.

What do you wish you had known about blogs or Twitter or Facebook or any social networking stuff before you got involved online?

Okay, besides how addicting they can be.

You asked for it! We are happy to oblige. 

Lynn Hazen and I are taking our Social Media show on the road!

(Note – for those of you not able to come in person, I offer online classes in Social Media as well.  More info can be found here.)

I’m happy to announce that SCBWI is sponsoring our full day Hands-On Social Media Intensive for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators:

When: Sat. June 6
Time: 10:00-3:30
Where: Fort Mason in San Francisco
Cost:
$50. SCBWI members (without in-class internet access) 
$55. SCBWI members (with internet access–bring your own laptop & surge supressor/power cord) 
$70. non-SCBWI members (without internet access) 
$75. non-SCBWI members (with in-class internet access–bring your own laptop & surge supressor/power cord)

A Bring-Your-Own-Laptop Adventure into the Land of Social Media for Children’s & YA Authors & Illustrators. Join Lynn E. Hazen and Susan Taylor Brown as we explore Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, LinkedIn, You Tube, Red Room and so much more. We’ll have internet access, so bring your laptop (optional) and we’ll have time for you to click along, ask questions and participate in Web. 2.0. As publishers expect more and more from authors and illustrators (before during and after you’ve published), come learn how to juggle your promotion efforts, social websites & online personalities and STILL HAVE TIME TO WRITE !

Lynn E. Hazen, M.A., M.F.A., writes books filled with humor, heart and hope. Kirkus praised her young adult novel, SHIFTY, as "a realistic story that resonates.” SHIFTY was chosen as VOYA’s Top Shelf Fiction, a CCBC Choice, and a Smithsonian Notable. Lynn’s younger books include: MERMAID MARY MARGARET (a middle grade novel), CINDER RABBIT, THE AMAZING TRAIL OF SEYMOUR SNAIL, and BUZZ BUMBLE. Lynn gives writing workshops and author talks at schools, libraries and conferences, and teaches writing classes at Stanford Continuing Studiess. www.LynnHazen.com and
www.LynnHazenImaginaryBlog.blogspot.com

Susan Taylor Brown is the author of the middle grade verse novel Hugging the Rock, which was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book, an NCTE Notable Children’s Book, VOYA’s Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers, and a Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year Selection. Susan’s other books include picture books Oliver’s Must-Do List and Can I Pray With My Eyes Open? and the non-fiction book Robert Smalls Sails to Freedom. Susan leads writing and creativity workshops for writers and readers of all ages and conducts online workshops on the use of social media for authors. http://www.susantaylorbrown.com and http://susanwrites.livejournal.com

Pre-registration required. We expect this workshop to sell out quickly.

Download the registration form now.

Yesterday was one of those days. One of those GREAT kind of days where everything seems to come together and I realize what a fabulous life I have and how it is populated with amazing and talented people.

What brought this about?

I’m so glad you asked.

I was asked to teach a class for SCBWI called Beyond Websites — Facebook, Blogs & Twitter — Oh MY! How to Juggle Your Promotion Efforts, Social Websites & Online Personalities and STILL HAVE TIME TO WRITE. Quite a mouthful, eh? :) 

Thanks to Jill Ann Cooke for making the lovely collage of our event. You can check out more of Jill’s artwork at her beautiful website.

I was lucky enough to co-teach it with Lynn E. Hazen. Lynn and I are related in a couple of publishing families – we are both published with Tricycle Press and we are both represented by the wonderful Jodi Reamer.

Thanks to Keely Parrack for taking the picture and thanks to Lynn for remembering "product placement" for us.

As my great, great auntie Louella used to say, anyway. . .

We had a record turn out of attendess. How cool is that? I kept watching people come in and wondering if we were going to have to set up another table. Although this was the first time Lynn and I had presented together, it felt easy and comfortable, as though we had been doing it for years. I hope to get the chance to present with her again.

It was a hard topic to condense into just a 2 hour session and we warned folks that they would be stuffed with info until their eyes glazed over. But Lynn and I split things into easy chunks so no one hit information overload. I did the tech talk for a bit and then Lynn would talk everyone down and give them a breather with some time management tips.The group had fabulous energy which I was able to feed off of as I spoke. They asked great questions. There is so much to learn about online social networking and using it for book promotion that I think we could have just answered questions for 2 hours. Thanks to Keely for arranging for us to be able to stay a little later and talk a little longer.

The responses to the session both via evals and emails I’ve been receiving have been overwhelmingly positive. What a thrill to know that we were able to help dispel the intimidation factor that often accompanies the idea of getting involved with social networking. It was nice to know that all the weeks of time Lynn and I put into preparing for this were worth it. Thank you, Lynn. It was great fun!

Because I only touched the tip of the iceberg in the presentation, I’m going to be offering a more in-depth class on using social media for book promotion. Since this is the first time I am offering this class I would really appreciate people helping me to spread the word. There’s also a downloadable flyer for the class.

Here are a few snippets of praise from the evaluations:

"Blogspicational!" Chad Cameron

"Great information on the various tech sites told in a user friendly fashion." Marya Ashworth

Blogging platforms. Here are some free ones for you to take a look at: Livejournal.com (which is where you are now. My blog is hosted by LiveJournal.) Blogger.com (that’s where Lynn Hazen has her blog. There’s also WordPress.com .beckylevine does something neat with her WordPress blog – she has made it her website and blog all in one. (Incidently, if you’re new to my blog and you see the little person icon next to Becky’s name, that means she’s on Livejournal too and you can "friend" her by clicking through to her Livejournal blog. Yes, she has two blogs.)
 

I’m working on a presentation for authors about Social Media & the publishing world. I’d love to get some feedback on any of the following questions:
 

#1 What is your connection to the publishing world? 

Author
Illustrator
Editor
Agent
Publicist
Other. Please explain.

#2 Which of the following to do you participate in?

Blogging?
Facebook?
Myspace?
Twitter?
Linkedin?
JacketFlap?
Goodreads?
Other? Please explain.

#3 List your favorites from above and explain why and/or how you use them.

#4 Has Twitter/Facebook/Linkedin helped you in any way with your job? Research? Finding a job? Making an important connection? Please give any examples.

#5 What is the best and the worst about Twitter/Facebook/Linkedin?

#6 How to do you manage to participate in social media and still have time to write/edit/do your job?

#7 Have you ever made a mistake in the social media network and wish you could take it back? Can you share?

#8 How important do you think it is for authors to utilize Twitter/Facebook/Linkedin and why?

Thanks in advance! And please, if you can, help spread the word so I can get as much feedback as possible.

If you would rather not respond online and want to email me, you can send your responses to: susantaylorbrown (AT) gmail (DOT) com
 
   Follow me on Twitter @susanwrites

Here’s a resource that needs to get shared a bit more.  The Children’s Media Professionals’ Forum was developed by children’s author April Sayre and her husband Jeff with the idea of creating a professional environment to bring high quality content to children and young adults. It’s a great place for educators, librarians, media professionals, readers and writers to link up. If you love children’s literature, be sure to check it out.

Okay…and shameless self-promotion time, I’m the featured author of the week over there so I do hope some of you will come over and post a question so I won’t feel too lonely. You have to register, but it’s free! The Children’s Media Professionals’ Forum is a great resource and I hope you’ll check it out and help spread the word to other teachers, librarians, writers and readers that you know.