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March 13, 2020

A Healthier Mindset for Social Media (Part 1)


Edie Melson    @EdieMelson

Social Media Director for Southern Writers Suite T





As writers, we all know the importance of building an online following. We spend time crafting valuable blog posts with SEO rich headlines. We follow others on social media, working to connect. All the while keeping a sharp eye on those numbers that define success or failure. It’s easy to get caught up in those numbers.

But the truth is, they’re people—NOT numbers!

We even begin to judge the worth of what we have to say by those numbers. Let me remind you why you’re doing what you’re doing. Why you sweat over a keyboard, struggling to find the right word. Why you risk rejection by submitting those carefully crafted words to editors, agents and contest judges.


We’re doing it because we want to make a difference in the world around us—a world made up of people. If all we’re looking for is higher numbers, we’ve missed the point. We’ve set a course that follows certain frustration and ultimate failure. So, if it’s not for the numbers, then what’s the point? Why even bother with social media?

The point is what the numbers represent…the point is the individuals who can be impacted by what we write…challenged by what we say…changed by what we share.

When I get caught up chasing the numbers, the significance of what I’m doing diminishes. But when I step away from the race and concentrate on who I’m writing for and who I’m writing to, things fall back into place.

I’m first and foremost a writer. For me, social media is a tool. It’s the means to an end. It helps me find my audience. But when I begin to measure my worth as a writer through the numbers of social media, I’ve gotten off course.


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A Healthier Mindset for Social Media @EdieMelson @southernwritersmag




Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, including the bestseller Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers.

She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Social Media Director of Southern Writers Magazine and board Member of the Advanced Writers and Speaker Association.

Visit Edie on www.EdieMelson.com and through social media.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Edie, thank you for this reminder. We all seem to get fixated on our numbers and forget what is important.

    People are always the most important. That reminds me of a preacher who said if there was just one person in the audience, that would be the most important person.

    Every reader we have is a blessing, whether we have one reader or many.

    Thanks for reminding us of what is most important.

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  2. Such great information. It's easy to get caught up in the numbers and forget what's important.

    I saw a quote recently by a writer named Michael Bishop: “One may achieve remarkable writerly success while flunking all the major criteria for success as a human being. Try not to do that.”

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  3. Love Michael Bishop's quote, Kay! We really need to keep these comments in mind as we reach out to our readers.

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  4. Red hot cover ! A book this hot really deserves a good launch. I would suggest usabookreviewers.com to give your book a good start. I can also help create a free marketing strategy specific to your genre and book.

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