Sometimes it’s a challenge to act like you’re a professional person when you write.
People don’t really get writing, sometimes. They know we’re at home, but they really don’t know what we’re doing there.
And children can make it difficult to be professional.
When I upgraded my cell phone and gave my son the old phone, I had no idea that the contact list would still be there, even though we’d gotten a new phone number assigned to the phone. He was busily thumbing through, adding contacts to his directory (all 7th graders) and said, “Hey. Who’s Ellen?”
“Ellen? Ellen is my agent. Hey…give me that phone!”
And then my 3rd grade daughter, who tried to make me change my profile picture on my Gmail account so it would have kittens on it.
I’ve no problem with kittens. I love cats, actually. But a book cover would be a better choice for my particular books.
Then, of course, there was the radio interview where my daughter knocked on my locked bedroom door for 20 minutes.
Still, I’m trying hard to portray myself as a serious professional.
Things that help:
- Business cards.
- A snappy, interesting one or two sentence summary of your book, if someone asks what it’s about. (Think of it like a pitch.)
- Introducing yourself as a writer (this is a tough one. I’m working on it.)
- A professional-sounding email, Twitter, Facebook account. My email is my name, and so is my Twitter account and Facebook. I have two Facebook accounts—one professional and one personal. This keeps me from feeling irritated when old sorority sisters post pictures of me from 1989.
- My voice mail message sounds professional.
- A website. This is important, even if your book isn’t out yet. Make sure your contact info isn’t buried on there.
- Respecting our writing time and asking others to do so, too.
- Making sure our children know when we’re about to be on an important phone call.
Alan Orloff had a wonderful idea for keeping children away when you need to work. He puts a sign on his office door that says: Please come in so we can get started on chores.
Brilliant!
Elizabeth – You’ve offered some really, really good advice! I especially like your idea of taking a look at Facebook, Twitter, etc., accounts to make sure they’re professional. I use Linked-In, too, actually, for that reason. I think the most important thing, though, is to really see oneself as a professional writer. The rest falls out naturally (i.e. Well, I’m a professional writer, so I need business cards, a good website, etc…).
Great advice, Elizabeth. I’ll definitely keep your ideas in mind as I move farther along this writing path :)
Good advice Elizabeth. This advice would be good not only for writers, but for anyone who works from home. When working from home you have your “work space” but sometimes others seem to forget and think “oh, you’re not busy, you can do this or that for me.” I like Alan’s sign. That should do the trick.
This is great advice.
Kids make us laugh and love…otherwise we wouldn’t keep them.
Uh huh, Alan knows what he’s doing. When my kids use to say they were bored, I would say, “Oh good I could use some help —-.” Those kiddos got busy fast– on something they wanted to do.
LOVE this post, Elizabeth!! Very good points. I’ll be working on my website soon. And I absolutely love the saying! I’ll have to make a little sign and post it on the kitchen table where I work!
Maybe all us writers should get t-shirts made that say:
We’re Not Daydreaming – We’re Working!
We can wear them with our fuzzy slippers!
This one’s a keeper, Elizabeth. I wish I’d thought of two Facebook accounts. And I love Alan’s t-shirt idea. I don’t feel professional most days, especially if I stay in my jammies. So I decided I needed to get dressed every day. And I moved back to our upstairs office from the recliner chair in the living room. We’ll see if it helps.
karen
It is hard to keep it professional. I have a question about Facebook. I haven’t joined (I know, I know) mostly because I want two separate accounts but don’t really know how that all works. If you (duh, since you have two) or someone else knows how that works, can you post Facebook for Dummies here please? Thanks.
I have a t-shirt that says, “Careful or you’ll end up in my novel.” It reminds me I’m a writer! It also strikes up conversations–almost as well as the other shirt that says, “Will sell husband for chocolate.”
I LIKE not having to get into professional garb to write. I recall the opening scene from Romancing the Stone and wish I could get THAT absorbed in the writing.
The biggest first step is to always answer the question, “What do you do?” with “I’m a writer.”
(And then get ready for the next response, which is usually, “Oh. Have I heard of you?”
This is excellent advice! I’m still learning and trying my best to keep the would-be professional side apart from my personal life, which is why I don’t share my Facebook account. I just have my two blogs and a Twitter account that are all connected to each other and are labeled with my real name, but that’s it!
LOL, I know what you mean. I have to remind my family that I am NOT just playing around on the computer and internet all day – I AM A WRITER! This is what I DO!
Good advice here, too. ;)
Marvin D Wilson
Great advice – and Mason and Marvin nailed the whole concept of, “No I’m not just surfing the net…I’m working!” thing.
I have to figure a way to get this whole concept across to my cat.
Wonderful advice, Elizabeth. Why is it that we can see others as professionals (someone else introduces herself as a writer and we think, well, yes, of course you are), but hesitate to think of ourselves as that way?
Helen
Straight From Hel
Great list thank you!
When I’m writing, it often doesn’t feel like work. But when I’m doing all the other stuff writers must do, I’m reminded that indeed it is a job. I think I need that t-shirt Alan mentioned.
I wish I would have thought of opening two Facebook accounts.
LOL, I love Alan’s sign for the kids. When mine were young and didn’t know how to leave me alone, I would put a sign on my office door “Dn’t bother me unless blood is involved.”
Once when I was working on an article about balancing motherhood and writing — on a really tight deadline — I locked my office door and put on earmuffs. Then I looked up and saw little faces at my office window, noses scrunched against the glass. Somehow I didn’t feel so qualified to write that article anymore. :-)
Margot–I’m not really on LinkedIn..at least, well, I’m not sure. My husband is on it (all the technology types are), and I think he sent me a request to join it. If I did, it’s not set up professionally at ALL–I think I DID set it up, thinking about it, and then used it to link to my college’s alumnae network or something. I need to fix that.
Jemi–Hope it helps!
Mason–Especially when I was just getting revved up, it was hard. I kept getting hit up for volunteer projects during the day (once you get pegged as a volunteer, you know, they just keep calling you.) I still am doing some volunteering, but mentioned that I’m working more now.
Journaling Woman–It’s a good thing kids are cute, isn’t it?
Oh, the kids never tell me they’re bored. Because we always have a bathroom that needs cleaning…
Marvin–Amen! Because if the family doesn’t see Microsoft Word up on the screen, they don’t think I’m working. But I AM! :)
Crystal–The cats? I’ve given up on Shadow and Smoke–they give me no personal space. :)
Jody–Girl! Get thee a website constructed! You’ve got a book coming out! I think the sign will help us, too.
Helen–Isn’t that bizarre? I don’t know why I have such a problem with it. I didn’t have a problem when I was a journalist…I called myself a writer then. I’ve no idea what the issue is, but I need to get over it.
T. Anne–Thanks for coming by!
Alan–Yes! That’s what I need! I’ve got the fuzzy slippers and the dazed look on my face, so the tee shirt is all I need to complete my look. :)
Jane–Now THAT is right. When I’m doing my taxes, and have my W-2, then writing sure as heck is a job. When I’m calling bookstores and doing things I don’t like to do, it’s a job. But when I’m being creative, it’s as if it’s too fun to be work.
And 2 Facebook accounts are great. Works for me!
Karen–I think we have to work at keeping the professional feeling. I do usually dress for the day before I write. Helps me get in the right frame of mind. I bet working in an office will really help you out, Karen.
Carol–You know, that’s a good question. How about if I do a Facebook post on Friday? I’ve done Twitter, but not FB and I do get a lot out of it. Thanks for the suggestion.
Terry–That’s a great idea! I know a guy who has a shirt that says, “I Write Dead People” that gets a similar reaction. I haven’t seen “Will Sell Husband For Chocolate.” LOL!
Oh my word. I get that darned, “Have I heard of you?” response every time I actually DO mention I’m a writer. No, not unless they read a LOT of mysteries or hang out online with the book community a lot. Sigh. If they HAD heard of me, I’d probably be a bestseller, for heaven’s sake.
Julie–I think that’s a good idea, about the Facebook. There’s advice out there about not letting your boss at work be your FB friend, and I think that’s really sound…and goes for writing, too.
It sounds like you’ve done really well using your name for your accounts! It’ll make it so easy to link to you when you’re promoting.
This is great advice! I just got my email account that is my name and transitioned into using that. I’d love to create a separate facebook page (when the time comes) so that I can still keep my “real” one “personal”. I’m definitely going to have to look into that!
Thank you!
Another great post with lots of useful information and ideas. How do you come up with such useful posts? I couldn’t have listed them all…therefore, I need this reminder.
Thanks, Elizabeth, always worth stopping by your blog: terrific info…and it’s free! Doesn’t get better than that.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
I love your taste in art. You post the loveliest paintings.
Isn’t it funny, writer’s have such a hard time telling people that they write? I guess we think it means we’re claiming to be like Stephan King or Agatha Christie, when we’re just lowly versions of whatever greatness we aspire to.
As far as the kids go, I used to write at my laptop in the kitchen, right in the thick of things. I taught myself to ignore the chaos all around. My kids were so used to seeing me there I was just another piece of furniture. Now, if I got on the phone…suddenly they needed me in the worse way. It’s some kind of natural law. Mom’s aren’t allowed to carry on adult conversations.
Terrific post and I love Alan’s suggestion!
Maryann—Oh, the GUILT! Oh my gosh, you just can’t get away from the guilt, no matter what. Sigh. No one can SEND me on a guilt trip (I never seem to figure out what they’re trying to do) but I can easily send myself on one. Oh well. The kids are cute as buttons, healthy, and seem happy. We can’t do it all, can we? :)
Galen–Thanks! I don’t know…I think I think about these things a lot. I want to make a good impression although there’s all kinds of chaos going on in the background.
Elizabeth–Good point! I think you’re exactly right…we feel like we’re saying we’re of the same caliber/popularity as the big league folks if we admit to writing.
Kids and the phone…what IS the deal with that? They NEVER want me unless I’m in an important conversation on the phone.
Kristen–It’s really nice to have 2 Facebooks. There are people who say NOT to do that..to have a “fan” page and a regular FB page…but I kind of like the 2 FB pages.
I like the advice you are giving about being professional and organization. This is definitely good information. I think the introducing myself as a writer is one of the hardest things for me still. That and saying “no”. Why is it when we work in a “typical” workplace environment people never think of trying to interrupt your work day, but just because we are working at home they don’t feel it is an intrusion to interrupt. I love Alan’s sign – may try that idea!
Nancy, from Realms of Thought
Nancy–Saying ‘no’ is definitely a hard one, too. I struggle with that almost every day.
David–Thanks so much for dropping by!