tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post3039577172609525892..comments2024-03-05T13:51:24.898-07:00Comments on Spacefreighters Lounge : VEY GOES "BEYOND" TO CONNECT AUTHORS AND READERSUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-35971907626584943862012-12-19T07:34:35.091-07:002012-12-19T07:34:35.091-07:00@Heather, I agree that our settings allow for all ...@Heather, I agree that our settings allow for all sorts of community-building. You'd think we'd do more of it. And great post over at TGE--we have to stop meeting like this! :)<br /><br />@Welcome, Corinne! Thanks for joining us.Donna S. Frelickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16431686010313020234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-46244318519286181792012-12-18T16:55:26.337-07:002012-12-18T16:55:26.337-07:00Two really great ideas in this post; first about s...Two really great ideas in this post; first about social media and how it can bridge that gap between authors and readers. As a newly published author, I have been having such a great time using social media to connect both with readers and other authors, and I have learned so much from both groups. <br /><br />It does seem like there is a focus on the loner characters within SFR, usually because the focus is on two main characters and their relationship. Bringing a family into the mix, or other characters who are like family, has been something I have tried to incorporate within my series so that there are side stories going on around the main relationship focus. I do like to read stories that have the family element mixed in a bit more to add additional perspectives to the story. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18303046632580795530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-12955389127289571032012-12-18T14:57:26.750-07:002012-12-18T14:57:26.750-07:00Donna, your post prompted so much reflection on my...Donna, your post prompted so much reflection on my part that I decided to do a spin off post!<br /><br />http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/2012/12/does-sci-fi-romance-need-more-series-to.html<br /><br />I agree about the appeal of community building. That's a good tag, too, the extent to which an SFR's characters belong to a community of sorts. <br /><br />Quite a few stories take place on a space station or use space station settings in some way. That'd be a neat way to incorporate community building into this subgenre.<br /><br />The possibilities are there. The challenge is getting the stories written and also marketed effectively.Heather Masseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00913459109753829391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-58559475050822000162012-12-16T01:14:49.270-07:002012-12-16T01:14:49.270-07:00Hi Merinda,
You can always reset a password, but I...Hi Merinda,<br />You can always reset a password, but I have to admit at first I was very resistant to Facebook. My husband got talked into it by a couple of workmates, and once my sister found out, she directed some of MY old school friends to HIS account. After a while it ended up I was using his account more than he was, so I finally got my own. Then I met a couple of truly amazing people - both authors - who gave me such a confidence boost that I don't think I'd be here without them.<br />I had the same problem with Twitter. A friend persuaded me to sign up but it made no sense, until someone else took me through Hootsuite. This allows you to see multiple streams so you can see conversations. It does take time (and sometimes someone holding your virtual hand) to learn these things.<br />Laurie - I loved FB. It was a huge starting point for me. But increasingly the changes on there make it harder to get found by readers, and I find socializing and networking on Twitter far more productive and enjoyable, as well as more immediate. Last week I put out a call for help on my WIP, and not only got a load of help (as well as having fun) but was able to jump straight back into the conversation 8 hours later after sleeping. Although our SFR Brigade group on FB is also great for that, but sometimes the answers come more slowly. There are times when the only reason I stick with FB is because our group is so active, and there are some people I couldn't keep in touch with any other way.Pippa Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15146591827060731958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-44365324172513301822012-12-15T19:15:08.943-07:002012-12-15T19:15:08.943-07:00Welcome, Merinda! Yes, Barbara was quite the insp...Welcome, Merinda! Yes, Barbara was quite the inspirational speaker. I'd urge everyone to check her out in her own blog space. <br /><br />I agree that the worldbuilding takes more word count than some other romance subgenres, but I think perhaps we haven't given enough thought to COMMUNITY building sometimes. Think about some of our best SF worlds--they were communities, too. Maybe we need to do better with that.Donna S. Frelickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16431686010313020234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-30617305750741556202012-12-15T18:36:24.248-07:002012-12-15T18:36:24.248-07:00Thanks for the welcome!
Pippa, I have a FB accoun...Thanks for the welcome!<br /><br />Pippa, I have a FB account, but I only ever signed on once and I have no idea what the password is. Twitter terrifies me. It looks like a gibberish of @'s and #'s to me. I am determined to try both. Possibly next week. ;)<br /><br />Laurie, it's almost a tradition to have at least one of your main characters alone and hesitant to form new attachments. A strong, independent character that still has deep and meaningful relationships of various types isn't the norm in the genre. This is absolutely something I'll keep in mind from now on.merinda michaelshttp://www.merindamichaels.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-12017758042857718552012-12-15T14:35:38.607-07:002012-12-15T14:35:38.607-07:00Welcome to Spacefreighters, Merinda! Glad you foun...Welcome to Spacefreighters, Merinda! Glad you found us. :)<br /><br />I don't think you're overanalyzing. I think maybe we do tend to focus on worldbuilding, tech, politicals, social issues or conflicts instead of building influential supporting characters. Definitely something to give more thought to.<br /><br />Pippa, I'm with you. The internet and social networking has given this introvert an avenue to express ideas, thoughts, preferences and feelings without being talked over or shouted down. I especially love FB, but have more of a struggle with Twitter.<br /> L. A. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01198035351359321392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-5246736494295867082012-12-15T13:15:05.865-07:002012-12-15T13:15:05.865-07:00What an inspiring example! I've not had to ove...What an inspiring example! I've not had to overcome a phobia, but I've had to push myself to socialize. I've always been incredibly shy, but social media has really given me confidence - it's let me step into a worldwide community but kind of hide myself behind a pot plant in the corner until I felt brave enough to step out. :P<br />One thing I was told early on was I MUST be on Twitter to promote, but I have to admit it's mostly used to socialize and network, which I think is as it should be. There's nothing I hate more in a stream than nonstop 'buy my book!'<br />Ah, more contests. I'm not sure I'm going to put Keir in for any more.Pippa Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15146591827060731958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-62780258247410805172012-12-15T12:08:25.397-07:002012-12-15T12:08:25.397-07:00I just found (and love) this blog. So first, hello...I just found (and love) this blog. So first, hello.<br /><br />This is a very interesting post. I wonder if perhaps authors sometimes sacrifice these kinds of relationships in SFR because of the time spent on world building. In homespun romances, for instance, a lot of space is taken up with relationships other than the primary couple, and this builds word count. Maybe SFR writers are so involved in creating the worlds, that there is a temptation to overshare. After all that work, showing off the new reality is sometimes pushed to the forefront and that takes time and space. The challenge here could be to allow the world to be a backdrop instead of another character, and to build relationships within that context.<br /><br />Or, you know, maybe I'm over analyzing, and we just like loners. <br /><br />Great post.merindahttp://merindamichaels.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-20213590755715377142012-12-14T16:23:54.751-07:002012-12-14T16:23:54.751-07:00You raise an interesting question, Donna. I need t...You raise an interesting question, Donna. I need to give that some thought, but I think you're on to something that "loner characters" are pretty much the norm in SFR. Maybe because they're almost always extraordinary characters in extraordinary settings that they seldom have a support circle.<br /><br />Great story about Barbara Vey overcoming her phobias via a love of books. I bet she was a truly inspirational speaker.L. A. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01198035351359321392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-41980623826423343422012-12-14T14:07:33.162-07:002012-12-14T14:07:33.162-07:00That was very interesting!! Thank you.That was very interesting!! Thank you.Barbara Elsborghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15825994197656747262noreply@blogger.com