More specifically my life is like my YA novel. Does that really surprise you? Aren’t we all just writing about ourselves under a thinly veiled guise of creative inspiration? You can’t tell me that J.K. Rowlings isn’t half witch the way she makes money appear.
So, back to my point, in my YA novel, my main character Emma
moves to Pakistan. It’s a radical change from her former home in the
Philippines. In the past three months I have moved to SocialMediaLand. It’s a
radical change from my former home, which was my former home – four walls, a
roof, familiar faces, you get the drift.
In the Philippines, Emma has lots of friends, fun activities,
the freedom to go where she wants, and a warm and hospitable culture. In
Pakistan no one knows her, though a few kind girls try to help her fit in. The
culture itself is at times hostile, even threatening, and her freedom of
movement is severely curtailed.
This is totally me!
In my own home, I’m very popular. My husband likes me, my
kids like me, my 3lb. Yorkie thinks I’m the best thing since sliced chicken.
And I am competent and have enormous freedom. I know how to operate all the
machinery, the dishwasher, the coffee maker. I can even hop in the car and go
exactly where I want, when I want.
In SocialMedialand I’m very unpopular. I’m not joking! I am
wildly, demonstrably, and honestly kind of amusingly unpopular. Do you want
proof? There are 166 YA books listed on Goodreads as coming out in 2013. My
book, AN INFIDEL IN PARADISE, is the 166th on the list of books
people want to read. So among the thousands of Goodread readers, I am the last
person anyone wants to meet. If that’s
not a hostile environment, I don’t know what is. If I showed up at Goodreads
High School, I would definitely be eating alone in the lunch room.
Another incontrovertible parallel, and the main reason I’ve
been so reluctant to move to SocialMediaLand, is I that don’t know how to
operate anything and it takes me forever to get anywhere, if I get there at
all. My blog for example http://www.sjlaidlaw.com/blog/
has no pictures, not because I have no
pictures but because I can’t figure out how to upload them. I didn’t even have
a website for the longest time because just the thought of creating and
navigating one put me into a cold sweat. I tried and failed to create an
author’s page on Goodreads, though in light of my recent rating over there,
this example is looking a lot less random. In any case, this is just the tip of
the iceberg, believe me.
But, like Emma, I have not been totally abandoned in
SocialMediaWasteLand. On the first day of school Emma is befriended by a group
of girls who do their best to help her fit in. Gradually, she makes more
friends and amid the hostility of those who don’t really know her, she
discovers a home with the few who take the time to. My MiG partners are my
first-day-of-school girls. They’ve been with me almost since the beginning of
my writing journey and do their best to explain the rules of SocialMediaLand, though
I still maintain the rules defy explanation. Gradually, I’m making more friends in
SocialMediaLand – shout out to @TheLucky13s
and of course the talented, supportive team at @TundraBooks
But I’m still 166th of 166 at Goodreads. Does
that mean I’ll be eating alone at the lunch table? I guess on Feb. 12th
when AN INFIDEL IN PARADISE arrives in stores, we’ll all find out. But whatever happens my Yorkie still thinks I’m amazing.
Susan, I really think you should be writing humourous stories. I also feel like there's a very steep learning curve when it comes to SocialMediaLand but, like growing up and getting through being a teen, it will get better.
ReplyDeleteI'll eat lunch with you anytime. :-)
ReplyDeleteAndrea, I thought I was writing humorous stories. :-)
ReplyDeleteCar, I will hold you to that in New York next month!
May I eat at your lunch table?
ReplyDeleteSusan, when people hear about your book, you'll be queen of the cafeteria!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, you are welcome at my lunch table anytime.
ReplyDeleteKate, thanks!
Susan,
ReplyDeleteI'm intimidated by Social Media also and I work in an IT department!
I'm trying to setup a blog and my sister told me about a site that has really good, free tutorials, it's www.gcflearnfree.org
It's a great site. They have video lessons and interactive lessons. I've looked at their blog tutorials and the Social Media tutorials. They have lessons on using Twitter etc.
I'm not on Goodreads yet, but when I am I'll keep your book in mind.
Cheryl
P.S. That's a really cute little dog!
Your Yorkie is right! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, Thank you for the website. I'll have to check that out. Moppet also thanks you for the compliment.
ReplyDeleteAnita, you're very sweet! And thanks for your good wishes.
The yorkies opinion is the only important one. Who needs friends when you have a cute pup that loves you?! I'mma go put An Infidel in Paradise on my Goodreads list now, to show my support for the unpopular kid :)
ReplyDeleteBonnee, that's very kind of you. I think we would have been great friends in High School!
ReplyDelete