And I have Niki Burnham to thank for my newest time sink. Yes, I got tempted by an all-knowing, utterly hip YA author to make a go of MySpace and now I am addicted. It’s like going back to school all over again, but in a healthy way, at least so I hope. I sit down at my computer and think, “Who can I friend now?”. I mean, there’s a whole world of people to meet out there. It’s like Ravelry for the non-knitting set. (Okay, if you are a non-knitter that reference just went right over your head. But trust me, Ravelry is the hippest place on earth.)
This all started with Niki having a late night flight out of Seattle, so she came to hang at my house since I live pretty close to the airport. We started talking about the various ways to meet people, readers and booksellers online, via our blogs, our websites, bulletin boards and then she came to MySpace. MySpace?! I cringed, I reeled back in fear. Not MySpace.
Now I had reserved a MySpace page a while ago but never got around to doing anything with it. And when I confided to her that I found the entire place baffling —perhaps its the really pimped out pages that leave me feeling sort of dizzy that kept me from wading in—that and the friending thing, and the “adds” and all the other MySpace-speak that left me feeling like a Romulan at a Klingon convention—Niki in her ultimate hip and cool mode sat me down and gave me a 2 hour MySpace lesson. I’m such a geek, I took notes.
Of course, it took me a few more weeks to really figure it out. This is how bad it is now:
Jane Porter calls me the other day when she’s at the airport (again about 10 minutes from my house) and her flight is totally delayed, so she calls to kill time. And she’s online and we start comparing MySpace features. So we are talking on the phone and sending each other messages via our MySpace pages and laughing that we should be sitting down, face to face and having coffee. You know a real connection. Then we made plans for real coffee and got back to being goofy working seriously on our next books.
But since not everyone heads to the airport in Seattle on a regular basis, I suppose I will have to do with having loads of cyber friends. That was one reason why when I redesigned my website, I wanted it to revolve around this blog. So I could have a better relationship with my friends and readers. I don’t know why sometimes I don’t just jump into things like MySpace, or even Ravelry, where friends can be found with every click. And when I consider how it was just 10-15 years back, making connections with people from all over the world just didn’t happen—but my blog stats show I’ve had people read this blog from all over the world. Wow! Sort of staggering, but also goes to show, that no matter where you go, you can always find a kindred spirit and a good friend. So come on by my MySpace page and friend me! How cool is that?
I just visited your MySpace page and asked to be your friend. My screen name is Cat and Mouse…let me in!! hehehe
You are so in, Karen! And so is anyone else who wants to “friend” me. This is really addictive. Is there a 12-step program yet?
Elizabeth, not yet lol. I also sent a request.
BTW, now I know if I’m ever in Seattle and have a lay-over who to call hehe.
I love connecting with friends on myspace. I have people on there from all types of places, both private (as in actual family members and long lost school friends) to other authors (and aspiring authors) and even fans of mine. Yup, I have a few, how cool is that.
I’ve managed to get a few design jobs from there too.
I, like you, was very afraid to step into the MySpace waters, citing it was a teenie’s toy (meaning my 15 y/o daughter would have a bigger kick out of it). So not true!
Anyhow, so glad you took a chance and got addicted. Now if they’d only create a page for the 12 step program hehe.
I have to tell you I LOVE your stories and put in a friend request over at MySpace. I am LadyJamers over there.
I am sure that you will have a TON of friends over there. 😀
Might I recommend Facebook? It is the “cooler” of the two major social networking sites, mostly because of the applications you can add to your profile page and significantly fewer advertisements. Of course, those of us really geeky internet mavens have joined both. 😉
I really enjoyed “Love Letters from a Duke”!!!
Hey all! Thanks for all the friend requests. Keep ’em coming!
And Ciara, you are the second person this week to nudge me toward Facebook. And no way. I’m not getting any writing done because I’m having to much fun running around MySpace.