Social Networks

I founded Book Place to provide authors a forum to promote their books. I visit there often, interact with its members and post previews on the front page to advertise coming events, such as special guest appearances on my blogs.

Another place I like to visit is MySpace, where I can make friends with not only book people, but those from all walks of life. I often take advantage of their bulletin boards to tell friends what's happening in my world.

I stop off at Facebook, Bebo and GoodReads, but not as often because of time constraints.

The network I do visit many times each day is Twitter. That's because it's so simple. It's fast and easy and contains no ads. I can get in, post a message about my latest blog, and get out of there knowing anyone who is following me can see my message.

By the way, if you click any of the links above, you can join me on these networks.

What about you? What are your favorite social networks? Is there one you use more than the others? Why? Please share.

UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS By Morgan Mandel

This situation is too bizarre for words. You may recall I was waiting for my new desk set to be delivered last Wednesday and wondering if it would arrive in one piece.

First, on the strange list: I saw the desk set in an ad from Carson’s last July and saved the ad for future reference.

Next, I found another ad at the beginning of November, featuring the same desk, hutch and chair at a higher price.

Then, I called a salesperson named Sara at Randhurst in Mt Prospect, IL and asked if there would be a sale ever again at the July price.

ONE SURPRISE: That’s when I learned a Super Buy Sale was coming up in a few weeks on November 16 and I could get the whole shebang at even lower than the July price. The catch was my desk set would be on back order until November 29, since it was not in stock. Sara promised to hold my order until then. Everyone knows how back orders go. Who knows if I’d ever get the desk set.

ANOTHER SURPRISE: Sara called me before November 29 and said my order was in stock and could be delivered in a few days. How strange was that? I set up a delivery date for a week and a half later, since I had to work on the dates she mentioned.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: My desk set arrived on the scheduled date, at the scheduled time, looking just right!

This kind of thing doesn’t usually happen to me. I’m still stunned.

And, you might say, what does this have to do with writing, except for my ability to enjoy sitting at a brand new desk while I use my computer?

Here’s the scoop:
When you write a book, don’t let events go as smoothly as with my desk set. Heighten the tension. Make your characters wonder if things will turn out as they should. Then insert twists and turns to really make your characters suffer. Keep your characters guessing.

Take my desk set as an example:
I could have seen the ad, called, and been told a sale may or may not happen later, so I’d have to call back off-and-on to find out.
Or, I could have placed the order and waited all day for the delivery people to show up, but the truck got lost or blew a tire or I was last on the list and it was too late for the delivery.
Or, My desk set could have arrived and they couldn’t fit it through the door.
Or, My desk set made it into the house, but it was the wrong set.
Or, My desk set was the right one, but it had scratches or gouges.

You get the idea. I was very fortunate, but don’t make life as easy for your characters. Be cruel. Make them earn their rewards. Give the reader something to rejoice over when something actually turns out right!!

All the best as I enjoy my new desk set,
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com
http://bookplace.ning.com
http://www.myspace.com/morganmandel
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com

Clutter By Morgan Mandel

I'm getting a desk delivered today. I hope. You never know about these things.

So I'm sitting in my living room which looks so nice and empty and huge, because that's the room the delivery guys have to go through with the desk.

I'm thinking I wish the room could be like this always. No clutter. Lots of room for the dog to run around in. I've moved the rocking chair, exercise machine, other odds and ends into various areas of the house, but they'll need to come back later.

Last Saturday I spent over 8 hours clearing out clutter and organizing my writing life, yet there's so much still left I don't know what to do with. I'm a saver. It's difficult for me to part with anything at all that has any kind of sentimental value, but I try.

That said, I have decided when I sit down at my new desk I will only be surrounded by items related to pending and future writing endeavors, not what's already happened.

Reminder notes even though I have the task feature on my phone and computer, printed copies of articles, receipts, bookmarks, business cards, copies of manuscripts, you name it - they all take up space. For the time being, I've tamed them, but for how long?

Strange, how in this age of computers I'm still so inundated by paper in my life.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://bookplace.ning.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/morganmandel

BOOK PLACE

Hi everyone,

I've been very busy the past week, since I was inspired to institute Book Place, a network for readers, authors, publishers, editors, reviewers, and all book industry professionals.

I wanted a network where everyone felt comfortable sharing and promoting all genres of books without worrying about stepping over the line. (Well, I do draw the line on porno and illegal books, but that's it)

Anyway, it's been fun figuring out how to get the main page together, inviting folks to join, welcoming members, doing all sorts of things to get Book Place going. The one thing I do regret is I didn't think of the name Book Place until after things got started and it was too late to change it. That's why the long url to access it is http://morganmandelbooks.ning.com

To help remedy this, I also have a mini site set up at http://bookplace.ning.com which is just a traffic direction site. In case people get mixed up and can't find the url on their computers with the long name, but just remember bookplace.ning.com, they'll see a message there showing where all the action is.

I hope everyone who has already joined takes advantage of the great promo opportunities available, including downloading photos, videos, doing blogs, sending messages, listing events, recommending books, looking for answers, or just plain discussing what's on your mind.

If you're not a member, you have nothing to lose by coming onboard. You'll discover a diverse and friendly bunch of people. Best thing is it's free.

Morgan Mandel