Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Joining the digital revolution

I have recently discovered Facebook. I’ve been on it since 2006, when my daughter made me a page. But I never did anything with said page. That changed this week, when I finally got my yahoo email working again and my Facebook password changed. Suddenly, I was online.

Then I had decisions to make. Exactly what type of a page did I want? As writers, we put ourselves out there all the time, such as through our websites and blogging. I have followers on twitter that I don’t know; people who read about what I’m doing that day. I read over 150 emails a day in regards to my job and writing. So I decided to keep my Facebook page invite only and my profile private.

I figured it just made sense. When I looked at who had friend requests waiting for me, I discovered it was friends and former students and a few writer buddies. Then I looked at to whom I was sending friend invites. This could be my window to all those people whom I never seem to get a chance to talk as much as I’d like because life is so busy. I’m either teaching, writing or being a mom. While I love picking up the phone and hearing someone’s voice, there aren’t very many extra minutes in the day, and my friends are equally as busy. Now I can read my wall.

I’ve already reconnected with my best friends from high school who I get to see every so often and who send me all those fun emails. I miss them, and dedicated my March book to them. I’ve found former students. I haven’t befriended my prom date or ex boyfriends since that seems creepy, although my daughter tells me it’s quite common. As to making another Facebook page for my books and fans—that’s something to think about for another day.
So I’m in the modern world, but keeping it close. If you want to follow me, catch me on www.twitter.com/micheledunaway. Or keep reading my posts right here on this blog twice a month or visit me on the forums at eharlequin. That’s me out there. Facebook’s me “in there”, my tiny window into what once was my world, and I’m liking it.

4 comments:

Lisa Ruff said...

I loved this post! I just joined Facebook and just blogged (on my own site) about the experience. It's been an incredibly fun way to keep up with old and new friends.

Michele Dunaway said...

I agree. I've run into my former high school editor and a bunch of my former students. What's really cool is all my cousins live elsewhere as do my 3 best friends from high school and now we are all back in touch.

Rox Delaney said...

I made the leap to Facebook recently after discovering that a high school friend had just undergone cancer surgery. Her son had mentioned it on his Facebook, so contacting him was the easiest way to learn how she was doing and send her my support. Now I have a few high school friends, a writing friend or two, and some friends I've met in the last few years, one of them a treasured reader AND friend.

Who knew when we were in high school that keeping in touch would be so fast and easy?

Pamela Stone said...

Hi Michele. I too joined Facebook a couple months ago. After selling my first book, I thought it'd be a good way to stay in the loop with other writers. Then it happened. My kids friended me. Their friend friended me. Work associates friended me. In addition to writers and some old friends. So far I'm enjoying it, but am a little hesitant to post certain things out there because of the various groups. It's Twitter I have barely gotten beyond creating an ID on. I hadn't thought about the different Facebook ID for writing. There is a thought.