Firstly, I didn't write this. This is a fellow writer/editor/awesome person at plus10damage, and I think it raises some really good points that I think could be a great jumping off point for discussion. Seriously, check this article out, David is a great writer, and this article covers the tricky topic of self promotion and how it is both neccessary and tacky.
Please comment on the article itself and like it if you like it!
Jib.
I can relate to this so much. I HATE doing any form of self-promotion. Even if I am 100% sure I'm qualified enough, the fear of coming off as too pushy or desperate always lingers.
Definitely. I hate when you're busy, so you just chuck out some self promotion and then don't have time to look at other peoples blogs. Feel so guilty about that.
yeah when I was in a signed indie band we were always self-promoting and doing press and stuff and it made me feel yucky all the time. the others liked it but I was always awkward.
Yeah, sometimes self-promotion can be akward, because you sometimes don't want to come of as a bit pushy or attention whore-like. But at the same time, you can always aproach that in a mild manner like: "Hey guys, I just wrote the first part of my fan fic. I would like some input and criticism please". Besides, it's true that if you feel like promoting something you feel is great, just do it. I did that with Homestuck here
It's a bit easier with communities you're already a part of, because you're not just saying to people whyo don't know you "Look at my stuff!" Self promotion elsewhere is hard though/
Small communities are great for sharing work/ ideas and concepts. At 1up there were a lot of members but only around 30 people I had on my friends list, I realised that you just can't comment on everyones work or blogs, time just won't allow it. I'm a big believer in commenting on peoples blogs, not just because I want others to read my meager offerings but because (cheese alert) it feels good to gain some rapport with people. Certain people I have come to 'follow' almost religiously becuase I really enjoy reading their work, others are just really nice people who I enjoy developing that online friendship with whilst a few (and I include you in this Blake) have a funny no bull shit approach which gives me a laugh (not that all of these are mutually exclusive of course). I really appreciate any one reading/ looking at me stuff so I always comment back, I gues thats my only gripe with some people, they don't always take the time to feedback to peoples comments. If they are an administrator or writer for the site I understand completely because they probably don't have the time to always do it but for the average Joe I feel it's important of you want people to continue to follow you. Of course leaving comments that are worth feedback also helps! love the Joker avatar BTW.
Thanks man! It's been my steam avatar for a while! It's from he Arkham Asylum comic, which is fucking brilliant.
Yeah, I tend to read almost everything in my inbox, but sometimes I don't know what to say so I just don't comment, unless it's someone I haven't seen in a while. I feel fine sharing my works with you guys for instance, because the whole idea of this site is sharing our opinions and love of games. Doing it elsewhere though? That's tricky. And thanks for the praise! I tend to friend people who write well or are just really nice people.
Im surprised you don't have a twitter account or at least haven't posted one because it's basically used as a self promotion tool and thats just become an accepted fact, and that's ok. In the example of the bad stuff on ios burying the good stuff, Twitter is full of bad s**t, but that only makes the gold really shine. Some of the writers that I follow in the game industry I follow on Twitter because they usually link to whatever they write and I will almost always click and give it a scan. Those writers almost never comment, so I don't bother commenting but I do read. I feel like the writers, or creators of anything I take interest in have a pure passion for what they do and they know it, and I know it, but yeah even they drop links to their stuff all the time and it's okay. Just get a Twitter whatsacow! It's OK! Sorry if I digressed here. It's late, and I'm tired and I don't know if I fully understood the article you linked to? So tired...so...tired...gn!
I didn't write this article asreal, I'm not as self conscious about self promotion as David is, as you probably know :p. However, I don't have a twitter because I don't ave any friends that use it. They're all on facebook lol.