Cyberworld - Bane or Blessing?

I've been preparing a talk for the Minnesota Christian Writer's Guild. They asked me to speak about internet marketing, resources for writers, blogs, websites, etc.

I love speaking about the spiritual and emotional journey of writing, or about going deeper with God, or about ministry in the midst of motherhood, or about the impact of Christian fiction and the arts. But I wasn't sure I was the right person for this topic about the internet.

As I began praying about my conflicted feelings, I realized that's probably the best way to approach the cyberworld - with ambivalence and caution.

On the one hand, it's made my life as a writer easier. Emailing revisions to my editor, answering mail from readers without my tongue getting gooey from envelope glue, checking in on writer loops and hearing the latest industry news, or being part of a great group blog like Faithchicks. Just last night I had a ball chatting with the ACFW bookclub members in a virtual room (we imagined bean-bag chairs, mugs of tea, and some rocking chairs just to make it homey).

I have made friends around the globe because of the internet. One pal in Australia just posted an interview with me. Prior to the internet, I wouldn't have had an opportunity to do an interview Down Under.

But I've also found the lure of the computer screen to be a problem. On a very basic level, there are the distractions. Spider Solitaire or Snoods is so much more fun than working on my next scene. Emails, loops, social networks can all become time-eaters.

However, there are deeper problems. Sometimes I feel like the internet has become a new Tower of Babel. Mankind showing that we think we know it all, have infinite reach, and instant access. Frightening. And often what it actually shows is that mankind is quarrelsome, full of self-proclaimed experts, and looking for an excuse to relate virtually instead of face-to-face.

What about you? Has the cyberworld been a bane or a blessing? Post a comment and share some of the good, the bad, and the ugly.  What tips have helped you use the cyberworld to support your service to God - and protected you from its pitfalls?

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
The Secret Life of Becky Miller (ACFW Book of the Year - 2nd place Lit category)
Renovating Becky Miller (Audie Award finalist - Inspirational category)
The Restorer (2008 Christy finalist - Visionary category)
The Restorer's Son (Romantic Times 4.5 star/Road to Romance Reviewer's Choice Award)
and new releases: The Restorer's Journey, and Symphony of Secrets.

Comments

[Rebecca LuElla Miller]

Sharon, I've been blogging off and on for the past couple weeks about promotion, and in particular, online promotion. Yesterday I wrote about community, and that, I think, is the secret to successful online promotion. Of course, it's all hypothetical. But if I, an unpublished author, can have my blog mentioned in a PW article, there must be something to this community approach, I would think.

Becky

[Sharon Hinck]

Thanks, Becky! I've read some of your posts on the topic and they are great. I particularly liked the "barking dog" analogy.

[Suzanne]

I've tried to be careful of what I post and where I post it. I have two blogs, one is private for my friends only and the other is public. This comes after a major fallout a few years ago with some friends from high school (all online and about my blog!) I also try to limit my networking sites. I just left myspace (for many reasons) but I *LOVE* Facebook (anyone wanna play Scrabulous?)