Saturday, December 3, 2011

Saturday Savvy Sensation: Lynda Young


You know how I love the bloggers on The Write Advice Facebook page (look there on the side and like us if you haven't :). So today's Savvy Sensation is another of those wonderful bloggers: Lynda R. Young. Yes, she's cool. Yes, she's awesome - just look at the name of her blog, "W.I.P. It" - cool, right? And she lives Down Under. Ultra awesome. Well, read on and find out for yourself:

Who are you (what do you write, what are your personal stats)?
This is a question I often ask myself. I'm not sure I have the answer yet. While I'm trying to figure it out, I write young adult novels and speculative short stories. I live in Sydney, Australia, with an adorable supportive husband and a cat who thinks she rules the world.

Where can we find you online (blog, twitter, facebook, etc.)?
I'm all over the place, though some places I'm more active than others. In descending order of activity:
Twitter: @LyndaRYoung http://twitter.com/LyndaRYoung

When did you begin your online platform building?
I started a devotional blog in February last year. At the time I thought I wanted to pursue a career in Christian non-fiction. That soon changed when I reacquainted myself with the joys of fiction. I began my writing blog in May of last year.

What is your message, if any (is your blog about anything specific, for example)?
My blog offers writing and social media tips, but my main message is positivity and encouragement.

How have you built your followers? What have you done that has been the most successful?
When I first started blogging last year I flailed around with little idea of what I was doing. I soon learnt that blogging is more than writing interesting posts. It's about engaging in the community, being generous and active. So, the most successful thing I did was not to wait for people to find my blog. I went out and actively sought online friendships with other bloggers.

What have you done that has failed?
In an attempt to build my following, I made a few small mistakes in the beginning:
  • Not linking my blog to my Google profile so when I used the Google Friends Connect to follow someone's blog, they couldn't follow me back.
  • Only following blogs and not commenting.
  • Only commenting and not following.
  • Not making it easy for anyone visiting my blog to contact me.
How much time do you spend blogging? Reading blogs? Commenting on blogs?
I will admit I probably spend too much time blogging, posting, and commenting. While we only get out of it what we are willing to put in, we have to ask ourselves what exactly we want out of it. Ultimately I have to put my writing first so I try to keep my blogging down to an hour a day, with breaks on the weekend. I will occasionally spend longer, of course.

What else should we know about you?
An important fact: I love dark chocolate.

Any additional advice for our readers?
Whatever you choose to do in your life, whatever challenges you have to face, don't give up. Work at it with all you've got, find the support you need, and learn all you can. If you do this, then there can be no fail.

What makes you unique?
My stubby thumb.

Thank you so much, Laura, for this great opportunity to share on your blog.

My mother has a stubby thumb and she loves to tell me how it was the first thing she checked on my little hands when I was born. I did not inherit her uniqueness, I must confess. You've given some great tips based on your failures. Sorry you had to fail for us to learn! Thanks for being savvy and sensational!

60 comments:

Lynda R. Young said...

Thanks so much for having me. The interview was lots of fun!

Michele Bradford-Arkon said...

Lynda, now I know why I like visiting your blog so much. Dark chocolate.

Shelly
http://www.shellysnovicewritings.blogspot.com/

Tonja Reynolds said...

Great post!

DEZMOND said...

Lyndy has given tones of support and encouragement to thousands of writers around the Net, and that's her successful mission.

AlexJCavanaugh said...

Lynda, look at you! We finally get a photo. (Not that I like to share mine.)
I think I followed your Fearfully and Woefully blog first before finding WIP It.
And it's all about what we can give to the community - not what we can get from it - that really matters. You do that perfectly!

Carol Riggs said...

Thanks, Laura, for hosting Lynda! And Lyn, SEE, people want to know what you look like. Tsk, Alex didn't even know. :D You have it tucked away on a separate tab on your blog. Anyway, nice to learn more about you!! Always good to own a cat who thinks she rules the world. And wow--you really garnered a following in a short time in blogging!

LauraBarnes said...

Come back anytime!

LauraBarnes said...

I will ALWAYS find the pic of the blogger. That's just my style :)

LauraBarnes said...

I'm personally a milk chocolate fan. Add peanut butter and life is so much better...

LauraBarnes said...

Thanks!

LauraBarnes said...

She truly has a gift :)

LauraBarnes said...

I hate pictures of me. I put it up anyway because I feel obligated to. Yuck, though.

Jessie Humphries said...

I made all those same mistakes...and still making some more probably. I am not on google plus or twitter...gasp!!!

anthony stemke said...

Great post, Lynda is a warm, wonderful writer and her photo is lovely.
Thank You for this interv iew.

Old Kitty said...

Hooorah for Lynda and dark chocolate! :-) Take care
x

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Lynda offers great posts and support!

Lynda R. Young said...

lol, Carol. It's an old photo now, taken in August last year. My hair is darker now with crazy highlights when I have the money to afford it ;)

Lynda R. Young said...

Yep, you followed Fearfully and Wonderfully first. You've been an amazing support. Thank you so much

Lynda R. Young said...

aw, you are making me blush. Thank you so much

Lynda R. Young said...

I wouldn't worry too much about that. The more different social media's you're on, the harder it becomes to maintain them all.

Lynda R. Young said...

Thank you so much, Dezzy. And thank you too for your support. I appreciate it.

Lynda R. Young said...

yes! Another Dark Chocolate fan! Soon, we'll take over the world!

Lynda R. Young said...

Thanks for popping in, Kitty!

Lynda R. Young said...

Thanks, Stacy. You are a gem.

MedeiaSharif said...

I also made the mistake of not linking my blog to my profile.

I enjoy Lynda's blog so much. Her posts are insightful and helpful.

lynkelwoohoo said...

Love this interview, Lynda and Laura. I never would have guessed you've only been blogging for a year and a half, Lynda. You're so good at it and so knowledgeable. The mistakes you made are little mistakes. I've made so many mistakes, I can't keep track of how many!

Arlee Bird said...

Except for the stubby thumb, I'm with you on everything here right down to the dark chocolate. Oh, and I haven't started Twittering yet--you'd think an Arlee Bird would be good at that.


Lee
Wrote By Rote

Jemi Fraser said...

Great advice! I made so many little mistakes when I started blogging/tweeting too. It's such an overwhelming world when you start! :)

Madeleine Maddocks said...

Great Q&A. Lots of things I'd agree with there including the dark choc thing. :O)

Stephen Tremp said...

Its all about sharing positive and encouraging words, leaving comments on other blogs, and making it easy for people to follow you back. I love social networking. Great way to express one's gifts to the world.

LydiaK said...

I am shocked to learn that Lynda is not, in fact, a purple flower. :P Great interview!

Peggy Eddleman said...

Great interview! I think I should set a time limit on blogging, too. :)

Nas Dean said...

Great information, Lynda! And I thing this is the first time I saw your photo, you're lovely! Thanks for sharing these tips!

The Golden Eagle said...

Great interview!

I made all of those mistakes when I started blogging--it's part of the learning process, I suppose.

Lynda R. Young said...

It will definitely help your writing life. It's so easy for blogging time to take over because it's so much fun.

Lynda R. Young said...

Thanks so much, Lynn. It's good to learn from those mistakes...and then forget them ;)

Lynda R. Young said...

hehe it's easy to do. You'd think it was an automatic function.

Lynda R. Young said...

The problem with Twitter is that to get the best out of it you have to be in the same time zone for instant responses--and I'm not in the same time zones. It's still fun, though :)

Lynda R. Young said...

It is overwhelming. I was a stalker for a while before I built up the courage to give it a go.

Lynda R. Young said...

oh! Another dark chocolate lover! Yay!

Lynda R. Young said...

It is isn't it! And once you get the hang of it, it's so easy!

Lynda R. Young said...

Maybe I am the purple flower, but the pic is me in disguise trying to pass as a funny looking human ;)

Lynda R. Young said...

Thanks so much for popping on over, Nas. :)

Lynda R. Young said...

yes indeedy! Thanks so much for your encouragement and support :)

Tania F Walsh said...

Great interview...

Theresa Milstein said...

A picture of Lynda! YaY! I love your blog, Lynda. It's hard not to spend too much time blogging, isn't it.

LauraBarnes said...

Hey, Theresa! I'm minutes away from posting your critique. Hang on, darling. I should have it up within the next 30 minutes.

LeighCaron said...

Another great interview...and love the blogging tips.

LauraBarnes said...

Thank you!

LauraBarnes said...

Thank you, Leigh!

Lynda R. Young said...

Really hard!! Thanks for popping by :)

MPax said...

I love dark chocolate, too. Great blog, Laura. Great answers, Lynda.

Margo Kelly said...

Great post! I love dark chocolate, too! Yum. :)

LauraBarnes said...

You can have all the dark chocolate - save me the milk and the white! Yes, I'm a chocolate racist. Thanks for the comment!

LauraBarnes said...

Now I'm craving chocolate. Thanks for the comment!

Susanfieldswriter said...

Loving dark chocolate is a very important fact indeed! :)

LauraBarnes said...

It totally is :)

Lynda R. Young said...

Dark chocolate is win in so many ways ;)

Cozyintexas said...

Great post - thanks for sharing.
Ann

Laura Barnes said...

You're welcome!

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