Saturday Savvy Sensation:

I'm still laid up in bed with the flu so I'm doing a quick intro of today's Saturday Savvy Sensation. There is a lot we could learn from Lori M. Lee. Her blog is only a year old and has an incredible following. Plus, she made a goal last year to get an agent, and she did!  She's very inspiring, but why don't we just let her speak for herself:

Who are you (what do you write, what are your personal stats)?

I write young adult fiction, typically with a sf/f slant, as well as some speculative short stories. I'm represented by Suzie Townsend of Nancy Coffey Literary.

Where can we find you online (blog, twitter, facebook, etc.)?

I blog here: http://lorimlee.blogspot.com
You can also find me on twitter: @LoriMLee
I totally gave in to the siren call of tumblr, and it can be found here: lorimlee.tumblr.com :)

When did you begin your online platform building?

I started the blog mentioned above in February of this year (2011). However, I'd have to say that I began my online platform building years ago when I was writing fanfiction in between original works. In fandom, I learned netiquette and how best to interact with readers and writers, as well as what to avoid. I blogged almost daily about writing and memes and general nonsense and built up a great group of friends and followers. It was a ton of fun. (I still blog there but nowhere near as often)

What is your message, if any (is your blog about anything specific, for example)?

My blog is a mixture of fun and informative. I don't want my posts to just be a regurgitation of info that's already been said elsewhere (and probably better said as well). So I like to space out the posts about writing and craft with blogfests and giveaways and sometimes, just the random nonsensical post that might make a few people smile. I want to keep things fun and informal.

How have you built your followers? What have you done that has been the most successful?

I think blogging consistently has been a huge factor. But the most successful thing I've done would be actually interacting with other bloggers. I learned this during my time in fandom—replying to comments, opening a dialogue, returning the favor by commenting on their blogs. It's a very give-and-take relationship, and you have to understand this before starting a blog. You can't just throw up content and expect to sit back and watch the followers/comments roll in (unless you're J.K. Rowling). When I set up my blogger, I had to replace the commenting system with one that would allow me to respond to comments b/c that's very important to me.

You have to genuinely want to do this as well though. I enjoy it because I've made a lot of fantastic friends this way.

What have you done that has failed?

When I first started blogging years ago, I didn't yet understand the give-and-take nature of blogging so, for a while, it felt like I was just talking to myself =P

How much time do you spend blogging? Reading blogs? Commenting on blogs?

It used to be a few hours every day, but I no longer have the time for that. I love organization and grouping, so reading everything through google reader has done wonders for me. I can easily pick out posts I want to read more fully and posts I want to comment on.

What else should we know about you?

I have always been fascinated by unicorns and faeries. Zombies terrify me. I enjoy zombie books, but can't watch zombie films. I'm a huge anime/manga fan, and a gamer geek. I also enjoy drawing, and I often include a piece of artwork at the end of my blog posts for visual interest.

Any additional advice for our readers?

The same thing I always tell people—never give up on your dreams. It's cheesy and cliché, I know, but it's also true. You only fail if you give up.

What makes you unique?

I like to pretend I was raised by magical flying unicorns (like thestrals but less morbid). Wait, that's what makes me weird. Oops.

Lori, you crack me up. Here and often on your blog. You are funny and sassy and savvy and sensational. Good luck with your book and congratulations on all your success!