It's Saturday. And that means I have a Savvy Sensation to share with you: Lydia Kang. And let me tell you, she's super sensational. She's a mom, wife, part-time doctor, and a writer. She's also hilarious and beautiful, just take a look at her pic. Her debut novel, THE FOUNTAIN, is out in 2013. But you don't have to wait until then to find out more about her. Read on...
Who are you (what do you write, what are your personal stats)?
I'm a mom of three kids, a part-time primary care internist, and
my passion is writing. I eat way too much salt, have a love of young adult
fiction, and am geektastic at heart. I'm represented by Eric Myers of the
Spieler Agency and my YA sci-fi novel, The Fountain, is coming out in 2013
(Dial/Penguin).
Where can we find you online (blog, twitter, facebook, etc.)?
My blog is called The Word Is My Oyster. On Mondays I answer
fictional medical questions and track down bizarre illnesses to fan the flames
of inspiration for other writers. Wednesdays are usually random writing-related
stuff. Fridays I host authors. I have been known to blog about zombie ants and
stinky medical conditions.
When
did you begin your online platform building?
In March of 2010. My second blog post ever declared how I was
going to quit blogging. Luckily, I ignored that sentiment and just kept
going.
What
is your message, if any (is your blog about anything specific, for example)?
Don't eat as much salt as I do. Pretzels are not a food group,
unless you want to wake up with sausage fingers and puffy eyes on a daily
basis. I'll leave it at that.
How
have you built your followers? What have you done that has been the most
successful?
I used to seek out new blogs and new civilizations, boldly going
where no one--oh crap, that's the wrong line.
Take
two. I used to seek out new blogs, and most of the time, people would follow
back. Those who liked my content kept coming back. I participate in a few
blogfests every once in a while, because I can find new blogs (and bloggers can
find me) and it doesn't feel like I'm smarmily stalking strangers.
The
bottom line to my success, I believe, has ultimately been content and being
myself. I think that Medical Mondays, which I was very embarrassed by at first,
ended up being a big draw. It's really unique. I've embraced it completely. And
I am truly myself on the blog. A little kooky, at times serious, but generally
there to hang out with people I like and talk about what I'm passionate
about--writing. :)
What
have you done that has failed?
I have been unable to make cold fusion work. I also can't bring
Elvis back from the dead. Oh I'm sorry--were we still talking about
blogs?
I
don't proactively check blog posts as often as I should. I simply can't--I have
over 1000 followers at this point, and my first priority is always visiting the
blogs of my commenters. Until I can figure out how to alter the space-time
continuum, that will be my biggest failure.
How
much time do you spend blogging? Reading blogs? Commenting on blogs?
I probably spend three hours each Sunday writing a week's worth of
posts. I spend anywhere from 1-4 hours on M,W, and F checking blogs and
visiting commenter's blogs. I feel horrible if I don't visit my
commenter's blogs within 2 days.
What
else should we know about you?
I can cuss in sign language. I'll never show you though, it's too
dirty.
Any
additional advice for our readers?
Learning how to write fiction has included a series of
mini-nirvanas for me. Show vs tell. Make every sentence count. Tension.
Character arcs. Writing crappy stuff and having people tell you it's
crappy is part of the process. The trick is to find people who will tell you
it's crappy in a nice way.
What
makes you unique?
My eleventh toe. Just kidding. People always praise me for doing
so much--working, writing, momming (yes, I just made up that verb), making up
verbs. But I'm far from perfect and I'm always late. Always.
Okay,
but seriously? Here's a secret to my inner neuroses. I always had this fear
that I was smart but not smart enough. So I worked my a** off in school to get
where I am. I think that when I tackle some new project, I put in 120% effort
for fear that 100% of me is never good enough. That recipe has always worked
for me so far. But at the end of the day, I'm always worried that I'm not good
enough.
Okay,
should I charge you for this session, or what?
Thanks
Laura for having me!
Um, wait, were we playing the psychiatrist in the end there, cuz then I should be charging you! So glad to have you Lydia. Congrats on everything you have accomplished and have yet to accomplish. You're savvy, sensational, and something else.
