Dunphied it again

Social media is the ultimate conduit that enables a nobody like me to become a 'somebody' on the literary scene. 

I have to be a little careful here, as the eyes of new readers may drift to the right margin of this blog page and see my Tag Line which states, in no uncertain terms, that I do not blog seeking validation from others (i.e. I don't care if people read it or if they don't). Moreover, I do not blog as a means to an end. I have a day job, I am not looking for a career change. God's hones truth - I blog because it is cathartic. Mine are simply the rantings of a manic expressive that just needs to type every thought that enters his (my) mind.

But as a general rule, many people write and publish with the intent to become famous and/or make a career out of it. Intuitively, social media is the ultimate platform to that end. So as an emergent writer, it is in your best interest to figure out just how social media works and how to make it work for you.

Me, on the other hand? I use social media just 'cause I can. I post stuff on Twitter and Facebook and I am, for the most part, unaware of its ramifications or reach. As I identified in my last blog, Dunphism, I am a Phil Dunphy dad. I think I am cool and all over social media, but clearly I am not. When I post a blog I share it individually to all my FB groups and a number of my Friends. I have only just realised that this just puts it on their timeline twice and my timeline about 16 times.

My grasp of Twitter clearly is no better than my grasp of Face Book, as was just pointed out by my eldest daughter, Thing #1 just yesterday. After posting Dunphism on Twitter I received a notification that Phil Dunphy favourited my Tweet and followed me. I was simply so excited that immediately I texted Thing #1 and the following sms exchange ensured with me in green and Thing #1 in blue

My talent as a writer recognised and endorsed by a lead actor in one of the most popular TV sitcoms of all time. It was too good to be true. I imagined myself  packed into the mortar barrel and about to be blasted out of obscurity and into the front row of next years Man Booker Prize presentation gala.

If I was less Dunphy and more savvy, I would have known immediately that my work had found favor among no-one more important that some spotty little cyber geek that started a fan page for the coolest dad on TV. But maybe that is my audience and, maybe, there ain't nothing wrong with that.