Betsy Horvath

Everybody has a story.

Category: Blogging and Social Media

  • The Search For A Blog Post

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    Once Upon A Time, not so very long ago (this afternoon, in fact), there was a girl named Betsy who was sitting in front of her computer desperately seeking a blog post.

    Betsy strove mightily to put out a blog post at least once a week. But, alas, The Sickness had descended upon her and hit her and knocked her asunder for several weeks and so she flaileth.

    And, lo, The Sickness had been a mighty and terrible foe, but Betsy had at last fought it into a corner and was now struggling to pick up her life again.  Verily, she hath determined that she would in no way sink into a sea of snot and lethargy. (more…)

  • What’s Going On Here?

    Betsy bloggingSo, here’s the thing about blogging.  If you have a blog, you have to blog.  Because if you have a blog and you DON’T blog, it just looks stupid.  And if you have a blog and you blog, you have to have something about which to blog.  Because if you blog and you’re not saying anything of value, that looks stupid too.  Especially if you’re an author.  Like me.  Because we’re supposed to be creative and crap and be able to say things of value.
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  • Betsy Builds A Snowman…er…Blog Post

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    hello, blogosphere
     
    Blogosphere?

    *silence*

    Blogosphere,  I know you’re there.  *touches door closed in her face*

    *crickets chirp*

    I had a good excuse for not blogging this time.  I did.  It was a very rough winter.

    *wind whistles through trees*

    I honestly didn’t have the time to blog.
    (more…)

  • Blogging Is Sooooo Yesterday

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    hello, blogosphereBlogosphere, I have a bone to pick with you.

    Why the heck would you want to pick bones? I don’t have any bones. All of my skeletons are in the closet.

    I mean, I’m feeling annoyed with you.

    Oh. *shrug* Okay. Why take it out on me? Just go flame someone on Facebook or Twitter.

    See? That’s what I mean. Facebook. Twitter. Not blogs. You never told me blogs were obsolete.

    Obsolete? What are you talking about?

    You’re not hip. You’re not with it.

    I am so hip, gosh darn it!

    You’re wearing paisley and wide lapels. Admit it!

    What’s wrong with wide lapels? And I see you’re still wearing your fuzzy purple go-go boots with the poofy tassels.

    I, uh, my feet were cold. ANYWAY, you never told me that you were dead.

    What? *pfft*  I’m not dead.

    You are too. It says so right here in this blog.

    Wait – a blog said blogs are dead?

    And the notes from the RWA conference say you’re a dinosaur.

    Yeah? Well, they might be the voice of romance, but they’re not the voice of me! I’m still mighty! I’m still powerful! *rwaaarrrr* Ow. Where did you put the medicated rub? I think I pulled something.

    Everyone’s gone mobile, Blogosphere. Everyone’s doing everything on their phones. They’re talking on their phones. They’re interacting on their phones. They’re playing games on their phones. Hell, they’re making COFFEE on their phones and then drinking it through an app! Then they’re using an app to brush their TEETH! And they have apps to drive them to work and play with their kids! Apps, apps, apps! Whatever the heck apps are, they got them!  Blogs are for the dogs! Apps are where it’s at!

    Well, why write a blog then, huh?  Huh?  If blogs are so dead, why are you wasting your time? Come on, answer that, why doncha?  

    Well, uh–

    Yeah, I’ve gone there.  Come on.  Come on, tell me!  TELL ME!

    BECAUSE I’VE GOT NOWHERE ELSE TO GO!

    Hey, nice “Officer and a Gentleman” reference.

    Thanks. But it’s true. I started writing a blog because I couldn’t afford a web designer and WordPress is free.

    Free?

    Free.

    I feel so…used.

    You should. I think that’s why most people write blogs.

    *sniff*

    Blogosphere, are you…crying?

    No. *word trembles with wet pain*

    You ARE crying.

    *silence broken only by Blogosphere’s muffled sobs*

    Blogosphere, I had no idea I could hurt you this way. I didn’t know you cared.

    I don’t… *sniffle*… care.

    I’m sorry. I…I just don’t know what to say.

    I’m not dead.

    Of course not.

    I’m still mighty and *sniff* powerful.

    Of course you are.

    Do you still love me?

    Sure.  And I still can’t afford a web designer.

    Okay.

     

    Betsy blogging

    (more…)

  • Always Connected

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    connectmeThanks to the unexpected and brutal death of my main computer, I find myself the proud owner of a spanking new laptop.  Don’t worry – I didn’t lose any files.  Back up, people!  Back up!  STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND BACK UP YOUR FILES NOW!

    Erm, sorry.  Anyway, because I have a new computer for the first time in four years, I’ve been introduced to the wacky and wonderful world of Windows 8.  This post will not be about Windows 8, but let me just say that Windows 8 makes me nostalgic for Vista, and I didn’t think that was possible.

    What I’ve found the most interesting about setting up a new computer is the bland assumption that everyone will be connected to the Internet at all times.  And, perhaps more importantly, the assumption that people WANT to be connected at all times.  The whole system, and most of the supporting software, is designed with one goal in mind – connectivity.

    Based on my observations, this is a pretty fair assumption.  Most people of my acquaintance have smart phones or tablets and, according to research I’ve read, computer use is switching to mobile devices in a big way.   That, combined with the new cloud-based thingees out there means everyone can indeed be connected all the time.  You can have your music all the time.  You can play your games all the time.  You can access your files all the time.  You can be on your social media networks all the time.  You can text or actually make phone calls all the time.  You can reach out and touch somebody’s hand ALL THE TIME.

    But….

    There’s a price for everything and it seems to me that there’s a steep one for all of this connectivity.  Because we are always connected, we are expected to – and indeed required to – always face outwards.  We are always supposed to be available.  Always supposed to be ready for mental company.  Always ready to interact.

    If people can always reach you, can you have a room in your own mind that’s just for you?  If’ we’re always connected to the hive, are we able to have our own private mental space as well?  Our own personal dance space?

    And if we don’t have our own space, where is our freedom to just be ourselves?  If we’re always “on”, when do we have the time to think?  To be who we are?  To create?

    Or is it the fact that we’re afraid to be who we are that makes all of this immediate connection so very tempting?  How often have you sat down at your computer to do something constructive only to find that the Internet has sucked away hours of your life without you even noticing?

    I don’t know the answers.  I just know that I need to turn off my router if I want to get anything done.  And I’m kind of glad I don’t get cell phone coverage at the Palatial Horvath Estate.

    And I hope I figure out Windows 8 soon because I’m getting some pretty big bald spots from yanking out all of my hair.

    Guess it’s a good thing I don’t have Instagram.

    buildingabridge

    (more…)

  • 10 Bad Things About Blogging

    hello, blogosphereHello, Blogosphere.

    Hey.

    Did you know tomorrow is our two year anniversary?

    Sure.

    Do you care?

    No.

    What if I told you I didn’t want to blog anymore?

    Please.  You won’t stop.  You were practically pooping sunbeams and rainbows in your last post.

    I was not!
      (more…)

  • 10 Good Things About Blogging Regularly

    Betsy bloggingWow.  I can hardly believe it, but as of this Friday I will have been blogging regularly for two years.

    I know!  It’s crazy, right?  Yeah, I’ve missed days here and there, and I had a time in the fall last year where I didn’t give my blog much time, but for the most part I’ve been routinely posting three times a week since I went “live” on March 29, 2011.  And they said it wouldn’t last.  Well, okay, I said it wouldn’t last.  Yet here I am!  Top of the world, ma!

    As with all things in this imperfect existence of ours, I’ve found blogging regularly has its ups and its downs.  Because I’m a sunny, glass-half-full kind of a girl I thought I would share a few of the good things first.  We’ll save the bad  things for the next post.

    Okay, so here we go…10 good things about blogging regularly!   (more…)

  • The Search For A Post, A Blogger’s Tale

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    fairytaleOnce Upon A Time… there was a girl who wrote a blog.  Although it was not all she wrote, and although she did indeed have other tasks to perform, the blog did demand that she doth update it regularly.

    “Dance, little writer!  Dance!”  it would yell as it cracked a whip over her head.

    And she did dance.

    “Scurry, little writer!  Scurry!”

    And lo, she scurried.

    “Write, little writer!  Write!”

    And verily, she did write blog posts and keep the blog updated regularly.  And the blog, it was pleased.

    Then came the day when, alas, the writer did not know what to write on her blog.

    She did think and think and think.  And, lo.  Her thinker doth break and was sore.

    So she walked from the house lest the blog realize she could not update it as it demanded.  After she had walked for some time, she came across an ogre.

    “O Ogre!” she did cry.  “Please truly tell me what to write in my blog post!”

    But the ogre did just howl a great howl and brandish a club and chase her into the forest.

    In the forest, she did climb a tree and confuse the ogre.  After it had gone, she did climb down and begin walking.  And she did walk and walk until she saw Bigfoot.

    “O Bigfoot!” she did cry.  “Please truly tell me what to write in my blog post!”

    But Bigfoot did just give a mighty Bigfoot yell and he did then lift his leg and mark a tree.

    And the writer did say “Ew.” and began walking again.

    And then she saw an elf that doth look eerily like Orlando Bloom riding upon a white horse.

    “O Elf!” she did cry.  “Please truly tell me what to write in my blog post!”

    But the elf did just sneer and ride off on his white horse.

    Finally, all despairing, the writer did returneth home.

    “O what shall I write!” she did cry.  “The blog will be much displeased with me!”

    And she did shudder at the thought of the blog’s displeasure.

    Then one of her cats did come forth and spaketh thus:

    “Oh, for God’s sake!  Just write any damn thing you want to write!”

    And so the writer did.

    And they all lived happily ever after.

    Except for the ogre, because ogres are notorious for their bad moods.

     

    The End

     

    unicorn

    (more…)

  • Now. What Shall We Talk About?

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    hello, blogosphereHi, Blogosphere.

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  • The Blogging Poem


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  • Dear Internet

    Dear Internet –

    Okay, you and I have to talk. Or not talk, as the case may be. I mean, you know I love you, but this is getting ridiculous. You are just way too attractive for your own good. Or my good. Whatever. We’re going to have to start setting some boundaries in our relationship.

    I’m not saying that all of our problems are your fault. Love is a two-way street, after all. And I know that most of the blame rests on my shoulders. But, honestly, can you be any more appealing? Where else can I look up news on Channing Tatum, then interact with friends and family, then read different blogs, then move from email account to email account, then check out YouTube for “research” or “social media” purposes? Come on! I mean, I say that I’m only going to give you five minutes, but you pull me into your glorious web (hah! Web! Get it?) and by the time I surface an hour has passed. How many times CAN I watch the “Magic Mike” trailer? But you just keep flaunting it in my face and drawing me in.

    So, we’re going to have to come to an understanding. Because I…well, I need my space. I need to find out who I am apart from you. I need to be Betsy again so I’ll know how much of myself I can share with you.

    I know that we’ll still need to have contact. I know we can’t just split. There are the social media sites, after all. And my blog. And the email. But our relationship is going to have to be more limited. I’ve been letting you take over, and I just can’t live like that anymore.

    I love you, Internet. You bring me so much joy. This isn’t about you, it’s about me. But please, try not to be too sad – I know we’ll work it out somehow.

    Love,

    Betsy

     

    (more…)

  • Branding Ms. Betsy

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    I’m so glad you’ve agreed to meet with me today, Blogosphere.

    I didn’t have much choice. You kept googling me.

    Yes, well, *hum* I wanted to reach out to you and get your thoughts on how I can build my author brand. I envision this as an informal brainstorming session, if you will.

    I think you should finish your next book.

    You are, after all, the expert on this kind of thing, as well as being a vast repository of knowledge in general.

    You could write more books after you finish this one.

    So, *flips pages* Let’s begin with Facebook. Should I purchase “likes” for my page? Maybe one of those ads that annoy everyone and therefore gets attention? And how should I increase my “reach” and “talking about” numbers to make sure I’m maximizing my placement and message? I want to find the right synergy between transparency and publicity to facilitate interaction.

    You could, you know, write more books.

    Uh huh. As far as Twitter goes, do you think I should increase my involvement? I’m not sure what number of tweets per day would be most beneficial to keep my presence at its most lively. Perhaps I should mention my book in each and every tweet, to wit – “HOLD ME! I’ve been HOLD ME invaded by HOLD ME ants.” What do you think? Perhaps I should schedule tweets every half hour to ensure my book is promoted constantly.

    Maybe writing more books would be good.

    I’m also focused on increasing my number of blog hits. I was considering posting a link for my blog on every page I can find. Maybe I could purchase a banner ad or – OH! – a pop up ad that covers the entire screen when someone tries to open a page. Movement and sound would also be good so others notice and ask about the ad. That would be word of mouth advertising.

    There’s always writing more books.

    Perhaps my pop up web page ad could include a poll asking people if they think I should expand into other social media properties. If a person can’t click through to the page they want to read until they take my poll, I’m certain I’ll get a response.

    Hey! I’ve got an idea! You could write more books!

    *frowns* I don’t believe you are taking my issues seriously, Blogosphere. And I will not be ignored.

    Yes, Betsy.  If you only have one book out, you’re pretty much going to be ignored..

    My sense is that you are telling me to follow the “write more books” paradigm to handle this situation.

    There you go.

    But what about my brand?

    How about “content is king”?

    I was thinking “If you build it, they will come.”  Should I start playing baseball like “Field of Dreams”? Isn’t that the wrong demographic for romantic suspense? Or should I put Kevin Costner up as my banner image to attract the older women?

    You know what? I’m out of here.

    *Blogosphere leaves the post*

    I could sign baseballs and give them away as swag. Blogosphere? Wait! Come back….

    *Betsy leaves the post*

     

    (more…)

  • The Benefits Of Blogging

    Don’t take this the wrong way, but blogging can be a real pain in the a$$. Sometimes the very last thing I want to do is sit down and try to come up with something relatively entertaining to put on my blog. Like today, for instance.

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  • Relationship Crisis

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    Hello?

    *silence*

    Hello, is anybody there?

    *crickets chirping*

    Blogosphere? Are you there? *clicks tongue* Here Blogosphere! Come here, little Blogosphere! Sweet little Blogosphere… (more…)

  • Time, Time, Time Is NOT On My Side

     

    Periodically I go up against my biggest enemy – Time. Or rather, lack of time. It’s fine when I’m just coasting along living in my own delirious illusion, but if I happen to open my eyes and see how much time has flowed past, and how little I’ve accomplished with it, I become slightly panicked. In addition, I’m suffering from some increased demands in my day job, and in other areas of my life, that have served to squeeze my available time even more. (more…)

  • A Few Things I Learned After My Book Was Released

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    I was on vacation last week, so I actually had time to think. Thinking time has been at a premium for the past couple of months, but last week I was able to reflect on some of  the things I’ve learned now that my book has been released. (more…)

  • HOLD ME Countdown – Battle Plans

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    Private Horvath!

    What?  Who?…. Blogosphere? Is that you?

    I am Sergeant Blogosphere, Private, and the appropriate response to my calling you is “Sir, yes Sir.”

    What is this?

    I cain’t HEAR you!

    Um…Sir.  Yes, uh, sir. (more…)

  • Both Sides Of Blogging

     

    I’ve been blogging three times a week for about six months now. I’ve only missed one post (the Thursday before I went to RWA), but then I made up for it the next week. So, of course, now that I’m an expert and all I thought I would post a list of some of the good things and some of the bad things I’ve discovered about blogging. (more…)

  • Some Commitment Issues

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    *twittering*   *chirping*   *chatter*

    Yo!

    …I KNOW!  I can’t BELIEVE that Brooke Shields…wait.

    *shifts to new browser tab*  Oh.  It’s you. Hello.

    Betsy.

    Blogosphere. What are you doing here?

    Well, I kinda thought we had a…date. (more…)

  • Social Media: The Poem

     

    As social media in all of its many, many, MANY forms has become a major part of my life, I, naturally, felt the urge to write a poem about it. And I am happy to present this fine work of literature to you, my dearest, closest friends. (more…)