Social Networks: Spotlight on Gather
Posted By 1st Turning Point Guest Columnist on December 17, 2009
Gina Robinson, Author
The Benefits for Published and Unpublished Writers
by Gina Robinson
1st Turning Point Guest Columnist
Copyright © 2009 Gina Robinson
There’s a lot of hype these days about social networks and the importance of belonging to one or more. Each network has its own personality and set of rules. How do you choose which network or networks to join? To help you out, I’m going to give you the skinny on Gather as I see it.
Entrepreneur Tom Gerace formed Gather in 2005. I joined in August 2007, just a few months before I made my first sale. As a networking site, Gather is pretty low stress. You don’t have to build a fancy member page or decide on a theme. Every member page has the standard Gather layout. When you sign up, you get your page, fill out your profile with the information and settings you’d like, upload your icon photo, and you’re off and running. As an example, you can check out my Gather profile page.
Gerace set up Gather as a site for sharing ideas through articles, photos, and videos, which makes it an ideal place for writers. You connect with others in several ways-by connecting or becoming “friends,” or by joining groups that interest you. You can Gather mail your friends or send Gather mail to an entire group. When you post an article, photo, or video, you can select any friends or groups you wish to be able to view it or post it so that the Gather community at large has viewing privileges.
Gather is the only networking site I know about that provides incentives for sharing. You earn points toward gift cards or even cash for every article you post or comment you make on another’s article. Who doesn’t love getting paid to write about your ideas or share your photos?
During 2007 and 2008, Gather co-sponsored at least three novel writing competitions with either or both Simon and Schuster and Borders. The grand prize in each competition was a book contract and special promotion at Borders stores. Sheila Deeth joined Gather for the First Chapters contest. “It was a turning point for me and encouraged me to keep trying.”
Jamie Chapman won $25,000 in a Gather-sponsored essay contest. “I recently signed with a publisher (five book deal) and an excellent agent. I can honestly say that the bumpy road to publication was greatly smoothed by the writer friends I made on Gather. I don’t think I’d be where I am today if it weren’t for them.”
Judi Fennell, author of Wild Blue Under, Sourcebooks November 2009, joined Gather so she could enter the first two novel competitions. She placed in the top twenty and third respectively. Although neither was enough to get her a contract, her story caught the eye of final judge Sue Grimshaw, National Buyer for Romance at Borders Books. Sue gave Judi editing tips to make the story more marketable and then pitched it to editors. As a result, Judi sold her Mer series to Sourcebooks in a three-book deal.
Judi says, “Because of the contacts I’ve made on Gather, I have friends all across the country who celebrated with me when I sold my series, and helped get the word out by distributing bookmarks to local book stores, chatting it up among their friends, making sure the books were face out as per the co-op, giving me great feedback on upcoming manuscripts to make them as strong as they can be before submitting to my editor, and having great parties when we get together in someone’s hometown.”
Judi and I belong to the same group, The Writing Wombats. My Gather experience mirrors hers. My Gather friends were my national, and in some cases, international PR force when my debut novel Spy Candy was released in November 2008.
Fellow Wombat Lisa Brackmann, Rock Paper Tiger, Soho Press June 2010, enjoys the support she gets. “…many of us have gone on to agency and publication deals. I think that being around like-minded, serious and talented writers creates a sort of positive group-think that encourages success-and having a refuge to go to when times are hard, where people understand what you’re going through, is a huge comfort.”
For the published author, Gather provides a convenient, easy, and free way to reach thousands of potential readers by posting book releases, contests, or other news via articles or sending Gather mail to groups.
Rita Kuehn, author of Peripheral View, has garnered a wealth of marketing tips from Gather. “From helpful websites (some created by Gather members) to where the best place is to buy bookmarks or other promotional items, you can find it on Gather.”
Published or unpublished, no matter what you’re looking for-support, tips, friends, or PR opportunities—give Gather a try.
| Spy Gamesby Gina Robinson Zebra Romantic Suspense, Kensington Publishing Corp. ISBN-10: 142010473X ISBN-13: 978-1420104738Sleepless In Seattle Reilly Peterson’s been many things in her thirty-two years: an athlete, a model, a sportswear executive. Her ex-boyfriend, however, has done a good job of making Reilly something she’s never been—scared. Now Reilly’s ready to protect herself with more than her sharp tongue. Fantasy Spy Camp’s Seattle-based Urban Ops division will train her to survive using everything from her bare hands to a submachine gun. But when she gets an eyeful of fellow camper Van Keller, all Reilly wants is to chill out, partner up and go deep undercover… “Fast, snappy and cute.” — Susan Andersen, New York Times bestselling author 4 Stars! Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine “Spy Games by Gina Robinson will take you off on a journey that will excite you and keep you on the edge of your seat.” |
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Great info, Gina! I’m definitely going to check Gather out. I’ll look for you!
Happy Holidays to you and yours. I’ll look forward to seeing you in person in the New Year, too. And congratulations on your latest release, Spy Games looks just as fun as Spy Candy!
All the best,
Chassily
Great piece, Gina! Congratulations on SPY GAMES — can’t wait to read it!
I joined Gather in March 2007 and have been active ever since, especially because of the Writing Wombats. And while the point system is great for some extra cash, a bunch of us donated our points during the First Chapters Romance contest to Habitat for Humanity with the Home Depot gift cards. A nice way to give back.
And of course, I met great people, like Gina.
Thank you, Gina. I just signed up for Gather. All good resources are great to know about. I’ll look for you there.
An interesting site. Thanks for the tip.
Season’s Best
John Klawitter
This is a great synopsis of what I think Gather is about.
Thank you.
sharon Pribble
You’ve really caught the essence of Gather in this article! Thank you for writing it, Gina. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Hi Gina,
Good article on Gather. I joined in February, 2007 to enter the First Chapters novel contest, but stayed on to hang out with the many other writers who joined Gather over the next 12 months. It’s been a great place to network and learn, and I’ve made many friends, a number of whom I’ve gone on to meet in person. Like Judi and Gina, I’ve been active with the Writing Wombats, but there are other groups such as No Whine Just Champagne that have also been excellent for trading tips and experiences about writing. So Gather has turned out to be a fine online meeting place and the depth of contact often goes much deeper than on social networks like Facebook.
James
Good article, Gina. It looks like I need to get on Gather, too. I knew you’ve had good experiences there. I’m gradually feeling my way through the social networks. Trying to figure it out and not make any huge mistakes. I appreciate any advice!
I’m on so many social networks that I totally got sick of them and deleted ten or more. But I’m going to check into Gather.
I’m a Gather addict. I like it much better than any of the other social networking sites I’ve tried. My only problem is that my work computer refuses to open Gather pages. Any of them. Probably a good thing. I’d never get anything done at work if I could hang out on Gather all day.
I’ve been on Gather since January, 2007, and am another proud member of the group, Writin’ Wombats. Were it not for them, I would never even have considered writing a novel. I have one complete now, and am shopping it around, and am am working on two others. They are a remarkable resource for information and research (so many people from so many walks of life!), they are supportive, encouraging, and several have gone from being online friends to real life in person friends. And for the most part, it’s a place for grown ups. It’s bar none, my favorite social network site.
Hi, Everyone–
Thanks for stopping by. I really do love Gather and recommend people give it a try. I’ve already accepted some friend requests from some of you. I’m eager to see you there. If you join The Wombats, don’t be shy. Introduce yourself. We’re a friendly group.
Gina, you’ve sold me! I’m going to go online and check it out. Thanks for sharing this information on Gather. It’s a great article. I hope we hear more from you on 1st Turning Point in the future!
Ann Charles
Nice article Gina. It’s always encouraging to read how many gather friends have got published and realize, okay, so I’m only following, but I’m following people who are traveling a wonderful road.
Excellent article Gina. I’ve been a Gather Member since: Feb 19, 2007 and have met some of the best writers ever. Writers like… Gina!